Patent ID: 6064045
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A power control unit for electric heating appliances, said power control unit including an appliance switch, a position change of said appliance switch changing a setable power level of said power control unit, said setable power level having a range from a lower to a middle to an upper power level, said appliance switch comprising:a switching contact, said switching contact positionable between `on` and `off` positions;an opposite contact;a counterstop with a variable contact separation distance (D) with respect to said opposite contact, said switching contact in said `on` position engaging said opposite contact and supplying power to the electric heating appliance, and said switching contact in said `off` position engaging said counterstop, said contact separation distance (D) at said middle power level is greater than said contact separation distance (D) at said lower and upper power levels; and,an adjusting device, said adjusting device comprising:a power adjusting device for said power level,a contact separation adjusting device for adjusting the contact separation distance (D), said contact separation adjusting device separate from said power adjusting device, andactuating means for actuating said power adjusting device and said contact separation device.