Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches – Electrothermally actuated switches – With bimetallic elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-06-19
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches
Electrothermally actuated switches
With bimetallic elements
C337S039000, C337S059000, C337S085000, C337S112000, C337S113000, C337S066000, C337S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249209
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switch structure, and more specifically to a switch structure with a protection mechanism for automatically turning off the switch when it is overloaded with current.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, a conventional switch has two states. The switch can be turned on or off manually. For normal operation, the two states are adequate to control the power supplied to an electrical appliance or electronic device. The conventional switch has a drawback that no protection is provided. As long as the switch is turned on, it stays on until it is turned off, damaged, or burned off.
In an area where electric power is not very stable, current overloading may occur frequently to a switch that controls the power supply. If the current overloading is not detected and the switch continues to operate, it is usually overheated and eventually burned out. Therefore, the current overloading problem not only results in the loss of a switch but also presents a risk of fire if it can not be detected and protected. There is a strong demand in having a switch with a protection mechanism to detect and avoid current overloading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned drawback of a conventional switch. The primary object of the invention is to provide a switch that comprises a protection structure to automatically detect the current overloading and restore the switch to an OFF state.
Accordingly, the switch structure of the invention comprises a switch case, a switch, a contact reed, a control element, a swinging device, an alloy piece and an elastic contacting piece. The alloy piece is deformed to eject the swinging device when it is overheated. The ejection of the swinging device also trips the elastic contacting piece and breaks the power supply provided through the elastic contacting piece. By means of the contact reed and the control element, the switch is automatically restored to an OFF state to be turned on again.
The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.
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Picard Leo P.
Vortman Anatoly
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