A temperature-dependent switch has a first and a second stationary counter contact and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism with a contact member. The switching mechanism, in its first switching position, presses the contact member against the first counter contact and, in this case, produces an electrically conducting connection between the two counter contacts via the contact member. The switching mechanism, in its second switching position, holds the contact member at a spacing from the first counter contact. A closing lock is provided, which prevents the switch, once opened, from closing again. The closing lock locks the temperature-dependent switching mechanism permanently in the second switching position thereof in a mechanical manner.

This invention is a thermally actuated switch in which a sealed vessel contains a fixed contact and a heat-sensitive-plate assembly that has a structure in which a movable contact is anchored to one lengthwise end of a heat-sensitive plate, one end of a metal support is anchored to the other end of said heat-sensitive plate, and the heat-sensitive plate is then drawn. The heat-sensitive-plate assembly has a dish-shaped drawn section near the middle of the heat-sensitive plate and has folded sections between the area where the movable contact is anchored and the widthwise edges of the heat-sensitive plate and also between the area where the metal support is anchored and the widthwise edges of the heat-sensitive plate.

A temperature-dependent switch having a switch housing, a temperature-dependent switching mechanism and a heating resistor component. The switch housing comprises a lower part made of electrically conductive material and a lid part which comprises a first section made of electrically conductive material and a second section made of electrically insulating material. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism comprises a movable contact part that establishes a first electrical connection between the lower part and a stationary contact part below a response temperature and interrupts the first electrical connection upon exceeding the response temperature. The heating resistor component is arranged inside the switch housing between the lid part and the lower part. The heating resistor component is electrically connected in series with the lower part and the first section of the lid part and electrically in parallel with the first electrical connection. The heating resistor component is arranged at a distance from the stationary contact part.

A thermally activated safety switch for safeguarding a consumer of a power supply network of a vehicle, having a switch housing in a temperature-independent switching unit, which subject to the temperature thereof establishes an electrically conductive connection between two external terminals fed out of the switch housing, wherein the external terminals are fed out at opposite housing sides of the switch housing. On the one hand, the external terminals are provided for an electrical and mechanical terminal connection to the cable connection ends of a consumer to be protected, and on the other hand to a cable portion leading to an on-board power supply electronics, and are configured accordingly.

The present invention provides a protection device including a bimetal component and a PTC component. This protection device includes a resin base, a first terminal, a second terminal, a PTC component, a bimetal component, an arm, an upper plate and a resin cover. A portion of the first terminal configures a first electrode, and a portion of a second terminal configures the second electrode, and the first electrode and the second electrode are exposed outward at the bottom surface of the resin base. In a normal state, the first terminal, the arm and the second terminal are electrically connected in series. When the bimetal component is activated, the first terminal and the arm become electrically cut off while the first terminal, the PTC component, the bimetal component, the arm and the second terminal are electrically connected in series in the mentioned order.

A temperature-dependent switching mechanism is equipped with a bimetal snap-action disc and a spring snap-action disc, which carries a movable contact part, the bimetal snap-action disc and the spring snap-action disc being captively held in an annular frame.

A temperature-dependent switching mechanism for a temperature-dependent switch having a temperature-dependent bimetal disc; a temperature-independent spring disc; an electrically conductive contacting part on which the bimetal disc and the spring disc are captively held; and a retaining ring which has a main body that is made of an electrically conductive material and surrounds a peripheral edge of the spring disc and, as a result, captively holds the spring disc.

A temperature-dependent switch having a housing and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism arranged therein. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism switches, depending on its temperature, between a closed position, in which the switching mechanism establishes an electrically conductive connection between a first electrode and a second electrode, and an open position, in which the temperature-dependent switching mechanism disconnects the electrically conductive connection. The housing comprises an insulating material carrier, which carries the two electrodes and keeps them at a distance from each other along a height direction. The first electrode is electrically connected to a first external terminal. The second electrode is electrically connected to a second external terminal. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first external terminal by a connection element aligned transversely in relation to the two electrodes and arranged in the housing. The two external terminals are led through the insulating material carrier at the same height.

A temperature-dependent switch having a housing and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism arranged therein. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism switches, depending on its temperature, between a closed position, in which the switching mechanism establishes an electrically conductive connection between a first external terminal and a second external terminal, and an open position, in which the temperature-dependent switching mechanism disconnects the electrically conductive connection. The two external terminals are led parallel alongside each other out of the housing so that their upper sides lie in a common connection plane. Arranged inside the housing is an electrical heating resistor component, which is electrically connected in parallel with the switching mechanism. The electrical heating resistor component has on a connection side a first contact area, which electrically contacts the upper side of the first external terminal, and a second contact area, which electrically contacts the upper side of the second external terminal.

A temperature-dependent switch has a housing with a cover part having a lower side and an upper side and with an electrically conductive lower part having a circumferential shoulder and a circumferential wall with an upper section that overlaps the cover part. The switch has a first external contact surface on the upper side of the cover part and a second external contact surface externally on the housing, wherein the upper section of the circumferential wall presses the cover part onto the circumferential shoulder. A temperature-dependent switching mechanism is arranged in the housing and, depending on its temperature, establishes or opens an electrically conductive connection between the first and second external contact surfaces. A circumferential cutting burr is arranged on the shoulder in the lower part.