Lee M Martin

US Patent:

54897629, Feb 6, 1996

Filed:

May 25, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/248776

Inventors:

Lee C. Martin - Cranston RI
Edward J. Ouillette - North Attleboro MA
Henry A. Langlois - Lincoln RI
Geoffrey S. Reno - Franklin MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01H 3700
H05B 300

US Classification:

219510

Abstract:

A thermal protector (70, 70') is shown particularly suitable as a safety back-up mechanism for appliances having electrically energizable resistance heaters. The thermal protector has first (72, 72') and second (74, 74') electrically conductive housing members joined together through an electrically insulating gasket (76). A thermostatic snap acting disc (86) is cantilever mounted on one of the housing members and adapted to move between positions in and out of electrical engagement with the other housing member in dependence upon temperature. The snap acting disc (86) has an actuation temperature selected from approximately 70. degree. C. to 175. degree. C. and, for non-resettable applications, a reset temperature of -35. degree. C. A terminal platform (100, 100') is provided on one housing member extending lengthwise beyond the other housing member and essentially along the entire width of the protector so that a relatively rigid heater element terminal pin (32) can be placed transversely, generally parallel to the end of the protector and welded thereto to provide improved heat transfer as well as a rigid mount for the protector. The welding platform is shown provided with a stop tab member (102) to aid in positioning the terminal pin (32) at the time of welding.

US Patent:

20140142874, May 22, 2014

Filed:

Mar 15, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/836345

Inventors:

Lee Martin - Providence RI, US
Jianhong Kang - Sharon MA, US
Christian V. Pellon - Norton MA, US
Keith W. Kawate - Attleboro Falls MA, US

International Classification:

G01R 31/40

US Classification:

702 58

Abstract:

Systems and methods of detecting arcing in DC power systems that can differentiate between DC arcs and load-switching noise. The systems and methods can determine, within a plurality of predetermined time intervals, at least the pulse count (PC) per predetermined time interval, and the pulse duration (PD) per predetermined time interval, in which the PC and the PD can correspond to the number and the intensity of potential arcing events in a DC power system, respectively. The systems and methods can process the PC and PD using one or more arc fault detection algorithms, thereby differentiating between DC arcs and load-switching noise with increased reliability.