Thermal protector

Abstract

A thermal protector is provided that reduces the complexity of component processing. The thermal protector (100) includes: a first terminal portion (110) and a second terminal portion (120) disposed at both ends in the long side direction and connected to an external circuit; an insulating block portion (3) that holds the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion; a fixed contact (113) and a movable contact (41) that can contact each other; a movable plate (4) that has the movable contact at its top end; and a bimetallic piece (5) that engages with the movable plate. The first terminal portion and the second terminal portion each have a main body portion, an extension portion, and a slit (S). The main body portion (111) of the first terminal portion and the main body portion (121) of the second terminal portion are located on a first plane. The fixed contact support portion of the extension portion (112) and the movable plate support portion of the extension portion (122) are located on a second plane. The angle formed by the first plane and the second plane is an acute angle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a thermal protector that switches the electrical circuit on and off to prevent overheating of electrical appliances. Background Technology

[0002] In electrical appliances that generate hot air, such as hair dryers and fan-type heaters, thermal protectors are used to prevent overheating caused by blockages in the air outlet or inlet, or a decrease in motor speed. As an example of a thermal protector, a bimetallic thermal protector is described in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 6612245 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0007] Patent Document 1 describes a thermal protector with a bending portion to prevent external forces from affecting the area sandwiched between two insulating blocks. This bending portion is formed through a two-stage bending process during the stamping of a metal sheet after resin molding. Therefore, this two-stage bending process involves a relatively high level of complexity in component manufacturing.

[0008] In view of this situation, the object of the present invention is to provide a thermal protector that reduces the complexity of component manufacturing.

[0009] Solution for solving the problem

[0010] The thermal protector of the present invention comprises: a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction and connected to an external circuit; an insulating block portion holding the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion; a fixed contact and a movable contact capable of contacting each other; a movable plate having the movable contact disposed at its top end; and a bimetallic member engaging with the movable plate. Each of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion has a main body portion, an extension portion, and a slit extending in the width direction of the thermal protector between the main body portion and the extension portion. The fixed contact is disposed in the fixed contact support portion of the extension portion of the first terminal portion, and the base end of the movable plate is fixedly connected to the movable plate support portion of the extension portion of the second terminal portion. The main bodies of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are located on a first plane, and the fixed contact support portion and the movable plate support portion are located on a second plane. The angle formed by the first plane and the second plane is an acute angle. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the first embodiment before the movable plate equipped with the bimetallic part is fixed.

[0013] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the installation of a thermal protector.

[0014] Figure 4 This is another illustrative diagram showing an example of the installation of a thermal protector.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the second embodiment.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the second embodiment before the movable plate equipped with the bimetallic part is fixed.

[0017] Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion of the thermal protector in the second embodiment.

[0018] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the third embodiment.

[0019] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the fourth embodiment.

[0020] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the thermal protector in the fifth embodiment.

[0021] Figure 11 This is an explanatory diagram showing the manufacturing process of a thermal protector. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will now be described based on the illustrated embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0023] [First Implementation]

[0024] exist Figures 1-4 The image shows a thermal protector 100 as an elongated circuit component. The thermal protector 100 is mounted on an electrical appliance such as a hair dryer that generates hot air. The thermal protector 100 has a first terminal portion 110 and a second terminal portion 120 located at both ends along its long side. The two terminal portions are connected to an electrical circuit (an external circuit as seen from the thermal protector 100) of the hair dryer or similar appliance. As an example, the dimension along the long side of the thermal protector 100 is approximately 3 to 4 cm.

[0025] An insulating plate 9 is installed inside the cylindrical housing CS of the hair dryer. This insulating plate 9 is formed by interlocking the cutouts of two mica plates 9a and 9b, which are formed in opposite directions along their length at the center of their width, creating a cross shape. The insulating plate 9 is positioned within the housing CS such that the intersection 9c of the two mica plates 9a and 9b is parallel to the axial direction of the housing CS. A nickel-chromium alloy wire 9d is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the insulating plate 9. The axis of this spiral is parallel to the axis of the housing CS. Arrow H indicates the direction of hot air flow inside the housing CS.

[0026] The thermal protector 100 is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the housing CS near the intersection 9c of the insulating plate 9, with the first terminal portion 110 on the downwind side of the hot air and the second terminal portion 120 on the upwind side of the hot air. Furthermore, the portion near the intersection 9c of the insulating plate 9 is also referred to as the corner of the insulating plate 9.

[0027] The first terminal portion 110 and the second terminal portion 120 have a structure that is approximately symmetrical about a line passing through the center of the thermal protector 100 and orthogonal to the long side direction of the thermal protector 100 as an axis of symmetry. First, the second terminal portion 120 will be described.

[0028] The second terminal portion 120 is manufactured by processing a metal plate. The second terminal portion 120 includes a main body portion 121 located on the outer side in the long side direction, an extension portion 122 located on the inner side in the long side direction, and a slit S. The slit S is formed between the main body portion 121 and the extension portion 122 in such a way that it extends in the width direction from the corner end of the insulating plate 9 at one of the two ends of the second terminal portion 120 in the width direction.

[0029] The first terminal portion 110 is the same as the second terminal portion 120. That is, the first terminal portion 110 is also manufactured by processing a metal plate. The first terminal portion 110 includes a main body portion 111 located on the outer side in the long side direction, an extension portion 112 located on the inner side in the long side direction, and a slit S. The slit S is formed between the main body portion 111 and the extension portion 112 in such a way that it extends in the width direction from the corner end of the insulating plate 9 at one of the two ends of the first terminal portion 110 in the width direction.

[0030] In the first terminal portion 110, the main body portion 111 is bent downward relative to the extension portion 112, with reference to a line passing through the top end Sa of the slit S and parallel to the long side direction of the thermal protector 100. Similarly, in the second terminal portion 120, the main body portion 121 is bent downward relative to the extension portion 122, with reference to a line passing through the top end Sa of the slit S and parallel to the long side direction of the thermal protector 100. Thus, the first terminal portion 110 and the second terminal portion 120 are subjected to a cutting and bending process using a stamping machine.

[0031] The main body 111 of the first terminal portion 110 and the main body 121 of the second terminal portion 120 are located on a first plane. On the other hand, the extensions 112 of the first terminal portion 110 and 122 of the second terminal portion 120 are located on a second plane. The angle formed by the first plane and the second plane is an acute angle. This angle is preferably in the range of 30 to 60 degrees, and more preferably 45 degrees. Furthermore, the line of intersection of the first plane and the second plane is parallel to the long side direction of the thermal protector 100.

[0032] The inner ends of the extension 112 of the first terminal portion 110 and the inner ends of the extension 122 of the second terminal portion 120 are held by resin insulating block portions 3. A fixed contact 113 is provided on the upper surface of the extension 112 of the first terminal portion 110 (the surface opposite to the mounting surface of the insulating plate 9). That is, the extension 112 is also a fixed contact support portion.

[0033] The thermal protector 100 also includes a movable plate 4 that is conductive and elastically deformable. The base end of the movable plate 4 is fixed to the extension 122 of the second terminal portion 120. That is, the extension 122 is also a movable plate support portion. A movable contact 41 is provided at the top end of the movable plate 4, which contacts the fixed contact 113 when the blower is functioning normally and no abnormality occurs.

[0034] In the movable plate 4, a bimetallic member 5 is disposed on the upper surface of the central portion between the base end and the top end. The bimetallic member 5 engages with the movable plate 4 via claws 4a to 4d located at a total of four locations at both ends in the long and wide directions of the central portion of the movable plate 4. When the ambient temperature of the thermal protector 100 is below a specified temperature, the bimetallic member 5 is tilted upward into a convex shape, and the movable contact 41 contacts the fixed contact 113 due to the elastic force of the elastically deformable movable plate 4.

[0035] When the bimetallic part 5 operates in reverse, becoming convex downwards, due to abnormal heating of the hair dryer caused by overload or other reasons, and the ambient temperature exceeds the aforementioned specified temperature. When the bimetallic part 5 operates in reverse, the top of the movable plate 4 is lifted upwards by the warping force of the bimetallic part 5. As a result, the movable contact 41 separates from the fixed contact 113, and the power supply to the hair dryer stops.

[0036] The following is an example illustrating the manufacturing process of the thermal protector 100.

[0037] In the first process, the metal sheet material is punched.

[0038] In the second step, the fixed contact 113 is installed. At this time, the central portion between the portion that forms the base of the first terminal portion 110 and the portion that forms the base of the second terminal portion 120 is held by a frame held by a support portion.

[0039] In the third process, the portions that form the basis of the first terminal portion 110 and the portions that form the basis of the second terminal portion 120 are subjected to cutting and bending processes. At this time, the cut and bent portions are also held by the frame. The bending lines are preferably on the same straight line, but this will be described later. The processing is performed sequentially using a die. Furthermore, processes one through three are stamping processes.

[0040] In the fourth step (molding step), the insulating block part 3 is injection molded to integrate the first terminal part 110 and the second terminal part 120. The molded part is held by a frame.

[0041] In the fifth step, the portion held by the frame with the fixed insulating block 3 is cut off.

[0042] In the sixth step, the movable plate 4, which is equipped with the bimetallic part 5, is fixed by welding.

[0043] In step 7, the thermal protector body is cut off from the carrier section. Steps 5 through 7 are assembly processes.

[0044] The fixed contact 113 is fixed to a designated position by resistance welding or riveting. The movable plate 4 is fixed to the extension 122 of the second terminal portion 120 after the insulating block portion 3 is formed. The fixing method at this time can also be the same as for the fixed contact 113, using resistance welding or riveting, or both resistance welding and riveting can be used simultaneously. The bimetallic part 5 is mounted on the movable plate 4, but it can also be mounted on the movable plate 4 before fixing.

[0045] At both ends of the long side of the central portion between the base end and the top end of the movable plate 4, there are claw portions (reference numerals 4a and 4b) that serve as the points of action for the bimetallic member 5 to drive the movable plate 4. In one claw portion, the bimetallic member 5 is not fixed. In the other claw portion, at the instant the bimetallic member 5 reverses its warping direction, the bimetallic member abuts against the back of the claw portion, driving the movable plate 4. Then, the cantilevered movable plate 4 is raised, thereby opening the contact and blocking the current.

[0046] Based on the above implementation methods, the following effects can be obtained.

[0047] (1) The inclination of the fixed contact support and the movable plate support at a predetermined angle relative to the mounting surface of the thermal protector 100 is achieved by a cutting and bending process. The two-stage bending process as in the past is not required in this embodiment. That is, the complexity of component processing and structural complexity can be reduced.

[0048] (2) In the past, when the bimetallic part was arranged at an angle relative to the mounting surface of the thermal protector, two 90-degree bending processes were performed. In contrast, in this embodiment, a single cutting and bending process is sufficient, which reduces the impact of the bending process.

[0049] (3) By arranging the bimetallic component at an angle relative to the mounting surface of the thermal protector, the thermal protector can be installed at the corner of the insulation plate furthest from the heating wire (the radial center of the heater unit). In the heater unit, the airflow at the radial center is generally smaller than that at its outer edges. Therefore, during normal use of the appliance equipped with the thermal protector, the thermal protector is less likely to detect the heat of the heater; on the other hand, it can quickly detect abnormalities in the appliance, such as a decrease in airflow.

[0050] In most bimetallic thermal protectors, the top of the bimetallic part on the side with the movable contact tends to tilt upwards during operation. Therefore, ensuring the insulation distance between the movable contact and the heating wire during operation becomes a challenge in heater units with relatively small body diameters, such as hair dryers. One solution to this problem, as described in (3) above, is to arrange the bimetallic part at an angle relative to the thermal protector mounting surface and install the thermal protector at the corner of the insulation plate furthest from the heating wire. That is, to install the thermal protector approximately at the center of the heater unit.

[0051] [Second Implementation]

[0052] exist Figures 5-7 Thermal protector 200 is shown. The same reference numerals are used for elements identical to those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0053] The second terminal portion 220 includes a main body portion 221 and an extension portion 222. The extension portion 222 of the second terminal portion 220 has a standing portion 222a and a movable plate support portion 222b. The standing portion 222a is located on a third plane orthogonal to the first plane and parallel to the long side direction of the thermal protector 200. The base of the standing portion 222a contacts the top end portion Sa of the slit S, and the top of the standing portion 222a is connected to the movable plate support portion 222b.

[0054] The same applies to the extension 212 of the first terminal portion 210. That is, the first terminal portion 210 includes a main body portion 211 and an extension portion 212. The extension 212 of the first terminal portion 210 has a raised portion 212a and a fixed contact support portion 212b. The raised portion 212a is located on the aforementioned third plane. The base of the raised portion 212a contacts the top end portion Sa of the slit S, and the top of the raised portion 212a is connected to the fixed contact support portion 212b.

[0055] During manufacturing, the raised portion is formed by a 90-degree bending process, and the top of the raised portion is bent at a 45-degree angle. As a result, the extension of each terminal portion is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the main body. The bending of these two parts can be performed in one stamping process. That is, the bending of two parts can be performed in the same amount of time as bending one part. Through this process, a 90-degree bending process can be performed at the center of each terminal portion in the width direction.

[0056] Furthermore, in both the first terminal portion 210 and the second terminal portion 220, a second slit S2 may be provided on the inner side of the slit S along its longer side. The second slit S2 is formed between the main body and the extension portion such that it extends in the width direction from one end of the terminal portion opposite to the corner side of the insulating plate 9. The second slit S2 is provided such that its top end is located on a line that passes through the top of the upright portions 212a and 222a and extends along the longer side of the thermal protector 200. By providing such a second slit S2, the width required for the flow of current to the fixed contact support portion 212b and the movable plate support portion 222b can be sufficiently ensured.

[0057] [Third Implementation]

[0058] exist Figure 8 The thermal protector 300 is shown. Detailed descriptions are omitted as elements identical to those in the first embodiment are labeled with the same reference numerals. Air rectifiers 310 and 320 are respectively provided near the slit S of the first terminal portion 110 and the slit S of the second terminal portion 120. Both air rectifiers are resin plates that widen in both the width and vertical directions of the thermal protector 300. The dimensions of the two air rectifiers in the width and height directions are determined such that the fixed contact ( Figure 8 Not shown in the image. Figure 2 The attached reference numeral 113), movable contact 41, movable plate 4, and bimetallic part 5 are arranged in the area between the two air-guiding plates. The thickness (length along the long side) of the two air-guiding plates is not particularly limited; approximately 1 mm is sufficient. The two air-guiding plates can interact with the insulating block (…). Figure 8 Not shown in the image. Figure 2 The attached reference numeral 3) is set as a whole.

[0059] According to this embodiment, when viewing the thermal protector 300 along the wind direction H, the switching mechanism (fixed contact 113, movable contact 41, movable plate 4, bimetallic part 5) is blocked by the air duct. Therefore, the flow of hot air is adjusted by the air duct so that hot air does not blow directly onto the switching mechanism. In other words, the possibility of the thermal protector 300 malfunctioning when the electrical appliance is in a normal state is reduced.

[0060] [Fourth Implementation]

[0061] exist Figure 9 The image shows a thermal protector 400. This thermal protector 400 includes air vents 410 and 420. The two air vents are used to direct airflow through the slit (…). Figure 9 Not shown in the image. Figure 8 The reference numeral S in the attached drawings is included within its scope. The main body and extension of the terminal portion are integrally constrained by the air-conditioning plate, thus increasing strength.

[0062] [Fifth Implementation]

[0063] exist Figure 10 The image shows a thermal protector 500. A baffle plate 510 is provided on the first terminal portion 110, the baffle plate 510 being configured to include the slit S within its range. A cutout portion 511 is formed on the baffle plate 510. There may be multiple cutout portions. Preferably, the cutout portion has a depth extending to the upper surface of the extension portion of the terminal portion and a width equal to the thickness of the baffle plate 510.

[0064] According to this embodiment, hot air flows from around the contact towards the cutout 511, as indicated by arrow Ha. Current is interrupted at the fixed contact ( Figure 10 Not shown in the image. Figure 2 The electric arc between the reference numeral 113 and the movable contact 41 is guided by the hot air toward the cutout 511. That is, the possibility of damage to components around the thermal protector 500 due to electric arc can be reduced.

[0065] Furthermore, especially in appliances such as hair dryers or heated curling irons that combine a heater section using nickel-chromium alloy wire with a motor-based air delivery section, the design of thermal protectors has become increasingly complex due to the demands of higher heater output, increased airflow / pressure, and improved aesthetics in recent years. The necessity for thermal protectors to activate immediately in abnormal conditions to interrupt current, rather than operating under normal conditions, has increased. Additionally, since thermal protectors interrupt current through switching action, the generation of electric arcs during interruption and the change in insulation distance caused by the lifting of the movable plate after interruption also present increased challenges in electrical safety design.

[0066] The above-described embodiments are solutions to this problem. By tilting the switching mechanism relative to the mounting surface of the thermal protector, the thermal protector can be positioned at the corner of an insulating plate formed by combining two mica plates at a 90-degree angle. Therefore, when viewing the cylindrical heater unit axially, the thermal protector can be assembled at the position furthest from the heating wires. As a result, the mica plates are located on both sides of the switching mechanism in the width direction. Furthermore, in airflow driven by the rotation of the motor, if a propeller fan is used, the air velocity is low at the center and increases near the outer periphery where the heating wires are mounted. As a result, during normal operation, hot air flows near the outer periphery of the heater where the heating wires are densely packed, reducing the heat impact on the center where the thermal protector is located.

[0067] When an electrical appliance malfunctions, if the airflow decreases due to factors such as the hot air outlet being too close to the object, the inlet being blocked by dust, or the motor speed decreasing, not only will the outlet temperature rise, but heat will also accumulate inside the heater unit. When this exceeds a certain limit, the thermal protector activates, blocking the heater current. At this point, an electric arc is generated between the contacts. With the increasing high output in recent years, blocking currents exceeding 10 amps is necessary, thus increasing the impact of the electric arc. Depending on the installation of the thermal protector, sometimes the arc can be blown away by strong winds and discharge into nearby nickel-chromium alloy wires. This can lead to defects such as nickel-chromium alloy wire melting and damage to the movable plate of the thermal protector.

[0068] According to the embodiments described above, in a heater in which a nickel-chromium alloy wire is spirally wound, a thermal protector can be installed at the position furthest from the nickel-chromium alloy wire, and mica plates are provided on both sides as walls. Therefore, the electric arc is unlikely to fly in the width direction when interrupted. Since the air also flows along the mica plates, the electric arc tends to flow along the airflow. By providing a cutout in the air-guiding plate near the contact point, as in thermal protector 500, to provide a channel for the electric arc, the electric arc can be safely controlled.

[0069] The thermal protectors described in the above embodiments can also be installed in electrical appliances other than hair dryers. For example, they can also be installed in electric fan heaters and popcorn machines.

[0070] Furthermore, when assembling the movable plate, an elongated guide portion 122a can be provided in the extension portion 122 of the second terminal portion 120. Figure 2 A hole is provided at the base end of the movable plate 4 in a manner corresponding to the guide portion 122a, so that the hole engages with the guide portion. Furthermore, after resistance welding, the upper part of the guide portion can be deformed and used as a pressing member of the movable plate 4.

[0071] That is, the movable plate support portion of the extension 122 of the second terminal portion 120 is provided with an elongated oval guide portion for positioning the movable plate 4. This guide portion can be provided parallel to the long side direction of the thermal protector. The length of the guide portion can be set to be more than three times the width.

[0072] In addition, the manufacturing process of the thermal protector will be explained. When components are connected during production, such as... Figure 11 As shown, each terminal portion is continuously manufactured by connecting it to the outer side via a carrier portion CR. For stable production, it is preferable that the surface of the carrier portion CR is the same as the extension of each terminal portion. A bending process at a specified angle is also required at the connection between the carrier portion and each terminal portion. To suppress distortion, the bending process, which involves cutting and bending at a specified angle at a total of four locations, is preferably performed on the same line L.

[0073] Regarding the implementation methods described so far, the following notes are disclosed.

[0074] [Postscript 1]

[0075] A thermal protector, comprising:

[0076] The first terminal and the second terminal are located at both ends in the long side direction and are connected to the external circuit;

[0077] An insulating block portion that holds the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion;

[0078] Fixed contacts and movable contacts can make contact with each other;

[0079] A movable plate, having the movable contact at its top end; and

[0080] The bimetallic component engages with the movable plate.

[0081] In the thermal protector,

[0082] The first terminal portion and the second terminal portion each have a main body portion, an extension portion, and a slit extending in the width direction of the thermal protector between the main body portion and the extension portion.

[0083] The fixed contact is provided in the fixed contact support portion of the extension portion of the first terminal portion.

[0084] The base end of the movable plate is fixedly connected to the movable plate support portion of the extension portion of the second terminal portion.

[0085] The main body of the first terminal portion and the main body of the second terminal portion are located on the first plane.

[0086] The fixed contact support and the movable plate support are located on the second plane.

[0087] The angle formed by the first plane and the second plane is an acute angle.

[0088] [Postscript 2]

[0089] According to the thermal protector described in Appendix 1, wherein,

[0090] The extensions of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion each have a raised portion, which is located on a third plane orthogonal to the first plane.

[0091] In the extension of the first terminal portion, the base of the upright portion contacts the top end of the slit, and the top of the upright portion is connected to the fixed contact support portion.

[0092] In the extension of the second terminal portion, the base of the upright portion contacts the top end of the slit, and the top of the upright portion is connected to the movable plate support portion.

[0093] [Postscript 3]

[0094] According to the thermal protector described in Appendix 1 or 2, wherein,

[0095] It also includes a resin-made air-guiding plate, which is disposed near the slits of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion, and is widened in both the width and vertical directions of the thermal protector.

[0096] The area sandwiched between the two air-conditioning plates is provided with the fixed contact, the movable contact, the movable plate, and the bimetallic component.

[0097] [Postscript 4]

[0098] According to the thermal protector described in Appendix 3, wherein...

[0099] The air-guiding panel is arranged in such a way that the slit is included within its range.

[0100] [Postscript 5]

[0101] According to the thermal protector described in Appendix 3 or 4, wherein,

[0102] At least one of the two air-conditioning panels has a cutout.

[0103] [Postscript 6]

[0104] The thermal protector according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5, wherein,

[0105] The angle between the first plane and the second plane is in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

[0106] [Postscript 7]

[0107] The thermal protector according to any one of Appendices 1 to 6, wherein,

[0108] The movable plate support portion of the extension portion of the second terminal portion is provided with an elongated oval guide portion for positioning the movable plate, the length of which is more than three times the width.

[0109] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and various modifications and alterations can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention.

[0110] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0111] 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 thermal protectors

[0112] 110 First terminal section

[0113] 111 Main Body

[0114] 112 Extension

[0115] 113 Fixed Contact

[0116] 120 Second Terminal

[0117] 121 Main Body

[0118] 122 Extension

[0119] 4 Movable Plates

[0120] 41 Movable contact

[0121] 5 Bimetallic parts

[0122] S slit

[0123] H indicates wind direction.

Claims

1. A thermal protector, comprising: The first terminal and the second terminal are located at both ends in the long side direction and are connected to the external circuit; An insulating block portion that holds the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion; Fixed contacts and movable contacts can make contact with each other; A movable plate, having the movable contact at its top end; and The bimetallic component engages with the movable plate. The thermal protector is characterized in that... The first terminal portion and the second terminal portion each have a main body portion, an extension portion, and a slit extending in the width direction of the thermal protector between the main body portion and the extension portion. The slit is formed by cutting and bending by a stamping machine. The main body portion is bent downward relative to the extension portion with reference to a line passing through the top end of the slit and parallel to the long side direction. The fixed contact is provided in the fixed contact support portion of the extension portion of the first terminal portion. The base end of the movable plate is fixedly connected to the movable plate support portion of the extension portion of the second terminal portion. The main body of the first terminal portion and the main body of the second terminal portion are located on the first plane. The fixed contact support and the movable plate support are located on the second plane. The angle formed by the first plane and the second plane is an acute angle.

2. The thermal protector according to claim 1, wherein, The extensions of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion each have a raised portion, which is located on a third plane orthogonal to the first plane. In the extension of the first terminal portion, the base of the raised portion contacts the top end of the slit. The top of the erected part is connected to the fixed contact support part. In the extension of the second terminal portion, the base of the raised portion contacts the top end of the slit. The top of the erected part is connected to the movable plate support part.

3. The thermal protector according to claim 1, wherein, It also includes a resin-made air-guiding plate, which is disposed near the slits of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion, and is widened in both the width and vertical directions of the thermal protector. The area sandwiched between the two air-conditioning plates is provided with the fixed contact, the movable contact, the movable plate, and the bimetallic component.

4. The thermal protector according to claim 2, wherein, It also includes a resin-made air-guiding plate, which is disposed near the slits of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion, and is widened in both the width and vertical directions of the thermal protector. The area sandwiched between the two air-conditioning plates is provided with the fixed contact, the movable contact, the movable plate, and the bimetallic component.

5. The thermal protector according to claim 3, wherein, The air-guiding panel is arranged in such a way that the slit is included within its range.

6. The thermal protector according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein, At least one of the two air-conditioning panels has a cutout.

7. The thermal protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The angle between the first plane and the second plane is in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

8. The thermal protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The movable plate support portion of the extension portion of the second terminal portion is provided with an elongated oval guide portion for positioning the movable plate, the length of which is more than three times the width.

Images