Patent US3582853A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3582853A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time delay relay
Assignee: Therm O Disc Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-22
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A time delay relay having a pair of bimetallic snap discs mounted so that they tend to produce movement in the opposite direction when their temperatures are changed in a similar manner. The discs are connected so that they simultaneously move between their snap positions. A heater is located between the discs immediately adjacent to one disc. Insulating means surrounding the other disc restricts the rate of flow to such other disc from the heater during heating operation and resist heat dissipation therefrom after the heater is turned off. The heater creates rapid rates of increase in differential temperature between the discs when operation of the heater is initiated and similar high rates of change in differential temperature occur when the heater is shut off. The discs are selected so that a compressive force is applied to the connecting operator under all conditions normally encountered and snapping of the discs occurs when a predetermined differential temperature exists between the discs. Because the discs apply compressive forces to the operator under all normal operating conditions, a simple bumper-type connector may be used to connect the discs and the discs need not be trapped at their peripheries.
Inventors
- 👤 Rexford M Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H61/00; H01H61/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A relay comprising a body assembly, first and second bimetallic snap discs in said body assembly each having two positions of stability, said discs being positioned in said body so that they tend to move in opposite directions in response to similar temperature changes, operator means connecting said discs maintaining them in the same position with respect to each other and causing them to simultaneously snap between their two positions of stability, one of said discs producing a greater force on said operator means than the other of said discs when said discs are at substantially equal temperatures, heater means positioned between said discs substantially adjacent to said first disc, said body assembly providing thermal insulation means resisting flow of heat from said heater means to said second disc while allowing substantially unrestricted flow of heat from said heater means to said first disc, and switch means connected for operation when said discs move between their two positions of stability, said body including thermal insulating means restricting the flow of heat from said second disc to a rate substantially less than the rate of heat flow from said first disc when said heater means is shut off.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A relay comprising a body assembly, first and second bimetallic snap discs in said body assembly each having two positions of stability, said discs being positioned in said body so that they tend to move in opposite directions in response to similar temperature changes, operator means connecting said discs maintaining them in the same position with respect to each other and causing them to simultaneously snap between their two positions of stability, one of said discs producing a greater force on said operator means than the other of said discs when said discs are at substantially equal temperatures, heater means positioned between said discs substantially adjacent to said first disc, said body assembly providing thermal insulation means resisting flow of heat from said heater means to said second disc while allowing substantially unrestricted flow of heat from said heater means to said first disc, and switch means connected for operation when said discs move between their two positions of stability, said body including thermal insulating means restricting the flow of heat from said second disc to a rate substantially less than the rate of heat flow from said first disc when said heater means is shut off.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A relay as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insulating means provides substantially completely enclosure of said second disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said insulating means has a larger thermal mass than said second disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A relay as set forth in claim 3 wherein said body assembly permits unrestricted flow of heat from said first disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A relay as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said discs applies a force to said operator means in the same direction under all temperatures normally encountered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A relay as set forth in claim 5 wherein both of said discs apply forces to said operator means in the same direction under all temperatures normally encountered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Relay as set forth in claim 6 wherein said discs are imperforate and said operator means is an elongated bumper positioned between said discs and guided by said body assembly, one end of said bumper engaging each of said discs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A relay as set forth in claim 9, wherein said body assembly includes opposed surfaces with one engaging each of said discs adjacent to its periphery to resist movement of the adjacent periphery in a direction away from the periphery of the other disc, said body assembly being free of means tending to prevent movement of the peripheries of said discs toward each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A relay as set forth in claim 8 wherein spring means are provided which are operable to urge said disc toward one position and adjustment means are provided to adjust the force of said spring means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A relay as set forth in claim 9 wherein said discs are in one position when the temperatures thereof are substantially equal and said spring means urges said discs toward said one position only when said discs are in their other position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A relay as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discs have operating temperatures when free of restraint above the temperatures of said discs normally encountered by said relay.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A relay as set forth in claim 1 wherein operation of said heater means causes a substantially rapid increase in the difference in temperature between said discs until equilibrium temperatures are reached, the decrease in differential temperature of said discs being substantially rapid after the discs have reached substantial equilibrium and said heater means is shut off until said discs approach the same temperature, said discs snapping in both directions while the rate of change of difference in temperature between said discs is rapid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
A relay comprising a body assembly, first and second bimetallic snap discs of said body assembly each having two positions of stability, said discs being positioned in said body so that they tend to move in opposite directions in response to similar temperature changes, operator means connecting said discs and maintaining them in the same position with respect to each other and causing them to simultaneously snap between their two positions of stability, one of said discs producing a greater force on said operator means than the other of said discs when said discs are at substantially equal temperatures, heater means operable to heat said first discs to a temperature higher than said second disc, at least one of said discs having an operating temperature when free of restraint which is not reached during normal operation, said one disc applying a force to said operator means which is in the same direction under all temperatures normally encountered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
A relay comprising a body assembly, first and second bimetallic snap discs of said body assembly each having two positions of stability, said discs being positioned in said body so that they tend to move in opposite directions in response to similar temperature changes, operator means connecting said discs and maintaining them in the same position with respect to each other and causing them to simultaneously snap between their two positions of stability, one of said discs producing a greater force on said operator means than the other of said discs when said discs are at substantially equal temperatures, heater means operable to heat said first discs to a temperature higher than said second disc, at least one of said discs having an operating temperature when free of restraint which is not reached during normal operation, said one disc applying a force to said operator means which is in the same direction under all temperatures normally encountered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A relay as set forth in claim 13 wherein both of said discs apply a force to said operator means in the same direction under normal disc temperatures encountered.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A relay as set forth in claim 13 wherein both of said discs apply forces to said operator means in a direction toward the other disc under all temperatures normally encountered.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A relay as set forth in claim 15 wherein said discs are imperforate and said operator means is an elongated bumper positioned between said discs and guided by said body assembly, one end of said bumper engaging each of said discs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
A relay as set forth in claim 16 wherein said body assembly includes opposed surfaces with one engaging each of said discs adjacent to its periphery to resist movement of the adjacent periphery in a direction away from the periphery of the other disc, said body assembly being free of means tending to prevent movement of the peripheries of said discs toward each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A relay as set forth in claim 13 wherein said discs having operating temperatures when free of restraint above the temperatures of said discs normally encountered by said relay.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
A relay as set forth in claim 13 wherein said heater means is located between said disc substantially adjacent to said first disc, and said first disc moves away from said heater means in response to operation of said heater means thereby reducing the rate of heat transfer from said heater means to said first disc while said heater means continues to operate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |