US4032877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protector for electric circuits
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1976-05-03
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1996-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A heat-sensitive protector, that is connectable into an electric circuit, has an elongated, effectively non-fusing element which performs the function of a connector as long as that protector is intact, and thereafter moves fron a retracted position to an extended position to perform the function of an indicator when that protector responds to heat to open that circuit. That element spans the full distance between the terminals of that heat-sensitive protector.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig L. McAlister, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H37/00; H01H37/74; H01H37/76; H01H37/761; H01H2037/762
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
470 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an elongated recess in said first terminal, said first terminal having an opening in the inner end of said recess, said second terminal having an opening therein, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains un-fused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having another portion thereof extending from said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal to said opening in said second terminal and having one end of said other portion lodged within said opening in said second terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having a further portion thereof extending from said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal into said recess in said first terminal, a spring which biases all portions of said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said end of said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement away from said opening in said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also biases said further portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement outwardly of said recess in said first terminal and hence for movement from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between the first said portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move all portions of said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said further portion of said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
470 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an elongated recess in said first terminal, said first terminal having an opening in the inner end of said recess, said second terminal having an opening therein, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains un-fused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having another portion thereof extending from said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal to said opening in said second terminal and having one end of said other portion lodged within said opening in said second terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having a further portion thereof extending from said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal into said recess in said first terminal, a spring which biases all portions of said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said end of said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement away from said opening in said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also biases said further portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement outwardly of said recess in said first terminal and hence for movement from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between the first said portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move all portions of said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said further portion of said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated current-conducting member is stiff and does not bend during the operation of said circuit-controlling device or during the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated current-conducting member is shorter than said housing, whereby the outer end of said further portion of said elongated current-conducting member is spaced inwardly of the outer end of said first terminal when said one end of said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member is lodged within said opening in said second terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated current-conducting member normally performs the function of a current-conducting member, and wherein said elongated current-conducting member performs the function of an indicator whenever said circuit-controlling device has opened said electric circuit, whereby said elongated current-conducting member performs a dual function during the operation of said circuit-controlling device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated current-conducting member has a surface thereon which can coact with a surface on said recess in said first terminal to prevent unlimited movement of said elongated current-conducting member outwardly from said recess in said first terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated current-conducting member is a one piece homogeneous member which spans the full distance between said opening at said inner end of said recess in said first terminal and said opening in said second terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
389 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an opening in said first terminal, said second terminal having an opening therein, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains un-fused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having another portion thereof extending from said opening in said first terminal to said opening in said second terminal and having one end of said other portion lodged within said opening in said second terminal, a spring which biases all portions of said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said end of said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement away from said opening in said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also biases said elongated current-conducting member from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between the first said portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move all portions of said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
389 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an opening in said first terminal, said second terminal having an opening therein, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains un-fused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having another portion thereof extending from said opening in said first terminal to said opening in said second terminal and having one end of said other portion lodged within said opening in said second terminal, a spring which biases all portions of said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said end of said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement away from said opening in said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also biases said elongated current-conducting member from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between the first said portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move all portions of said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
357 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an opening in said first terminal, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains unfused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having another portion thereof extending from said opening in said first terminal to said second terminal, a spring which biases all portions of said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also biases said elongated current-conducting member from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between the first said portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move all portions of said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
357 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an opening in said first terminal, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains unfused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member having another portion thereof extending from said opening in said first terminal to said second terminal, a spring which biases all portions of said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member for movement away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also biases said elongated current-conducting member from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between the first said portion of said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move all portions of said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said other portion of said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said elongated current-conducting member is stiff and does not bend during the operation of said circuit-controlling device or during the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said elongated current-conducting member normally performs the function of a current-conducting member, and wherein said elongated current-conducting member performs the function of an indicator whenever said circuit-controlling device has opened said electric circuit, whereby said elongated current-conducting member performs a dual function during the operation of said circuit-controlling device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said elongated current-conducting member has a surface thereon which can coact with a surface on said first terminal to prevent unlimited movement of said elongated current-conducting member outwardly from said first terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A circuit-controlling device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said opening in said first terminal is in the inner end of an elongated recess in said first terminal, wherein said elongated current-conducting member has an enlarged head that normally is disposed within said elongated recess in said first terminal, and wherein said enlarged head is located outwardly of said elongated recess in said first terminal whenever said elongated current-conducting member is in said extended position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
363 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an opening in said first terminal, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains unfused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member being a unitary homogeneous piece of metal which spans the distance between said second terminal and said opening in said first terminal, a spring which biases said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said elongated current-conducting member for circuit-opening movement away from said second terminal and thereby also biases said elongated current-conducting member from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond between said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position, one of said masses of heat softenable material relieving the major portion of the length of said elongated current-conducting member of stresses applied by said spring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
363 words
A circuit-controlling device which can be incorporated into an electric circuit to open said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches a predetermined value and which comprises a housing, a first terminal adjacent one end of said housing, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said housing, an opening in said first terminal, an elongated current-conducting member which is disposed within said housing and which remains unfused throughout the operation of said circuit-controlling device and throughout the opening of said electric circuit whenever the temperature of said circuit-controlling device reaches said predetermined value, said elongated current-conducting member having a portion thereof normally lodged within said opening in said first terminal, said elongated current-conducting member being a unitary homogeneous piece of metal which spans the distance between said second terminal and said opening in said first terminal, a spring which biases said elongated current-conducting member for movement relative to said housing and thereby biases said elongated current-conducting member for circuit-opening movement away from said second terminal and thereby also biases said elongated current-conducting member from a normally-retracted position toward an extended position, a mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond, between said elongated current-conducting member and said second terminal, and a second mass of heat softenable material which normally provides a mechanical connection, and normally helps provide an electrical bond between said elongated current-conducting member and said first terminal, said masses of heat softenable material and said elongated current-conducting member holding said electric circuit closed as long as the temperature of said circuit-controlling device does not exceed said predetermined value, both of said masses of heat softenable material responding to a temperature above said predetermined value to soften and thereby permit said spring to move said elongated current-conducting member axially relative to said housing and thereby move said elongated current-conducting member away from said second terminal to open said electric circuit and also to move said elongated current-conducting member to said extended position, one of said masses of heat softenable material relieving the major portion of the length of said elongated current-conducting member of stresses applied by said spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |