Abstract:
A heat detector comprising a housing member, a first hermetic connector portion connected to the housing member, a sensor member disposed in the housing member operative to detect a temperature, and a first contact portion disposed in the first hermetic connector portion, wherein the contact portion is connected to the sensor member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to heat detectors and particularly to heat detector connectors. 
         [0002]    Heat detectors may be used in a variety of applications including, for example, engine enclosures, industrial spaces, and high value locations and are often used to detect fires. When a heat detector is serviced or replaced, a technician often disconnects and reconnects wires from connection terminals on the heat detector. The connection terminals on the heat detector are difficult and time consuming to manipulate. An improved heat detector is desired. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the invention, a heat detector comprising, a housing member, a first hermetic connector portion connected to the housing member, a sensor member disposed in the housing member operative to detect a temperature, and a first contact portion disposed in the first hermetic connector portion, wherein the contact portion is connected to the sensor member. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method of fabricating a heat detector comprising, fabricating a housing member, disposing a sensor member in the housing member operative to detect a temperature, connecting a first hermetic connector portion to the housing member, and connecting a first contact portion in the first hermetic connector portion to the sensor member. 
         [0005]    These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a heat detector. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view along the line  2 - 2  of the heat detector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partially cutaway front view of the heat detector along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a heat detector. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Heat detectors are used in a number of industrial applications, to detect fires, trigger alarms and control the release of extinguishing agents. Installation and servicing heat detectors is difficult and time consuming in many applications since access to the electrical connectors may be limited. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a heat detector  100 . The heat detector  100  includes housing member  102 , a connector portion  104 , and a line connector portion  108 . The heat detector  100  may include a mount portion  106 . In operation, the mount portion  106  may be used to mount the heat detector  100  in a desired location. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the heat detector  100  along the line  2 - 2  (of  FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 2  includes contacts  202  disposed in the connector portion  104 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a partially cut away front view of the heat detector  100  along the line  3 - 3  (of  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 3  includes a sensor member  302  disposed in the housing member  102 . The sensor member  302  may be hermetically sealed inside the housing member  102 . The sensor member  302  is connected to the contacts  202  with conductors  304 . The conductors  304  may include a number of types of conductive materials including, for example, copper wire or other similar materials. The housing member  102  may be formed from number of materials such as, for example stainless steel, steel, or other alloys. 
         [0016]    In an example of operation, when, for example, a fire or other event heats the housing member  102 , the sensor member  302  closes internal contacts (not shown) that complete a circuit that includes the conductors  304  and the contacts  202 . The contacts  202  are electrically connected to a sensing circuit (not shown) that detects the closed circuit and may direct an appropriate action, such as, for example sending an alarm signal and triggering an extinguishing system. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the illustrated embodiment includes a connector portion  104  having male threads. A line connector portion  108  is shown that includes female threads and female contacts  306  and conductors  308 . The line connector portion  108  mechanically engages the connector portion  104 , hermetically sealing the contacts  202  and  306 . The contacts  202  engage the contacts  306  making an electrical connection. Alternate embodiments may include a connector portion  104  having female threads and a line connector portion  108  having male threads. The contacts  202  may be female, while the corresponding contacts  306  are male. The embodiments are not limited to two contacts  202  and  306 , but may include any number of contacts and corresponding conductors according to the specifications of the heat detector  100  and systems including the heat detector  100 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment of the heat detector  400 . The heat detector  400  includes a connector portion  104  having pins  402  that engage slots  404  in the line connector portion  108  securing a mechanical connection between the connector portion  104  and the line connector portion  108 . 
         [0019]    The connector portion  104  may be attached to the housing member  102  with a weld, a braze, fasteners such as, for example, machine screws, a crimp, or a press fit in the shaded region  110  (of  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, the housing member  102  may include a threaded connector portion  104  that is fabricated by, for example, a machining a blank material to form both the housing member  102  and the connector portion  104 . 
         [0020]    The use of the connector portion  104  allows the line connector portion  108  to be easily attached and unattached without using tools. The use of the illustrated connectors decreases the labor costs of using tools to connect the heat detector  100  to a monitoring system. 
         [0021]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.