IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THERMAL CONTROLS FOR LIQUID HEATING VESSELS

摘要

An element protecter control is assembled with a planar electric heating element of a water heating vessel to protect the heating element against overheating by switching off the power supply thereto, the control being biased towards the heating element by means of a cantilevered spring (35) and comprising a body portion (1, 2) to juxtaposed with the planar heating element at a certain predetermined spacing therefrom, spacers (25) formed of heat-resistant ceramics material being provided on said body portion to ensure said spacing, and a thermally-responsive member (9) of the control being arranged so as to bear against the planar heating element and to deform under spring pressure when the heating element temperature exceeds a certain level, such deformation being arranged to effect a switch-operating movement for disconnecting the heating element from its power supply. The resilient mounting of the control relative to the heating element and the use of the spacers (25) ensures that the control remains at a proper spacing from the heating element even when the latter is subject to thermal expansion/contraction effects.