Patent ID: 9097593
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
1. A reusable device for placement in thermal communication with a machine, the device serving to detect and give notice of an overheating condition in the machine when the machine is operating or has been operating; the device comprising: a unitary sheet metal body formed of a metal sheet having a spring temper and bent at multiple locations to create a shaped multi-segment body, the body comprising a base segment, the base segment being adapted for surface to surface contact with the machine; a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire which undergoes a transformation from martensite to austenite and a shape change when it is heated to a predetermined temperature, indicative of an overheating condition in a machine, the SMA wire having first and second ends and being suitably secured at its ends to the shaped sheet metal body so as to position the SMA wire in thermal communication with the machine; and the sheet metal body further comprising a flexible arcuate segment with a flag-member, the flexible arcuate segment being connected to the base segment by a torsionable hinge portion, the flag-member having a surface area for displaying a visible indication of overheating in the machine, the arcuate segment being maintained in a stored position in the device when the machine has not experienced an overheating condition, the flag-member being hidden from view when the arcuate segment is in its stored position, the arcuate segment being releaseable from its stored position by activation of the SMA wire when the SMA wire is heated to its predetermined temperature by thermal communication with the machine and experiences its shape change so that the arcuate segment, once released from its stored position pivots about the torsionable hinge portion to bring the flag-member into a viewable position; the device being resettable, so that the released arcuate segment may be repositioned into its stored position enabling the device to again detect and give notice of an overheating condition in the machine.