THERMALLY RESPONSIVE ELECTRIC SWITCH

Abstract: A thermally-responsive electrical switch for use in domestic electrical appliances for switching off the electrical supply to the appliance in an over temperature situation is configured to be manufactured as an auto-reset switch, as a manual reset switch, or as a PTCR switch without significant manufacturing changes. The switch body (20) is moulded plastics and incorporates first and second terminal parts (1, 2), one of which provides a cantilever mounting for a switching element (4) which moves to effect switching operations between its free end and the other terminal part. A bimetallic switch-actuating element (7) is mounted on the switching element (4) so as by its temperature-responsive movements to effect switch-operating movement of the switching element. The switch body (20) is configured to be capable of accepting a PTCR element (11), which is retained by a conductor (12) such that the PTCR element (11) is placed in a current conducting path through the switch when the switch contacts are opened, the heat developed in the PTCR element (11) then holding the condition of the switch whilst substantially reducing the through current to the switch load. By omission of the PTCR element, an auto-reset switch is obtained, and by selection of the characteristics of the bimetallic element and/or arranging the switching element to be bistable, a manual reset version of the switch can be obtained.

Description: THERMALLY RESPONSIVE ELECTRIC SWITCH Field of the Invention: This invention concerns improvements relating to thermally responsive electric switches for use for example in domestic electrical appliances such as fan heaters, toasters, cable reels etc. for switching off or substantially reducing the supply of power ro the appliance in an overtemperature situation. Background of the Invention: Since the electrical currents that are drawn in use by appliances such as are mentioned above are significantly different from one appliance type to another, the requirement exists that a protective switch of the kind with which the present invention is concerned should be current insensitive or at least relatively so. Additional requirements are for automatically resetting thermal cut-out switches which break the power supply in response to a sensed overtemperature situation and then remake or reconnect the power supply after a time period such as to enable the appliance to cool sufficiently, manual reset cut-cut switches which having operated in response to a sensed overtemperature situation will net reset until manually operated (such switches either having a wide differential so that their remake temperature is lower than normal ambient temperature or alternatively incorporating a latch mechanism) , and cut-out switches incorporating a PTCR (Positive Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) element arranged to carry the load current once the switch breaks whereupon the resistance of the PTCR element increases and significantly reduces the power supply to the appliance and heat is developed in the PTCR element and serves to maintain the cut-out in its break condition. In addition to the abovementioned functional requirements, another problem faced by industry is that different countries, even within Europe, have different standards and electrical safety requirements. As a result, many different cut-out switches are currently available from various manufacturers to meet more or less specific requirements and the industry has not hitherto tackled the problem of how to configure a universal switch. Accordingly there is a requirement for a low cost, current insensitive, compact cut-out switch suitable for use in a variety of different abdications. Summary of the Invention: The present invention in one of its aspects proposes to meet the above entioned requirement by provision of a switch comprising a moulded plastics body portion having first and second metal terminal parts encapsulated therein, the first metal terminal part serving additionally as a mounting for a first electrical contact cf the switch and the second metal terminal part serving additionally as a mounting for a cantilevered electrically-conductive springmember which carries at its free end a second electrical contact of the switch, said first and second electrical contacts being arranged to effect switching operations in operation of the switch, a bimetallic element being mounted on said spring member and being arranged to effect switch-operating movement thereof when it changes its state in response to a temperature change, and the moulded plastics body portion of the switch furthermore being formed to define a recess for accommodating a PTCR element in electrical and thermal contact with said second terminal part and a mounting for a push-fit conductor element adapted when fitted to serve as a retainer for holding said PTCR element in said recess under spring pressure and additionally to make electrical contact between said PTCR element and said first terminal part. The moulded plastics body portion of the switch is generally rectangular in a preferred embodiment which will be described in detail hereinafter and defines spaced-apart end surfaces from which the first and second metal terminal parts project for enabling electrical connections to be made to the switch, an upper surface whereat the first terminal part cf the switch is exposed and has affixed thereto the first electrical contact (namely the fixed contact) cf the switch and whereat the second terminal part cf the switch is exposed and has affixed thereto said cantilevered spring member, an under surface whereat said recess is defined and exposes an under surface cf the second metal terminal part to contact by said PTCR element when fitted, whereat said mounting is provided for said push-fit conductor element, and whereat an under surface cf said first metal terminal part is exposed for being contacted by said conductor element when fitted, and two plain side surfaces. As an example, the body portion of such a switch might be 20mm long, 5mm high and 7mm wide. The cantilevered spring member conveniently comprises a leaf spring which advantageously may be attached to the second metal terminal part of the switch by means cf a rivet formed as an integral part cf the second metal terminal part. The bimetallic element preferably is a dished snap-acting blade and may conveniently be mounted on top cf the cantilevered leaf spring by virtue of the leaf spring having released therefrom a pair of opposed attachment tabs between which the bimetallic blade is adapted to fit. The push-fit conductor element may advantageously comprise a conductor spring formed of beryllium copper or stainless steel for example, and may advantageously be retained to the moulded plastics body portion by virtue of the conductor spring being formed with one or more X-shaped, H-shaped, star-shaped or otherwise shaped cut-outs adapted to fit tightly over one or more studs moulded integrally with the body portion of the switch, the cut-out(s) of the conductor spring being designed to make an interference fit ever the stud(s) and to dig into the stud(s) when put under load thereby ensuring that high spring forces are developed to hold the PTCR element immebile and ensure good electrical contact. In another aspect, the present invention provides a thermally-responsive electrical switch comprising a bimetallic switch-actuating element and a spring member arranged to effect switching movements in response to movements of said bimetallic element, said spring member being bistable whereby in the absence of an alternative input a movement of said bimetallic element in response to a predetermined temperature change will be ineffective to effect a switching operation of said spring member. As will become apparent from the following, the switch of the present invention can be configured as an auto-reset switch by omission of the PTCR element or as a PTCR switch by inclusion cf the PTCR element. By provision of a reset push red or the like in an accommodating part of the moulded plastics body portion and by use cf a wide temperature differential bimetal and/or of a bistable spring member, the switch can also readily be configured as a manual reset switch. The above and other features cf the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and will be well understood from consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Description cf the drawings: Figures 1A to IF illustrate the embodiment when configured as an auto-reset switch, Figs. 1A and IB being side elevation views, Fig. 1C being a bottom plan view, Fig. ID being a sectional side elevation view, Fig. 1Ξ being a top plan view and Fig. IF showing two different perspective views; Figures 2A to 2F illustrate the embodiment when configured as a PTCR switch, Fig. 1A showing a perspective view of the basic switch unit as viewed from the underside, Fig. 23 showing the unit with the PTCR element added, Fig. 2C showing the completed switch with the connecter spring affixed, and Figs. 2D, 2E and 2F being views similar to Figs. 1C, ID and IE respectively; and _Figures 3A to 3E illustrate a slightly modified form cf the embodiment configured as a manual reset switch, Figs. 3A and 3B showing plan and side elevation views of a bistable leaf spring that is provided in this switch configuration, Fig. 3C being a side elevation view cf the manual reset switch in condition where the bimetallic element of the switch has reset with falling temperature and yet the leaf spring remains in its "hot" position, Fig. 3D being a perspective showing (partly enlarged) of the form of a reset push rod cf the switch and the manner of its incorporation nto the switch, and Fig. 3E being a cross-sectional view through the switch- in the plane of the push rod. Detailed Description of the Embodiments: Referring first to Figs. 1A to IF, it will be seen that the switch comprises a moulded plastics body portion 20 having first and second metal terminal parts 1, 2 captured therein, the terminal parts projecting beyond the body portion 20 for enabling electrical 3 connection to be made to the switch. Within the envelope of the body portion 2C, as best seen in Fig. ID, the first terminal part 1 serves as a mounting for a fixed switch contact 3, and the second terminal part 2 serves as a mounting for a cantilevered leaf spring 4 which is affixed to the terminal part 2 by means of an integrally-formed rivet and carries at its free end a moving switch contact 5 which is positioned to co¬ operate with the fixed contact 3. The leaf spring 4 has opposed attachment tabs 6 released therefrom and a dished, snap-acting bimetallic blade 7 is received between the tabs and thereby attached to the leaf spring 4. As best shown in Figs. IA and 13, the bimetal blade 7 is capable of adopting two different curvature states dependent upon its temperature, and in its "hot" condition as shown in Fig. 1A serves to lift the free end cf the leaf spring 4 and thereby open the switch contacts, and in its "cold" condition as shown in Fig. IB does not resist the natural tendency of the leaf spring 4 to hold the switch contacts closed. Cn the opposite side of the switch body portion 20 from the side which carries the leaf spring 4 and the other component parts abovementioned, there are provided a recess 8 providing access to the first terminal part 1, a recess 9 providing access to the second terminal part 2, and a body portion which bridges the recesses S, 9 and has formed thereon a pair of studs 10. As shown in Figs, 2A to 2F, the recess S is designed to receive a PTCR element 11 in the form of a small cylindrical pellet, and the studs 10 are designed to receive a conductor spring 12 having generally H-shaped cut-outs 13 which push-fit over the studs. The spring 12 extends into.the recess 3 where it contacts the first terminal 1, the spring 12 thus constituting a conductor connecting the PTCR element 11 (which is itself in contact with the second terminal 2) to the first terminal 1. The H-shaped cut-outs 13 in the conductor spring 12 are such that the tension that is developed in the spring when it is pushed ever the studs 10 causes the spring to bite into the studs so as to ensure proper firm location of the spring, with the PTCR element 11 held firmly in the recess 9 in good electrical contact with second terminal 2 and with good electrical contact made with first terminal 1. As will be appreciated, in the configuration shown in Figs. 1A to IF the switch operates as an automatically resetting switch which opens its contacts at a predetermined temperature in a rising temperature situation and subsequently recloses the contacts at a second, lower, predetermined temperature as the bimetal cools. In the configuration shewn in Figs. 2A to 2F, simply by the addition of the PTCR element and the connector spring the switch is reconfigured as a switch which will maintain its contacts open, once they have opened in a rising temperature situation, by virtue of heat developed in the PTCR element being conducted into the bimetal blade. The PTCR element is normally short- circuited by the closed switch contacts so long as the switch is operating within its upper temperature limit, but carries current when the switch contacts open and experiences a rapid increase in resistance which dramatically reduces the current supply to the lead as soon as the switch contacts open. The PTCR switch configuration can only be reset by switching off the power supply to the switch and its associated appliance and allowing time for the PTCR and bimetal to cool to its remake temperature. A manual reset version cf the described switch could for example readily be configured by provision of a through hole in the body moulding of the switch, extending from a location intermediate the studs 10 on the rear of the body moulding through to a location on the front of the moulding underlying the leaf spring and bimetal blade assembly, and by provision of a push-rod in such through hole arranged so as when depressed to be capable of bearing upon the underside of the bimetal blade, an opening being provided in the leaf spring to allow the push-rod to access the bimetal. With the bimetal selected to have such a wide differential that its automatic reset temperature wculd never be reached under normal conditions, the bimetal would remain in its contacts-open condition until it was manually reset by application of a resetting force from the push-rod. To avoid the risk of unduly stressing the leaf spring and/or the bimetal blade during operation of the push- rod, the switch advantageously might be formed with a back-stop for limiting the contacts-opening movement of the leaf spring and/or cf the bimetal blade and, in keeping with the aim of enhanced versatility, such back¬ stop could be formed as a separate component, a plastics moulding for example, arranged to be clipped onto or otherwise detachably secured to the body moulding of the switch, though it could equally well be formed as an integral part of the body moulding. As an alternative to the provision of a push-rod arrangement, or in addition thereto, a mechanical and manually-releasable latch may be provided for latching the leaf spring in its contacts open condition. As an alternative to using a wide differential bimetal in a manual reset version cf the switch, the moving contact carrying leaf spring of the switch could itself be made bistable and arranged so that it will not return to its contacts closed "cold" condition in the absence of manual intervention even when the bimetal has reset. Such a manual reset version of the subject switch is illustrated in Figures 3A to 3Ξ of the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals are used to identify like parts to those correspondingly identified in the other drawing figures. Figs. 3A and 3B show the form of the leaf spring 4 and it will be seen that the spring is generally rectangular with an elongate central cut-out 15 defining spaced-apart legs 16, and furthermore is tooled using a spherical punch in order to produce a domed region 17 in the area identified by the circle 13 in Fig. 3A and render the spring bistable in operation. The amount of doming is controlled such that the inner edges of the twisted spring legs 16 do not protrude above the central pillar 19 of the switch body portion 20 when the spring is welded to the respective part of switch terminal 2, and such that the spring will generate the requisite contact pressure without being too stiff for the bimetal 7 to overcome. Fig. 3D shows the switch body 20 configured to receive a push-rod 25 which is inserted into a complementarily profiled opening formed through the switch body before attachment of the leaf spring 4 and its actuating bimetal 7 to the switch. The push-rod 25 is also shown in enlarged view in Fig. 3D and it will be seen to have a hemispherical groove 26 in one face which forms a guiding surface with the central pillar 19 when the push-rod is inserted into the switch body 20. The push-rod additionally has an enlarged upper end cr head 27 which serves tc retain it in the switch and a pair of projecting abutments 28 are provided on the upper surface of this head 27 for contacting the inside edges of the legs 16 cf the leaf spring 4 in order to effect resetting of the switch. In operation of the thus described manual reset version of the subject switch, when the bimetal heats to its operating temperature and snaps into its "hot" configuration, it lifts the contact-carrying end of leaf spring 4 and reverses the twist in its legs 16, thereby causing the leaf spring to snap tc its oppositely dished other stable state. The switch is thus opened and disrupts the current supply to the appliance or whatever is being protected. As the bimetal cccls, it is permitted to creep away from the central pillar 19, against which it pushes for opening the switch, whilst being held in place by the tabs 6 provided on the leaf spring 4 and, on reaching its remake temperature, it snaps back to its "cold" condition. The contacts however remain open by virtue of the bistable nature of the leaf spring 4 which cannot reset without manual intervention. Figs. 3C and Ξ show the state of the switch under these circumstances. In order to reset the switch from this condition, it is necessary only to push the push-rod 25 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2Ξ so as to cause the two abutments 23 to contact the inside edges cf the legs 16 and reverse the curvature cf the legs, thereby allowing the switch contacts to remake when the reset force on the push-rod is removed. An advantage of such a switch configuration as compared to the previously mentioned manual reset switch employing a wide differential bimetal is that its operation is not dependent on the ambient temperature. Wide differential bimetal switches might for example be such that the bimetal will net remake above, say, -10°C without manual intervention and thus are of limited application by virtue cf being ambient dependent. The switch of Figs. 3A tc 3E is not limited in this way. As described in the foregoing, the switch of the present invention is adapted to be configured selectively as an auto-reset switch, a manual reset switch, or a PTCR switch. The bimetal and leaf spring characteristics can be varied so as selectively to accommodate different switching requirements, for example by use of a more or less resistive material for the leaf spring so as to render the switch more or less current sensitive, without requiring any change in the geometry cf the switch. As a result, the invention provides a versatile switch design which enables the diverse requirements cf different applications to be satisfied by a single switch geometry which is designed to enable automatic manufacture and assembly of the various switch parts. A summary of the foregoing might be worded as follows a thermally-responsive electrical switch for use in domestic electrical appliances for switching off the electrical supply to the appliance in an over temperature situation is configured to be manufactured as an auto-reset switch, as a manual reset switch, or as a PTCR switch without significant manufacturing changes. The switch body is moulded plastics and incorporation first and second terminal parts, one of which provides a cantilever mounting for a switching element which moves to effect switching operations between its free end and the other terminal part. A bimetallic switch- actuating element is mounted en the switching element so as by its temperature-responsive movements to effect switch-operating movement of the switching element. The switch body is configured to be capable of accepting a PTCR element which is retained by a conductor such that the PTCR element is placed in a current conducting path through the switch when the switch contacts are opened, the heat developed in the PTCR element then holding the condition cf the switch whilst substantially reducing the through current tc the switch 1 rod. By omission of the PTCR element, an auto-reset switch is obtained, and by selection of the characteristics of the bimetallic element and/or arranging the switching element to be bistable, a manual reset version of the switch can be obtained. The invention having been described in the foregoing by reference to specific embodiments, it is to be well understood that the invention is net limited to the specific embodiments described and that modifications and variations could be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, whilst the maximum benefit cf the invention is currently believed to reside in the concept of a single basic switch design which is selectively configurable in different ways to suit different applications, an alternative philosophy might be to employ different moulding dies for the moulded plastics body portions of the respective switch types so that, for example, the auto-reset version cf the switch might have a body portion which is plain on its rear side and does not have the recesses and studs required for the PTCR version. Likewise, only the manual reset version of the switch might have a moulded plastics body portion designed to accommodate a reset and/or latching arrangement, and only the PTCR version mignt have the recess and fixing studs required for accommodating and connecting the PTCR element. It would be a relatively simple matter to design a single mould tool having parts which could be present cr absent, as required, for moulding the different body portions of the different switches.

Claims: I t CLAIMS : 1. A thermally responsive electrical switch comprising a moulded plastics body portion having first and second metal terminal parts encapsulated therein, the first metal terminal part serving additionally as a mounting for a first electrical contact of the switch and the second metal terminal part serving additionally as a mounting for a cantilevered electrically-conductive spring member which carries at its free end a second electrical contact of the switch, said first and second electrical contacts being arranged to effect switching operations in operation of the switch, a bimetallic element being mounted on said spring member and being arranged to effect switch-operating movement thereof when it changes its state in response to a temperature change, and the moulded plastics body portion cf the switch furthermore being formed to define a recess for accommodating a PTCR element in electrical and thermal contact with said second terminal part and a mounting for a push-fit conductor element adapted when fitted to serve as a retainer for holding said PTCR element in said recess under spring pressure and additionally to make electrical contact between said PTCR element and said first terminal part. \ <\ 2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wnerein the moulded plastics body portion cf the switch is generally rectangular and defines εpacεd-apart end surfaces from which the first and second metal terminal parts project for enabling electrical connections to be made to the switch, an upper surface whereat the first terminal part of the switch is exposed and has affixed thereto the first electrical contact of the switch and whereat the second terminal part cf the switch is exposed and has affixed thereto said cantilevered spring member, an under surface whereat said recess is defined and exposes an under surface of the second metal terminal part to contact by said PTCR element when fitted, whereat said mounting is provided for said push-fit conductor element, and whereat an under surface cf said first metal terminal part is exposed for being contacted by said conductor element when fitted, and two plain side surfaces. 3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the cantilevered spring member comprises a leaf spring and the bimetallic element comprises a dished snap-acting blade mounted on top of the cantilevered leaf spring by virtue of the leaf spring having released therefrom a pair of opposed attachment tabs between which the bimetallic blade is adapted to fit. -2.C 4. A switch as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the push-fit conductor element comprises a conductor spring retained to the moulded plastics body portion by virtue of the conductor spring being formed with one or more X-shaped, H-shaped, star-shaped or otherwise shaped cut-outs adapted to fit tightly over one cr more studs moulded integrally with the body portion of the switch, the cut-out(s) of the conductor spring being designed to make an interference fit over the stud(s) and to dig into the stud(s) when put under lead thereby ensuring that high spring forces are developed to hold the PTCR element immobile and ensure good electrical contact. 5. A switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims when configured as an auto-reset switch, there being no PTCR element in said recess. 6. A switch as claimed in any cf claims 1 to 4 when configured as a PTCR switch, a PTCR element being accommodated in said recess and retained therein by a said push-fit conductor element. 7. A switch as claimed in any cf claims l to 4 when configured as a manual reset switch, there being a 1Λ push red accommodated in an accommodating part of the switch body for enabling a bistable bimetallic element and/cr a bistable spring member to be manually reset. 3. A switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein the bimetallic element is automatically resetting and the spring member is bistable, the bimetallic element being capable cf operating the switch in one sense by imparting its movement to the spring member, but being incapable of imparting its opposite movement to effect opposite movement cf the spring member. 9. A switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spring member comprises a spring blade having a central cut¬ out defining spaced apart legs, and a region cf the spring blade is dished so as to render the blade bistable, movement of the blade between its two stable conditions being accompanied by a twisting movement cf said legs, the push rod operating en the legs so as to cause them to reverse their twist direction and thereby cause the blade to move to its opposite stable condition. 10. A switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims incorporating a manually-releasable latching element for holding the switch in an operated condition. 11. A thermally responsive electrical switch comprising a body portion, first and second electrically conductive terminal parts, the first terminal part serving additionally as cr as a mounting for a first electrical contact of the switch and the second terminal part serving additionally as a mounting for a cantilevered electrically-conductive spring memoer navmg at ts free enα electrical contact cf the switch, said first and second electrical contacts being arranged to effect switching operatcins in operation cf the switch, a bimetallic element being mounted en said spring member and being arranged to effect switch-operating movement thereof when it changes its state in response tc a temperature change, and the body portion cf the switch furthermore including means for accommodating a PTCR element in contact with said second terminal part and a conductor element adapted when fitted to make electrical contact between said PTCR element and said first terminal part. 12. A thermally-responsive electrical switch comprising a bimetallic switch-actuating element and a spring member arranged to effect switching movements 13 in response to movements of said bimetallic element, said spring member being bistable whereby in the absence cf an alternative input a movement cf said bimetallic element in response to a predetermined temperature change will be ineffective to effect a switching operation of said spring member.

Inventors: BOUNDY PAUL, JOHNSTON ADRIAN MARK, PARTINGTON CHRISTOPHER LAURENC, SEDDON MARK ARTHUR, BOUNDY, PAUL, JOHNSTON, ADRIAN, MARK, PARTINGTON, CHRISTOPHER, LAURENCE, SEDDON, MARK, ARTHUR
Applicants: OTTER CONTROLS LTD, OTTER CONTROLS LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H01H37
IPC codes: H01H1, H01H11, H01H37, H01H77