ANTHONY F URBAN
Lead Program in Warren, RI

4952901, Aug 28, 1990

Dec 22, 1989

7/455979

John J. Chrupcala - Warren RI
Anthony F. Urban - Warren RI

Elmwood Sensors, Inc. - Pawtucket RI

H01H 3704, H01H 3752

337372

A disc assembly for a bimetallic disc-actuated thermostatic switch is adapted to minimize response time. The switch includes a disc assembly comprising a disc retainer, and a bimetallic disc and a cap on the disc retainer. The disc retainer includes a central hub portion, a plurality of fingers which radiate outwardly from the hub portion, a plurality of disc retainer projections on the fingers adjacent the terminal ends thereof and a plurality of disc support shoulders on the fingers adjacent the disc retainer projections thereon. The fingers have open notches therebetween for reducing the cross sectional area of the material available in the disc retainer for conducting heat from the bimetallic disc to the body portion of a thermostatic switch on which the disc assembly is installed. The cap includes an end wall portion having an enlarged opening therein and a skirt portion having a plurality of apertures therein which reduce the cross sectional area of the material available in the skirt portion for conducting heat from the bimetallic disc to the body portion of a switch.

5296834, Mar 22, 1994

Jun 10, 1993

8/074932

Anthony F. Urban - Warren RI

Ellmwood Sensors, Inc. - Pawtucket RI

H01H 3704, H01H 3752

337372

A bimetallic disc assembly for a bimetallic disc-actuated thermostatic switch includes a disc retainer, a bimetallic disc received in assembled position on the disc retainer and a metallic retainer cap for retaining the disc in assembled position on the disc retainer and for securing the assembly to the body portion of the thermostatic switch. The disc retainer is adapted to minimize heat flow from the metallic cap to the disc retainer by minimizing the areas of contact between the disc retainer and the cap. The disc retainer is integrally formed from a ceramic material and it includes a central hub having an axial bore extending therethrough, a circular flange extending radially outwardly from the hub, a circular shoulder extending upwardly from the flange, and a peripheral rim extending upwardly from the shoulder. The peripheral rim includes a horizontal edge with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections or bumps which extend upwardly therefrom. The metal cap is received on the disc retainer and rests upon the projections or bumps which effectively reduce the contact area between the cap and the retainer and thereby minimize the transfer of heat from the cap to the disc retainer.