US3221126A - Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means - Google Patents

Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3221126A
US3221126A US279104A US27910463A US3221126A US 3221126 A US3221126 A US 3221126A US 279104 A US279104 A US 279104A US 27910463 A US27910463 A US 27910463A US 3221126 A US3221126 A US 3221126A
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United States
Prior art keywords
housing
arm
contact
metal
lever
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Expired - Lifetime
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US279104A
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English (en)
Inventor
Moro Antonio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fratelli Borletti SpA
Borletti SpA
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Borletti SpA
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Publication date
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Publication of US3221126A publication Critical patent/US3221126A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H37/00—Thermally-actuated switches
    • H01H37/02—Details
    • H01H37/32—Thermally-sensitive members
    • H01H37/52—Thermally-sensitive members actuated due to deflection of bimetallic element
    • H01H37/54—Thermally-sensitive members actuated due to deflection of bimetallic element wherein the bimetallic element is inherently snap acting

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a thermally controlled electrical switch with a metallic housing of the type in which the movable contact is subjected to the opposing actions of resilient means and of a bi-metallic plate in the form of a disc which is curved in cross section and is located on the base of the housing, and which reverses its curvature in accordance with predetermined limits of the temperature of the medium in which the thermal element of the switch is immersed.
  • the invention is characterized by the feature that the movable contact is carried by an arm, disposed along the axis of the housing of a bent lever the other arm of which extends parallel to the plate and is secured at one end to a fixed point in the interior of the housing, about which it can turn under the action of the said plate and of the said resilient means, imparting to the movable contact a displacement greater than the movement of the plate so as to bring the movable contact into a position for closing or opening the circuit in which the switch is included.
  • the said resilient means are controllable from the exterior of the housing so as to permit adjustment of its action on the bent lever carrying the movable contact relative to the action of the bi-metallic plate or bi-metal disc.
  • FIG. 1 is a section on the axis of the metal housing in the plane of the location of the movable contact, of a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a similar section of a modification of the said embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of a detail of FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a similar view of a modification of the said detail.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively an axial section and a section normal to the axis of the part of the device containing the bi-metallic member.
  • the switch according to tile invention comprises a cylindrical metal housing 1 the base 3 of which is formed with :an annular step 2 on which rests a bi-metallic plate in the form of a disc 4 which normally, viz. when the contact is open, is convex towards the base 3.
  • a metal ring 6 of flexible sheet metal having a radial arm 7 and held in position by a rigid ring 8 fixed to the housing by upsetting the edge 9.
  • An upset pin 10 disposed on the axis of the housing so that its conical end 10 coincides with the centre of the bi-metallic disc 4 connect the arm 7 firmly on the one hand to an arm 11 of a bent lever 12 the other arm 13 of which carries the movable contact 14, and on the other hand to the arm 15 of a leaf spring 16 the other arm 17 of which abuts against a fixed point 18 of the housing so as to oppose the action of the bi-metal 4.
  • the arms 13 and 17 respectively of the bent lever 12 and the leaf spring 16 are disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the housing 1, which is appreciably elongated in that direction, and the said arms are much longer than the respective arms 11 and 15 which are connected to one Patented Nov. 30, 1965 another and to the resilient arm 7 by the pin 10 on which the bi-metal 4 acts, so that the deformations of the latter are appreciably amplified at the ends of the arms 13 and 17.
  • the lever and the leaf spring 16 may be mounted in opposite senses (FIG. 1) with their arms 11 and 15 in contact with different surfaces of the arm 7, or they may be mounted in the same sense (FIG. 2) with the arms 11 and 15 on the same side of the arm 7; in the latter case, a reinforcing and strengthening strip 19 may be associated with the other surface of the arm 7.
  • the ring 6 is entirely omitted and the arm 7 is carried by a plate 7' secured directly to the ring 8 (FIG. 4).
  • the arm 7 is also omitted and the arm 11 of the lever 12 is directly pivoted at one end (FIGS. 5 and 6) on a pin 20 carried by the ring 8.
  • the lever 12 is capable of swinging, under the opposed actions of the bi-metal 4 and of the leaf spring 16, about the imaginary axis x-x or the real axis yy in such manner as to cause the movable contact 14 to approach or move away from the fixed contact 21 or 21, at the same time loading or partly relieving the leaf spring 16, whilst the bi-metal 4 passes from the position illustrated in the drawings in full lines to the position illustrated in broken lines, reversing its normal curvature or vice versa.
  • the movable contact 14 is insulated from the lever 12 by washers 23, 24 of insulating material, but on the other hand is electrically connected by means of a flexible conductor 25 constituted by a metal strip or a thin wire and by a helical spring 26 to one of the contact pins 27 of the device.
  • This pin 27 and the other contact pin 28 are carried by a closure member 29 of insulating material fixed within an enlarged part 1 of the housing 1 against a ring 30, also of insulating material, by the inturned edge 31 of the part 1 of the housing, with an interposed packing ring 32.
  • the closure member 29 in turn clamps between itself and the ring 30 a conducting ring 33 or a conducting plate 33' which provide the electrical connection for the flexible conductor 25 and the helical spring 26 which latter is located on the side of the housing opposite to the flexible conductor 25.
  • the fixed contact 21 is mounted on the end of a bent member 34 of flexible material which connects it to the inner end of the terminal pin 28 and is in turn provided with a screw 35 screwed into the closure member 29. Screwing the screw 35 more or less into the closure member 29 varies the position of the member 34, thus regulating the distance of the fixed contact 21 from the movable contact 14; in this case it is possible to adjust the temperature below which the bi-metal 4 returns from the position shown in broken lines to the position shown in full lines.
  • the switch described may be fixed in position by screwing it, by means of the external screwthread 37 provided on the housing 1, onto a wall of the enclosure that contains the fluid the temperature of which it is desired to control, for example the radiator of an automobile vehicle or the conductors that connect it to the engine, in such manner that the housing 1 becomes at least partly immersed in the fluid.
  • the bi-metal 4 springs from the position shown in full lines into the position shown in broken lines.
  • the spring 16 is loaded by screwing in the screw 22; this operation increases the pressure of the point 10 on the centre of the bi-metal 4, thereby delaying its change of shape.
  • the fixed contact 21 or 21 is moved towards or away from the movable contact 14 by actuating the screw 35 or 35.
  • a thermally controlled electrical switch comprising an elongated metal housing, a bi-metal element of curved configuration adapted to reverse its curvature in response to predetermined variations in the ambient temperature, means mounting said element at one end of said housing, a lever disposed within the housing and spaced from said element and comprising a first arm extending longitudinally of said housing away from the element and a second arm integral with the first arm and extending generally parallel to said element and subject to the curvature reversal movements thereof, means supporting said lever for pivotal movement relative to the housing in response to said curvature reversal movements comprising a first ring clamped between a step formed within said housing and spaced from said element and a further ring fixed in position by upsetting part of said housing on the internal side of said step, said first ring having a resilient radially inwardly projecting arm to which said second arm is connected, a relatively fixed contact mounted within said housing, a relatively movable contact carried by said first arm, and resilient means carried by the housing to act on said second arm
  • a thermally controlled electrical switch comprising an elongated metal housing, a bi-metal element of curved configuration adapted to reverse its curvature in response to predetermined variations in the ambient temperature, means mounting said element at one end of said housing, a lever disposed within the housing and spaced from said element and comprising a first arm extending longitudinally of said housing away from the element and a second arm integral with the first arm and extending generally parallel to said element and subject to the curvature reversal movements thereof, means supporting said lever for pivotal movement relative to the housing in response to said curvature reversal movements, a relatively fixed contact mounted within said housing, a relatively movable contact carried by said first arm, and resilient means carried by the housing to act on said second arm in opposition to the action of said element, said last-named means comprising a leaf spring with two arms, one of said arms extending substantially longitudinally of and within said housing, and the other arm extending parallel to the second arm of said lever, an adjusting screw manipulable from outside the housing and associated with said one arm,
  • a switch as claimed in claim 2, said connecting means comprising a rivet with a pointed head.
  • a thermally controlled electrical switch comprising a bi-metal element of curved configuration adapted to reverse its curvature in response to predetermined variations in the ambient temperature, a lever having a relatively short arm and a relatively long arm, a relatively fixed switch contact, means mounting the lever and said element and the relatively fixed contact in assembly with each other with the lever supported for rocking movement relative to said element and relative to said relatively fixed contact, means for moving said relatively short arm u-pon curvature reversal of said element, a relatively movable switch contact carried by said relatively long arm and movable into and out of contact with said relatively fixed contact upon curvature reversal of said element, and a second relatively long arm in unitary assembly with said relatively short arm, and means adjustably bearing against said second arm to vary the value of said predetermined temperature.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US279104A 1962-05-29 1963-05-09 Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means Expired - Lifetime US3221126A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT1063062 1962-05-29
IT1855663 1963-09-10
IT2955966 1966-11-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3221126A true US3221126A (en) 1965-11-30

Family

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Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US279104A Expired - Lifetime US3221126A (en) 1962-05-29 1963-05-09 Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means
US395260A Expired - Lifetime US3223806A (en) 1962-05-29 1964-09-09 Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means
US680390A Expired - Lifetime US3453581A (en) 1962-05-29 1967-11-03 Thermally controlled electric switch

Family Applications After (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US395260A Expired - Lifetime US3223806A (en) 1962-05-29 1964-09-09 Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means
US680390A Expired - Lifetime US3453581A (en) 1962-05-29 1967-11-03 Thermally controlled electric switch

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (3) US3221126A (fr)
DE (1) DE1465558A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES346690A2 (fr)
FR (1) FR93768E (fr)
GB (3) GB1035515A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3453581A (en) * 1962-05-29 1969-07-01 Borletti Spa Thermally controlled electric switch
US4152998A (en) * 1975-10-30 1979-05-08 Taylor John C Method for forming snap-acting thermally responsive actuators

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3412934A (en) * 1966-11-14 1968-11-26 Robertshaw Controls Co Thermostatic control device
US3529105A (en) * 1967-02-15 1970-09-15 Emerson Electric Co Snap switch and thermoresponsive actuator
ES139319Y (es) * 1967-07-08 1969-06-16 Veglia, S. A. E. Interruptor termometrico perfeccionado con lamina bimetali-ca a disco.
US3731248A (en) * 1971-09-13 1973-05-01 Micro Devices Corp Thermal limiter constructions
US3839693A (en) * 1971-09-13 1974-10-01 Micro Devices Corp Thermal limiter constructions

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1522786A (en) * 1920-06-09 1925-01-13 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Thermal relay
DE625675C (de) * 1934-02-16 1936-02-13 Voigt & Haeffner Akt Ges Temperaturregler fuer elektrisch beheizte Geraete mit einem Bimetallsprungkoerper von der Form einer nicht abwickelbaren Scheibe
US2387904A (en) * 1942-10-17 1945-10-30 Robert Hetherington & Son Inc Heat coil operated thermal switch
GB651151A (en) * 1948-05-14 1951-03-14 Ericsson Telephones Ltd Improvements in devices operated by magnetostriction or thermal expansion
US2750475A (en) * 1951-01-10 1956-06-12 Gen Motors Corp Thermostatic switch
US2751464A (en) * 1953-07-02 1956-06-19 Gen Motors Corp Temperature responsive switch
US2863024A (en) * 1957-04-18 1958-12-02 Lee W Romine Signal connecting bolt
CH354918A (de) * 1957-12-10 1961-06-15 Landis & Gyr Ag Ubertemperatursicherung für elektrisch geheizte Warmwasserspeicher
US3139500A (en) * 1960-03-02 1964-06-30 Wilcolator Co Thermally actuated double throw switch mechanism

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2722666A (en) * 1951-11-14 1955-11-01 Bryant Electric Co Electrical receptacle
US3015687A (en) * 1959-11-03 1962-01-02 Sprague Electric Co Electrical component terminal
US3221126A (en) * 1962-05-29 1965-11-30 Borletti Spa Thermally controlled electrical switch having motion-amplifying lever means

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1522786A (en) * 1920-06-09 1925-01-13 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Thermal relay
DE625675C (de) * 1934-02-16 1936-02-13 Voigt & Haeffner Akt Ges Temperaturregler fuer elektrisch beheizte Geraete mit einem Bimetallsprungkoerper von der Form einer nicht abwickelbaren Scheibe
US2387904A (en) * 1942-10-17 1945-10-30 Robert Hetherington & Son Inc Heat coil operated thermal switch
GB651151A (en) * 1948-05-14 1951-03-14 Ericsson Telephones Ltd Improvements in devices operated by magnetostriction or thermal expansion
US2750475A (en) * 1951-01-10 1956-06-12 Gen Motors Corp Thermostatic switch
US2751464A (en) * 1953-07-02 1956-06-19 Gen Motors Corp Temperature responsive switch
US2863024A (en) * 1957-04-18 1958-12-02 Lee W Romine Signal connecting bolt
CH354918A (de) * 1957-12-10 1961-06-15 Landis & Gyr Ag Ubertemperatursicherung für elektrisch geheizte Warmwasserspeicher
US3139500A (en) * 1960-03-02 1964-06-30 Wilcolator Co Thermally actuated double throw switch mechanism

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3453581A (en) * 1962-05-29 1969-07-01 Borletti Spa Thermally controlled electric switch
US4152998A (en) * 1975-10-30 1979-05-08 Taylor John C Method for forming snap-acting thermally responsive actuators

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1134289A (en) 1968-11-20
FR93768E (fr) 1969-05-16
DE1465558A1 (de) 1969-03-27
GB1070875A (en) 1967-06-07
ES346690A2 (es) 1968-12-16
GB1035515A (en) 1966-07-06
US3223806A (en) 1965-12-14
US3453581A (en) 1969-07-01

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