Temperature-dependent switching mechanism

1. A temperature-dependent switching mechanism comprising a ring-shaped annular frame that does not have a closed bottom, a bimetal snap-action disc, a movable contact member and a spring snap-action disc carrying said movable contact member, said bimetal snap-action disc and said spring snap-action disc being captively held in said frame; and

wherein the bimetal snap-action disc has a low-temperature position and a high-temperature position, a first peripheral shoulder being arranged internally in the frame, on which first peripheral shoulder a rim of the bimetal snap-action disc is supported during the transition from its high-temperature position into its low-temperature position.

2. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises an upper ring surface.

3. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises a lower ring surface.

4. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises an upper ring surface and a lower ring surface arranged parallel to one another and interconnected by a peripheral cylinder surface running transversely to the upper and lower ring surfaces.

5. The switching mechanism of claim 4 , wherein a conical transition surface is arranged between the cylinder surface and the lower ring surface.

6. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the movable contact member is a movable contact part, which is arranged between the bimetal snap-action disc and the spring snap-action disc.

7. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the bimetal snap-action disc is fixed captively with play to the movable contact member.

8. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the spring snap-action disc is fixed captively to the movable contact member.

9. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a second peripheral shoulder is arranged inwardly in the frame, on which second peripheral shoulder a rim of said spring snap-action disc is supported.

10. The switching mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the second peripheral shoulder is arranged in a groove running peripherally internally in the frame, in which groove said rim of said spring snap-action disc is arranged.

11. The switching mechanism of claim 10 , wherein said rim of said spring snap-action disc is latched into said groove.

12. The switching mechanism of claim 9 , wherein said rim of said spring snap-action disc is held in place by a protrusion extending over said rim of the spring snap-action disc, and formed only after said rim of said spring snap-action disc has been placed on the second peripheral shoulder.

13. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , which comprises a current transfer member connected to the movable contact member.

14. The switching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the current transfer member is connected to the annular frame.

15. The switching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the annular frame comprises an upper ring surface and a lower ring surface, the current transfer member being arranged between the upper and lower ring surfaces.

16. The switching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the annular frame comprises an upper ring surface and a lower ring surface, the current transfer member being arranged with its rim above the upper ring surface.

17. The switching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the annular frame comprises an upper ring surface and a lower ring surface, the current transfer member being arranged with its rim below the lower ring surface.

18. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises electrically conductive material.

19. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises electrically insulating material.

20. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises electrical resistance material.

21. The switching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the annular frame comprises at least one resistive layer.