Electric iron with unitary thermostat and overtemperature control

Abstract

An adjustable stacked thermostat assembly, particularly for use in an electric appliance, such as an electric steam iron, includes a lower bimetallic heat deformable blade, an intermediate stiff conductive spring blade carrying a electrical contact and connected to a first electric terminal and an upper less stiff conductive spring blade carrying a cooperating contact and connected to a second terminal, with all of the blades being supported, secured and spaced apart at one end by interposed insulators. In operation movement of the deformable blade is transmitted to the upper blade to make and break the contacts to control heat to the appliance controlled by the thermostat. An overtemperature control is provided as part of and adjacent the stacked assembly and includes a downwardly biased conductive bus bar adjacent to the heat deformable blade and secured to the first terminal, a conducting finger connected to the second terminal through the contacts and projecting from the stack at right angles to and overlapping the bus bar, and an insulator between and separating the finger and bar. A fusible pellet carried by the insulator cooperates with the finger and bar to establish an electric circuit therebetween by either bridging the space between the bar and finger to connect them electrically in series through the pellet or by biasing the bar into direct electrical contact with the finger. Upon melting of the pellet, the downwardly biased bar drops and abuts a stop on insulator to break the circuit established between the bar and finger.