Thermostatic circuit breaker

Claim 2

A two-break circuit breaker comprising: a base; a pair of spring arms mounted on the base and adapted to occupy a first contact-closed position and a second contact-open position, the arms each being resiliently biased toward contact-open position, and one end portion of each spring arm constituting an electrical contact, and the other end portion constituting an electrical terminal; thermal latch means mounted on the base and comprising a thermostat metal element, the element having a mounting leg and at least two first legs attached by one end of each to the mounting leg, each first leg being adapted to be in a first position when at one position and in a second position when at another temperature, the other end of each of the first legs being adapted respectively to engage said one end of a spring arm when at the first temperature, thereby to make electrical contact therewith; and each of said first legs when in said second position being disengaged from the respective spring arm; manually actuable means for imparting relative motion between the spring arms and said first legs thereby to cause reengagement with the ends of the spring arms and the ends of said first legs in contact-closed position.

Claim 3

A circuit breaker comprising: an elongated body having a hollow center and first and second end portions, each end portion having a circumferential groove therein defining a neck of reduced diameter; a thermally actuable member comprising a length of thermostat metal having an intermediate portion and a tab at one end thereof shaped as a flat C-ring having arcuate legs, the tab being bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said legs defining a central hole which fits snugly around said neck in the first end portion, the legs fitting snugly in the groove in said first end portion, and the width of the C-ring as defined by the external diameter of said arcuate legs being greater than the width of said first end portion; said member being provided at the other end of its intermediate portion with a first arm bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said arm extending into the hollow center of the body; a spring member comprising a length of spring metal having an intermediate portion and a tab at one end thereof shaped as a second C-ring having arcuate legs, the tab being bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said legs defining a center hole which fits snugly around said neck in the second end portion, the legs fitting snugly in the groove in the second end portion, and the width of the second C-ring as defined by the external diameter of said arcuate legs being greater than the width of said second end portion; said member being provided at the other end of its intermediate portion with a first arm bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said arm extending into the hollow center of the body; a spring member comprising a length of spring metal having an intermediate portion and a tab at one end thereof shaped as a second C-ring having arcuate legs, the tab being bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said legs defining a center hole which fits snugly around said neck in the second end portion, the legs fitting snugly in the groove in the second end portion, and the width of the second C-ring as defined by the external diameter of said arcuate legs being greater than the width of said second end portion; the spring member being provided at its other end with a spring arm bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, the spring arm extending into the hollow center of the body and lying in a direction toward said first arm, with the end of the spring arm adapted to be latched under the end of the first arm, and with the spring arm resiliently biased against said first arm; and manual resetting means attached to the spring arm and extending outwardly thereof, the outer end of the resetting means being adapted to move the spring arm from a position in which it does not engage the first arm to a position in which it does.

Claim 4

A circuit breaker comprising: an elongated body having a hollow center and first and second end portions, each end portion having a circumferential groove therein defining a neck of reduced diameter; a thermally actuable member comprising a length of thermostat metal having an intermediate portion and a tab at one end thereof shaped as a flat C-ring having arcuate legs, the tab being bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said legs defining a central hole which fits snugly around said neck in the first end portion, the legs fitting snugly in the groove in said first end portion, and the width of the C-ring as defined by the external diameter of said arcuate legs being greater than the width of said first end portion; said member being provided at the other end of its intermediate portion with a first arm bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said arm extending into the hollow center of the body; a spring member comprising a length of spring metal having an intermediate portion and a tab at one end thereof shaped as a second C-ring having arcuate legs, the tab being bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said legs defining a center hole which fits snugly around said neck in the second end portion, the legs fitting snugly in the groove in the second end portion, and the width of the second C-ring as defined by the external diameter of said arcuate legs being greater than the width of said second end portion; said member being provided at the other end of its intermediate portion with a first arm bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said arm extending into the hollow center of the body; a spring member comprising a length of spring metal having an intermediate portion and a tab at one end thereof shaped as a second C-ring having arcuate legs, the tab being bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, said legs defining a center hole which fits snugly around said neck in the second end portion, the legs fitting snugly in the groove in the second end portion, and the width of the second C-ring as defined by the external diameter of said arcuate legs being greater than the width of said second end portion; the spring member being provided at its other end with a spring arm bent at an angle to said intermediate portion, the spring arm extending into the hollow center of the body and lying in a direction toward said first arm, with the end of the spring arm adapted to be latched under the end of the first arm, and with the spring arm resiliently biased against said first arm; and manual resetting means attached to the spring arm and extending outwardly thereof, the outer end of the resetting means being adapted to move the spring arm from a position in which it does not engage the first arm to a position in which it does.

Claim 5

The circuit breaker of claim 2 including means integral with said body for preventing said thermally actuable member and said spring member from rotating on the base with respect to said end portions.

Claim 6

The circuit breaker of claim 3 in which said means comprises first side portions projecting from the body and laterally abutting the intermediate portion of the thermally actuable member; and second side portions projecting from the body and laterally abutting the intermediate portion of the spring member.

Claim 7

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a resilient metal spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of a face of the arm comprising a first electrical contact, and an end portion including an electrical terminal; an elongated thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to make a line engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the other end of the blade comprising an electrical terminal; said one end portion of the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and being applied directly against said second electrical contact, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm in planes at approximately right angles to each other with the motion of the second electrical contact being in a direction parallel to the direction of said line engagement, thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset and the contact pressure between electrical contact portions increasing during motion of said blade toward unlatching position; and manually aCtuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position.

Claim 8

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a resilient metal spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of a face of the arm comprising a first electrical contact, and an end portion including an electrical terminal; an elongated thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to make a line engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the other end of the blade comprising an electrical terminal; said one end portion of the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and being applied directly against said second electrical contact, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm in planes at approximately right angles to each other with the motion of the second electrical contact being in a direction parallel to the direction of said line engagement, thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset and the contact pressure between electrical contact portions increasing during motion of said blade toward unlatching position; and manually aCtuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position.

Claim 9

The circuit breaker of claim 5 in which the thermostat metal blade and the spring arm are each made of strip metal; the circuit breaker includes a cover; and the fixed ends of the thermostat metal blade and spring arm are held on the base in their respective positions by being clamped between the cover and the base.

Claim 10

The circuit breaker of claim 5 in which the one end portion of said arm and said one end of the blade remain spaced apart from each other after said latch has released the spring arm and until the latter has been moved into contact making position.

Claim 11

The circuit breaker of claim 5 including a cover, the said end portion of the thermostatic blade and said one end portion being held on the base by being clamped between the base and cover.

Claim 12

The circuit breaker of claim 5 including a plurality of said spring arms and a plurality of said thermostat metal blades, the arms when disengaged from the thermostat blades lying approximately in a common plane, and the blades when engaged with said arms lying each in a plane perpendicular to said common plane.

Claim 13

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid and is substantially in lengthwise compression; the thermostat metal blade comprising a thermostat metal element having two legs joined by one end of each at a bight, the legs being oriented in a generally V-shape or U-shape; a first of said legs being shorter than the second of said legs and having a free end; the other end of said second leg extending outwardly of said base and constituting an electrical terminal; means holding the bight end of the second leg relatively immovable with respect to the base; the first leg being directed toward said base; the spring arm being mounted on the base with one end thereof extending outwardly of the base and constituting an electrical terminal; and the other end of the spring arm being adapted to be in engagement with the free end of said first leg to make an electrical contact therewith and to be latched thereby in contact-making engagement therewith; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position.

Claim 14

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid and is substantially in lengthwise compression; the thermostat metal blade comprising a thermostat metal element having two legs joined by one end of each at a bight, the legs being oriented in a generally V-shape or U-shape; a first of said legs being shorter than the second of said legs and having a free end; the other end of said second leg extending outwardly of said base and constituting an electrical terminal; means holding the bight end of the second leg relatively immovable with respect to the base; the first leg being directed toward said base; the spring arm being mounted on the base with one end thereof extending outwardly of the base and constituting an electrical terminal; and the other end of the spring arm being adapted to be in engagement with the free end of said first leg to make an electrical contact therewith and to be latched thereby in contact-making engagement therewith; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position.

Claim 15

The circuit breaker of claim 10 including a plurality of said thermostat metal elements mounted on a common base, each having said first and second legs; a plurality of said spring arms on the base, each spring arm being adapted to be in said engagement respectively with the free end of one of said first legs and to be latched thEreby in contact-making engagement therewith; each of said spring arms including a manually actuated resetting means, each resetting means being actuable to reset only its respective spring arm; and a common cover for the base and the spring arms and the thermostat metal elements, the cover being provided with a plurality of openings therein through each of which projects a portion of one of said manual resetting means.

Claim 16

The circuit breaker of claim 11 in which the spring arms and thermostat metal elements are affixed to the base at least in part by the conjunction of the cover and base.

Claim 17

The circuit breaker of claim 11, including an electrical conducting member mounted on the base in position to be engaged electrically by each of the manual resetting means when the spring arm is in contact-open position.

Claim 18

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another termperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position; and a third electrical conductor positioned on said base and adapted to be electrically engaged by the spring arm when the latter is in contact-open position.

Claim 19

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another termperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position; and a third electrical conductor positioned on said base and adapted to be electrically engaged by the spring arm when the latter is in contact-open position.

Claim 20

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, an edge portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position while drawing said edge portion across the arm in a direction lengthwise of said edge portion to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and tHe spring arm in contact making position, said one portion of the spring arm engaging, during resetting the latter into contact closed position, with a portion of said blade, thereby to move the blade outwardly with respect to the said one portion of the arm until latch position of the latter is attained.

Claim 21

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, an edge portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position while drawing said edge portion across the arm in a direction lengthwise of said edge portion to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and tHe spring arm in contact making position, said one portion of the spring arm engaging, during resetting the latter into contact closed position, with a portion of said blade, thereby to move the blade outwardly with respect to the said one portion of the arm until latch position of the latter is attained.

Claim 22

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; each of one end portion of the thermally actuable blade and said end portion of the spring arm being fixed to the base with an integral portion thereof extending outwardly therefrom, said integral portion of each constituting one terminal of a quick-disconnect electrical connection; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position, said manually actuable means comprising a metal member attached to said spring arm and extending away therefrom, the circuit breaker including a cover having a hole therein, and a portion of the strip of metal extending through the hole and outwardly of the cover when the spring arm is in its second position, whereby said metal member is adapted, when manually actuated, to push the spring arm into engagement with said blade.

Claim 23

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; each of one end portion of the thermally actuable blade and said end portion of the spring arm being fixed to the base with an integral portion thereof extending outwardly therefrom, said integral portion of each constituting one terminal of a quick-disconnect electrical connection; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position, said manually actuable means comprising a metal member attached to said spring arm and extending away therefrom, the circuit breaker including a cover having a hole therein, and a portion of the strip of metal extending through the hole and outwardly of the cover when the spring arm is in its second position, whereby said metal member is adapted, when manually actuated, to push the spring arm into engagement with said blade.

Claim 24

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position, said manually Actuable means comprising a strip of metal integral with said spring arm and extending away therefrom, both the spring arm and the manually actuable means being formed of a single length of spring metal the circuit breaker including a cover having a hole therein, and a portion of the strip of metal extending through the hole and outwardly of the cover when the spring arm is in its second position, whereby said metal member is adapted, when manually actuated, to push the spring arm into engagement with said blade.

Claim 25

A circuit breaker comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction in which the thermostat metal blade is relatively rigid, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts; manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position, said manually Actuable means comprising a strip of metal integral with said spring arm and extending away therefrom, both the spring arm and the manually actuable means being formed of a single length of spring metal the circuit breaker including a cover having a hole therein, and a portion of the strip of metal extending through the hole and outwardly of the cover when the spring arm is in its second position, whereby said metal member is adapted, when manually actuated, to push the spring arm into engagement with said blade.

Claim 26

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid, said blade being made of strip metal; said one end portion of the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and edgewise of the latter, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position, the manually actuable means comprising a strip of metal attached to said spring and extending away therefrom, the circuit breaker including a cover having a hole therein, and a portion of the strip of metal extending through the hole and outwardly of the cover when the spring arm is in its second position, whereby the strip is adapted, when manually actuated, to push the spring arm into engagement with said blade.

Claim 27

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid, said blade being made of strip metal; said one end portion of the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and edgewise of the latter, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position, the manually actuable means comprising a strip of metal attached to said spring and extending away therefrom, the circuit breaker including a cover having a hole therein, and a portion of the strip of metal extending through the hole and outwardly of the cover when the spring arm is in its second position, whereby the strip is adapted, when manually actuated, to push the spring arm into engagement with said blade.

Claim 28

The circuit breaker of claim 18 in which each of the other end portions of the thermally actuable blade and the spring arm is fixed to the base with a portion thereof extending outwardly therefrom, said latter portions each constituting one terminal of a quick-disconnect electrical connection.

Claim 29

The circuit breaker of claim 18 in which the spring arm and said strip are integral with each other and are formed from a single length of spring metal.

Claim 30

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid, said blade being made of strip metal; said one end portion of the blade wHen in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and edgewise of the latter, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset; manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position; and a third electrical conductor positioned on said base and adapted to be electrically engaged by the spring arm when the latter is in contact-open position.

Claim 31

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid, said blade being made of strip metal; said one end portion of the blade wHen in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and edgewise of the latter, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move to said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset; manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position; and a third electrical conductor positioned on said base and adapted to be electrically engaged by the spring arm when the latter is in contact-open position.

Claim 32

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; said arm and said thermostat metal blade being elongated strips having length and width, the length being greater than the width; the arm and the thermostat metal blade being mounted so as to extend in the same direction with respect to the base by said end portion of the arm and by the other end portion of the blade with the planes of the arm and blade at approximately right-angles to each other; said one end portion of said blade being provided with a cam surface adapted to be engaged by said arm when the latter is moved in a first direction from contact-open position to contact-closed position of the circuit breaker, thereby to move said blade against the resilience thereof in a direction at right angles to the direction of motion of said arm and into said other position; said arm being adapted to be moved to a position beyond said first portion of said blade far enough so that said blade is enabled to move into its said one position wherein an edge portion thereof engages and holds said arm in its contact-closed position; said second electrical contact constituting an edge portion of said one end portion of the blade adapted to engage said one portion of the arm; the direction of motion of said arm during motion thereof caused by heating being such as to draw said edge across said arm in a direction parallel to the length of said edge, thereby to minimize friction between said one end portion of the blade and said arm when the blade moves to said other position to open the contacts; said one end portion of the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and edgewise of the latter, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move tO said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position.

Claim 33

A circuit breaker adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit, comprising: a base; a spring arm mounted on the base, one portion of the arm comprising a first electrical contact and an end portion including an electrical terminal; a thermostat metal blade mounted on the base and adapted to occupy one position when at one temperature, and another position when at another temperature, one end portion of the blade comprising a second electrical contact adapted, when the blade is in said one position, to be in electrical engagement with said first electrical contact to close said circuit, the force exerted by said arm being in a direction in which said blade is relatively rigid; said arm and said thermostat metal blade being elongated strips having length and width, the length being greater than the width; the arm and the thermostat metal blade being mounted so as to extend in the same direction with respect to the base by said end portion of the arm and by the other end portion of the blade with the planes of the arm and blade at approximately right-angles to each other; said one end portion of said blade being provided with a cam surface adapted to be engaged by said arm when the latter is moved in a first direction from contact-open position to contact-closed position of the circuit breaker, thereby to move said blade against the resilience thereof in a direction at right angles to the direction of motion of said arm and into said other position; said arm being adapted to be moved to a position beyond said first portion of said blade far enough so that said blade is enabled to move into its said one position wherein an edge portion thereof engages and holds said arm in its contact-closed position; said second electrical contact constituting an edge portion of said one end portion of the blade adapted to engage said one portion of the arm; the direction of motion of said arm during motion thereof caused by heating being such as to draw said edge across said arm in a direction parallel to the length of said edge, thereby to minimize friction between said one end portion of the blade and said arm when the blade moves to said other position to open the contacts; said one end portion of the blade when in said one position constituting a latch to hold the blade and arm in contact-making position with the arm in a flexed condition when so held and resiliently biased to move away from said blade when released thereby, the resilient force of said arm being exerted in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the thermostat metal blade and edgewise of the latter, the electrical contact portions of the arm and blade constituting the latch engaging members, and the blade being adapted when at said other temperature to move tO said other position to unlatch the arm and to permit relative motion between the blade and arm thereby to disengage said electrical contacts and thereby to directly open said circuit, the contact portions of the arm and blade remaining in the circuit open position until the circuit breaker is reset; and manually actuable means for moving at least one of the spring arm and blade into position to cause engagement of said contact, and to latch the blade and the spring arm in contact making position.

Claim 34

The circuit breaker of claim 22 in which said one end portion of the blade comprises a section of the blade bent at right angles thereto and extending laterally a distance sufficient to overlap the path of motion of said arm, said cam surface constituting a first edge of said section at an angle to the direction of motion of said arm when the latter is moved into contact-closed position.

Claim 35

The circuit breaker of claim 23 in which the other edge of said section lies approximately parallel to the plane of said second portion of the arm, whereby when the blade and arm are in contact-closed position, said other edge lies against said second portion and constitutes an abutment therefor preventing motion thereof from contact-closed position to contact-open position.

Claim 36

The circuit breaker of claim 23 including when said arm and blade are in engagement, a continuous layer of solder surrounding each of said one portion of the arm and said one end portion of the blade when the arm and blade are in latched position.

Claim 37

The circuit breaker of claim 25 which includes a layer of solder between said edge and said arm.

Claim 38

The circuit breaker of claim 25 in which the solder surrounding one of said portions is fused with the solder surrounding the other of said portions.

Claim 39

The circuit breaker of claim 25 in which the solder surrounding one of said portions is not fused with the solder surrounding the other of said portions.