Temperature actuated connector

Claim 2

A snap-action temperature actuated spring device comprising a combination of first and second spring members bearing against one another such that flexure of one such member toward its relaxed position causes flexure of the other such member away from its respective relaxed position, one of said members undergoing a substantial change in modulus in passing from a first to a second temperature within the temperature operating range of said device while the modulus of the other such member remains relatively constant such that, absent external restraint, said combination assumes a first stable configuration at one temperature within said range and another stable configuration at another; said first member having a non-linear load-deflection curve having a peak lying within the useful deflection range of said device such that in passing from one to another of those temperatures at which said stable configurations respectively obtain the flexure of said members causes deflection of said first member from one to the other side of said peak in the absence of external restraint.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said first member undergoes a substantial change in modulus in passing from a first to a second temperature within the temperature operating range of said device.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said first member is a longitudinally loaded leaf spring which is operably connected to said second spring member.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 wherein said second spring member is a curved end cantilever spring and wherein said first member is positioned across the curved end thereof.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2 wherein said second spring member is a fork spring having at least two tines and wherein said first member is positioned therebetween.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 wherein said first member is fabricated from a metallic alloy composed of major porportions of titanium and nickel.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said second member undergoes a substantial change in modulus in passing from a first to a second temperature within the temperature operating range of said device.

Claim 9

An assembly comprising a first electrode and a spring device according to claim 2, said second member serving as a second electrode and being urged (1) into electrical contact with said first electrode by said first member at a temperature at which said first stable configuration would obtain absent the restraint of said first electrode, and (2) out of contact with said first electrode at a lower temperature at which said second stable configuration obtains.

Claim 10

An assembly comprising a temperature actuated spring device comprising a combination of first and second spring members bearing against one another such that flexure of one such member toward its relaxed position causes flexure of the other such member away from its respective relaxed position, said first member undergoing a substantial change in modulus in passing from a first to a second temperature within the temperature operating range of said device while the moduLus of said second member remains relatively constant such that, absent external restraint, said combination assumes a first stable configuration at one temperature within said range and another stable configuration at another; said assembly further comprising a first electrode and said second member serving as a second electrode which is urged (1) into electrical contact with said first electrode by said first member at a temperature at which said first stable configuration would obtain absent the restraint of said first electrode, and (2) out of contact with said first electrode at a lower temperature at which said second stable configuration obtains.

Claim 11

An assembly comprising a temperature actuated spring device comprising a combination of first and second spring members bearing against one another such that flexure of one such member toward its relaxed position causes flexure of the other such member away from its respective relaxed position, said first member undergoing a substantial change in modulus in passing from a first to a second temperature within the temperature operating range of said device while the moduLus of said second member remains relatively constant such that, absent external restraint, said combination assumes a first stable configuration at one temperature within said range and another stable configuration at another; said assembly further comprising a first electrode and said second member serving as a second electrode which is urged (1) into electrical contact with said first electrode by said first member at a temperature at which said first stable configuration would obtain absent the restraint of said first electrode, and (2) out of contact with said first electrode at a lower temperature at which said second stable configuration obtains.

Claim 12

An assembly according to claim 9 wherein said first member is a longitudinally loaded leaf spring which is operably connected to said second spring member such that said first member assumes a near columnar shape when said second member electrically contacts said first electrode.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10 wherein said second member is a curved end cantilever spring and wherein said first member is positioned across the curved end thereof.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 10 wherein said second member is a fork spring having at least two tines and wherein said first member is positioned therebetween.