Patent ID: 7488012

Claim:
A thermally activated pin assembly comprising: a case; a pin received within the case and movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the pin having a front portion and a back portion, the front portion having a diameter greater than the back portion of the pin; a spring applying a biasing force between the case and the pin to urge the pin towards the extended position; a thermally activated, substantially cylindrical, fuse engaging the back portion of the pin and acting between the case and the back portion of the pin to hold the pin in the retracted position against the spring biasing force prior to activation, and a retaining ring mounted on the back portion of the pin; the back portion of the pin extending through the fuse, the fuse being held in compression between the case and the retaining ring prior to thermal activation and the fuse allowing the pin to move to the extended position when the fuse is thermally activated.