CA1148994A - Temperature safety switch - Google Patents

Temperature safety switch

Info

Publication number
CA1148994A
CA1148994A CA000362739A CA362739A CA1148994A CA 1148994 A CA1148994 A CA 1148994A CA 000362739 A CA000362739 A CA 000362739A CA 362739 A CA362739 A CA 362739A CA 1148994 A CA1148994 A CA 1148994A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
sleeve member
housing
plunger
solder
recess
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000362739A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Walter Hollweck
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.)
INTER CONTROL Hermann Koehler Electrik GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
INTER CONTROL Hermann Koehler Electrik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by INTER CONTROL Hermann Koehler Electrik GmbH and Co KG filed Critical INTER CONTROL Hermann Koehler Electrik GmbH and Co KG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1148994A publication Critical patent/CA1148994A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Fuses (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a temperature responsive safety switch including an insulating housing provided with a recess, a thermally conductive heat transfer plate mounted on the housing, a pair of electrically conductive contact elements mounted in the housing and defining an electric current path extending through the housing, one of the contact elements being a spring element which is internally stressed to tend to separate from the other contact element, a body of melt-able material mounted on the heat transfer plate, and a force-transmitting plunger displaceably mounted in the housing and supported between the body of meltable material and the spring element to maintain the contact elements in contact with one another when the body of meltable material has not melted, there is provided a hollow cylindrical sleeve member mounted in the housing recess and in which the solder body is enclosed and which is oriented in the displacement direction of the plunger, the sleeve member and plunger being so positioned and dimensioned relative to one another that the end of the plunger remote from the contact spring extends into the sleeve member with play in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve member, the housing recess being dimensioned to present a space around the sleeve member sufficient to receive the entire mass of solder when the solder melts and is forced out of the sleeve member by displacement of the plunger.

Description

8~39~

BACKGROUND t~F THE INVENTI ON

The present invention relates to a temperature responsive safety switch, fuse, or circuit breaker, of the type having a meltable insert melting of which opens the switch.
Temperature responsive safety switches including a melt-able solder insert are known in general and are disclosed, for example in German Auslegeschrift [Published Patent Appli-cation] No. 2,012,426. In another prior art temperature responsive safety switch of the type under consideration, the meltable solder insert comprises a meltahle solder in the form of a round disc or wafer which is fastened in a recess of a housing of insulating material and bridges an opening in a heat tran~fer plate made of a material having good thermal conductivity. The diameter of this opening is larger than the diameter of an actuating plunger which rests on the upper side of the disc. When there is enough heat to cause the solder to melt such melting has the result of eliminating the cover over the opening, since that cover was constituted by the solder disc. Due to the force of the contact spring and simultaneous interruption of the electric current path, the actuating plunger is then pressed into the opening in the heat transfer plate~
The drawback of this prior art temperature responsive safety switch is its poor service life. This has a disad-vantegous effect on its use as a temperature responsive fuse.

~, ., - ~ .~.

~8~94 Although the particular alloy composition of the melting solders employed leads to the expectation that a defined melting point exists, the solder will soften somewhat before such melting temperature is reached. That means that if there is a long duration heating influence, but at a temperature below the intended actuation temperature, the melting solder will lose firmness, as a result of which the force exerted by the contact spring on the actuating plunger may lead to pre~ature opening of the temperature responsive fuse. Moreover that the melting solder is essentially exposed to the atmosphere.
which is a drawback since the presence of oxygen may change the melting point of some solders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
.~
It is an,object of the present invention to provide a temperature responsive safety switch of the above-mentioned type which avoids the above-described drawbacks.
A more specific object of the invention is to construct the temperature responsive safety switch in such a way that variations in its response temperature are reduced and the ; 20 design temperature is maintained over a long period of time.
These and other objects are achieved, according to the invention, in a temperature responsive safety switch including an insulating housing provided with a recess, a thermally conductive heat transfer plate mounted on the housing, a pair of electrically conductive contact elements mounted in the housing and defining an electric current path extending ~- -- 2 --.

~8~94 through the housing, one o~ the contact elements being a spring element which is internally stressed to tend to separate from the other contact element, a body of meItable material mounted on the heat transfer plate, and a force-transmitting plunger displaceably mounted in the housing and having one end in engage-ment with the body of meltable material and its other end in engagement with the spring element to maintain the contact elements in contact with one another when the body of meltable material has not melted, by the provision of a hollow cylindrical sleeve member in which the body of meltable material is enclosed and which is oriented with its longitudinal axis extending in the displacement direction of the plunger, the sleeve member and plunger being so positioned and dimensioned relative to one another that the end of the plunger remote from the contact spring extends into the sleeve member with a degree of play which is sufficient to create a space large enough to permit melted solder to pass out of the sleeve in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve member, the sleeve member being mounted in the recess in the housing, and the housing recess being dimensioned to present a space around the sleeve member sufficient to receive the entire mass of the solder body when the material melts and is forced outof the sleeve member by displacement of the plunger.
The present invention assures that solder, upon becoming softened or melted, cannot escape directly in the radial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the actuating plunger. Rather it must first leave its .~'~, ', .. ... .. ... . , ., ...... , ... . . . , .... . .. , .. .. , . . _ .. ., . . _ .. . .. . .

sleeve at both ends in axial directions, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis and the direction of movement of the actua-ting plunger, before it can be displaced radially and will only then release the opening path for the actuating plunger or for the contact spring, respectively. Thus the melting solder, if it should soften due to long-lasting thermal stresseswillbe prevented by the sleeve from undergoing a reduction in its effective height as a result of a slow radial escape and from thus at least initiating the opening process. Before it reaches the temperature of its final melting point, it is essentially impossible for the melting solder to leave the two ends of the sleeve.
~ ccording to preferred embodiments of the invention, the recess in the housing is further dimensioned for presenting a space adjacent the end of the sleeve member which is directed toward the plunger. This makes it possible for the sleeve member to be automatically raised slightly from its support on the heat transfer plate so that the melting solder after having been liquefied can exit from both ends of the sleeve member and can be displaced in the radial direction out of the opening path of the actuating plunger, ~ According to a further feature of the invention, the sleeve member is formed to present an axial passage having a reduced cross section at the end thereof remote from the plunger. This offers the advantage that the effective passage cross sections for the liauefied melting solder at 9~

the upper and lower exits of the sleeve member can be matched to one another in such a way that the discharge of the lique-ied melting solder from both sleeve ends begins ~ractically at the same time. In this way, the melting solder is prevented from prematurely leaving through the lower end of the sleeve member, which is adjacent to the heat transfer plate.
Preferably, the sleeve member includes a radially inwardly directed collar which defines the reduced cross section of the axial passage. This represents a particularly advantageous structural arrangement for achieving the desired reduced cross section. Moreover, this feature takes account of the fact that a temperature gradient is present between the end of the solder facing the heat transfer plate and the end facing the,actuating plunger so that the solder is always ~omewhat ~o,lder and firmer in the region of the actuating plunger than in the region of the heat transfer plate.
The present invention thus accomplishes that the solder, upon melting, leaves both ends of the sleeve only after it has been substantially liquefied so that the contact spring performs its circuit opening movement with greater speed.
The structure according to the invention further encapsu-lates the melt body solder essentially against attacks of oxidation from the outside. ~oreover, the heat transfer plate no longer need be provided with an opening for the passage of the actuating plunger.

9~ l BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a temperature responsive safety switch according to the invention with the current path closed.
Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the same switch with the current path opened.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail view to an enlarged scale of the switch portion enclosed by circle III in Figure 1.

~: ~ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The switch illustrated in Figure 1-3 includes an insula-: ting housing 1 in which the electrical terminals 2 and 3 of :a current path are fixed by rivets 4 and 5. The inner end 6 of the left-hand terminal 2 carries a stationary countercontact 7 9~

which p:rojects in the direction toward the right-hand terminal 3. Opposite thereto, the inner end 8 of the right-hand terminal 3 is provided with a contact spring 9 whose free end 10 lies below the countercontact 7. The contact spring 9 is under the influence of an internal deflecting force which urges its free end 10 downwardly into the open position shown in Figure 2 r in which the free end 10 uould break contact with the counter-contact 7. Contact spring 9 and countercontact 7 are here accommodated in an upper recess 11 in the insulating housing 1.
~t its underside, the insulating housing is provided with a lower recess 12 whose lower opening is covered, or closed, by a heat transfer plate 13 having good thermal conductivity.
The recesses 11 and 12 communicate via a channel 14 which is penetrated, or'traversed, by the actuating plunger 15. The actuating plunger 15 has a substantially greater length than the channel 14 ~o.that both its ends protrude far out of the channel. The lower end 16 of the actuating plunger 15 .
projects into the upper end of a sleeve 17 which, as best seen in Figure 3, is filled with a mass of meltable solder 18 most of which is located below the lower end 16 of the plunger 15. The lower end 20 of solder mass 18 rests upon the inside 19 of the heat transfer plate 13. The upper end 21 of the sleeve 17 thus encloses the lower end 16 of the actuating plunger 15 with play.
When the solder mass 18 is still cold, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the upper end 2,2 of the act,uating plunger 15 rests against the underside of the contact spring 9 and holds its free end 10 in the closed position against the countercontact 7 of the left-hand terminal 2. Channel 14 has such dimensions that , the actuating plunger 15 can be freely displaced in the insula-ting housing 1 in the direction of the plunger longitudinal ~axis 23. Between the periphery of the lower end of the actua-! ting plunger 15 and the inner wall 24 of the sleeve 17, there 'remains an annular gap 25 which is sufficiently large to 10 ; permit the liquefied, melted solder 18 to pass out of the 8 leeve.
Between the outer wall 26 of the sleeve 17 and the inner ~wall 2-70f the recess 12 facing wall 26 there is sufficient space 28 to completely acc,o,m~oda,te thQsolder 18 after it has melted and been displaced out of the sleeve 17. A sufficient space 30 is likewise provided between the upper end 2i of the sleeve 17 and the upper delimiting wall 29 of the recess 12 to allow sleeve 17 to be automatically lifted up while plunger 15 is pressing downwardly on molten solder, to thereby enable solder to also exit via the bottom of sleeve 17.
At its lower end 20, the sleeve 17 is provided with an annular collar 31 which is fixed to or integral with its inner wall2~ and projects radially inwardly therefrom. Thus the passage cross section for molten solder at the lower e~d 20 of the ~leeve 17 is reduced in size.

~8~39~

If, due to heating, particularly of the heat transfer plate 13, the melting point of the solder 18 is reached, the solder :L8 liquefies. Under the influence of the internal force contact spring 9, the actuating plunger 15 is pressed downwardly, penetrating deeper into the sleeve 17. This causes the low viscosity, flowing molten solder 18 to be displaced and to escape past the upper end 21 and the lower end 20 of the sleeve, initially axially downwardly and upwardly, and then radially into the free space of the recess 12 while slightly raising the sleeve from the heat transfer plate. The stroke of the actuating plunger 15 is here dimensioned in such a manner that opening of the current path between the electric terminals 2, 3 is assured with certainty, According~to one typical embodiment, the ~older body can consist of 82.5% lead and 17.5 cadmium and have a melting point o~ 248C.

.

~B994 It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications.
changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

.
.~ :
~; - 10 -.

Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a temperature responsive safety switch including an insulating housing provided with a recess, a thermally conductive heat transfer plate mounted on the housing, a pair of electrically conductive contact elements mounted in the housing and defining an electric current path extending through the housing, one of the contact elements being a spring element which is internally stressed to tend to separate from the other contact element, a body of melt-able material mounted on the heat transfer plate, and a force-transmitting plunger displaceably mounted in the housing and having one end in engagement with the body of meltable material and its other end in engagement with the spring element to maintain the contact elements in contact with one another when the body of meltable material has not melted, the improvement comprising:
a hollow cylindrical sleeve member in which said body of meltable material is enclosed and which is oriented with its longitudinal axis extending in the displacement direction of said plunger, said sleeve member and plunger being so positioned and dimensioned relative to one another that the end of said plunger remote from said contact spring extends into said sleeve member with a degree of play which is suffi-cient to create a space large enough to permit melted solder to pass out of the sleeve in the direction penpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve member, said sleeve member being mounted in said recess in said housing, and said housing recess being dimensioned to present a space around said sleeve member sufficient to receive the entire mass of said solder body when the material melts and is forced out of said sleeve member by displacement of said plunger.
2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess in said housing is further dimensioned for presenting a space adjacent the end of said sleeve member which is directed toward said plunger.
3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said sleeve member is formed to present an axial passage having a reduced cross section at the end of said sleeve member directed away from said plunger.
4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said sleeve member includes a radially inwardly directed collar which defines the reduced cross section of said axial passage.
CA000362739A 1979-10-20 1980-10-20 Temperature safety switch Expired CA1148994A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEG7929760.2 1979-10-20
DE7929760 1979-10-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1148994A true CA1148994A (en) 1983-06-28

Family

ID=6708424

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000362739A Expired CA1148994A (en) 1979-10-20 1980-10-20 Temperature safety switch

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1148994A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4307370A (en) Heat sensitive circuit breaker employing meltable material
US4366462A (en) Temperature safety switch
US4189697A (en) Thermal cut-off fuse
US4084147A (en) Normally open, thermal sensitive electrical switching device
US4065741A (en) Thermal fuse with a fusible temperature sensitive pellet
KR940002674B1 (en) Time delay fuse
US3727164A (en) Temperature-responsive electrical switch
US4068204A (en) Thermal fuse employing a slidable resilient contact member in a conductive housing
US4259656A (en) Thermal cut-off device with an activating spring that is held in a prestressed condition by a thermally fusible pellet
CA1067545A (en) Fusible protector for electric circuits
US4126845A (en) Temperature responsive current interrupter
JPS6026432Y2 (en) switch device
CA1148994A (en) Temperature safety switch
US3821685A (en) Thermally responsive non resettable electric switch
CA1302464C (en) Thermal cutoff
ES8106071A1 (en) Thermal cutout fuse
US3706952A (en) Automatically resettable thermal switch
US3263048A (en) Trip devices for electric fuses
US4459464A (en) Electric cigar lighter
CN110612587B (en) Thermally activatable mechanical switching device
US4160968A (en) Normally open, thermal sensitive electrical switching device
US2281266A (en) Circuit interrupter
US2083508A (en) Circuit breaker
US2286518A (en) Fusible protective device
US2047365A (en) Fuse switch

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry