Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Jacky C Chan

Peter G Berg

Christian V Pellon

Michael J Lavado

A thermally actuated device, such as an electrical circuit breaker () is provided with an ambient temperature compensation thermostat metal member () selected so that it bends when subjected to changes in temperature and compensates for ambient temperature effects on a thermostat metal trip arm for a selected current rating. Movement of such thermostat metal member is directly proportional to the flexivity of the material and to the square of the length of the member and indirectly proportional to the thickness of the member. Since packaging constraints make changes in length impractical, compensation members used to provide temperature compensation for different current ratings of the device typically have been made by using members of different thickness. In accordance with the invention, ambient temperature compensation members for a family of devices having a plurality of different current ratings is provided by changing the effective length of respective blank thermal compensation members by stamping selected deformations () appropriate for each current rating in respective blank compensation members.

Method for ambient temperature compensating thermostat metal actuated electrical devices having a plurality of current ratings

A shouldered connector pin socket () is shown having an open channel () formed in the face surface of a wall member of a circuit breaker housing. An electrically conductive spring member (') is received over the channel and is formed with a first set of spring fingers () that are adapted to engage a connector pin along a first axial length () of the channel making electrical engagement with the pin and urging the pin against the channel surface as the pin is slidingly inserted into the channel. The spring fingers urge the flange of the connector pin into a recess formed by a stepped shoulder defining the entrance to a second axial length () with the stepped shoulder and the spring fingers cooperating to retain the connector pin in the channel. A second set of spring contact fingers () can also be used to engage the connector pin along a third axial length () and thereby provide a redundant contact system.

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Framingham, MA, United States of America

Jacky C Chan