Heat Destructive Disconnecting Switch

Abstract

A heat destructive disconnecting switch, comprises a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a movable conductive member, an overheating destructive member, an operating component, and a second elastic member. The movable conductive member conducts electricity to the first conductive member and the second conductive member. A first elastic member and the second elastic member act on an operating member. The first elastic member is compressed and provided with a first elastic force, and the second elastic member is provided with a second elastic force. When the overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, the first elastic force is diminished or vanishes, causing the second elastic force to be larger than the first elastic force. Consequently, the movable conductive member disconnects the current conducting state between the first conductive member and the second conductive member, thereby achieving a protective effect from overheating.

Claims

1. A heat destructive disconnecting switch, comprising: a base, which is provided with a holding space; a first conductive member, which penetrates and is mounted on the base; a second conductive member, which penetrates and is mounted on the base; a movable conductive member, which is mounted within the holding space and electrically connected to the first conductive member, and selectively connects with the second conductive member; an overheating destructive member, which is destructed under a fail temperature condition, the fail temperature lying between 100 C. to 250 C.; an operating component, which is assembled on the base, and the operating component comprises an operating member and a first elastic member, wherein the operating member comprises a contact member and a limiting member, the overheating destructive member butts against the contact member, the first elastic member is compressed and confined between the contact member and a limiting member, and is provided with a first elastic force; a second elastic member, which is provided with a second elastic force that acts on the operating member; whereby when the operating member is at a first position, the first elastic force presses and forces the movable conductive member to contact the second conductive member and form a power-on state; when in a power-on state, an electric current passes through the first conductive member, the movable conductive member, and the second conductive member producing heat energy, whereupon, the overheating destructive member absorbs the heat energy and is destructed under the fail temperature condition, resulting in lessening or loss of the first elastic force, at which time the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force, and the second elastic force presses and forces the operating member to displace to a second position, thereby causing the movable conductive member to separate from the second conductive member and form a power-off state.

2. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are both springs.

3. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein arrangement of the first conductive member and the second conductive member is defined as being in a lengthwise direction, the operating member is provided with a length in the lengthwise direction, the first elastic member is disposed at central position of the length, and there is a distance between the disposed position of the second elastic member on the length and the central position.

4. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the movable conductive member is a conductive seesaw member, which a strides and is mounted on the first conductive member, and the contact member slides on the conductive seesaw member, thereby enabling the conductive seesaw member to selectively contact or separate from the second conductive member in a seesaw movement.

5. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is provided with a pivot connecting point that is pivot connected to the base, the operating member uses the pivot connecting point as an axis, which limits back and forth rotation and enables the contact member to slide on the conductive seesaw member.

6. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the limiting member is provided with a hollow retaining space, the retaining space is provided with an opening, the first elastic member is inserted within the retaining space, and the contact member partially penetrates into the retaining space and also partially extends out the opening.

7. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a hollow shaped heat conducting member, which comprises an open end and a curved contact end, the contact end contacts the movable conductive member, and the overheating destructive member is disposed within the heat conducting member through the open end.

8. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 7, wherein the overheating destructive member is provided with a destructive portion and two protruding portions, the two protruding portions are located on corresponding surfaces of the destructive portion; one of the protruding portions extends into the first elastic member, restraining the first elastic member on the destructive portion and enabling the destructive portion to contact the heat conducting member.

9. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 7, wherein the overheating destructive member comprises a supporting member, a rod portion, and a head portion; the supporting member is mounted on the rod portion and contacts the heat conducting member, the rod portion extends into the first elastic member, which causes the first elastic member to butt against the supporting member and the head portion to butt against the heat conducting member.

10. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the overheating destructive member is a circular disk, a cylindrical body, a cap, a block, a spherical body, an irregular shaped body, or a radial shaped disk.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a seesaw switch structure with the seesaw switch in a closed position.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the seesaw switch in an open position.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows, when an overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, a movable conductive member disconnected from a second conductive member, causing the seesaw switch to revert to a closed position from an open position.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows another seesaw switch structure with the seesaw switch in a closed position.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the seesaw switch in an open position.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows, when an overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, a movable conductive member disconnected from a second conductive member, causing the seesaw switch to revert to a closed position from an open position.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows a press switch structure with the press switch in a closed position.

[0039] FIG. 8 is schematic view of the third embodiment of the present invention, and shows the press switch in an open position.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the third embodiment of the present invention, and shows, when an overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, a movable conductive member disconnected from a second conductive member to form an open circuit.

[0041] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a heat destructive disconnecting switch of the present invention used in an extension cord socket.

[0042] FIG. 11 is a structural view of the heat destructive disconnecting switch of the present invention used in an extension cord socket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] Based on the above-described technological characteristics, the major effects of a heat destructive disconnecting switch and a plug socket provided therewith of the present invention are clearly presented in the following embodiments.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the heat destructive disconnecting switch of the present embodiment is a seesaw switch, and FIG. 1 depicts the seesaw switch in a closed state.

[0045] The seesaw switch comprises:

[0046] A base (1I), which is provided with a holding space (11I); a first conductive member (2I) and a second conductive member (3I), both of which penetrate and are mounted on the base (1I); a movable conductive member, which is mounted within the holding space (11I), wherein the movable conductive member is a conductive seesaw member (4I) that a strides and is mounted on the first conductive member (2I) and electrically connected to the first conductive member (2I); and an overheating destructive member (5I), which is destructed under a fail temperature condition, the fail temperature lying between 100 C. to 250 C. The overheating destructive member (5I) is not used to maintain the continued supply of electric current; therefore, insulating material such as plastic, or non-insulating material made from a low-melting alloy, or low-melting metals can be used. The aforementioned low-melting alloys include an alloy of bismuth and any one of or a composition from a plurality of the metals cadmium, indium, silver, tin, lead, antimony, or copper, among which a tin-bismuth alloy has a melting point around 138 C. In the present embodiment, the overheating destructive member (5I) comprises a destructive portion (51I) and two protruding portions (52I), which are located on corresponding surfaces of the destructive portion (51I). However, the overheating destructive member (5I) can also be a circular disk, a cylindrical body, a cap, a block, a spherical body, an irregular shaped body, or a radial shaped to disk.

[0047] When there is a temperature anomaly in the operating temperature, resulting in a rise in temperature, it is preferred that a live wire triggers a circuit break. Therefore, the first conductive member (2I) in use is a live wire first end, the second conductive member (3I) in use is a live wire second end, and the conductive seesaw member (4I) is used to enable electrical conduction with the first conductive member (2I) and the second conductive member (3I) to form a live wire closed circuit.

[0048] The seesaw switch of the present embodiment is further provided with an operating component (6I), which is used to operate the conductive seesaw member (4I) to connect with the first conductive member (2I) and the second conductive member (3I) to form a live wire closed circuit, or disconnect the circuit between the first conductive member (2I) and the second conductive member (3I), causing the live wire to form an open circuit. The operating component (6I) is assembled on the base (1I) and comprises an operating member (61I) and a first elastic member (62I), wherein a press surface of the operating member (61I) is a nonconductor. The operating member (61I) is provided with a pivot connecting point (611I), which is pivot connected to the base (1I), thereby enabling the operating member (61I) to use the pivot connecting point (611I) as an axis and limit back and forth rotation, The operating member (61I) further comprises a contact member and a limiting member (612I), wherein the contact member is a hollow shaped heat conducting member (613I), which comprises an open end (6131I) and a curved contact end (6132I). The contact end (6132I) of the heat conducting member (613I) contacts the conductive seesaw member (4I), and the limiting member (612I) is provided with a hollow retaining space (6121I), which is provided with an opening (6122I). The first elastic member (62I) is inserted within the retaining space (6121I), and the heat conducting member (613I) partially penetrates into the opening (6122I). The overheating destructive member (5I) is disposed within the heat conducting member (613I) through the open end (6131I), causing one of the protruding portions (52I) to but against the heat conducting member (613I), and enabling the destructive portion (51I) to contact the heat conducting member (613I). The other protruding portion (52I) extends into the first elastic member (62I), causing one end of the first elastic member (62I) to butt against the internal surface of the limiting member (612I), and the other end to butt against the destructive portion (51I) of the overheating destructive member (5I). As a result, the first elastic member (62I) is compressed and provided with a first elastic force.

[0049] The seesaw switch of the present embodiment is further provided with a second elastic member (7I), which, in the present embodiment, is a spring. The second elastic member (7I) is provided with a second elastic force that acts on the operating member (61I).

[0050] Referring to FIG. 2, a user toggles the operating member (61I) back and forth around the pivot connecting point (611I), causing the heat conducting member (613I) to slide on the conductive seesaw member (4I), which propels the conductive seesaw member (4I) to selectively contact or separate from the second conductive member (3I) in a seesaw movement. When the heat conducting member (613I) is slid on the conductive seesaw member (4I) in the direction of a silver contact point (41I) on the conductive seesaw member (4I), the first elastic force forces the silver contact point (41I) to contact the second conductive member (3I) and form a power-on state.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 3, when an abnormal condition occurs in an external electric equipment connected to the first conductive member (2I) or the second conductive member (3I), for example, the external electric equipment is a plug socket, oxides or dust present between the metal pins of a plug and the plug socket, or phenomena such as incomplete insertion of the metal pins or distorted metal pins will cause a relatively large heat energy in the electrical conducting portions of the plug socket, whereupon, the first conductive member (2I) or the second conductive member (3I) transfers the heat energy to the conductive seesaw member (4I), and then through the heat conducting member (613I) to the destructive portion (51I) of the overheating destructive member (51I). The destructive portion (51I) gradually absorbs the heat energy up to a point prior to the melting point thereof, at which time the destructive portion (51I) gradually loses its rigidity. For example, if the material of the overheating destructive member (5I) is a tin-bismuth alloy, although the melting point thereof is 138 C., the tin-bismuth alloy begins to lose its rigidity when the temperature is close to its melting point, and under the concurrent effect of the first elastic force, the first elastic member (62I) compresses and deforms the destructive portion (51I) of the overheating destructive member (5I) to the extent of destructing the destructive portion (51I), resulting in lessening or loss of the first elastic force, at which time the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force. In the present embodiment, the arrangement of the first conductive member (2I) and the second conductive member (3I) is defined as being in a lengthwise direction. The operating member (61I) has a length in the lengthwise direction, and the first elastic member (62I) is disposed at the central position of the length. There is a distance between the disposed position of the second elastic member (7I) and the central position. Hence, when the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force, a torque effect forces the operating member (61I) to rotate on the pivot connecting point (611I) as an axis, which causes the heat conducting member (613I) to slide on the conductive seesaw member (4I) and forces the operating member (61I) to displace and form a closed position. Consequently, the silver contact point (41I) of the conductive seesaw member (4I) separates from the second conductive member (3I) to form a power-off state, thereby achieving the protective effect against overheating.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 4, which shows a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the heat destructive disconnecting switch of the present embodiment is a seesaw switch, and FIG. 4 depicts the seesaw switch in a closed state. The present embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, the only differences being in:

[0053] The present embodiment is provided with an overheating destructive member (5J), a first elastic member (62J), and a contact member which is a heat conducting member (613J), The overheating destructive member (5J) comprises a supporting member (51J) with a rod portion (52J) and a head portion (53J) connected thereto. The supporting member (51J) is mounted on the rod portion (52J) and contacts the heat conducting member (613J). The width of the head portion (53J) is larger than the width of the rod portion (52J), which penetrates the supporting member (51J) and extends into the first elastic member (62J), thereby causing the supporting member (51J) to butt against the head portion (53J), The head portion (53J) additionally butts against the heat conducting member (613J), and the first elastic member (62J) butts atop the supporting member (51J).

[0054] Referring to FIG. 5, which shows a live wire conducting state of the present embodiment identical to that of the first embodiment, and thus not further detailed herein.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 6, wherein the supporting member (51J) of the overheating destructive member (5J) of the present embodiment, due to live wire overheating and under the concurrent effect of the first elastic force, is compressed and deformed by the first elastic member (62J) to the extent of the first elastic member (62J) breaking through the supporting member (51J), resulting in lessening or loss of the first elastic force. At which time the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force, which causes a power-off state to form similar status to the first embodiment.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 7, which shows a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the heat destructive disconnecting switch of the present embodiment is a press switch, and FIG. 7 shows the press switch in a closed state.

[0057] The press switch comprises:

[0058] A base (1K), which is provided with a holding space (11K) and a protruding portion (12K); a first conductive member (2K) and a second conductive member (3K), both of which penetrate and are mounted on the base (1K); a movable conductive member, which is mounted within the holding space (11K), wherein the movable conductive member is a conductive cantilever member (4K); and an overheating destructive member (5K), which is destructed under a fail temperature condition, the fail temperature lying between 100 C. to 250 C. The overheating destructive member (5K) is not used to maintain the continued supply of electric current, thus, insulating material such as plastic or non-insulating material made from a low-melting alloy or low-melting metals, wherein a low-melting alloy such as an alloy of bismuth and any one of or a composition from a plurality of cadmium, indium, silver, tin, lead, antimony, or copper can be used; an example of which is a tin-bismuth alloy with a melting point around 138 C. In the present embodiment, the conductive cantilever member (4K) is provided with a mounting hole (41K). The overheating destructive member (5K) assumes an annular shape and is provided with a through hole (51K). In addition, a rib (52K) extends from the peripheral edge of the overheating destructive member (5K), which is mounted in the mounting hole (41K), thereby restraining the rib (52K) on the peripheral edge of the mounting hole (41K).

[0059] If a circuit becomes overheated, it is preferred that a live wire triggers a circuit break. Therefore, the first conductive member (2K) in use is a live wire first end, the second conductive member (3K) in use is a live wire second end, and the conductive cantilever member (4K) is used to conduct current to the first conductive member (2K) and the second conductive member (3K) to form a live wire closed circuit.

[0060] The press switch of the present embodiment is further provided with an operating component (6K), which is used to operate the conductive cantilever member (4K) to connect with the first conductive member (2K) and the second conductive member (3K) to form a live wire closed circuit, or disconnect the circuit between the first conductive member (2K) and the second conductive member (3K), causing the live wire to form an open circuit. The operating component (6K) is assembled on the base (1K), and comprises an operating member (61K) and a first elastic member (62K), wherein a press surface of the operating member (61K) is a nonconductor. The operating member (61K) is mounted on the protruding portion (12K), and has limited up and down displacement thereon. The up and down displacement and positioning structure of the entire operating component (6K) is the same as the press button structure of an automatic ball-point pen of the prior art, such as the prior art structure of a Push-button Switch disclosed in China Patent No. CN103441019; therefore, the drawings of the present embodiment omit illustrating a number of structural positions disclosed in the prior art. The operating member (61K) comprises a limiting member (612K) and a contact member (613K), wherein the limiting member (612K) is provided with a hollow retaining space (6121K). The contact member (613K) is provided with a supporting base (6131K) and two limiting posts (6132K), which are located on corresponding surfaces of the supporting base (6131K), wherein one of the limiting posts (6132K) extends into the through hole (51K) of the overheating destructive member (5K). The first elastic member (62K) is inserted within the retaining space (6121K), and the other limiting post (6132K) of the contact member (613K) extends into the first elastic member (62K). The first elastic member (62K) is compressed and confined between the overheating destructive member (5K) and the limiting member (612K), which provides the first elastic member (62K) with a first elastic force.

[0061] The press switch of the present embodiment is further provided with a second elastic member, which is a spring plate (7K). The first conductive member (2K), the spring plate (7K), and the conductive cantilever member (4K) are formed as an integral body. The spring plate (7K) is provided with a second elastic force that acts on the operating member (61K).

[0062] Referring to FIG. 8, a user displaces the operating member (61K) relative to the protruding portion (12K), just like pressing the button on an automatic ball-point pen, which causes the conductive cantilever member (4K) to selectively contact or separate from the second conductive member (3K). When the operating member (61K) is displaced in the direction of the conductive cantilever member (4K) and positioned, the supporting base (6131K) of the contact member (613K) presses a silver contact point (42K) of the conductive cantilever member (4K), which causes the conductive cantilever member (4K) to contact the second conductive member (3K) and form a power-on state. At the same time, the first elastic member (62K) is further compressed, enlarging the first elastic force thereof, at which time the first elastic force is larger than the second elastic force.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 9, when an abnormal condition occurs in an external electric equipment connected to the first conductive member (2K) or the second conductive member (3K), for example, the external electric equipment is a plug socket, oxides or dust present between the metal pins of a plug and the plug socket, or phenomena such as incomplete insertion of the metal pins or distorted metal pins will produce relatively large amounts of heat energy in the electrical conducting portions of the plug socket, whereupon, the heat energy is transferred to the conductive cantilever member (4K) through the first conductive member (2K) or the second conductive member (3K), and then transferred to the overheating destructive member (5K). The overheating destructive member (5K) gradually absorbs the heat energy up to a point prior to the melting point thereof, at which time the overheating destructive member (5K) gradually loses its rigidity. For example, if the material of the overheating destructive member (5K) is a tin-bismuth alloy, although the melting point thereof is 138 C., the tin-bismuth alloy begins to lose its rigidity when the temperature is close to its melting to point, and under the concurrent effect of the first elastic force, the first elastic member (62K) presses the contact member (613K), which then presses the overheating destructive member (5K), which becomes deformed under the pressure to the extent of being destructed, and is no longer able to restrain the first elastic member (62K). FIG. 9 shows the overheating destructive member (5K) already destructed, wherein a destructed portion of the overheating destructive member (5K) has separated from its original position and caused the first elastic member (62K) to elongate, resulting in lessening or loss of the first elastic force. At which time, the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force, forcing the conductive cantilever member (4K) to restore its original position, causing the silver contact point (41K) of the conductive cantilever member (4K) to separate from the second conductive member (3K) and form a power-off state, thereby achieving the protective effect against overheating.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, which show another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the present embodiment applies the heat destructive disconnecting seesaw switch of the above-described embodiment in an extension cord socket comprising three sets of socket apertures (8I). The extension cord socket comprises:

[0065] A casing (8), provided with an upper casing (8A) and a lower casing (8B), wherein the upper casing (8A) comprises the three socket apertures (8I), and each of the socket apertures (8I) comprises a live wire socket (81I) and a neutral wire socket (812); a live wire conductive member (9), which is installed in the casing (8), wherein the live wire conductive member (9) is provided with three spaced live wire connecting ends (92); three live wire insert pieces (9I), wherein each of the live wire insert pieces (9I) comprises a live wire slot (91I), and the live wire slots (91I) correspond to the live wire sockets (81I); a neutral wire conductive member (10), which is installed in the casing (8), wherein the neutral wire conductive member (10) is provided with three spaced neutral wire slots (10I), each of the neutral wire slots (10I) corresponds to the respective neutral wire socket (812); three heat destructive disconnecting switches (20), which are as described above in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, wherein a first conductive member (20I) of each of the heat destructive disconnecting switches (20) is connected to the respective live wire connecting end (92) of the live wire conductive member (9), and a second conductive member (202) is connected to the live wire insert piece (9I); or the first conductive member (20I) of each of the heat destructive disconnecting switches (20) is connected to the live wire insert piece (9I), and the second conductive member (202) is connected to the live wire connecting end (92) of the live wire conductive member (9). In the present embodiment the first conductive members (20I) are respectively connected to the live wire connecting ends (92) of the live wire conductive member (9). Taking the second conductive members (202) respectively connected to the live wire insert pieces (9I) as an example (the characteristics of the connecting method for this portion has already been described in the first embodiment to the third embodiment, and thus not further detailed herein). Accordingly, when there is a temperature anomaly in the operating temperature of any one of the live wire insert pieces (9I) of the extension cord socket resulting in a rise in temperature thereof, the heat energy is transferred to the heat destructive disconnecting switch (20) associated therewith through the first conductive member (20I) or the second conductive member (202), whereupon overheating causes the heat destructive disconnecting switch (20) to break the circuit due to overheating, thereby cutting off the supply of power. At which time, the live wire insert piece (9I) with an abnormal temperature immediately cuts off the supply of power, stopping the operating temperature from continuing to rise and enabling the operating temperature to slowly fall. Because each of the heat destructive disconnecting switches (20) independently controls a set of the live wire socket (81I) and neutral wire socket (812), when any one of the heat destructive disconnecting switches (20) breaks the circuit due overheating, the other sets of the live wire socket (81I) and neutral wire socket (812) can still continue to operate as normal.

[0066] It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.