US1210331A - Thermal circuit-controller. - Google Patents

Description

F. KUHN.

THERMAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

' APPLICATION FILED HIM-8.1913.

i,210,331. Patented Dec. 26,1916.

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' elements and the FRANK KUHN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

THERMAL craourr conrnomnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed March 8, 1913. Serial No. 752,876.

Toall whom it may concern Be it known that I. FRANK KUHN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermal Circuit-Controllers, oi? which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to automatic cutouts for electric circuits and is particularly designed for use in connection with electric heaters.

manner.

In the drawings: Figure 1 1s a'longitudlnal section through a portion of an electrically heated sad iron which my improvement is applied and showing the. circuit cut out. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cup for the fusible metal and the detent wheel locked thereby. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in circuit closing position.

A is the base of a sad iron which, as shown, is heated by a flat heating unit B between said base and a heat-absorbing and distributing plate 0. v

D the hood or cover for the body, and E is a terminal contact passing outward through-said hood and which is connected with the electrical terminals of the unit.

My improved automatic cut-out comprises a cut-out switch which is preferably interposed between one of the external contact heating unit, and, as shown,'is housed within the hood D above the distributing plate C. In detail,- it comprises twospaced and parallelresilient contact members F and F which are respec-" tively connected to the external terminal contact E and the terminal member G,'which connects directly with the unit B. The contact members F and F may be formed of sheet metal which is bent to extend laterally within the hood, the two members being mechanically connected to each other bya bolt or rivet H which is electrically insulated to prevent short circuiting.

The contact members F and F in the the tension of the spring M,

that as soon as said wheel is released by the normal or closed position of the circuit are electrically connected to each other by a bridge contact member I which is mounted upon but insulated from a carrying-arm J projecting downward from a slide K which is mounted in a suitable housing L on top of the hood D. The slide K is further provided with a spring M for yieldably drawing the same in a direction to separate the bridge contact I from the contact members F and F. There is also a latch dog N upon the slide adapted to engage with a ratchet wheel 0 which is normally immovable and forms a detent for holding the slide and bridge contact I in a position to close the circuit. The ratchet wheel 0 is locked from rotation by fusible metal. which is placed in a cup member P upon which said ratchet wheel is mounted and this cup member is placed in a recess Q in the member C or in some other suitable location where it will be subjected to the heat developed by the unit.

With the construction as described when the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig.

1, the slide K is in a position which separates the bridge contact I from the spaced contact members F'and F and therefore the heater circuit is open. To close the circuit the operator moves the slide by means of a knob R so as to engage the latch dog N with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 0, which latter being immovable serves to hold the slide from return movement. This will close the electric circuit by bridging between the contact members F and F and the parts will remain in this position during normal operation, as the heat developed will be insufiicient to melt the fusible= metal. If, on the other hand, the instrument becomes over-' heated-as for instance by leaving on the current when not in use-the heat will actemperature of the heat-distributing body the melting point of the fusible metal held in the cup P As thelatch dog N is constantly pressed against the ratchet wheel by it is obvlous meltingof the fusible 'metal, it will be turned upon its pivot S, freeing the dog N and permitting the slide K- to assume a. position where the bridge contact I is withdrawn from the contacts F and F and the circuit is broken.

In all positions of adjustment of the wheel there will be one or more of its teeth in 2. A thermal circuit controller comprising a receptacle, a fusible element therein and a tooth member controlling an electric switch adjacent said receptacle and having a portion of the teeth engaging said fusible element, said fusible element holding, said tooth member from movementwhen solidified and releasing the same when fused.

In testimony whereof ll affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK Kill-IN.

Witnesses:

JAMES P, BARRY, HENRI E. BOWMAN.

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