Heat destructive disconnecting switch

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat destructive disconnecting switch, which is composed of 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 enables conducting electricity to the first conductive member and the second conductive member. The overheating destructive member butts against a limiting member, which causes a first elastic member to be compressed to between a contact member and the overheating destructive member, thereby providing the first elastic member with a first elastic force and providing the second elastic member with a second elastic force. When the overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, the first elastic force is smaller than the second elastic force, which causes the movable conductive member to disconnect the first conductive member from 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 can be 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 comprises an operating member and a first elastic member, wherein the operating member comprises a contact member and a limiting member; the contact member contacts the movable conductive member, the overheating destructive member butts against the limiting member, and the first elastic member is compressed and confined between the contact member and the overheating destructive member, thereby providing the first elastic member with a first elastic force; a second elastic member, which is provided with a second elastic force and acts on the operating member; whereby when the operating member is at a first position, the first elastic force presses and forces the contact member to butt against the movable conductive member, which causes 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 which is transferred through the contact member and the first elastic member to the overheating destructive member, whereupon the overheating destructive member absorbs the heat energy and is destructed when a fail temperature is reached, resulting in lessening or loss of the first elastic force, at which time the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force; the second elastic force thus presses and forces the operating member to displace to a second position, which causes 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 second elastic member is a spring.

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 has a length in the lengthwise direction, and the first elastic member is disposed at a central position of the length; there is a distance between a disposed position of the second elastic member of 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 astrides and is mounted on the first conductive member, and the contact member slides on the conductive seesaw member, 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, which is pivotably connected to the base, enabling the operating member to use the pivot connecting point as an axis and limit back and forth rotation.

6. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating member further comprises a central cylinder and an inner cylinder, a through hole is provided in an end of the central cylinder away from where the conductive member is positioned, and the limiting member is positioned on a peripheral edge of the through hole, the central cylinder is tightly fitted on the inner cylinder, whereby the inner cylinder is provided with a penetrating retaining space, and the first elastic member is inserted within the retaining space, two ends of the retaining space are respectively provided with a first opening and a second opening, and a diameter of the through hole is larger than a width of the first elastic member.

7. The heat destructive disconnecting switch according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a hollow shaped heat conducting member, comprising an open end and a curved contact end; the contact end contacts the movable conductive member, and one end of the first elastic member extends into the open end.

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a seesaw switch structure with the seesaw switch to in a closed position.

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

(3) 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 and form an open circuit.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a press switch structure with the press switch in a closed position.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the press switch in an open position.

(6) 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 forming an open circuit.

(7) FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a heat destructive disconnecting switch of a third embodiment of the present invention used in an extension to cord socket.

(8) FIG. 8 is a structural view of the heat destructive disconnecting switch of the third embodiment of the present invention used in an extension cord socket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) Based on the aforementioned technological characteristics, the major effects of a plug socket and heat destructive disconnecting switch thereof of the present invention are clearly presented in the following embodiments.

(10) Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a first embodiment of a heat destructive disconnecting switch of the present invention, and depicts a seesaw switch of the present embodiment in a closed state, wherein the seesaw switch comprises:

(11) A base (1A), which is provided with a holding space (11A);

(12) A first conductive member (2A) and a second conductive member (3A), both of which penetrate and are mounted on the base (1A);

(13) A movable conductive member, which is mounted within the holding space (11A); the movable conductive member is a conductive seesaw member (4A), which astrides and is mounted on the first conductive member (2A), and is electrically connected to the first conductive to member (2A); and

(14) An overheating destructive member (5A), which is destructed under a fail temperature condition; the fail temperature lying between 100 C. to 250 C. And because the overheating destructive member (5A) is not used to maintain the continued supply of electric current, thus, insulating material such as plastic can be used or non-insulating material made from a low-melting alloy, such as 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; or other low-melting metals with melting points lying between 100 C. to 250 C., or an alloy such as a tin-bismuth alloy with a melting point around 138 C. In the present embodiment, the overheating destructive member (5A) is a circular disk, however, other forms, such as a cylindrical body, a cap, a block, a spherical body, an irregular shaped body, or a radial shaped plate are also suitable embodiments.

(15) 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, hence the first conductive member (2A) in use is a live wire first end, and the second conductive member (3A) in use is a live wire second end, with the conductive seesaw member (4A) used to to conduct electricity to the first conductive member (2A) and the second conductive member (3A) to form a live wire closed circuit.

(16) The seesaw switch of the present embodiment is further provided with an operating component (6A), which is used to operate the conductive seesaw member (4A) to connect with the first conductive member (2A) and the second conductive member (3A) to form a live wire closed circuit or disconnect the first conductive member (2A) from the second conductive member (3A), causing the live wire to form an open circuit. The operating component (6A) is assembled on the base (1A) and comprises an operating member (61A) and a first elastic member (62A). The operating member (61A) is provided with a pivot connecting point (611A) that is pivot connected to the base (1A), which enables the operating member (61A) to use the pivot connecting point (611A) as an axis and limit to and fro motion thereon. The operating member (61A) comprises a contact member, a central cylinder (610A), an inner cylinder (614A), and a limiting member (612A), wherein the contact member is a hollow shaped heat conducting member (613A) that comprises an open end (6131A) and a curved contact end (6132A). The contact end (6132A) of the heat conducting member (613A) contacts the conductive seesaw member (4A), and a through hole (615A) is provided in the end of the central cylinder (610A) away from where the conductive seesaw member (4A) is positioned. The above-described limiting member (612A) is positioned on the peripheral edge of the through hole (615A), and the central cylinder (610A) is tightly fitted on the above-described inner cylinder (614A). The inner cylinder (614A) is provided with a penetrating retaining space (6141A), and the first elastic member (62A) is inserted within the holding space (6141A). The two ends of the retaining space (6141A) are respectively provided with a first opening (6142A) and a second opening (6143A). The heat conducting member (613A) partially penetrates into the retaining space (6141A) and partially extends out through the first opening (6142A). The diameter of the through hole (615A) is larger than the width of the first elastic member (62A), and one end of the first elastic member (62A) extends into the open end (6131A) of the heat conducting member (613A). The overheating destructive member (5A) butts against the limiting member (612A), with the first elastic member (62A) compressed and confined between heat conducting member (613A) and the overheating destructive member (5A), which provides the first elastic member (62A) with a first elastic force.

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

(18) Referring to FIG. 2, a user toggles the operating member (61A) to and fro on the pivot connecting point (611A), which causes the heat conducting member (613A) to slide on the conductive seesaw member (4A) and drive the conductive seesaw member (4A) in a seesaw movement to selectively contact or separate from the second conductive member (3A). When the heat conducting member (613A) is caused to slide on the conductive seesaw member (4A) in the direction of a silver contact point (41A) on the conductive seesaw member (4A), the first elastic force forces the silver contact point (41A) to contact the second conductive member (3A) and form a power-on state.

(19) Referring to FIG. 3, when an abnormal condition occurs in an external electric equipment connected to the first conductive member (2A) or the second conductive member (3A); 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 to plug socket, whereupon, the first conductive member (2A) or the second conductive member (3A) transfers the heat energy to the conductive seesaw member (4A) and then through the heat conducting member (613A) to the first elastic member (62A), which then transfers the heat to the overheating destructive member (5A). The overheating destructive member (5A) absorbs the heat energy up to the melting point thereof, at which time the overheating destructive member (5A) begins to gradually lose its rigidity. For example, if the material of the overheating destructive member (5A) 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, at the same time, under the effect of the first elastic force, the overheating destructive member (5A) is pressed and deformed by the first elastic member (62A) to the extent of being destructed. In the present embodiment, the overheating destructive member (5A) shown in FIG. 1, having been destructed and deformed, becomes the shape shown in FIG. 3, wherein the overheating destructive member (5A) has broken into two portions, which causes the first elastic member (62A) to penetrate the overheating destructive member (5A) and protrude through the through hole (615A), resulting in lessening or loss of the first elastic force, at which time the second elastic force will be larger than the first elastic force. In the present embodiment, the arrangement of the first conductive member (2A) and the second conductive member (3A) is defined as being in a lengthwise direction. The operating member (61A) has a length in the lengthwise direction, and the first elastic member (62A) is disposed at a central position of the length. There is a distance between the disposed position of the second elastic member (7A) and the central position, hence, when the second elastic force is larger than the first elastic force, a torque effect forces the operating member (61A) to rotate on the pivot connecting point (611A) as an axis, which causes the heat conducting member (613A) to slide on the conductive seesaw member (4A) and drives the operating member (61A) to displace and form a closed position. Accordingly, the silver contact point (41A) of the conductive seesaw member (4A) separates from the second conductive member (3A) to form a power-off state, thereby achieving the protective effect against overheating.

(20) Referring to FIG. 4, which shows a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the heat destructive disconnecting switch is a press switch, and depicts the press switch in a closed state. The press switch comprises:

(21) A base (1B), which is provided with a holding space (11B) and a protruding portion (12B);

(22) A first conductive member (2B) and a second conductive member (3B), both of which penetrate and are mounted on the base (1B);

(23) A movable conductive member, which is mounted within the holding space (11B), wherein the movable conductive member is a conductive cantilever member (4B); and

(24) An overheating destructive member (5B), which can be destructed under a fail temperature condition, the fail temperature lying between 100 C. to 250 C. Because the overheating destructive member (5B) is not used to maintain the continued supply of electric current, thus, insulating material such as plastic can be used or non-insulating material made from a low-melting alloy, such as 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; or other low-melting metals or alloys with melting points lying between 100 C. to 250 C., such as a tin-bismuth alloy with a melting point around 138 C. In the present embodiment, the overheating destructive member (5B) is a circular disk, however, other forms such as a rod, cap, radial shaped body, block, spherical body, or an irregular shaped body are also suitable to embodiments.

(25) 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, hence, the first conductive member (2B) in use is a live wire first end, and the second conductive member (3B) in use is a live wire second end, and the conductive cantilever member (4B) is used to conduct current to the first conductive member (2B) and the second conductive member (3B) to form a live wire closed circuit.

(26) The press switch of the present embodiment is further provided with an operating component (6B), which is used to operate the conductive cantilever member (4B) to connect with the first conductive member (2B) and the second conductive member (3B) to form a live wire closed circuit, or disconnect the first conductive member (2B) from the second conductive member (3B), which causes the live wire to form an open circuit. The operating component (6B) is assembled on the base (1B) and comprises an operating member (61B) and a first elastic member (62B). The operating member (61B) is assembled on the protruding portion (12B) and has limited up and down displacement thereon. The up and down displacement and positioning structure of the entire operating component (6B) is the same as the press button structure of to 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, thus, the drawings of the present embodiment omit illustrating a number of structural positions disclosed in the prior art. The operating member (61B) further comprises a contact member, a central cylinder (610B), an inner cylinder (614B), and a limiting member (612B). A through hole (615B) is provided at the end of the central cylinder (610B) away from where the conductive cantilever member (4B) is positioned, and the above-described limiting member (612B) is positioned on the peripheral edge of the through hole (615B). The central cylinder (610B) is tightly fitted on the above-described inner cylinder (614B), the inner cylinder (614B) is provided with a penetrating retaining space (6141B), and the first elastic member (62B) is inserted within the retaining space (6141B). The two ends of the retaining space (6141B) are respectively provided with a first opening (6142B) and a second opening (6143B). The contact member is a supporting heat conducting member (613B), which is positioned close to the first opening (6142B). The diameter of the through hole (615B) is larger than the width of the first elastic member (62B). The supporting heat conducting member (613B) is provided with a limiting post (6131B) and a supporting base (6132B), wherein the limiting post (6131B) extends into the end of the first elastic member (62B), causing the first elastic member (62B) to butt against the supporting base (6132B), and the supporting base (6132B) further contacts the conductive cantilever member (4B). The overheating destructive member (5B) butts against the limiting member (612B), with the first elastic member (62B) compressed and confined between the supporting heat conducting member (613B) and the overheating destructive member (5B), thereby providing the first elastic member (62B) with a first elastic force.

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

(28) Referring to FIG. 5, a user presses/releases and displaces the operating member (61B) downward/upward on the protruding portion (12B), similar to pressing the button on an automatic ball-point pen, causing the conductive cantilever member (4B) to selectively contact or separate from the second conductive member (3B). When the operating member (61B) is displaced in the direction of the conductive cantilever member (4B) and positioned relative thereto, the supporting base (6132B) of the supporting heat conducting member (613B) is caused to press a position close to a silver contact point (41B) of the conductive cantilever member (4B), causing the conductive cantilever member (4B) to contact the second conductive member (3B) and form a power-on state, at which time the first elastic member (62B) is compressed, which enlarges the first elastic force thereof to an extent larger than the second elastic force.

(29) Referring to FIG. 6, when an abnormal condition occurs in an external electric equipment connected to the first conductive member (2B) or the second conductive member (3B), for example, the external electric equipment is a plug socket, oxides or dust present between the metal pins of the 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 first conductive member (2B) or the second conductive member (3B) transfers the heat energy to the conductive cantilever member (4B) and then through the supporting base (6132B) of the supporting heat conducting member (613B), the limiting post (6131B), and the first elastic member (62B) to the overheating destructive member (5B). The overheating destructive member (5B) gradually absorbs the heat energy up to the melting point thereof, at which time the overheating destructive member (5B) begins to gradually lose its rigidity. For example, if the material of the overheating destructive member (5B) 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, Furthermore, under the effect of the first elastic force, the overheating destructive member (5B) is pressed and deformed by the first elastic member (62B) to the extent of being destructed, and is no longer able to restrain the first elastic member (62B). In the present embodiment, the overheating destructive member (5B) shown in FIG. 4, having been destructed and deformed, becomes the shape shown in FIG. 6, wherein the overheating destructive member (5B) has broken into two portions, which causes the first elastic member (62B) to penetrate the overheating destructive member (5B) and protrude through the through hole (615B), 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 (4B) to restore its original unpressed state and causing the silver contact point (41B) of the conductive cantilever member (4B) to separate from the second conductive member (3B) to form a power-off state, thereby achieving the protective effect against overheating.

(30) Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, which show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the heat destructive disconnecting seesaw switch of the above-described embodiment is applied in an extension cord socket comprising three socket apertures (81), The extension cord socket comprises:

(31) A casing (8), which is provided with an upper casing (8A) and a lower casing (8B), wherein the upper casing (8A) comprises the three socket apertures (81), with each of the socket apertures (81) comprising a live wire socket (811) and a neutral wire socket (812);

(32) A live wire conductive member (9), which is installed in the casing (8) and is provided with three spaced live wire connecting ends (92) and three corresponding independent live wire insert pieces (91), wherein each of the live wire insert pieces (91) comprises a live wire slot (911), which corresponds to the respective live wire socket (811);

(33) A neutral wire conductive member (10), which is installed in the casing (8) and is provided with three spaced neutral wire slots (101), which respectively correspond to the neutral wire sockets (812); and

(34) Three heat destructive disconnecting switches (20), which are as described above in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, wherein a first conductive member (201) 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) or the live wire insert piece (91), and a second conductive member (202) is connected to the live wire insert piece (91) or the live wire connecting end (92) of the live wire conductive member (9).

(35) In the present embodiment, taking the first conductive member (201) connected to the live wire insert piece (91) and the second conductive member (202) connected to the live wire connecting end (92) of the live wire conductive member (9) as an example (the characteristics of this connecting method for this portion has already been described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and thus not further detailed herein), accordingly, when there is a temperature anomaly in the operating temperature in any one of the live wire insert pieces (91) of the extension cord socket that results in a rise in temperature, then the heat energy is transferred to the heat destructive disconnecting switch (20) associated therewith through the first conductive member (201) or the second conductive member (202), whereupon overheating causes the heat destructive disconnecting switch (20) to break the circuit, at which time the live wire insert piece (91) having an abnormal temperature immediately cuts off the supply of power, thereby stopping the operating temperature from continuing to rise and enabling the temperature to slowly fall. Because each of the heat destructive disconnecting switches (20) independently controls a set of the live wire socket (811) and the neutral wire socket (812), thus, when any one of the heat destructive disconnecting switches (20) breaks the circuit due to overheating, the other sets of live wire sockets (811) and neutral wire sockets (812) can still continue to operate as normal.

(36) 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.