Thermally operated actuator device

Claim 2

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, said casing being of substantially cylindrical shape having a peripheral portion and a bottom portion, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing so as to be equally spaced from the interior surface of said peripheral portion and said bottom portion of said casing and capable of generating an electrical output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to detection of a predetermined temperature, and thermally conductive means including a material having a transition temperature at which said material changes physical states disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element for transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing to said temperature sensitive element in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place during said change in physical state, said predetermined temperature being near but not equal to said transition temperature whereby said signal output from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted therethrough to said element.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive material has a melting point lower than the maximum temperature which may be attained by said surrounding medium.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive material has a solidification point higher than said predetermined temperature of said temperature sensitive element.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive material has a specific heat higher than that of the surrounding medium.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive material consists of a plurality of substances.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 1, wherein said casing is tightly sealed and is provided therein with a spacing for accommodating the expansion of the thermally conductive material under the influence of heat can be permitted.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive material has a melting point lower than said predetermined temperature of said temperature sensitive element.

Claim 9

A thermally operated actuator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing is made of a low heat conductive material.

Claim 10

A thermally operated actuator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensitive element comprises a container suspended within said casing while being surrounded by said thermally conductive material, thermally expansible pellet material contained in said container, and a valving structure for generating a mechanical signal when said pellet material undergoes expansion upon receipt of the temperature transmitted thereto through the thermally conductive material and then said contaIner, said mechanical signal being utilized to operate the external instrument.

Claim 11

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing and capable of generating an output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to changes in temperature of said surrounding medium, and a thermally conductive material disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element, said material being capable of transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place, whereby said power output from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted therethrough to said element, wherein said temperature sensitive element comprises an electrical switching element capable of generating an electrical signal only when the temperature sensed by said switching element exceeds a preset value, said electrical signal being utilized to operate the external instrument.

Claim 12

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing and capable of generating an output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to changes in temperature of said surrounding medium, and a thermally conductive material disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element, said material being capable of transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place, whereby said power output from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted therethrough to said element, wherein said temperature sensitive element comprises an electrical switching element capable of generating an electrical signal only when the temperature sensed by said switching element exceeds a preset value, said electrical signal being utilized to operate the external instrument.

Claim 13

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing and capable of generating an output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to changes in temperature of said surrounding medium, a thermally conductive material disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element, said material being capable of transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place, and a plurality of gaseous layers disposed between said casing and said temperature sensitive element for additionally delaying the transmission of the temperature changes of said surrounding medium in cooperation with said thermally conductive material, whereby said output signal from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted to said element through said material and said gaseous layer.

Claim 14

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing and capable of generating an output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to changes in temperature of said surrounding medium, a thermally conductive material disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element, said material being capable of transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place, and a plurality of gaseous layers disposed between said casing and said temperature sensitive element for additionally delaying the transmission of the temperature changes of said surrounding medium in cooperation with said thermally conductive material, whereby said output signal from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted to said element through said material and said gaseous layer.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 11, wherein said gaseous layer is in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 11, wherein said thermally conductive material is disposed within the casing without contacting said temperature sensitive means while the gaseous layer is positioned therebetween.

Claim 17

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing and capable of generating an output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to changes in temperature of said surrounding medium, a thermally conductive material disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element, said material being capable of transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place, and at least one gaseous layer disposed between said casing and said temperature sensitive element for additionally delaying the transmission of the temperature changes of said surrounding medium in cooperation with said thermally conductive material, whereby said output signal from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted to said element through said material and said gaseous layer, wherein a container is accommodated within said casing, said thermally conductive material and said temperature sensitive element being arranged within said container, and said gaseous layer is diSposed between said casing and said container.

Claim 18

A thermally operated actuator device comprising a casing to be in contact with a surrounding medium the temperature of which is to be detected, a temperature sensitive element suspended within said casing and capable of generating an output signal which may be utilized to operate an external instrument in response to changes in temperature of said surrounding medium, a thermally conductive material disposed in said casing surrounding said temperature sensitive element, said material being capable of transmitting the changes in temperature of said surrounding medium present outside said casing in a delayed manner with respect to the time at which said temperature changes actually take place, and at least one gaseous layer disposed between said casing and said temperature sensitive element for additionally delaying the transmission of the temperature changes of said surrounding medium in cooperation with said thermally conductive material, whereby said output signal from said element can be generated only when and after said temperature changes have been transmitted to said element through said material and said gaseous layer, wherein a container is accommodated within said casing, said thermally conductive material and said temperature sensitive element being arranged within said container, and said gaseous layer is diSposed between said casing and said container.

Claim 19

A thermally operated actuator device capable of indicating prescribed temperature levels in a delayed manner, comprising a thermally conductive material having a transition temperature at which said material changes physical states, and temperature sensing means immersed in said material for producing an indication in response to detection of a predetermined temperature near said transition temperature but not equal thereto, so that a change in temperature of said thermally conductive material to said predetermined temperature through said transition temperature will produce actuation of said temperature sensing means with a delay equal to the transition time of the material.

Claim 20

A thermally operated actuator device capable of indicating prescribed temperature levels in a delayed manner, comprising a thermally conductive material having a transition temperature at which said material changes physical states, and temperature sensing means immersed in said material for producing an indication in response to detection of a predetermined temperature near said transition temperature but not equal thereto, so that a change in temperature of said thermally conductive material to said predetermined temperature through said transition temperature will produce actuation of said temperature sensing means with a delay equal to the transition time of the material.

Claim 21

A thermally operated actuator device as defined in claim 15, wherein said temperature sensing means comprises an electrical switching element capable of generating an electrical signal only when the temperature of said material equals said predetermined temperature.

Claim 22

A thermally operated actuator device as defined in claim 15, wherein said thermally conductive material is disposed within a casing and said temperature sensing means comprises a temperature sensitive element which is sensitive to said predetermined temperature.

Claim 23

A thermally operated actuator device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said temperature sensitive element comprises a container suspended within said casing while being surrounded by said thermally conductive material, thermally expansible pellet material contained in said container, and a valving structure for generating a mechanical signal when said pellet material undergoes expansion upon receipt of the temperature transmitted thereto through the thermally conductive material and then said container.

Claim 24

A thermally operated actuator device as defined in claim 17, wherein said thermally conductive material is spaced from said casing so as to provide a gaseous layer therebetween for additionally delaying the transmission of temperature changes to said temperature sensitive element in cooperation with said thermally conductive material.

Claim 25

A device according to claim 19, wherein a container is accommodated within said casing, said thermally conductive material and said temperature sensitive element being arranged within said container, and said gaseous layer is disposed between said casing and said container.

Claim 26

A device according to claim 19, wherein said gaseous layer is in communication with the atmosphere.