Provided are a protecting device capable of safely and quickly interrupting a current path by restricting heat absorption to a lower case, and a battery pack using the same. A protecting device includes: a meltable conductor 3; and a housing 6 including a lower case 4 and an upper case 5, the housing being formed by joining the lower case 4 and the upper case 5, and the lower case 4 is provided with a recessed portion 23 having support portions 21 provided at opposing side edges of the recessed portion 23 and hollow portions 22 provided on the side edges substantially orthogonal to the side edges of the recessed portion 23 on which the support portions 21 are provided.

A breaker is provided with a first terminal piece on which a fixed contact is formed, a movable piece with a movable contact for pressing the movable contact against the fixed contact so as to contact therewith, a thermally-actuated element deforming with a change in temperature and moving the movable piece so that the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact, and a second terminal piece electrically connected to the movable piece. The movable contact includes a first movable contact and a second movable contact arranged at a first end portion and a second end portion, respectively, of the movable piece in its longitudinal direction. The fixed contact includes a first fixed contact arranged at a position with which the first movable contact can contact, and a second fixed contact arranged at a position with which the second movable contact can contact.

A thermal switch includes a thermally responsive plate assembly including a metal support deforming from an initial shape before a header plate assembly is secured to a housing assembly, with a result that a position of a movable contact in the housing assembly is adjusted so as to be within a predetermined height range relative to an open end of a housing. A contact pressure of switching contacts after the assembling is produced by the height adjustment, and subsequently, a neighborhood of a part of the housing to which part the thermally responsive plate assembly is secured is deformed, so that an operating temperature is calibratable.

A thermal switch includes a thermally responsive plate assembly including a metal support deforming from an initial shape before a header plate assembly is secured to a housing assembly, with a result that a position of a movable contact in the housing assembly is adjusted so as to be within a predetermined height range relative to an open end of a housing. A contact pressure of switching contacts after the assembling is produced by the height adjustment, and subsequently, a neighborhood of a part of the housing to which part the thermally responsive plate assembly is secured is deformed, so that an operating temperature is calibratable.

A temperature-sensing tape including a flexible, electrically insulating substrate, a plurality of temperature-sensing elements disposed on the substrate, wherein a temperature-sensing element includes a bimetallic switch.

A protection device comprises a resin base, PTC component, bimetal component, arm and upper plate which are housed in a resin housing wherein the base includes a terminal integrated with the base by insert molding. A resin cover is formed by insert molding to cover the PTC component, bimetal component, arm and upper plate which are superposed in this order over the terminal within a space in the base. The space in the resin base is substantially closed by the upper plate, the base and the cover are integrally bonded to define the resin housing, the terminal and the arm are electrically connected in series in a normal state, and in an abnormal state where the bimetal component is activated, the terminal and the arm are electrically cut off, while the terminal, PTC component, bimetal component, and arm are electrically connected in series in this order.

A temperature-dependent switch comprises first and second stationary contacts and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member and a temperature-dependent snap-action part, which transitions between geometric low- and high-temperature configurations based on a temperature of the switch. Switching the snap-action part from its geometric low- to high-temperature configuration moves the switching mechanism from a first to a second switching position and thereby opens the switch. A closing lock prevents the switch once having opened from closing again by keeping it in its second switching position. The closing lock comprises a fusible medium which melts when a melting temperature of the medium is exceeded, contacts, in a molten state, a part of the switching mechanism when it is in its second switching position, and solidifies again and thereby locks it in its second switching position when the temperature of the switch falls below the melting temperature of the medium again.

A temperature-dependent switch comprises first and second stationary contacts and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member and a temperature-dependent snap-action part, which transitions between geometric low- and high-temperature configurations based on a temperature of the switch. Switching the snap-action part from its geometric low- to high-temperature configuration moves the switching mechanism from a first to a second switching position and thereby opens the switch. A closing lock prevents the switch once having opened from closing again by keeping it in its second switching position. The closing lock comprises a fusible medium which melts when a melting temperature of the medium is exceeded, contacts, in a molten state, a part of the switching mechanism when it is in its second switching position, and solidifies again and thereby locks it in its second switching position when the temperature of the switch falls below the melting temperature of the medium again.

An electric heating device for emitting a heated air flow, in particular for a sanitary room or washroom in a rail-borne vehicle, includes an air duct, a fan generating the air flow, a heating element heating the air flow and a first over-temperature switch. The first over-temperature switch can reversibly switch off the heating element when a first over-temperature is exceeded. A second over-temperature switch can irreversibly switch off the heating element when a second over-temperature is exceeded. The second over-temperature switch is disposed in a recess, depression or opening formed in the air duct. The second over-temperature switch has a disconnect or isolating switch to be thermally triggered for switching off the heating element. The thermally triggered disconnect or isolating switch can be triggered by a glass sphere or bead that breaks when the second over-temperature is exceeded.

An electric heating device for emitting a heated air flow, in particular for a sanitary room or washroom in a rail-borne vehicle, includes an air duct, a fan generating the air flow, a heating element heating the air flow and a first over-temperature switch. The first over-temperature switch can reversibly switch off the heating element when a first over-temperature is exceeded. A second over-temperature switch can irreversibly switch off the heating element when a second over-temperature is exceeded. The second over-temperature switch is disposed in a recess, depression or opening formed in the air duct. The second over-temperature switch has a disconnect or isolating switch to be thermally triggered for switching off the heating element. The thermally triggered disconnect or isolating switch can be triggered by a glass sphere or bead that breaks when the second over-temperature is exceeded.