US4473859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piezoelectric circuit breaker
Assignee: PIEZO ELECTRIC PRODUCTS Inc 186 MASSACHUSETTS AVE CAMBRIDGE MA 02139 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1982-09-22
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Granted: 1984-09-25
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Expires: 2002-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A piezoelectric circuit breaker including: a line terminal and a load terminal; contact means interconnected between the terminals; means responsive to an increase in load current between the terminals for generating a voltage indicative of an overload current; and piezoelectric bender means responsive to the voltage for deflecting and opening the contact means.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Porter Stone
- 👤 Henry H. Kolm
- 👤 Eric A. Kolm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H55/00; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/12; H01H71/127; H02; H02H; H02H5/00; H02H5/04; H02H5/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A piezoelectric circuit breaker comprising: a line terminal and a load terminal; contact means interconnected between said terminals; thermal means, responsive to an increase in load current between said terminals, for generating a voltage indicative of an overload current; and piezoelectric bender means responsive to said voltage for deflecting and opening said contact means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A piezoelectric circuit breaker comprising: a line terminal and a load terminal; contact means interconnected between said terminals; thermal means, responsive to an increase in load current between said terminals, for generating a voltage indicative of an overload current; and piezoelectric bender means responsive to said voltage for deflecting and opening said contact means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A piezoelectric circuit breaker comprising: a fuse housing for installation in a fuse receptacle and having a load terminal and a line terminal; contact means in said housing interconnected between said terminals; thermal means in said housing, responsive to an increase in load current between said terminals, for generating a voltage indicative of an overload current; and piezoelectric bender means in said housing responsive to said voltage for deflecting and opening said contact means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A piezoelectric circuit breaker comprising: a fuse housing for installation in a fuse receptacle and having a load terminal and a line terminal; contact means in said housing interconnected between said terminals; thermal means in said housing, responsive to an increase in load current between said terminals, for generating a voltage indicative of an overload current; and piezoelectric bender means in said housing responsive to said voltage for deflecting and opening said contact means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 1 in which said means for generating a voltage includes a thermally responsive element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 3 in which said thermally responsive element includes a first thermistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 4 in which said first thermistor is in series between said terminals and increases in resistance with increasing temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 3 in which said thermally responsive element includes a bimetallic member, and said contact means includes one contact on said bimetallic member and one contact on said piezoelectric bender.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 4 further including a second thermistor disposed in thermally conductive relationship with said first thermistor and in which said second thermistor is energized to maintain a constant temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 7 in which said line terminal is connected with a first power line and said second thermistor is connected between said first line and a second line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 7 further including thermal insulation means surrounding said first and second thermistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 3 in which said line terminal is connected with a first power line and said means for generating a voltage includes a load resistance in series with said contact means and a thermistor connected between said first line and a second line and disposed in thermally conductive relationship with said load resistance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 10 in which said thermistor decreases in resistance with an increase in temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 11 in which said thermistor is connected with said second line through a voltage divider resistance for setting the circuit breaking threshold current level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 13 further including a capacitance connected across said voltage divider resistance for setting the delay between attainment of the threshold current level and the opening of said contact means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 1 further including means for latching said contact means in the open position effected by said piezoelectric bender.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 14 further including means for tripping said latch to enable said contact means to close.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The piezoelectric circuit breaker of claim 14 in which said means for latching includes spring means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The piezolectric circuit breaker of claim 16 in which said spring means are integral with said bender element.
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) | 1987-09-25 | 1988-03-26 | 1988-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-25 | 1992-03-26 | 1992-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-25 | 1996-03-26 | 1996-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |