Patent ID: 8081058
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A thermally activated electrical interrupt switch, the switch comprising: an interrupt switch housing; an interrupt control rod comprising a first end defined as a control rod actuation face and an opposite end defined as an engine interface portion, the interrupt control rod being located within said interrupt switch housing; a thermally activated engine portion comprising a thermally expanding material in communication with the engine interface portion of the interrupt control rod, the thermally activated engine portion being assembled to a first end of the interrupt switch housing; at least one pair of mating electrical contacts forming an electrical circuit; a snap action interrupt rod comprising a first end defined as a complimenting actuation face, the snap action interrupt rod in operational communication with the at least one pair of mating electrical contacts; a latching feature integrated into the snap action interrupt rod, the latching feature releasably engages with a mating latching feature incorporated into the interrupt switch housing, releasably sustaining the snap action interrupt rod in a thermal monitoring position placing the electrical circuit in a first electrical connection state, at least one of the control rod actuation face and the complimenting actuation face include a contacting surface that is angled respective to a longitudinal axis of the snap action interrupt rod, wherein, operationally, the thermally activated engine portion expands repositioning the interrupt control rod axially, forcing the control rod actuation face against the complimenting actuation face, wherein the angled contact surface causes the latching feature to disengage, placing the electrical circuit in a second electrical connection state.