Time delay bimetallic relay

Claim 1

A bimetallic relay comprising: a. a base formed of insulating material; b. a plurality of terminals extending through said base; c. first and second substantially parallel bimetallic blades slotted along major portions of their respective lengths and connected mechanically and electrically to first and second terminals, respectively, said blades having substantially the same electrical resistance and extending toward each other between said terminals and overlapping at their free ends; d. first and second contacts mounted on the overlapping portions of said first and second bimetallic blades, respectively; and e. a heater element wound around said first bimetallic blade and electrically connected between two of said plurality of terminals, whereby said free ends of said first and second bimetallic blades will move through equal offsetting increments of deflection when subjected to changes in ambient temperature over a wide range of ambient temperatures, and load-current heating of said first and second bimetallic blades will also cause said free ends of said blades to move through equal offsetting increments of deflection when said contacts are closed.