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.

Provided is a breaker capable of further downsizing without impairing rigidity and strength of a case. The breaker 1 comprises a fixed contact 21, a movable piece 4 having and pressing a movable contact 41 to the fixed contact 21, a thermally responsive element 5 for moving the movable piece 4 to separate the movable contact 41 from the fixed contact 21 by deformation thereof responding to temperature change, a case for containing the fixed piece 21, the movable piece 4 and the thermally responsive element 5, and a cover piece 8 attached on the case 7. The case 7 has an end face 72 on which the cover piece 8 is disposed, a containing recess 73 caved from the end face 72 and forming a space to which the movable piece 4 and the thermally responsive element 5 are contained, and a first protrusion protruding from the end face 72 and to which the cover piece 8 is fitted.

Provided is a breaker capable of further downsizing without impairing rigidity and strength of a case. The breaker 1 comprises a fixed contact 21, a movable piece 4 having and pressing a movable contact 41 to the fixed contact 21, a thermally responsive element 5 for moving the movable piece 4 to separate the movable contact 41 from the fixed contact 21 by deformation thereof responding to temperature change, a case for containing the fixed piece 21, the movable piece 4 and the thermally responsive element 5, and a cover piece 8 attached on the case 7. The case 7 has an end face 72 on which the cover piece 8 is disposed, a containing recess 73 caved from the end face 72 and forming a space to which the movable piece 4 and the thermally responsive element 5 are contained, and a first protrusion protruding from the end face 72 and to which the cover piece 8 is fitted.

A safety device for emergency shut-down of an electric instantaneous water heater. The safety device includes a contact and a counter contact, which are set up to conduct the current for supplying the instantaneous water heater in a contacted state and to interrupt the power supply of the instantaneous water heater in an open state. Further, the safety device includes a mounting device for mounting the counter contact on a tie rod, wherein the tie rod is set up to release the mounting device and the counter contact 4 from the contact to interrupt a power supply of the instantaneous water heater. The contact of the safety device is implemented as a contact rivet which is integrated directly into a circuit board.

The breaker 1 is provided with a fixed contact 21, a movable piece 4 having an elastic portion 43 and a movable contact 41, a thermally-actuated element 5 deforming with a change in the temperature so as to shift the movable piece 4 from a conduction state to a cut-off state, a case main body 7 housing the movable piece 4 and the thermally-actuated element 5, a lid member 8 attached to the case main body 7, and a plate-shaped cover piece 9 embedded in the lid member 8. The case main body 7 is provided with a first fixing surface 75 fixed to the lid member 8, and the lid member 8 is provided with a second fixing surface 85 fixed to the case main body 7. The second fixing surface 85 is provided with a protruding portion 86 protruding toward the first fixing surface 75, and the protruding portion 86 and the cover piece 9 are overlapped with each other in the plan view as viewed in the thickness direction of the cover piece 9.

The breaker 1 is provided with a fixed contact 21, a movable piece 4 having an elastic portion 43 and a movable contact 41, a thermally-actuated element 5 deforming with a change in the temperature so as to shift the movable piece 4 from a conduction state to a cut-off state, a case main body 7 housing the movable piece 4 and the thermally-actuated element 5, a lid member 8 attached to the case main body 7, and a plate-shaped cover piece 9 embedded in the lid member 8. The case main body 7 is provided with a first fixing surface 75 fixed to the lid member 8, and the lid member 8 is provided with a second fixing surface 85 fixed to the case main body 7. The second fixing surface 85 is provided with a protruding portion 86 protruding toward the first fixing surface 75, and the protruding portion 86 and the cover piece 9 are overlapped with each other in the plan view as viewed in the thickness direction of the cover piece 9.

A DC circuit breaker includes a case, two fixed contacts, two movable contacts, a bypass plate electrically connecting the two movable contacts, a moving block to move the bypass plate, a moving block biasing member to bias the moving block in a direction away from the fixed contacts, a thermally responsive member, a latch, a shutter, and a shutter biasing member. The thermally responsive member deforms when an installation surface equals or exceeds a prescribed temperature. The latch restricts movement of the moving block by locking the moving block when the thermally responsive member is in a pre-deformation state. The latch cancels the restriction of the movement the thermally responsive member deforms. The shutter is insertable between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts. The shutter biasing member constantly biases the shutter in a direction to be inserted between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts.

An inhalation system for generating a vapour for inhalation by a user includes an inhalation device including a controller and a vapour generating article including a vapour generating material and a heating element. The controller is configured to provide a power supply profile adapted for a single use of the vapour generating article and having at least two sections with differing values of intensity per unit time of power supplied to the heating element. During a first section, the intensity per unit time of power supplied to the heating element has a first value arranged to maintain a target temperature at which a vapour is generated due to heating of the vapour generating material. During a second section, the intensity per unit time of power supplied to the heating element has a second value which is higher than the first value. The heating element is arranged to be broken to thereby break its electrical path when the second value of intensity per unit time of power has been supplied to the heating element a predetermined number of times.

An inhalation system for generating a vapour for inhalation by a user includes an inhalation device including a controller and a vapour generating article including a vapour generating material and a heating element. The controller is configured to provide a power supply profile adapted for a single use of the vapour generating article and having at least two sections with differing values of intensity per unit time of power supplied to the heating element. During a first section, the intensity per unit time of power supplied to the heating element has a first value arranged to maintain a target temperature at which a vapour is generated due to heating of the vapour generating material. During a second section, the intensity per unit time of power supplied to the heating element has a second value which is higher than the first value. The heating element is arranged to be broken to thereby break its electrical path when the second value of intensity per unit time of power has been supplied to the heating element a predetermined number of times.

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.