초록 ▼

An electrical switching device includes a housing, a base attached to the housing, two non-actuated electrical contacts supported in the housing, and an actuator assembly contained within the housing. The actuator assembly includes a movable contact for engaging the non-actuated electrical contact a

An electrical switching device includes a housing, a base attached to the housing, two non-actuated electrical contacts supported in the housing, and an actuator assembly contained within the housing. The actuator assembly includes a movable contact for engaging the non-actuated electrical contact and a wire element formed of a shape memory alloy. Applying an electric current to the wire element causes the actuator to either pivot or rotate the movable contact to either engage or disengage the non-actuated electrical contacts.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An electrical switching device, comprising: a housing having first and second non-actuated electrical contacts; a base, connected to the housing, having electrical leads configured to receive a first electric current; an actuator assembly supported within the housing and the

What is claimed is: 1. An electrical switching device, comprising: a housing having first and second non-actuated electrical contacts; a base, connected to the housing, having electrical leads configured to receive a first electric current; an actuator assembly supported within the housing and the base, the actuator assembly including a rotatable, substantially non-conductive shaft; a movable contact structure mounted upon the shaft and configured to be activated by the first electric current between a non-actuated position, where the movable contact structure does not provide a conductive path between the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts, and an actuated position, where the movable contact structure provides a conductive path between the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts so that a second electric current may flow therebetween; the actuator assembly further including a rotatable spindle mounted upon the base and configured to rotate with the shaft; the actuator assembly also including a wire element made from a shape memory alloy (SMA), the wire element anchored to the base and threaded upon the spindle, the wire element having a length that is reduced when the first electric current is applied thereto to thereby rotate the spindle, shaft, and the moveable contact structure between one of the non-actuated position and the actuated position and the other of the non-actuate position and the actuated position, wherein the moveable contact structure comprises: a cylindrical drum mounted inside the housing and configured to rotate with the shaft; and a conductive strip applied to an outer surface of the cylindrical drum, and having a length at least as long as a distance between the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts. 2. The electrical switching device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts includes a contacting portion extending toward the respective shaft contact, wherein the conductive strip movingly contacts the contacting portion of each of the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts when the actuator assembly moves between the actuated position and the non-actuated position. 3. An electrical switching device, comprising: a housing having first and second non-actuated electrical contacts; abuse connected to the housing, having electrical leads configured to receive a first electric current; an actuator assembly supported within the housing and the base, the actuator assembly including a rotatable, substantially non-conductive shaft; a movable contact structure mounted upon the shaft and configured to be activated by the first electric current between a non-actuated position, where the movable contact structure does not provide a conductive path between the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts, and an actuated position, where the movable contact structure provides a conductive path between the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts so that a second electric current may flow therebetween; wherein the moveable contact structure includes a cylindrical drum mounted inside the housing and configured to rotate with the shaft, and a conductive strip applied to an outer surface of the cylindrical drum, the conductive strip having a length at least as long as a distance between the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts; and the actuator assembly further including a rotatable spindle mounted upon the base and configured to rotate with the shaft; a wire element made from a shape memory alloy (SMA), the wire element anchored to the base and threaded around the spindle, the wire element having a length that is reduced when the first electric current is applied thereto to thereby rotate the spindle, shaft, and the moveable contact structure between one of the non-actuated position and the actuated position and the other of the non-actuated position and the actuated position; and a return mechanism configured to urge the wire to increase in length when the first electric current is no longer applied thereto. 4. The electrical switching device of claim 3, wherein the wire element is made of one of a copper-zinc-aluminum alloy, a copper-aluminum-nickel alloy, and an iron-manganese-silicon alloy. 5. The electrical switching device of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts includes a contacting portion extending toward the respective shaft contact, wherein the conductive strip movingly contacts the contacting portion of each of the first and second non-actuated electrical contacts when the actuator assembly moves between the actuated position and the non-actuated position.