Manual reset thermostat

Claim 2

A thermostat comprising a body assembly, switch means in said body assembly including a fixed contact and a mobile contact movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along a line of action with snap movement between an operated position and a reset position, a unitary bumper in said body assembly having a first surface engageable with said disc and a second surface engageable with said mobile contact, said bumper operating said switch means when said disc moves between said reset position and said operated position, a reset member movable in said body toward and away from said disc between a retracted position and an actuated position, stop means including a surface of said body assembly engageable by a cooperating surface of the reset member preventing movement of said reset meMber toward said disc beyond said actuated position, said reset member including a face engageable with a portion of said bumper upon movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position, said reset member thereby causing movement of said bumper towards said disc, such movement of said bumper producing movement of said disc towards said reset position without causing said switch means to close when said disc is not at a reset temperature.

Claim 3

A thermostat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body assembly includes a central wall which cooperates with said bumper to separate two switch chambers, similar switch means are provided with one located in each switch chamber, and said wall and bumper are formed with mating guide surfaces which guide said bumper for movement along said line of action.

Claim 4

A thermostat as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide surfaces include a pair of projections on said bumper extending a substantial distance in the direction of said line of action and a pair of mating recesses formed in said central wall.

Claim 5

A thermostat as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bumper is formed with opposed lateral projections extending into said switch chambers, each projection providing a surface engageable with an associated mobile contact.

Claim 6

A thermostat comprising a body assembly, switch means in said body assembly including a fixed contact and a mobile contact movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along a line of action with snap movement between an operated position and a reset position, a unitary bumper in said body assembly having a first surface engageable with said disc and a second surface engageable with said mobile contact, said bumper operating said switch means when said disc moves between said reset position and said operated position, a reset member movable in said body toward and away from said disc between a retracted position and an actuated position, stop means preventing movement of said reset member toward said disc beyond said actuated position, means engaged by said reset member upon movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position, said engaged means causing movement of said bumper towards said disc, such movement of said bumper producing movement of said disc towards said reset position without causing said switch means to close when said disc is not at a reset temperature, said body assembly including a central wall which cooperates with said bumper to separate two switch chambers, similar switch means located in each switch chamber, said wall and bumper having mating side surfaces which guide said bumper for movement along said line of action, said bumper having opposed lateral projections extending into said switch chambers, each projection providing a surface engageable with an associated mobile contact, said stop means being provided by a lateral surface on said central wall which extends a substantial distance on opposite sides of said bumper.

Claim 7

A thermostat comprising a body assembly, switch means in said body assembly including a fixed contact and a mobile contact movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along a line of action with snap movement between an operated position and a reset position, a unitary bumper in said body assembly having a first surface engageable with said disc and a second surface engageable with said mobile contact, said bumper operating said switch means when said disc moves between said reset position and said operated position, a reset member movable in said body toward and away from said disc between a retracted position and an actuated position, stop means preventing movement of said reset member toward said disc beyond said actuated position, means engaged by said reset member upon movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position, said engaged means causing movement of said bumper towards said disc, such movement of said bumper producing movement of said disc towards said reset position without causing said switch means to close when said disc is not at a reset temperature, said body assembly including a central wall which cooperates with said bumper to separate two switch chambers, similar switch means located in each switch chamber, said wall and bumper having mating side surfaces which guide said bumper for movement along said line of action, said bumper having opposed lateral projections extending into said switch chambers, each projection providing a surface engageable with an associated mobile contact, said stop means being provided by a lateral surface on said central wall which extends a substantial distance on opposite sides of said bumper.

Claim 8

A thermostat as set forth in claim 5 wherein each switch means includes a pair of spaced fixed contacts, and said mobile contact is a bridging contact engageable with said fixed contact to provide an electrical connection therebetween.

Claim 9

A thermostat as set forth in claim 6 wherein said projections extend between the associated fixed contacts.

Claim 10

A thermostat as set forth in claim 7 wherein each switch means includes a spring extending between said bridging contact and said reset member, said spring urging the associated bridging contact toward its associated fixed contacts and said reset member toward its retracted position.

Claim 11

A thermostat as set forth in claim 8 wherein said reset member is provided with depending projections extending along both sides of said central wall, said depending projections cooperating with said body assembly to entrap said bridging contacts in proper position.

Claim 12

A thermostat as set forth in claim 9 wherein said depending projections extend along opposite sides of said central wall in all positions of said reset member and cooperate to insure complete isolation of said switch chambers.

Claim 13

A thermostat as set forth in claim 10 wherein said body assembly is provided with a lateral wall with an opening therein, said bumper extending through said opening with a close fit, said lateral wall and said bumper cooperating to isolate said disc from said switch means.

Claim 14

A thermostat comprising a body assembly, switch means in said body assembly including a fixed contact and a mobile contact movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along a line of action with snap movement between an operated position and a reset position, a unitary bumper in said body assembly having a first surface engageable with said disc and a second surface engageable with said mobile contact, said bumper operating said switch means when said disc moves between said reset position and said operated position, a reset member movable in said body toward and away from said disc between a retracted position and an actuated position, stop means preventing movement of said reset member toward said disc beyond said actuated position, means engaged by said reset member upon movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position, said engaged means causing movement of said bumper towards said disc, such movement of said bumper producing movement of said disc towards said reset position without causing said switch means to close when said disc is not at a reset temperature, said body assembly including a central wall which cooperates with said bumper to separate two switch chambers, similar switch means located in each switch chamber, said wall and bumper having mating side surfaces which guide said bumper for movement along said line of action, said reset member including depending projections extending along both sides of said central wall in all positions of said reset member, said depending projections cooperating with said body assembly and bumper to isolate said switch chambers.

Claim 15

A thermostat comprising a body assembly, switch means in said body assembly including a fixed contact and a mobile contact movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along a line of action with snap movement between an operated position and a reset position, a unitary bumper in said body assembly having a first surface engageable with said disc and a second surface engageable with said mobile contact, said bumper operating said switch means when said disc moves between said reset position and said operated position, a reset member movable in said body toward and away from said disc between a retracted position and an actuated position, stop means preventing movement of said reset member toward said disc beyond said actuated position, means engaged by said reset member upon movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position, said engaged means causing movement of said bumper towards said disc, such movement of said bumper producing movement of said disc towards said reset position without causing said switch means to close when said disc is not at a reset temperature, said body assembly including a central wall which cooperates with said bumper to separate two switch chambers, similar switch means located in each switch chamber, said wall and bumper having mating side surfaces which guide said bumper for movement along said line of action, said reset member including depending projections extending along both sides of said central wall in all positions of said reset member, said depending projections cooperating with said body assembly and bumper to isolate said switch chambers.

Claim 16

A thermostat as set forth in claim 12 wherein said body assembly is provided with a lateral wall with an opening therethrough, said bumper extending through said opening with a close fit, said lateral wall and said bumper cooperating to isolate said disc from said switch means.

Claim 17

A thermostat comprising a body assembly having a central axis, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along said axis with snap action between a reset position and an operated position, a pair of similar switches symmetrically mounted with respect to said central axis on said body assembly, each switch including a contact movable to cause opening and closing of the associated switch, an elongated unitary bumper mounted in said body for movement along said central axis, a reset member mounted in said body for limited movement along said central axis between a retracted position and an actuated position, one end of said bumper engaging said central portion of said disc, the opposite end of said bumper being engageable with said reset member when said reset member is in said actuated position, said bumper being formed with a pair of lateral surfaces each engageable with one of said contacts, movement of said disc between said reset and operated positions causing said bumper to operate said switches after said disc is in snap movement, movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position causing movement of said bumper toward said disc and thereby causing said bumper to move said disc toward said reset position without causing operation of said switches so long as said disc is not at a reset temperature.

Claim 18

A thermostat comprising a body assembly having a central axis, a bimetallic snap disc in said body assembly having a central portion movable along said axis with snap action between a reset position and an operated position, a pair of similar switches symmetrically mounted with respect to said central axis on said body assembly, each switch including a contact movable to cause opening and closing of the associated switch, an elongated unitary bumper mounted in said body for movement along said central axis, a reset member mounted in said body for limited movement along said central axis between a retracted position and an actuated position, one end of said bumper engaging said central portion of said disc, the opposite end of said bumper being engageable with said reset member when said reset member is in said actuated position, said bumper being formed with a pair of lateral surfaces each engageable with one of said contacts, movement of said disc between said reset and operated positions causing said bumper to operate said switches after said disc is in snap movement, movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is in said operated position causing movement of said bumper toward said disc and thereby causing said bumper to move said disc toward said reset position without causing operation of said switches so long as said disc is not at a reset temperature.

Claim 19

A thermostat as sEt forth in claim 14 wherein such movement of said reset member to said actuated position when said disc is at a reset temperature causes said disc to move to said reset position and causes operation of said switches.

Claim 20

A thermostat as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lateral surfaces of said bumper are intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 21

A thermostat as set forth in claim 15 wherein said body assembly, bumper and reset member cooperate to define isolated switch chambers each of which encloses a switch and an isolated disc cavity which encloses said disc.