Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 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 |
| 7024940 | Force measurement of bimetallic thermal disc An apparatus and method for determining the actuation energy generated by a bimetallic actuator during transit between first and second states of stability. The apparatus and method further determining the threshold or set-point temperature of the bimetallic actuato... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6507266 | Thermal relay provided with a spring blade mechanism The invention concerns an electromechanical protective relay comprising deformable bimetal switches in the event of overload in power lines. A triggering mechanism acts on a flexible blistering segment (20) which can pivot by means of a support (30) on a ... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6158664 | Bimetallic steam trap The bimetallic plates of the steam trap disclosed each comprise three same-direction active arms next to one another extending transversely to a center line. On the center line two active arms extend in opposite directions to one another and transversely ... | 12/12/2000 |
| 4970485 | Snap action thermal actuator A snap action thermal actuator utilizes a pair of mechanically coupled bimetallic members having different temperature characteristics to provide a fast and positive snap action thermal actuator even when a low temperature differential is required. The ac... | 11/13/1990 |
| 4942381 | Driving element with a thin part, deformable in the direction of its thickness Driving element (1) comprising a thin part (2) provided with a zone, ductile in the direction of its thickness in such a way as to occupy at least two positions, in at least one of which said zone is arc-shaped, at least one tab (3, 4) fixed at one end to... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4345234 | Multiple element thermal actuator A thermal actuator includes a housing containing a stack of deformable discs. A spring maintains a movable follower in engagement with the disc at the end of the stack. At least some of the discs are active snap-acting thermostatic bimetallic discs with f... | 08/17/1982 |
| 4339740 | Thermally responsive switches A thermally responsive electric switch including two dimensionally identical, bimetallic, snap-over, part-spherical, thermally responsive actuating elements 9, 11, arranged in a nesting, contacting relationship within the end portion 7 of a housing. The f... | 07/13/1982 |
| 4231512 | Thermostat An improved thermostat having two modes of operation selected by a pressure signal from a central source, which includes a separate set point for each mode of operation. Each set point has a scale which is clearly visible without removal of any parts of t... | 11/04/1980 |
