.~.~ Electric discharge means (e.g., electron-emissive)
DEFINITION
Classification: 337/25
(under subclass 22) Subject matter including at least two switch contacts designed to contact with each other to open and/or close an electrical circuit, one of the switch contacts being mounted so as to be moved by a thermostatic element, the contacts, their supports, or lead-in means being electron emissive so that an electric space discharge can be established between the electron emissive substance and the cooperating contact, when the switch contacts are in open circuit position, to heat the thermostatic element thereby actuating the movable contact or contacts.
(1) Note. In some of the patents in this subclass the switch contacts are normally separated when no current is being supplied to the circuit which includes the switch contacts. The electric space discharge being established when the current is supplied to the circuit, the space discharge then heating the thermostatic element so that the switch contacts are moved to circuit closing position to establish a conductive path through the electrodes and thereby short circuiting the electric space discharge. This subclass also includes patents where the switch includes means other than the glow discharge, such as electric heating means, the glow discharge being used in conjunction with the other heating means to cause the switch contacts to be moved into open or closed circuit condition.
(2) Note. The circuit makers and breakers in this subclass are often used with glow discharge lamps which require preheating of the filamentary electrodes before an electric space discharge can be established between such filamentary electrodes.
(3) Note. The circuit makers and breakers in this subclass are somewhat analogous in structure to electric space discharge devices of the arc drawing type having two electrodes, at least one of which is electron emissive, which are normally in contact when the supply circuit is open and which are separated by any suitable means, such as thermostatic means, to establish the space discharge when potential is applied to the discharge device. For such discharge devices, Search Classes 313 and 314 in the appropriate subclasses.
