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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7545251 | Micro-electromechanical actuator A micro-electromechanical actuator includes a pair of elongate layers capable of being heated with an electrical current to thermally expand and to perform work. A pair of spacers separates the elongate layers from each other. The spacers are arranged at respective ... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7301434 | Thermally responsive electrical switch A motor protector (10) is shown having an elongated generally cup-shaped metallic housing (12) formed by a top wall (12a) and a side wall (12b) extending down from the perimeter of the top walls, the free end of which is wel... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7112362 | Thermally movable plastic devices and toys In accordance with the invention, thin bodies of plastic, such as sheets or strands, with substantially different thermal coefficients of expansion are laminated together to make plastic bodies which move in response to heat. The movable plastic bodies can be secure... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7102481 | Low current electric motor protector A low current motor protector (10, 10′) has an oblong metal housing (12) defining a switch chamber and formed with an open end. The housing has opposing flange portions extending transversely from the open end. Spaced apart lid portions (18... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7075403 | Motor protector particularly useful with hermetic electromotive compressors A protector (1) has a metal header (30) that mounts a first terminal (31) and a second terminal (32) electrically isolated from one another. A metallic housing (10) is fixed to the header (30) and forms a chamber. A stationa... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7059035 | Method for forming a bimetallic actuator A method for post-fabrication modification of the snap actuation properties of a thermally responsive bimetallic actuator by exposing a pre-formed bimetallic actuator to laser energy, thereby permanently altering the thermal response properties of the bimetallic act... | 06/13/2006 |
| 6995647 | Low current electric motor protector A low current motor protector (10, 10′) has an oblong metal housing (12) defining a switch chamber and formed with an open end. The housing has opposing flange portions extending transversely from the open end. Spaced apart lid portions (18... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6762668 | Laser adjusted set-point of bimetallic thermal disc A thermal switch having a thermally, responsive bimetallic member that exhibits a snap-action response and a pair of relatively movable contacts positioned relative to the thermally responsive bimetallic member such that the thermally responsive bimetallic member is... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6756876 | Circuit interrupter and method A current interrupter (10, 10′) includes bimetallic member (18) as a switching member having a formed portion (18a) providing snap action movement between oppositely dished configurations. An integrally formed extended length portion ( | 06/29/2004 |
| 6621402 | Circuit breaker A circuit breaker includes a housing having a rim defining an open top and having a closed bottom defining two slots. A button is pivotally connected to the housing at the open top and is pivotal relative to the housing between two extreme positions. A fi... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6621403 | Overload tripping device for circuit breaker An overload tripping device includes a temperature-compensating bimetal operating as a tripping lever and interposed between an output lever of a differential shifter mechanism linked with a main bimetal and a latch receiver of an opening-and-closing mech... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6580351 | Laser adjusted set-point of bimetallic thermal disc A method for post-fabrication modification of the snap actuation properties of a thermally responsive bimetallic actuator by exposing a pre-formed bimetallic actuator to laser energy, thereby permanently altering the thermal response properties of the bim... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6552645 | Bimetallic actuator for electronic components and other devices A calibrated bimetallic actuator has contoured areas having either raised or recessed generally annular shaped forms about the locations thereon where the actuator is affixed in assembled position on associated electronic components or other devices or wh... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6515569 | Circuit breaker with bypass conductor commutating current out of the bimetal during short circuit interruption and method of commutating current out of bimetal The high transient current sustained by arcing during opening of the main contacts of a miniature circuit breaker is commutated out of the bimetal by deflection of the bimetal in response to the overcurrent to close secondary contacts on the free end of t... | 02/04/2003 |
| 6483418 | Creep acting miniature thermostatic electrical switch and thermostatic member used therewith A creep acting thermostatic switch (30) has an oblong, electrically conductive cup-shaped housing (32) formed with a side wall (32b) extending upwardly from a bottom wall (32a). A generally J-shaped creep acting thermostatic member (38) has a short leg (3... | 11/19/2002 |
| 5920251 | Reusable fuse using current limiting polymer Low voltage current limiting fuses wherein the conventional fusible element is replaced. The fuses of the invention are resettable manually or automatically such that the fuse need not be physically replaced following a fault current or overload current o... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5870013 | Thermally controlled electrical switching device having a snap-action switch The invention relates to a thermally controlled electrical switching device including a temperature control (1) having a snap-action switch (2) including a fixed contact (4) and a movable contact (3) connected to a metal snap-action switching spring (9), ... | 02/09/1999 |
| 5808539 | Temperature responsive snap acting control assembly, device using such assembly and method for making A snap acting thermostatic disc assembly having a thermostatic disc element (20) responsive both to current and to ambient temperature is provided with an electrical contact (22) on a face surface on the disc element at one end thereof and a weld slug (24... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5594330 | Movement actuator/sensor systems A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, fo... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5481184 | Movement actuator/sensor systems A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, fo... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5194842 | Thermostat device A thermostat device having a temperature responsive bimetal which permits movement of a permanent magnet between two fixed points to activate a reed switch element. The device includes a magnetic shunt for effecting a positive off position.... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5077535 | Thermostatic switch with sinuous bimetal blade A thermostatic switch has a bimetallic member formed with an undulated section for causing both an axial and a radial displacement of the bimetallic member such that each time the member expands a first contact wipes across a second contact. By providing ... | 12/31/1991 |
| 4812799 | Miniature circuit breaker with improved longevity A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts throug... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4682141 | Dynamically optimized thermostat (dot) with tunable bimetal element A tuning element for a temperature responsive switch includes a bimetal assembly in the form of an elongated, relatively flat bimetal strip with bending action and including integral tuning webs for adjusting the thermodynamic properties of the element. M... | 07/21/1987 |
| 4600164 | Safety seat belt system and latch release mechanism used therein An over-the-shoulder automotive safety seat belt system having a latch providing a tensionless comfort setting for the belt during use and having remotely operable thermostat metal means to release the latch and permit automatic belt retraction after use ... | 07/15/1986 |
| 4537365 | Safety seat belt system and latch release mechanism used therein An over-the-shoulder automotive safety seat belt system having a latch providing a tensionless comfort setting for the belt during use and having remotely operable thermostat metal means to release the latch and permit automatic belt retraction after use ... | 08/27/1985 |
| 4532488 | Electric motor protection switches An overload protection switch for an electric motor comprises a bimetallic switch-actuating element carrying a moving contact of the switch, a first terminal part having an extension which defines a mounting for the bimetal, and a second terminal part hav... | 07/30/1985 |
| 4507642 | Snap-acting thermally-responsive bimetallic actuators A snap-acting thermally-responsive actuator for an electric switch comprises a pear-shaped dished bimetallic blade having a U-shaped cut-out defining a tongue extending from its root or attached end at the larger end of the pear-shaped blade axially of th... | 03/26/1985 |
| 4236136 | Tripping device for an overload circuit breaker An overload circuit breaker has a housing and a tripping device supported in the housing and having a helically wound, current-carrying bimetal strip composed of two face-to-face arranged metal components situated, respectively, at the inside and at the o... | 11/25/1980 |
| 4160226 | Snap-acting thermally responsive actuators A snap-acting thermally responsive actuator comprises a bimetal sheet having a U-shaped aperture defining a tongue, the sheet having been deformed to a domed configuration in a die pressing operation so that the actuator reverses its curvature with a snap... | 07/03/1979 |
| 4159155 | Bimetal circuit breaker A bimetal circuit breaker comprises a frame and a plate-like bimetal component which includes a base part, two U-shaped legs each having a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a U-shaped connecting portion. Each first leg portion is attached to the... | 06/26/1979 |
| 4152998 | Method for forming snap-acting thermally responsive actuators A method of forming a snap-acting thermally responsive bimetallic actuator comprising forming, from sheet bimetal, a member having an aperture with an arcuate outer perimeter and an inner perimeter defining a tongue free at one end, said free end being cl... | 05/08/1979 |
| 4105986 | Distribution transformer secondary circuit interrupter having an improved bimetal A circuit breaker particularly adapted for use in an oil filled distribution transformer includes an improved bimetal trip actuator which exhibits greater deflection for a given degree of power dissipation. The trip actuator includes a planar bimetal elem... | 08/08/1978 |
| 4090163 | Elongated snap-acting bimetal element An elongated bimetal member has a transverse curvature opposing temperature warp and a longitudinal curvature aiding temperature warp. The transverse curvature maintains the member straight in a longitudinal direction until the sum of the longitudinal tem... | 05/16/1978 |
| 4041432 | Motor protector for high temperature applications and thermostat material for use therein A motor protector for use in motors having a high operating temperature employs a snap-acting composite thermostat element to actuate the protector wherein the multilayer thermostatic material embodied in the element has an electrical resistivity value fr... | 08/09/1977 |
| 4000484 | Directly heated bimetallic strip for use in a thermal trip A directly heatable bimetallic strip which can be disposed to carry the load current through a thermal trip. The bimetallic strip comprises an elongate member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion compr... | 12/28/1976 |
| 3988708 | Controlled droop thermostat Limited droop thermostats in which a bimetal tongue extends from an end of the main ambient temperature-sensing bimetal. The tongue responds to heat emitted by the thermostat switch and acts to compensate for the incidental exposure of the main bimetal to... | 10/26/1976 |
