A temperature-dependent switch comprising first and second stationary contacts and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member. The switching mechanism, in its first switching position, presses the contact member against the first contact and thereby produces an electrically conductive connection between the two contacts via the contact member and, in its second switching position, keeps the contact member spaced apart from the first contact and thereby disconnects the electrically conductive connection between the two contacts and opens the switch. The switch further comprises a closing lock that, as soon as it is activated, prevents the switch once having opened from closing again by keeping the switching mechanism in its second switching position. The closing lock comprises a locking element having a shape-memory alloy and an opening through which the movable contact member protrudes. The locking element is configured to change its shape upon exceeding a locking element switching temperature from a first shape, in which the locking element does not activate the closing lock, into a second shape, in which the locking element activates the closing lock by exerting a force on a part of the switching mechanism, which force holds the switching mechanism in its second switching position.

A thermal protector includes, in a fixed manner, a first terminal and a second terminal that are respectively connected to external circuits, at lower left/right ends of the longitudinal directions of a base, and a right end at which a movable plate and a bimetal are superimposed is fixed to the right end of the upper surface of the base and is connected to the second terminal. A fixed contact is fixed to an internal end of the first terminal that is exposed in the left end of the base. A movable contact is fixed at a position facing the fixed contact on the lower surface of the left end of the movable plate. A partition wall that encloses the movable contact and the fixed contact from three directions is provided and bent plate planes are formed on both sides of the movable plate in the vicinity of the movable contact. The bent plate planes adjust the flow direction of hot air in cooperation with the partition wall so as to prevent a malfunction of a breaking arc flying to surrounding conductive members.

A thermal protector includes, in a fixed manner, a first terminal and a second terminal that are respectively connected to external circuits, at lower left/right ends of the longitudinal directions of a base, and a right end at which a movable plate and a bimetal are superimposed is fixed to the right end of the upper surface of the base and is connected to the second terminal. A fixed contact is fixed to an internal end of the first terminal that is exposed in the left end of the base. A movable contact is fixed at a position facing the fixed contact on the lower surface of the left end of the movable plate. A partition wall that encloses the movable contact and the fixed contact from three directions is provided and bent plate planes are formed on both sides of the movable plate in the vicinity of the movable contact. The bent plate planes adjust the flow direction of hot air in cooperation with the partition wall so as to prevent a malfunction of a breaking arc flying to surrounding conductive members.

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.

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.

A temperature-dependent switch comprising first and second stationary contacts and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member. The switching mechanism, in its first switching position, presses the contact member against the first contact and thereby produces an electrically conductive connection and, in its second switching position, keeps the contact member spaced apart from the first contact and thereby disconnects the electrically conductive connection. The switch further comprises a closing lock that, once activated, prevents the switch once having opened from closing again by keeping the switching mechanism in its second switching position. The closing lock comprises a locking element having a shape-memory alloy and is configured to change its shape upon exceeding a locking element switching temperature from a first shape, in which the locking element does not activate the closing lock, into a second shape, in which the locking element activates the closing lock.

A temperature-dependent switch comprising first and second stationary contacts and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member. The switching mechanism, in its first switching position, presses the contact member against the first contact and thereby produces an electrically conductive connection between the two contacts via the contact member and, in its second switching position, keeps the contact member spaced apart from the first contact and thereby disconnects the electrically conductive connection between the two contacts and opens the switch. The switch further comprises a closing lock that, as soon as it is activated, prevents the switch once having opened from closing again by keeping the switching mechanism in its second switching position. The closing lock comprises a locking element having a shape-memory alloy and an opening through which the movable contact member protrudes. The locking element is configured to change its shape upon exceeding a locking element switching temperature from a first shape, in which the locking element does not activate the closing lock, into a second shape, in which the locking element activates the closing lock by exerting a force on a part of the switching mechanism, which force holds the switching mechanism in its second switching position.

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.