U.S. Controls Corporation

Steven Sager

Spencer C Schantz

Ronald J Janz

Gary Christiansen

An interlock device for preventing access to a moving part of an appliance, such as the spin drying basket of a washing machine, until the basket has coasted to a stop during a spin drying cycle. A switch lever is actuated by closing the closure lid of the machine. This closes a switch in series with a bimetal and the basket drive motor. Motor current heats the bimetal which deflects and drives a dual purpose actuator which drives a lid locking lever to engage a latch and also closes a switch connected in shunt with the bimetal so as to bypass the bimetal momentarily and then conduct alternately through it so it does not overheat. The switch and lid lock assembly features a dual purpose actuator, special seal elements for the actuator shaft, a combination torsion and compression spring to put pressure on the seal elements and resiliently position the locking lever, actuator shaft bearings that slide in place, bendable tabs for prepositioning the bimetal to correct for variations in straightness, and a binding free connection between bimetal and actuator.

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Greendale, WI, United States of America

Steven Sager