Thermal switch technology is disclosed. In one example, a thermally activated switch can include an electronic substrate base, and first and second electrical contacts coupled to the electronic substrate base. The first and second electrical contacts can be movable relative to one another due to thermal expansion or contraction of a material to facilitate contact or separation of the first and second electrical contacts.

Thermal switch technology is disclosed. In one example, a thermally activated switch can include an electronic substrate base, and first and second electrical contacts coupled to the electronic substrate base. The first and second electrical contacts can be movable relative to one another due to thermal expansion or contraction of a material to facilitate contact or separation of the first and second electrical contacts.

A current cut-off device 1 includes a plate-shaped terminal piece 2 having a contact 21, a movable piece 4 including an elastic portion 44 formed in a plate shape so as to be elastically deformed and a movable contact 41 arranged at one end portion of the elastic portion 44 and having the movable contact 41 so as to be pressed against and in contact with the contact 21, and a thermally actuated element 5 which biases the movable piece 4 by deforming in accordance with a temperature change and causes a state of the movable piece 4 to be shifted from a conductive state in which the movable contact 41 is in contact with the contact 21 to a cut-off state in which the movable contact 41 is separated from the contact 21. When the state of the movable piece 4 is shifted from the conductive state to the cut-off state, as the movable contact 41 moves, it gets over the contact 21.

A current cut-off device 1 includes a plate-shaped terminal piece 2 having a contact 21, a movable piece 4 including an elastic portion 44 formed in a plate shape so as to be elastically deformed and a movable contact 41 arranged at one end portion of the elastic portion 44 and having the movable contact 41 so as to be pressed against and in contact with the contact 21, and a thermally actuated element 5 which biases the movable piece 4 by deforming in accordance with a temperature change and causes a state of the movable piece 4 to be shifted from a conductive state in which the movable contact 41 is in contact with the contact 21 to a cut-off state in which the movable contact 41 is separated from the contact 21. When the state of the movable piece 4 is shifted from the conductive state to the cut-off state, as the movable contact 41 moves, it gets over the contact 21.

To provide a protection element and a protection circuit that can protect from an overcurrent without using rectifying means such as a diode or a switching element, and can more reliably interrupt passage of an electric current during operation with a simpler circuit configuration. A protection element including: an insulating substrate; at least a pair of fuse electrodes provided on the insulating substrate; an intermediate electrode provided on the insulating substrate between the fuse electrodes; a fuse element joined to the fuse electrodes and the intermediate electrode, and electrically connected to the fuse electrodes and the intermediate electrode; and a heating element provided on the insulating substrate to be electrically connected to the intermediate electrode and a heating electrode, wherein conduction means between at least a pair of electrodes of the fuse electrodes including the intermediate electrode is provided differently from conduction means between the other electrodes.

A temperature-dependent switch comprising a housing, which comprises a cover part and a lower part, wherein an insulating foil is arranged between the cover part and the lower part. The temperature-dependent switch further comprises a first external contact surface provided externally on the housing, a second external contact surface provided externally on the housing, and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism arranged in the housing. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism, depending on its temperature, establishes or opens an electrically conductive connection between the first and the second external contact surfaces. The insulating foil is at least partially coated or printed with a sealing agent which, for sealing the housing, contacts the cover part and/or the lower part in a sealing area.

A temperature-dependent switch comprising a housing, which comprises a cover part and a lower part, wherein an insulating foil is arranged between the cover part and the lower part. The temperature-dependent switch further comprises a first external contact surface provided externally on the housing, a second external contact surface provided externally on the housing, and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism arranged in the housing. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism, depending on its temperature, establishes or opens an electrically conductive connection between the first and the second external contact surfaces. The insulating foil is at least partially coated or printed with a sealing agent which, for sealing the housing, contacts the cover part and/or the lower part in a sealing area.

A breaker 1 includes a fixed piece 2 having a fixed contact 21, a movable piece 4 having an elastically deformable elastic portion 44 and a movable contact 41 formed at a tip portion of the elastic portion 44 and pushed to be in contact with the fixed contact 21, a thermally actuated element 5 deformable in accordance with a temperature change to shift the state of the movable piece 4 from a conductive state to a cut-off state, and a case 10 accommodating the fixed piece 2, the movable piece 4, and the thermally actuated element 5. The movable piece 4 is cantilevered and supported by the case 10 on a base end portion (44s) side of the elastic portion 44, the elastic portion 44 includes a first narrow portion 45 having a smaller width dimension (W) in a short direction (D2) perpendicular to a longitudinal direction (D1) of the elastic portion 44 than that of the base end portion (44s), and the first narrow portion 45 has an arc-shaped contour 46 in a plan view seen from a thickness direction of the elastic portion 44.

A temperature-dependent switch which comprises a first and a second stationary counter contact and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a current transfer member. The switching mechanism, depending on its temperature, either closes the switch by pressing the current transfer member against the first and the second counter contact and thereby establishing an electrically conductive connection between the two counter contacts via the current transfer member, or opens the switch by keeping the current transfer member at a distance from the first and the second counter contact and thereby interrupting the electrically conductive connection. A closing lock is provided, which keeps the switch open when it has been opened for the first time. The closing lock comprises a spring washer which directly interacts with the current transfer member and mechanically locks the latter permanently when the switch has been opened for the first time so that the switch remains permanently open.

A temperature-dependent switch which comprises a first and a second stationary counter contact and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a current transfer member. The switching mechanism, depending on its temperature, either closes the switch by pressing the current transfer member against the first and the second counter contact and thereby establishing an electrically conductive connection between the two counter contacts via the current transfer member, or opens the switch by keeping the current transfer member at a distance from the first and the second counter contact and thereby interrupting the electrically conductive connection. A closing lock is provided, which keeps the switch open when it has been opened for the first time. The closing lock comprises a spring washer which directly interacts with the current transfer member and mechanically locks the latter permanently when the switch has been opened for the first time so that the switch remains permanently open.