Patent · US Expired

Heat limiters and method of manufacture

US4383236A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 1981
Grant dateMay 10, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 28, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2037/762
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit interrupting device responsive to externally generated heat and method of manufacture of such device. The device includes a pair of spaced, coaxially aligned leads each entering a thermally conductive housing from an opposite end. The inserted ends of the coaxially aligned leads are bridged by a conductive member comprising the tail of a conical spring which surrounds one of the leads and is secured at a corresponding end of the housing. The circuit-completing spring tail is secured by fusible material to the inserted ends of each of the spaced-apart leads. In a normal, closed circuit condition, the spring is under tension. Upon heating, the fusible material softens, allowing the spring tail to break away from the inserted ends of the spaced-apart leads, the retracting force of the conical spring, pulling the spring tail from the other one of the leads to open the circuit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.