Condition responsive systems

Claim 2

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and switch means responsive to changes in the output signal of said piezoelectric crystal means.

Claim 3

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and control means operable in response to the signal from said piezoelectric crystal means and comprising a relay including a pair of switch contacts and a coil energized by the signal from the piezoelectric crystal means for controlling the actuation of said contacts between opened and closed positions.

Claim 4

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and control means operable in response to the signal from said piezoelectric crystal means and comprising a relay including a pair of switch contacts and a coil energized by the signal from the piezoelectric crystal means for controlling the actuation of said contacts between opened and closed positions.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2 including reset means for said relay.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 wherein the switch contacts are actuated by an armature controlled by the coil, and wherein the reset means includes reed means on the armature and plunger means movable into contact with the reed means to reset the switch contacts.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 including a power receptacle for receiving a plug therein, and said plunger extending into said receptacle for actuation by insertion of the plug into the receptacle to effect the reset.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 2 including another coil in flux aiding relationship with said relay coil; and means for providing energization to said another coil.

Claim 9

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means haaving a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movalbe end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; means generating a voltage proportional to said signal from the piezoelectric crystal means, and amplifier means providing an output signal in response to said proportional voltage.

Claim 10

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means haaving a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movalbe end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; means generating a voltage proportional to said signal from the piezoelectric crystal means, and amplifier means providing an output signal in response to said proportional voltage.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7 including pressure means operable on said piezoelectric crystal means for establishing an initial signal level from said piezoelectric signal means.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 including means adjustably positioning said pressure means relative to said piezoelectric crystal means.

Claim 13

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with prEssure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and thermal load means proximate said bimetal means.

Claim 14

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with prEssure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and thermal load means proximate said bimetal means.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 wherein said thermal load means comprise a pair of thermally conductive plate members.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 11 including means adjustably positioning said thermal load means relative to said bimetal means.

Claim 17

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and alarm means controlled by the signal from said piezoelectric crystal means providing an indication as to the occurrence of an excessive thermal condition.

Claim 18

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and alarm means controlled by the signal from said piezoelectric crystal means providing an indication as to the occurrence of an excessive thermal condition.

Claim 19

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and means for transmitting pressure changes from said bimetal means to said piezoelectric crystal means comprising a somewhat flexible V-shaped bracket member.

Claim 20

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and means for transmitting pressure changes from said bimetal means to said piezoelectric crystal means comprising a somewhat flexible V-shaped bracket member.

Claim 21

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate, electrically conductive bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and means establishing a current flow through said bimetal means whereby said bimetal means is responsive to heat generated therein by said current flow.

Claim 22

A thermally responsive system comprising: piezoelectric crystal means producing an output signal in accordance with pressure applied thereto; anchor means disposed in spaced relation to said piezoelectric crystal means; arcuate, electrically conductive bimetal means having a curvature defined by one end fixed to said anchor means and a movable end restrained by said piezoelectric crystal means for applying pressure thereto in accordance with a tendency to vary curvature in response to variations of a thermal condition; and means establishing a current flow through said bimetal means whereby said bimetal means is responsive to heat generated therein by said current flow.

Claim 25

The invention of claim 16 wherein the means for reducing load current includes a switch in series with said load which opens in response to the signal from said piezoelectric crystal achieving a particular value to terminate the flow of load current.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 17 including a coil energized by the signal from the piezoelectric crystal for opening said switch in response to the signal achieving said particular value.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 18 including an armature controlled by said coil for opening said switch, and reset means for reclosing said switch.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 19 wherein the reset means incluDes a reed attached to said armature and a plunger movable into contact with said reed for retracting the armature.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 20 including a power receptacle having a pair of contacts for energizing the load through a plug inserted therein, and means connecting said bimetal means in series with said contacts, said switch and the source of power for the load.

Claim 30

The invention of claim 21 wherein said reset plunger extends into said power receptacle and is operated by insertion of the plunger into the power receptacle to reset the switch and thereby complete the series circuit enabling current flow therein.

Claim 31

The invention of claim 16 including a thermal member located proximate said bimetal means, said thermal member acting as a thermal load to said bimetal means.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 23 including means adjustably positioning said thermal member relative to said bimetal means to thereby vary the thermal loading.

Claim 33

The invention of claim 16 including pressure means applying a predetermined initial pressure to said piezoelectric crystal to thereby cause an initial signal to be produced thereby.

Claim 34

The invention of claim 25 wherein said pressure means comprises at least one pressure plate, and adjustable means supporting said at least one pressure plate against said piezoelectric crystal.

Claim 35

The invention of claim 16 wherein said bimetal means includes an arcuate element having a pair of ends, with one end abutting said piezoelectric crystal and the other end fixedly anchored.

Claim 36

The invention of claim 18 including flux generating means proximate said coil for establishing an initial flux level for enabling actuation of said contacts.

Claim 37

The invention of claim 28 wherein said flux generating means comprises another coil, and including means for providing energization to said coil.

Claim 38

The invention of claim 18 including amplifier means responsive to the signal from said piezoelectric crystal for controlling the energization of said coil.

Claim 41

The invention of claim 31 wherein said switch means comprises a relay including a pair of switch contacts, an armature controlling said switch contacts, and a coil energized by the signal from the piezoelectric crystal for actuating said armature.

Claim 42

The invention of claim 32 including a reset plunger and flexible reed means on said armature and operable by said plunger to retract said armature thereby closing said switch means.

Claim 43

The invention of claim 33 wherein said plunger extends into said power receptacle and is operable to reset the switch means by the insertion of said plug into said receptacle.

Claim 44

The invention of claim 31 wherein said bimetal means comprises an arcuate element having a pair of ends, one end of which is fixed and the other being movable against said piezoelectric crystal.