US1860999A - Thermostat switch and plug construction - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1932. H. L. ELLIS 1,860,999

THERMOSTAT SWITCH AND PLUG CONSTRUCTION Filed July 17, 1930 iff/359%; a Y? 770 IN V EN TQR.

Patented May 3l, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE HERBERT L ELLIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .LSSIGNOR TO EMIL 3R13, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y. THERMOSTAT SWITCH AND PLUG CONSTRUCTION Application nl'ed July 17,

My invention relates to thermostat controlled switches.

The object of my invention is to provide a thermostat switch and plug combination suitable for use with electrically heated flatirons-etc. that may be easily and cheaply constructed. One object is to provide a construction that may be removed from the casing, or quickly assembled therein. A further object is to rovide a thermostat construction that may ge adjusted to operate the switch at a given degree of temperature to break the circuit controlled thereby, and to cool the thermostat as quickly as the iron cools, to cause the switch to again act to restore the circuit thru the heating coil of the iron. L

The particular features of novelty are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a View of the plug as 1t appears in full size for use with a flat iron.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional vertical view of the plug, shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. A

F-ig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line L1?-4 of Fig. 1. l o

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on Ime 5-5 of Fig. 1`.

10 indicates the body portion of the plug casing, which is preferably made of plastic insulating material, and 11 indicates the cover portion of the casing.`

The casing is provided with achamber 12 and a slot 13 extending therefrom into chamber 14. The chamber 14 is entirely separated from the main chamber 15 and from the chamber 12. Located in the body portion, but not attached thereto in any way, is a socket 16 formed to fit over a terminal post 20 carried by the fiat-iron, and a iiat sheet metal stri 13 is connected to the socket 16 by a screw 1 The metal strip 13 -is provided with an 1930. Serial No. 468,505.

oifset fiat portion 18 at each end, thru which screws 17 and 19 extend to connect the socket 16 and electrical conductor 22 respectively.

The thickness of the strip 13 is equal to the width of the slot 13, and the upper end of the strip is oiset and rests in a pocket 23 ing which it fits closely to prevent movement of the strip, but from which it may be removed, since there is no mechanical connection between the strip and body ortion.

The inner walll 15 of the cham r 15 prevents heat from the iron transmitted to the strip 13 and socket 16 from being radiated to the thermostat 24 located in the chamber 15 and thereby permits the thermostat to cool more quickly after the circuit is broken, than it otherwise would.

A socket 25 is adapted to fit over a terminal post 21 carried by the flat-iron, and has an extending portion 25 having a length about equal to that of the len h of the socket, said extending portion eing connected to a bracket 26 by a screw 27 as illustrated.

The thermostat 24 is connected to the bracket 26 and extends downward in contact with the casing of the socket extension 25 and socket casing 25 the entire length of both, so that heat transmitted from the iron will flow from the post 21 into the socket casing and quickly into the bi-metallic metal thermostat, and may cool quickly due to the cooling air which may flow thru the holes 28 and 29 formed in the casing 10. The hole 28 extends the full width of the chamber 15. The thermostatI 24 is bent into the form shown, and its free upper end carries a metal contact piece 30 and a piece of non-conducting material 31, such as bakelite, both of said pleces being secured together and to the end of the thermostat by a single screw 32 which extends thru a hole in the thermostat and piece 30, and screws into the non-conducting material 31. i

An indent 30 is formed in the upper side of the piece 30 and a similar indent 31 is formed in the upper side of the piece 31, these indents being spaced from each other a predetermined distance within the movement of the thermostat. A thin casting 33 is formed as shown, and secured to the body of the casing by clamping it between the body and cover at 34 and a screw 35 extends thru its upper end and secures one end of the conductor 36 thereto. rl`he lower end of the casing 33 is formed to provide a housing 37 open at its under side, the inner walls of which serve as a guide for a cylindrical contact member 38 having a flat top, and a ball or cone shaped.

lower end adapted to rest in the indents 30 and 31 respectively.

A helical spring 40 rests on the top of the member 38 and is compressed to the required degree in adjusting the timing action of the switch', by a thumb-screw 41 which screws thru the top of the housing 37. The edge 41 of the thumb-screw extends thru slots 42 respectively, formed in the casing 10 and cover 11, and are exposed to view, and are graduated to aid in setting the screw to time the action of the thermostat. It will be noted that the edge 41 extends substantially even with the outer surface or plane of the plug, and thus permits of easy manipulation.

The casing is also provided with an opening 43 at its upper end, and an annular groove 44 is formed in its surface to receive a collar 45 which is attached to the lead-in wires 22 and 36, to relieve them of strain, as will be readily understood.

The cover is secured to the body portion by screws 46 which extend thru short tubes 47 interposed between the cover and body portion as shown.

The device operates as follows:

The switch operates by heat conducted from the heater in the iron, to the thermostat.

Assuming the sockets 16 and 25 to be attached to the terminal posts 20 and 21, as illustrated in Fig. 2, said {iat-iron having an electric heater therein, and the thermostat 24 to have expanded and operated the switch to open the electric circuit, as shown in the drawings. Cool air flowing thru the openings 28 and 29 into the chamber 15, will cause the thermostat to cool as the iron cools, to a predetermined degree, when the thermostat will actuate the switch to close the circuit, (which is its normal condition) and current will flow to the heater in the iron as follows:

Electric current flows in thru the conductor 22, strip 17 and socket 16 to terminal post 20 which is in circuit with the heater in the iron, and from the heater to the terminal post 21, and thence thru the socket 25, and its extension 25 to the thermostat 24 and metal contact piece 30, and thence thru the cylindrical contact piece 38 and casting 33 to the return conductor 36, leading to the source of power. The timing of the action of theswitch is regulated by the thumb-screw 41 which controls the pressure of the spring 40 on the member 38 as will be readily understood. It will be observed that the extreme movement of the switch in bothdirections, is limited by the inner walls of the chamber 15.

The circuit is interrupted by a snap action obtained by the resiliency of the thermostat in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new:

1. A thermostat switch and plug construction comprisinga body portion and a cover therefor, a thermostat switch located in said body portion comprising a thermostat having a metal block and anon-conductor carried on its free end by a rod which extends thru the metal and into the non-conductor, said metal block and non-conductor each having a detent therein, a housing, a metal contact member adapted to engage said detents to retard the action of the switch, means for timing the action of the switch and means for clamping said mechanism in said body portion in removable relation thereto.

2. As stated in claim 1 said timing means comprising a thumb screw which extends thru the casing and is limited in its vertical movement in both directions by the adjacent walls thereof.

3. A thermostat switch and plug construction comprising a body portion having a plurality of chambers formed therein and having a laterally extending socket at each side thereof formed to receive and embrace the end of a bare flat conductor, two conductors each having one end formed to fit in said sockets respectively and held in position by the side wall thereof, a housing connected with one of said conductors and a strip conductor with the other, a thermostat and switch mecha` nism located in one of said chambers, and means comprising a cover for clamping said mechanism in said body portion.

4. A thermostat switch and plug construction comprising a body portion having a chamber formed therein, a socket having an extension thereon, a thermostat connected to said extension and extending in contact therewith the entire length thereof, said thermostat formed with a loop and having a contact member on its free end; a contact member adapted to contact the member carried by the thermostat and close a circuit therethru, a second socket, electrical conductors in circuit with said sockets, and means comprising a cover for clamping said conductors and metal parts in said body portion.

5. A thermostat switch and plug construction comprising a body portion having a main chamber formed therein, a chamber formed in the upper end thereof and a chamber formed between said chamber, a thumb screw located in said last named chamber the ioo edge of which extends thru the outer wall of the body portion, and limited in its movement by the inner upper and lower wall of said chamber, a thermostat and switch located in said main chamber, a housing, a Contact member in said housing, a Contact member Carried by said thermostat to Contact with said member in the housing, electrical conductors for said switch members, a cover, and o means for clamping said switch mechanism in said body in freely removable relation when said cover is removed.

In testimony whereof I, HERBERT L. ELLIS affix my signature. HERBERT L.. ELLIS.

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