Thermostatic switch

Claim 2

In a thermostatic switch having a fixed contact, a mobile contact, a mobile contact carrier carrying said mobile contact and biased to a predetermined position which established a preselected positional relationship of said mobile contact with respect to said fixed contact. a bowed snap-acting temperature-sensitive element which below a predetermined temperature is bowed in a predetermined direction and which reverses its bowed curvature with a snap action when heated above said predetermined temperature, and a force-transmitting member acting between said temperature sensitive element and said contact carrier for displacing the contact carrier from said predetermined position so as to change said preselected positional relationship of the mobile contact with respect to the fixed contact when said temperature-sensitive element reverses its curvature, the improvement which comprises an electrically energizable heater positioned in direct hEat-conducting relationship to said temperature-sensitive element between the latter and said contact carrier and in direct metallic heat and electrical conducting relationship to said contact carrier, an aperture in said heater, and said mobile contact cooperating with said fixed contact through said aperture in said heater.

Claim 3

In a thermostatic switch having a fixed contact, a mobile contact, a mobile contact carrier carrying said mobile contact and biased to a predetermined position which establishes a preselected positional relationship of said mobile contact with respect to said fixed contact, a bowed snap-acting temperature-sensitive element which below a predetermined temperature is bowed in a predetermined direction and which reserves its bowed curvature with a snap action when heated above said predetermined temperature, and a force-transmitting member acting between said temperature-sensitive element and said contact carrier for displacing the contact carrier from said predetermined position so as to change said preselected positional relationship of the mobile contact with respect to the fixed contact when said temperature-sensitive element reverses its curvature, the improvement which comprises an electrically energizable heater positioned in direct heat-conducting relationship to said temperature-sensitive element between the latter and said contact carrier, said temperature-sensitive element below said predetermined temperature is bowed to present a concave curvature at its high expansion side and a convex curvature at its low expansion side, and said high expansion side of the temperature-sensitive element faces toward the contact carrier, said temperature-sensitive element being a bimetallic member, said heater having an opening therein, said force-transmitting member being a plunger engaging said bimetallic member and passing through said opening in the heater, said contact carrier being a cantilever-mounted leaf spring which is biased to normally position said mobile contact in engagement with said fixed contact, and the cantilever-mounted end of the contact carrier is in direct, electrically-conductive engagement with the heater.

Claim 4

In a thermostatic switch having a fixed contact, a mobile contact, a mobile contact carrier carrying said mobile contact and biased to a predetermined position which establishes a preselected positional relationship of said mobile contact with respect to said fixed contact, a bowed snap-acting temperature-sensitive element which below a predetermined temperature is bowed in a predetermined direction and which reserves its bowed curvature with a snap action when heated above said predetermined temperature, and a force-transmitting member acting between said temperature-sensitive element and said contact carrier for displacing the contact carrier from said predetermined position so as to change said preselected positional relationship of the mobile contact with respect to the fixed contact when said temperature-sensitive element reverses its curvature, the improvement which comprises an electrically energizable heater positioned in direct heat-conducting relationship to said temperature-sensitive element between the latter and said contact carrier, said temperature-sensitive element below said predetermined temperature is bowed to present a concave curvature at its high expansion side and a convex curvature at its low expansion side, and said high expansion side of the temperature-sensitive element faces toward the contact carrier, said temperature-sensitive element being a bimetallic member, said heater having an opening therein, said force-transmitting member being a plunger engaging said bimetallic member and passing through said opening in the heater, said contact carrier being a cantilever-mounted leaf spring which is biased to normally position said mobile contact in engagement with said fixed contact, and the cantilever-mounted end of the contact carrier is in direct, electrically-conductive engagement with the heater.

Claim 5

A switch according to claim 1, wherein mounted end of the contact carrier is in direct, electrically-conductive engagement with the heater.

Claim 6

A switch according to claim 1, and further comprising a dielectric support block supporting the mounted end of the contact carrier and the heater and providing a support for said temperature sensitive element.

Claim 7

A thermostatic switch comprising a rigid metal base, a rigid dielectric support block on said base, a stationary contact at one end of said support block, an electrically conductive contact seat supporting said stationary contact from the base, a mobile contact carrier cantilever-mounted on the opposite end of said support block, a mobile switch contact on the free end of said contact carrier in confronting relationship to said stationary contact, a temperature-sensitive snap-acting member mounted on said support block between the cantilever-mounted end of the contact carrier and the stationary contact, a plunger acting between said temperature sensitive member and the contact carrier to move the contact carrier in response to movement of the member, a main heater disposed between said temperature-sensitive member and said mobile contact carrier in conducting heat-transfer relationship to the member, and said mobile and stationary contacts coating through an aperture in said heater.

Claim 8

A thermostatic switch comprising a rigid metal base, a rigid dielectric support block on said base, a stationary contact at one end of said support block, an electrically conductive contact seat supporting said stationary contact from the base, a mobile contact carrier cantilever-mounted on the opposite end of said support block, a mobile switch contact on the free end of said contact carrier in confronting relationship to said stationary contact, a temperature-sensitive snap-acting member mounted on said support block between the cantilever-mounted end of the contact carrier and the stationary contact, a plunger acting between said temperature sensitive member and the contact carrier to move the contact carrier in response to movement of the member, a main heater disposed between said temperature-sensitive member and said mobile contact carrier in conducting heat-transfer relationship to the member, and said mobile and stationary contacts coating through an aperture in said heater.

Claim 9

A switch according to claim 5, wherein said main heater is attached to said support block at the cantilever-mounted end of the contact carrier.

Claim 10

A switch according to claim 9, wherein said main heater is attached to the support block in direct, electrically-conductive engagement with the cantilever-mounted end of the mobile contact carrier.