Heat actuated link

Claim 2

A releasable fire link comprising a releasable member and gripping means, for engaging said releasable member in the normal position, and for releasing said releasable member in the activated position, said gripping means further comprising heat responsive means for causing said gripping means to move to the normal position in response to an ambient temperature and for causing said gripping means to move to the activated position in response to a preselected increase in said ambient temperature, said heat responsive means comprising means for mechanically amplifying the response of said gripping means to said increase in ambient temperature.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for mechanically amplifying the response of said gripping means comprises a serpentine bimetallic element.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2, wherein said gripping means further comprises a mounting element and wherein said serpentine bimetallic element further comprises a base portion connected to said mounting element, a mid-portion extending back over at least a part of said base portion, an end portion extending back over said mid-portion, and a tip portion comprising a substantially planar extension of said end portioN and having a pin protruding therefrom which, in the normal position, coacts with said mounting element to directly engage said releasable member.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3, wherein said mid-portion extends back over substantially all of said base portion, thereby facilitating a relatively low temperature of activation.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3, wherein said mid-portion extends back over only a small portion of said base portion, thereby facilitating a relatively high temperature of activation.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 3, wherein the axis of said pin is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said tip portion, and wherein the plane of said tip portion and the plane of said mounting element in the normal position converge slightly towards said releasable member, and wherein the plane of said tip portion and the plane of said mounting element in the actuated position are non-convergent towards said releasable member.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6, wherein said bimetallic element is formed from a bimetallic strip having a maximum width at the point of connection between said base portion and said first element and a minimum width at said tip.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 7, wherein the width of said bimetallic strip is tapered uniformly along its length.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 2, wherein a remotely controlled heating means for heating said heat responsive means is connected to said last mentioned means, thereby allowing said releasable member to be released from a remote location.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 9, wherein said releasable link further comprises a housing substantially surrounding said heat responsive means, thereby reducing the effect of ambient temperatures upon the condition of said releasable link.

Claim 12

A releasable fire link comprising a releasable member and a gripping means for normally engaging said releasable member and for releasing said releasable member in response to heating of said gripping means, said gripping means comprising a pin which in the normal position is oriented with its axis at an acute angle with respect to said releasable member and which moves towards a perpendicular orientation with respect to said releasable member upon the heating of the gripping means.

Claim 13

A releasable fire link comprising a releasable member and a gripping means for normally engaging said releasable member and for releasing said releasable member in response to heating of said gripping means, said gripping means comprising a pin which in the normal position is oriented with its axis at an acute angle with respect to said releasable member and which moves towards a perpendicular orientation with respect to said releasable member upon the heating of the gripping means.

Claim 14

A releasable fire link comprising a releasable member and a gripping means for normally engaging said releasable member and for releasing said releasable member in response to the heating of said gripping means, said gripping means comprising a serpentine bimetallic element and a mounting element, said bimetallic element having a base portion connected to said mounting element, a mid-portion extending back over at least a part of said base portion, an end portion extending back over said mid-portion, and a tip portion comprising a substantially planar extension of said end portion and having a pin protruding therefrom which in the normal position coacts with said mounting element to directly engage said releasable member, and wherein the axis of said pin is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said tip portion, and wherein the plane of said tip portion and the plane of said mounting element in the normal position converge slightly towards said releasable member wherein the plane of said tip portion and the plane of said mounting element in the heated position are non-convergent towards said releasable member and wherein said bimetallic element is formed from a bimetallic strip having a maximum width at the point of connection between said base portion and said first element and a minimum width at said tip and wherein said bimetallic strip is tapered uniformly along its length.

Claim 15

A releasable fire link comprising a releasable member and a gripping means for normally engaging said releasable member and for releasing said releasable member in response to the heating of said gripping means, said gripping means comprising a serpentine bimetallic element and a mounting element, said bimetallic element having a base portion connected to said mounting element, a mid-portion extending back over at least a part of said base portion, an end portion extending back over said mid-portion, and a tip portion comprising a substantially planar extension of said end portion and having a pin protruding therefrom which in the normal position coacts with said mounting element to directly engage said releasable member, and wherein the axis of said pin is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said tip portion, and wherein the plane of said tip portion and the plane of said mounting element in the normal position converge slightly towards said releasable member wherein the plane of said tip portion and the plane of said mounting element in the heated position are non-convergent towards said releasable member and wherein said bimetallic element is formed from a bimetallic strip having a maximum width at the point of connection between said base portion and said first element and a minimum width at said tip and wherein said bimetallic strip is tapered uniformly along its length.