Nonresettable thermally actuated switch

Claim 2

A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a case of electrically conductive material, first power lead means electrically connected to said case, second power lead means, means securing said second lead means relative to said case in electrically insulated relation to said case, a deformable connector of electrically conductive material in electrical engagement with said second lead means and normally in electrical engagement with said case to complete the electrical circuit between said first and second lead means, a cup-shaped separator of rigid electrically insulating material having an open end and an edge around said open end, a normally solid body of material fusible at a selected temperature disposed in said cup-shaped separator, a force spreader member of a size slidable in said cup-shaped separator normally disposed in engagement with said solid body of fusible material at said open end of said cupshaped separator, and spring means biasing said separator to normally press said force spreAder member via said fusible body against said connector to permit said connector to maintain said circuit while said fusible body is solid and for moving said separator when said fusible material is heated to said selected temperature to allow said force spreader member to move into said separator and to move said separator edge into engagement with said connector to deform and to separate said connector from said case to break said circuit.

Claim 3

A switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said force spreader member normally extends a selected distance into said open end of said separator.

Claim 4

A switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said force spreader member is of a size to substantially fill said open separator end while permitting said fusible material to move around said force spreader member when said fusible material is heated to said selected temperature.

Claim 5

A switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cup-shaped separator has a selected cup depth for permitting movement of said separator in response to bias of said spring means to abut said separator edge with said second lead securing means for enclosing said connector in said separator to isolate said connector from said case in breaking said circuit.

Claim 6

A switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means securing said second lead means relative to said case comprises a stop formed on said second lead and an electrical insulator having a central bore therethrough for reception of said second lead, said insulator having an inner face engageable by said stop thereby to prevent movement of said second lead in outward direction relative to said insulator, said insulator and said second lead being insertable in one end of said case so that the end of the second lead extends into said case beyond the inner face of said insulator and engages said connector means and compresses said spring means via said force spreader member, said fusible body and said separator to a selected preload condition, said insulator being secured relative to said case in position there-within to maintain said spring means in said preload condition.

Claim 7

A nonresettable thermally actuated switch as set forth in claim 5 wherein the case includes an abutment there-within engageable with said insulator for preventing inward movement of the insulator beyond a selected position within the case.

Claim 8

A nonresettable thermally actuated switch as set forth in claim 6 wherein said case is deformed inwardly adjacent the outer face of said insulator thereby to positively secure the insulator in said selected position within the case.

Claim 9

A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a generally cylindrical case of electrically conductive material, having an open end and a closed end, a first power lead electrically connected to said case, a second power lead having a stop portion intermediate the ends of said second lead, an insulator ring having a central bore receiving said second lead and having a face engaging said second lead stop, said ring being disposed in said open case end with said face facing inwardly of said case, said case being deformed at said open case end for securing said ring relative to said case disposing said second lead in electrically insulated relation to said case, a deformable connector of electrically conductive material in electrical engagement with said second lead and normally in electrical engagement with said case to complete a circuit between said first and second leads, a cup-shaped separation of rigid electrically insulating material having an open end, having an edge around said open end and having a selected depth disposed within said case, a normally solid body of material fusible at a selected temperature disposed in said separator, a force spreader member of a size slidable in said separator normally disposed in engagement with said solid body of fusible material at said open end of said separator, and spring means disposed between said separator and said closed case end biasing said separator to normally press said force spreader member via said fusible body against said connector to permit said connector to maintain said circuit while said fusible body is solid and for moving said separator when said fusible material is heated to said selected temperature to allow said force spreader member to move into said separator and to move said separator edge between said connector and case to abut said ring to deform said connector and to isolate said connector from said case to break said circuit.

Claim 10

A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a generally cylindrical case of electrically conductive material, having an open end and a closed end, a first power lead electrically connected to said case, a second power lead having a stop portion intermediate the ends of said second lead, an insulator ring having a central bore receiving said second lead and having a face engaging said second lead stop, said ring being disposed in said open case end with said face facing inwardly of said case, said case being deformed at said open case end for securing said ring relative to said case disposing said second lead in electrically insulated relation to said case, a deformable connector of electrically conductive material in electrical engagement with said second lead and normally in electrical engagement with said case to complete a circuit between said first and second leads, a cup-shaped separation of rigid electrically insulating material having an open end, having an edge around said open end and having a selected depth disposed within said case, a normally solid body of material fusible at a selected temperature disposed in said separator, a force spreader member of a size slidable in said separator normally disposed in engagement with said solid body of fusible material at said open end of said separator, and spring means disposed between said separator and said closed case end biasing said separator to normally press said force spreader member via said fusible body against said connector to permit said connector to maintain said circuit while said fusible body is solid and for moving said separator when said fusible material is heated to said selected temperature to allow said force spreader member to move into said separator and to move said separator edge between said connector and case to abut said ring to deform said connector and to isolate said connector from said case to break said circuit.