THERMALLY ACTIVATED ELECTRICAL INTERRUPT SWITCH

摘要

A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion engaging with an elec-trical interrupt portion. The thermally activated material expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod to open an electri-cal contact. When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod in the interrupt state until specifically reset. An actuating shaft is in operational communication with at least one electrical contact. The actuating shaft is maintained in a thermal monitoring position until an interrupt control rod is moved via a thermally expanding material and engages with the actuating shaft, releasing it from the thermal monitoring position. The actuating shaft is projected via a biasing member to cause a change in state of the electrical contact. The actuating shaft remains in the interrupt state until the user resets the switch.