METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SNAP-ACTING THERMALLY RESPONSIVE BIMETALLIC ACTUATORS

摘要

A method of forming a snap-acting thermally responsive bimetallic actuator comprising forming, from sheet bimetal, a member having an aperture with an arcuate outer perimeter and an inner perimeter defining a tongue free at one end, said free end being close to the outer perimeter, the outer and inner perimeters smoothly merging at rounded ends of the aperture adjacent the tongue root, and the radial width of the member at the tongue root being substantially greater than the width opposite the free end of the tongue. The formed member is thereafter pressed between a die shaped to a domed configuration and an incompressible rubber pad to impart a domed configuration to the member.