Claims
- 1. A condition responsive switching apparatus comprising:
- a first stationary control contact and a first moveable control contact operatively supported for movement between open and closed positions;
- a first stationary alarm contact and a first moveable alarm contact operatively supported for movement between open and closed positions;
- contact operator means for opening and closing the moveable and stationary control contacts as the contact operator means moves between a first position and a second position, and for opening and closing the alarm contacts as the operator means moves between the second position and a third position, the contact operator means including means for producing a snap action increment of movement of the operator means intermediate the first and the second positions; and
- condition responsive means, operatively connected to the operator means, for moving the operator means between the first, the second, and the third positions in response to predetermined sensed conditions.
- 2. A condition responsive switching apparatus comprising:
- a first set of switching contacts adapted for movement between open and closed positions;
- a second set of switching contacts adapted for movement between open and closed positions;
- contact operator means for effecting the opening and closing of the first set of switching contacts and of the second set of switching contacts, the contact operator means including means for producing a snap action increment of movement of the operator means which effects the opening or closing of one of the first and second sets of switching contacts;
- condition responsive means for effecting movement of the contact operator means in response to predetermined sensed conditions; and
- means for absorbing the energy of the contact operator means as it moves in the snap action increment without restraining the operator means from effecting the opening or closing of the other of the first and second sets of switching contacts, the energy absorbing means including a resilient member biased with a preload force to oppose motion of the contact operator means beyond the snap action increment until the preload force is overcome.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the resilient member further comprises:
- a spring gradient to oppose motion of the contact operator means beyond the snap action increment after the preload force is overcome.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the resilient member comprises a moveable arm of a contact of one of the first and second sets of switching contacts.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein, the other set of switching contacts includes a stationary contact element, a moveable contact element on a moveable arm, and the energy absorbing means; and the moveable arm of the moveable contact element being a spring element.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
- means for adjusting the distance between the moveable contact and the stationary contact.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:
- means for providing an adjustable preload force on the spring element.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for adjusting the distance further comprises:
- an adjustable set screw which biases the spring element towards the stationary contact.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the spring element is cantilevered from a stationary connection element and the adjustable preload providing means includes an adjustable set screw which biases the spring element away from the stationary contact.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the distance adjusting set screw is spaced away from the stationary connection element and pushes the spring element towards the stationary contact.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the preload adjusting set screw is spaced away from the stationary connection element intermediate of the distance adjusting set screw and the connection element and pulls the spring element toward the distance adjusting set screw.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the spring element is cantilevered from a stationary connection element and the preload providing means includes an adustable set screw which biases the spring element toward the stationary contact.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the distance adjusting set screw is spaced away from the stationary connection element and pushes the spring element toward thestationary contact.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein, the preload adjusting set screw is spaced away from the stationary connection element intermediate of the distance adjusting set screw and the connection element and pushes the spring element away from the distance adjusting set screw.
- 15. A control system for an appliance operatively connected to a circuit for providing cooling to the appliance and an alarm circuit for generating an indication of an over-temperature condition of the appliance, the control system comprising:
- at least one control contact electrically connected for selectively energizing and de-energizing a compressor and supported for movement between open and closed circuit positions;
- temperature responsive force producing means, operatively connected to a temperature sensor, for producing a temperature responsive force;
- mannually adjustable force providing means for providing an adjustable force based on a manual setting to oppose or assist the force developed by the temperature responsive force producing means;
- contact operator means and a snap acting toggle device arranged for co-acting with one another and for producing snap action incremental movement of the contact operator means in two different directions, the contact operator means being stopped in at least one of the two different directions;
- force transfer means, operatively connecting the temperature responsive force producing means and the manually adjustable force providing means to the contact operator means, for effecting snap-action incremental movement of the contact operator means based on a sensed temperature and the manual setting;
- said control contact means being moved between open and closed circuit positions by the snap action incremental movement of the contact operator means; and
- alarm contacts arranged foir selectively activating and inactivating an alarm circuit, said alarm contacts being urged to a closed circuit condition in response to force produced by the temperature responsive force producing means in excess of the force of the temperature responsive force producing means that triggers snap-action movement of the contact operator means.
- 16. The control system of claim 15 wherein the contact operator means includes a contact operating arm having dog means for moving the control contact to an open circuit condition when the contact operator means moves in one of said two different and for moving the control contact to a closed circuit condition when the operator means moves in the other of said two directions; and wherein the alarm contact is spring biased to an open circuit condition, but moveable to closed circuit condition in response to engagement by said dog means.
- 17. The control system of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises a moveable alarm contact arm and a stationary alarm contact arm.
- 18. The control system of claim 17 wherein the system further comprises means for preloading the moveable alarm contact arm.
- 19. The control system of claim 16 wherein the alarm contact is carried by a moveable spring arm having a predetermined alarm gradient.
- 20. The control system of claim 19 further comprising means for providing a preload force on the moveable spring arm.
- 21. The control system of claim 20 further comprising means for adjusting the preload force.
- 22. The control system of claim 21 wherein the means for adjusting the preload force further comprises at least one adjusting screw.
Parent Case Info
This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 07/415,662, filed Oct. 2, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,548.
US Referenced Citations (35)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1558474 |
Jan 1980 |
GBX |
2111203 |
Jun 1983 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Series Temperature Control", Ranco Information Bulletin No. 1531010, 1981. |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
415662 |
Oct 1989 |
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