Bimetallic strip

Bimetallic strip
A bimetallic strip is used to convert a
temperature change into mechanical
displacement. The strip consists of two
strips of different metals which expand at
different rates as they are heated, usually
steel and copper, or in some cases steel and
brass. The strips are joined together
throughout their length by riveting, brazing
or welding. The different expansions force
the flat strip to bend one way if heated, and
in the opposite direction if cooled below its
initial temperature. The metal with the
higher coefficient of thermal expansion is on
the outer side of the curve when the strip is
heated and on the inner side when cooled.

Diagram of a bimetallic strip showing how the difference in thermal expansion in

the two metals leads to a much larger sideways displacement of the strip

The sideways displacement of the strip is

much larger than the small lengthways
expansion in either of the two metals. This
effect is used in a range of mechanical and
electrical devices. In some applications the
bimetal strip is used in the flat form. In
others, it is wrapped into a coil for
compactness. The greater length of the
coiled version gives improved sensitivity.

A bimetallic coil from a thermometer reacts

to the heat from a lighter, by uncoiling and
then coiling back up when the lighter is
removed.

History
The earliest surviving bimetallic strip was made by the
eighteenth-century clockmaker John Harrison who is generally
credited with its invention. He made it for his third marine
chronometer (H3) of 1759 to compensate for temperature-induced
changes in the balance spring. It should not be confused with his
bimetallic mechanism for correcting for thermal expansion in the
gridiron pendulum. His earliest examples had two individual metal
strips joined by rivets but he also invented the later technique of
directly fusing molten brass onto a steel substrate. A strip of this
type was fitted to his last timekeeper, H5. Harrison's invention is
recognized in the memorial to him in Westminster Abbey,
England.

Applications

John Harrison's Memorial in Westminster Abbey,

London

Bimetallic strip

Clocks
Mechanical clock mechanisms are sensitive to temperature changes which lead to errors in time keeping. A
bimetallic strip is used to compensate for this in some mechanisms. The most common method is to use a bimetallic
construction for the circular rim of the balance wheel. As the spring controlling the balance becomes weaker with
increasing temperature, so the balance becomes smaller in diameter to keep the period of oscillation (and hence
timekeeping) constant.

Thermostats
In the regulation of heating and cooling, thermostats that operate over a wide range of temperatures are used. In
these, one end of the bimetal strip is mechanically fixed and attached to an electrical power source, while the other
(moving) end carries an electrical contact. In adjustable thermostats another contact is positioned with a regulating
knob or lever. The position so set controls the regulated temperature, called the set point.
Some thermostats use a mercury switch connected to both
electrical leads. The angle of the entire mechanism is adjustable to
control the set point of the thermostat.
Depending upon the application, a higher temperature may open a
contact (as in a heater control) or it may close a contact (as in a
refrigerator or air conditioner).
The electrical contacts may control the power directly (as in a
household iron) or indirectly, switching electrical power through a
relay or the supply of natural gas or fuel oil through an electrically
operated valve. In some natural gas heaters the power may be
provided with a thermocouple that is heated by a pilot light (a
small, continuously burning, flame). In devices without pilot lights
Thermostat with bimetal coil at (2)
for ignition (as in most modern gas clothes dryers and some
natural gas heaters and decorative fireplaces) the power for the
contacts is provided by reduced household electrical power that operates a relay controlling an electronic ignitor,
either a resistance heater or an electrically powered spark generating device.

Thermometers
A direct indicating dial thermometer (such as a patio thermometer or a meat thermometer) uses a bimetallic strip
wrapped into a coil. One end of the coil is fixed to the housing of the device and the other drives an indicating
needle. A bimetallic strip is also used in a recording thermometer. Breguet's thermometer consists of a tri-metallic
helix.

Heat engines
Simple toys have been built which demonstrate how the principle can be used to drive a heat engine. [citation needed]

Electrical devices
Bimetal strips are used in miniature circuit breakers to protect circuits from excess current. A coil of wire is used to
heat a bimetal strip, which bends and operates a linkage that unlatches a spring-operated contact. This interrupts the
circuit and can be reset when the bimetal strip has cooled down.
Bimetal strips are also used in time-delay relays, lamp flashers, and fluorescent lamp starters. In some devices the
current running directly through the bimetal strip is sufficient to heat it and operate contacts directly.

Bimetallic strip

Calculations
Curvature of a Bimetallic Beam:

Where

and

are the Young's Modulus and height of Material One and

and height of Material Two.

and

are the Young's Modulus

is the misfit strain, calculated by:

Where 1 is the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Material One and 2 is the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
of Material Two. T is the current temperature minus the reference temperature (the temperature where the beam has
no flexure).[1][2]

External links
Video of a circular bimetalic wire powering a small motor with iced water [3]. Accessed February 2011.

Notes
[1] Clyne, TW. Residual stresses in surface coatings and their effects on interfacial debonding. Key Engineering Materials (Switzerland). Vol.
116-117, pp. 307-330. 1996
[2] Timoshenko, J. Opt. Soc. Am. 11, 233 (1925)
[3] http:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v=-a0u4Lw1YEY& feature=fvst

Article Sources and Contributors

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File:Bimetallic stripe.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bimetallic_stripe.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Patrick87
File:Bimetal coil reacts to lighter.gif Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bimetal_coil_reacts_to_lighter.gif License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0
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File:John Harrison memorial 02.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:John_Harrison_memorial_02.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Peter R Hastings
File:WPThermostat.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WPThermostat.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Original uploader was Leonard G.
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