A heat float switch 10 includes a first member 20 and a second member 30. The first member 20 includes a base member 22 and a carbon nanotube layer 24 formed on a surface 22a of the base member 22. The heat float switch 10 switches states between a connected state in which the carbon nanotube layer 24 of the first member 20 is in contact with the second member 30 and an unconnected state in which the carbon nanotube layer 24 of the first member 20 is not in contact with the second member 30.

Disclosed is a thermally operated overload relay installing a linked assembly in an outer casing (1), the assembly comprising a main bimetal (2) that bends receiving heat due to electric current flowing in a main circuit, a shifter (3) that displaces responsively to the bend of the main bimetal (2), a release lever (5) that links to the shifter and opposes a reversing spring (7) for driving a contact switching mechanism (6), and an adjusting dial that positions the release lever corresponding to setting of a trigger current value; output contacts of the contact switching mechanism being switched upon detecting the bend of the main bimetal (2) due to development of an overcurrent. The adjusting dial composed of a slider (14) and is directly coupled to the release lever (5) to form a monolithic structure, and the slider (14) is operated to position the release lever (5) corresponding to setting of the trigger current value and fastened by a fastening screw (15) .

A MEMS actuator 1 comprising an actuator member 2 operably engaged by at least one actuator beam 4 and heating means 12 for heating the or each beam 4. The heating may cause expansion of the or each beam 4, wherein the or each beam 4 has two ends A, A' and the or each beam 4 is fixed at only one end A and wherein the expansion effects movement of the actuator member 2. The heating may cause thermal expansion of the beam 4 in one direction and longitudinal displacement of the beam 4 in the direction of thermal expansion, which longitudinal displacement effects movement of the actuator member 2. The beam 4 may act on the member 2 at a position in relation to a pivot point P so as to produce a torque which effects pivoting of the member 2 about the pivot point P. The actuator may have at least two actuator beams 4 and heating the at least two beams 4 may cause simultaneous expansion of the at least two beams 4, which simultaneous expansion effects movement of the actuator member 2. Alternatively, heating one of the at least two beams 4 may cause differential expansion of the at least two beams 4, which differential expansion effects movement of the actuator member 2. The actuator may have at least two actuator members 202 operably engaged by at least one actuator beam 204 and heating the or each beam 204 may cause expansion of the or each beam 204, which expansion effects differential movement of the at least two members 202 or bending of the at least two members 202.

Der Thermobimetallschalter besteht aus einem flachen, elektrisch isolierenden Träger (1), wenigstens zwei an dem Träger (1) befestigten elektrischen Anschlußteilen (3,4), von denen eines mit einem auf dem Träger angeordneten Festkontakt (10) und eines mit einer Kontaktfeder (8) Verbindung hat, die mit ihrem einen Ende am Träger (1) befestigt ist und an ihre. anderen Ende ein bewegliches, mit dem Festkontakt (10) zusammenarbeitendes Kontaktstück (9) trägt. Der Träger (1) ist eine dünne Aluminiumoxidkeramikplatte.