DE2119215A1 - Method and device for the production of magnetic reed contacts - Google Patents

Description

PATEf-iTAMWALT

S 1 »_ V: -. , A RT

Richarc -'.- a ^ nei-Strasse 16 O 1 1 QO 1 K

Telephone 0711 / 244446-47 * - · IiJ ^. IO

Plessey trading and
Investments AG

Zug / Switzerland
Gartenstrasse 2

A 12 263
lh-th

April 19, 1971
Patent application

Method and apparatus for producing magnetic reed contacts

The invention relates to a method and a device for Manufacture of magnetic reed contact units. Magnetic Reed contacts of this type comprise at least two elongated electrical contact members, in which each to one end has a flattened part, - which are arranged in a housing, preferably made of glass, so that the flattened parts overlap with the contact members substantially flush with each other while the other end each contact member is led out and held through a wall of the housing. The overlapping ends of the contact members normally have a fixed predetermined distance from one another and if the contact elements, .the from one magnetic material, such as B. a nickel-iron alloy exist and in the overlap area, for. B. with gold, plated are subjected to the action of a magnetic field of sufficient strength, the magnetic attraction between the overlapping ends that they are attracted towards each other and touch each other, whereby an electrical contact is brought about between the two contact members. The sealed housing is usually with a

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inert or a reducing gas or a mixture of both.

In a known method for producing such reed contacts a housing with two open ends is pushed over the contact members, while the one contact member is magnetic is held by the other contact member. The magnetically held ne contact member is melted into the housing, whereupon the other contact member, set after the desired distance between the two overlapping ends of the contact members is also melted down. The fill gas, if used, is usually used prior to melting of the last contact member introduced into the chamber.

The known methods and devices have the disadvantage that the contact members because of a movement of the magnet supported contact member, which can occur in the setting, move against each other and come out of alignment. Contact elements that are not aligned in the finished reed contact have detrimental effects on the operating characteristics of the contact, which is why it is desirable to use the contact members to keep them in constant alignment with one another during the manufacture and assembly of the reed contact.

For this purpose, one end of a first contact member is held so that its longitudinal axis lies in a vertical plane. A second contact member is magnetically held by the other end of the first contact member so that the ends of the contact members overlap and their longitudinal axes are essentially aligned. A housing made of a fusible which is open at two ends Material is then pushed over the contact members, whereupon the second contact member is melted into the housing will. The magnetic support between the first and the second catact member is then released, whereby a Relative movement between the first and second contact member is allowed to the desired distance between them

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set overlapping ends of the contact members, whereupon the first contact member is melted into the housing, while the contact members are see at a distance from each other.

According to the invention, a magnetic field is now in or near the second contact member erected during the individual work stages to the second contact member in alignment with the first To keep contact member.

A suitable device for performing the method comprises first holding means for releasably holding a first contact member whose longitudinal axis is in a vertical plane is a first device for generating a magnetic field to in or near the first contact member a first magnetic field to produce, through which the holding of a second contact member by the first contact member in the way possible is that the flattened ends overlap and the longitudinal axes of the contact members are substantially aligned, further with a device for sliding a housing, which is open at two ends and made of a fusible material, over the contact members, a second holder for holding the housing in a position relative to the contact members, a first means for fusing of the second contact member in the housing, an adjusting device for bringing about a relative movement between the first and second brackets, by the predetermined distance between the overlapping ends of the contact members set, wherein the first device for generating a magnetic field can be switched off in order to facilitate the setting, further comprising a second device for melting the first contact member into the housing, while the overlapping ones Sends the contact members are arranged at the desired distance from one another.

According to the invention, the device now comprises a second device for generating a magnetic field in order to generate a second magnetic field in or near the second contact member. erect, through that the second contact member is held in alignment with the first contact member during assembly.

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A 12 263 April 19, 1971

1921

For example, embodiments of the invention ~ & ξ ^ \ explained below with reference to the drawing in detail, in the

Figures 1 a and 1 b schematically a front view and a

Side view of a reed contact according to the invention demonstrate.

Figures 2 a and 2 b show schematically a partially sectioned Side view and a partial front view of part of a device for producing the magnetic reed contacts according to Figures 1 a and 1 b "

Figure 3

shows schematically a plan view of another part of an apparatus for manufacturing the reed contacts according to Figures 1 a and 1 b.

The magnetic reed contact according to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b comprises two elongated electrical contact elements 1 and 2 which are melted into a housing 3, preferably made of glass, at the ends 4 and 5, "The contact elements 1 and 2 consist made of a "magnetically-magnetized material, for example a Niekel-iron alloy, the ends 1a and 2a are flattened and arranged so that they overlap, as shown in FIG. 1b. The flattened ends 1a and 2 a, which are equipped with a Kontaktmatdrial such. B, are covered ₀ Sold as Figure 1 b shows, usually spaced apart by a fixed predetermined distance, and the characteristics and operating performance of the reed contact äüagt largely on this distance from. The closed housing 3 can with an inert or reducing gas or a mixture w n both are filled.

The overlapping ends 1 a and 2 a can together and damt be brought into contact with each other, by the effect a magnetic force, which is why the material - aas the the

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Contact members exist, must be sufficiently elastic to allow this movement during the working time of the contact. The magnetic force can be applied by any suitable means, the reed contact in particular by one Coil can be surrounded which, when energized, a field generated, which is sufficient to actuate the contact members.

The magnetic reed contact according to Figures 1 a and 1 b can be produced by a method in which! a car contact members, for example the contact member 2 so held. is that its longitudinal axis lies in a vertical plane and its flattened end is arranged above, while the other contact member, in the illustrated embodiment the contact member 1, is magnetically held by the contact member 2 se that the longitudinal axes of the two contact members are substantially aligned * and the flattened ends 1 a and 2 a overlap by a desired amount.

A housing open at two ends, ie the housing 3 according to FIG. 1, is then pushed over the two contact members 1 and 2 and gelialten in a position relative to these. The magnetically held contact member 1 ^T A * is then inserted into the housing melted at the end 4, whereupon the magnetic force between the two contact members is canceled, the contact member 1 being held relative to the contact member 2 by the supported housing 3.

Urr. the desired distance between the overlapping Set ends 1 a and 2 a, the holder of the housing and the contact member 2 are relative by the desired amount moved towards each other. The seal is then formed at the end 5 of the housing, i. H. the contact member is z. B. melted down, whereupon the magnetic reed contact is ready. Before making the second seal on end 5 of the housing this can be filled with a gas.

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The device for producing the reed IC contacts in the manner described above can operate fully automatically or semi-automatically. In the case of fully automatic operation, one device can be used that stays in successive stations, with one or more of the above-described work steps being carried out at each station or at some of them ·; Iii Loading the various parts of the Koatakfceunit " positioning and melting in one station.

The device described below can be used for both automatic and semi-automatic operation, it is particularly suitable for operation.

iiiS the figures 2 a mid 2 b includes the äarcfsstell-äs -Ζ ^; '·: 11. .- · „-erfiadungsgeaormen, ¥ orrieat.uRg eiü lining 6 ^ clench V7@jj8i.i-3i. ί! ..: - ~ · ΐ member 2 is held _? d = ή. das srst'S Eon-iairifli-iKi _r ά h aicht geseelte EiKrichtungsa χκ. di © ^ Gi ^^ richüaag iii ~ '; -: - ii rielitigen orientation eiHgebraolit is EHd il; iirch weleh® ;? dis magaetlsehe holder of the Sointaktglieäss L sn. dei «; Kontal: .if:. · .-: § a ^ siaglicht wirü _o the nssg ^ etissli © EsJJiBB & ji ^ i'ihij & c: ⁵ ^ ZEfa ^ -s ^ lr Spale? _f die © mee rope β a fies F-attess β utEs-i ^ -ip daa siss' äLiü. MagKetiseliea material, consists “Sefiü the Spsl® 7 excited i? iri is in the lining S aafi in the itontaktgliec 2 a MagÄiSi * .. £ sleer produces, even if the contact member 1 at the togetherness in 3® ;; ^r "r rung K? it d®« a contact element 2 taught wirö,? "Will it be eLmrÄ i ^ s magnetic field ia this Lags held Si® raisiife -iargsstsiL ^ a facility -sum Eufüiürea and ζώσ ·., Positiomiersa des Koa'is ; '-; - g L, -. des Ϊ relative sum ICosstcüstglisd 2 _f äis- Ih äersslben Stati ^ -r; s.:i ^t can be ordered in which the E ^ ntaktglisd sage leads ^ tiKd ^ odsr also in @ in @ r following. Station, ia wslek-a the gate directionwei'bsr is moved? Isfe arranged so that the iJsIöe contact members are substantially aligned with one another and overlap by the desired amount.

λ liufe the subsequent working steps of the device, uL · - _n "; ^ _e ^ hi _{rsc enes} other stations are carried out, ie the two contact members 1 and 2 may come out of alignment with each other". That is, they can shift relative to one another, namely as a result of a movement of the magnetically held contact member 3- which is caused by the indexing and further movement of the device in the successive stations; if it is desirable to provide a device by means of FIG Alignment or the alignment of the contact members is maintained, since non-aligned contact members in a finished contact have detrimental effects on eiae operating characteristics.

1 and 2 the contact members in the individual work sprints and when passing control of the device in the comparable;.. hit 5 ^, "arisn processing stations aligned to keep, can ■ <unit shown 8 are used in Figure 2 · The unit 3. a pin or pin 8a made of a soft-magnetic '?. ·? .. t ^ -rialL, which is magnetically coupled to an electrical coil 8b via ■: ir-. magnetic part 8c. The part 8c is around:, r · hch pe. XX rotatable so that it can be moved out of alignment with the contacts I and 2 by devices not shown, as will be described below, to be able to carry out the various manufacturing operations. The pin 8 a is aligned with the con ta! · '. *: ■ leathers 1 and 2 after the contact member 1 has been introduced in d,: ■ • ■ .errichtung and the coil 8 b is energized - this creates a magnetic field in the part 8 c, the pin 8 a

; d in the contact members, as a result of which they are held in alignment with one another. The pin 8 a is, as FIG. 2 a shows, near C ¹

; r arranged separately from the end of the contact member 1 and the "- *; · ':» of the axial magnetic field emanating from the pin 8 a *

is in connection with the size of the air gap as ■. ■ "! ', that it is sufficient to escape or align the

; ai: actiieder during processing and when advancing the Vorria-τι ung to maintain, whereas the strength of the magnetic field n:, iht is sufficient to the upper contact member 1 to dan

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To attract pin 8 a magnetically. The magnetic field becomes natural? borrowed so that the adjacent ends of the pin 8 a and the contact member 1 have opposite magnetic polarity. After the device is transported to the station has been, in which the housing, which is indicated in Figures 2a and 2b by the dash-dotted line 9, is pushed over the two contact members and held in the position shown by means not shown, is the coil 8 b is switched off and the unit 8 is pivoted about the axis X-X into a position which enables this to be carried out Work, d. H. the supply of the housing allowed.

After the housing has been introduced into the device, the pin 8 a is again in alignment with the contact members 1 and 2 to keep them aligned with each other during the subsequent work steps.

In another station, the seal 4 is then produced by means not shown, whereby the contact member 1 is held tightly in the case while it is still magnetic is supported by the contact member 2. The coils 7 and 8b are then switched off to reduce the magnetic force of attraction to be eliminated between the contact members 1 and 2, since this is no longer necessary, since the contact member 1, which is now melted into the housing, is held by this or by its holder, not shown.

Thereafter, the holder of the housing and the chuck 6 are moved relative to one another by means not shown, to set the desired distance between the flattened ends 1 a and 2 a. This can be done in the same station in which the seal 4 was produced or in a subsequent station.

- 9 -

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The contact member 2 is then melted down by means not shown at the end 5 of the housing, whereby both contact members 1 and 2 are held in the housing 3 with the desired spacing between the overlapping ends.

Instead of the pin 8 a, a permanent magnet can be used, in which case the coil 8 b is not required is and the part 8 c aus.- would have to consist of a non-magnetic material. To prevent the permanent magnet from the Orientation of the contact members affects when the unit 8 is pivoted to allow the housing to be fed A movable magnetic shunt or a movable flux directional link made of soft iron can be used, to direct the axial field lines of the magnetic flux away from the contact members, d. H. except for escaping with theirs Longitudinal axes.

The seals 4 and 5 can be made using various Heating devices are produced, in particular the device shown in Figure 3 can be used. One such Device can be at each end of the housing 3 in the same or preferably in different stations of the device be placed at the location where the seal is to be made.

The device for producing the seals 4 and 5 consists essentially of an infrared radiation source 10 and a reflector 11 which directs the output of the radiation source 10 to a point on the housing 3 at which the seal should be produced. The surface 12 a of a reflector 12 throws the thermal radiation after it passes through the walls of the Housing has passed, back to the side of the housing 3 that is remote from the radiation source 10. That For this purpose, the housing 3 consists of a glass that contains infrared radiation absorbed. The heat source, usually a tungsten-halogen lamp, can be outside a sealed housing

- 10 -

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19 April 1971 ^L ' ¹

be arranged in which the remaining part of the device is arranged is when the contact unit is to be filled with a gas, the infrared radiation then passing through a suitable Window enters the housing, or the radiation source can be arranged within this housing. To a symmetrical Achieving seal form is infrared absorption of the glass used for the housing 3 selected so that the radiant heat of the radiation source 10 when passing through the housing .3 is absorbed to about 50%, while the rest Radiant heat from the surface 12 a of the reflector 12 is reflected back onto the housing 3, whereby a sufficient Amount of heat is introduced into the housing to melt the contact members.

Of course, in every station in which there is a meltdown is made, two or more infrared radiation sources 10 are provided to simultaneously a plurality to seal or melt down reed contacts.

The radiant heat used to melt the housing can also be used to improve the characteristics of the Modify contact coatings 2u, for example, these coatings can be annealed, diffused or degassed to the To improve switching characteristics of the 'contact.

The radiant heat of the radiation source 10 is not only absorbed by the housing 3, but also by the contact members, thereby bringing them to a controllable or controllable temperature can be heated within the limits required to achieve it perfect sealing or fusing are required, namely by changing the intensity and / or the exposure time of the radiation source 10 radiated heat. Therefore, when the characteristics of the contact members are to be modified, the temperature becomes the contact members increased during the melting process

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April 19, 1971

after or after using additional infrared heat sources, to a level sufficient to respect the physical characteristics of the coating on the contacts to modify.

The material used to coat the flattened ends of the Contact members used can be a metal-organic Contain complex that, when the temperature of the contact material is increased to a value that changes the physical, properties of the contact material causes, leads to the formation of gases and vapors, which deal with the Mix filling gas and lead to an improvement in the switching characteristics of the contact.

As already stated, the parts of the device that are used to assemble the contact unit can be closed in one Housing be housed during the meltdown to the housing 3 of the contact member with a To be able to fill gas before the last meltdown takes place, the gas being contained in the sealed housing. Under these circumstances, the arrangement of the parts of the contacts can be changed, resulting in an improvement in the Quality and operating characteristics.

So the position of the chuck 6 and the unit 8 came to be exchanged, i.e. H. the lining 6 can be on top and the unit 8 can be arranged below. In the case of the first contact member, i. H. in the contact member 1 of Figure 1, which is in the device is introduced, the flattened end would then be at the bottom be arranged and if now the other contact member, d. H. the contact member 2 is held magnetically on the contact member 1 is, its escape with this is supported by gravity and by the unit 8.

This method also leads to an improvement in the shape and strength of the seals 4 and 5.

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Since the magnetically held contact member in this case the ' lower and since this is always melted into the housing first, the lower seal 5 is produced first, therefore the shape of the glass-to-metal seal is only influenced by gravity, d. H. the melted Glass seeks to flow away from the center of the contact assembly. If the upper seal is made first, the influence leads the force of gravity tends to cause the molten glass to flow towards the center of the contact unit. The figure and the strength of the seal is more difficult to specify and control.

On the other hand, in the modified method, when the upper gasket, i. H. the second seal is made, so acts the gas pressure inside the now closed housing 3 counteracts a downward flow of the molten glass. This Pressure is higher than the pressure inside the enclosed housing or chamber in which the device is housed so that a better shaped and stronger seal is obtained with this method.

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Claims (1)

Protection claims Process for the production of magnetic reed contact units, in which one end of a first contact member is held so that its longitudinal axis in a vertical plane lies while a second contact member magnetically from the other end of the first contact member is held so that the ends of the contact members overlap and their longitudinal axes are substantially aligned, whereupon a housing made of a fusible material, open at two ends, is pushed over the contact members and the second contact member is melted into the housing, whereupon the magnetic holder between the first and second contact member is canceled, so that dife two contact members are relative to each other .er can move to create a predetermined distance between the overlapping ends of the contact members, whereupon the first contact member is melted into the housing, while the contact members are spaced apart each other, characterized in that in or near the second contact member a magnetic field is generated to align the second contact member during machining and assembly with the first contact member to keep. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a gas is filled into the housing before the first Contact member is melted into the housing. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact members are fused into the Infrared absorbing glass existing! Housing is made by infrared radiation. - 14 109853/1635 April 19, 1971 ⁴ · A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overlapping ends of the contact elements are coated with a contact material, and that this coating infrared radiation is irradiated at a to the physical properties to be modified of the coating and the Schalteharakteristiken of contact with to enhance. 5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the overlapping ends of the contact members with a contact material are coated which contains an organometallic complex, that also this coating heating is carried out until the ketallic-organic complex gives off gases and vapors, which combine with the gas in the housing mix, thereby modifying the switching characteristics of the contact unit. 6. Device for performing the method according to one of claims 1-5, with a first holding device for releasably holding a first contact member whose longitudinal axis lies in a vertical plane, a first device for generating a magnetic field in or near the first contact member, to hold a second contact member magnetically by the first contact member so that the flattened ends of the contact members overlap and their longitudinal axes are substantially aligned, further with a loading device to push a housing open at two ends made of a fusible material over the contact members, with a second. Holder for holding the housing in a position relative to the contact members, with a first device ZOm fusing the second contact member into the ■. - - 15 - 109853 / 1S35 April 19, 1971 Housing, an adjustment device to move the first and second brackets relative to one another, to set a predetermined distance between the overlapping ends of the contact members, wherein the first device for generating a magnetic field can be switched off in order to enable this setting, further comprising a second device for melting the first contact member into the housing, while the overlapping ends of the contact members are arranged at a distance from one another, characterized by a second device (3) for generating a magnetic field, to generate a second magnetic field in or near the second contact member (1) through which the second contact member (1) can be held in alignment with the first contact member (2). 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized by a device for introducing a filling gas into the housing (3) before the contact members are melted down. 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the device (6) has a pin (8 a) from one has soft-magnetic material, the longitudinal axis of which lies in a vertical plane, that furthermore an electrical Coil (8 b) via a magnetic part (8 c) is magnetically coupled to the pin (8 a) that further by exciting the coil (8 b) an axial magnetic field in the pin (8 a) can be generated and that through the part (8 c) the pin (8 a) can be brought into and out of alignment with the second contact member (1). 9. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the means for generating the second Magnetic field has a permanent magnet, in which the axis between its magnetic poles in a 109853/1635 - 16 - A 12 263 -16- 9 1 1 Q? 1 April 19, 1971. * - ' ¹ ^ ^Ι vertical plane that further means is provided to the permanent magnet in and out Bring alignment with the second contact member (1). 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the device for moving the permanent magnet having a magnetic flux directional member by that during the movement of the permanent magnet, the axial magnetic flux of the magnet from the contact members can be directed away. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the magnetic flux-directional member is a movable magnetic shunt is. 12. Device according to one of claims 7-11, characterized in that the first contact member (2) so is held that its flattened end (2 a) is directed downwards. 13. A device according to any of claims 6-12, characterized 'in that the means for remelting the contact members (1, 2) in the housing (3) is an infrared radiation source (10) which has a first Has reflector (11) to direct the infrared radiation on the housing (3), which also has a second Has reflector (12) in order to reflect the infrared radiation which has passed through the housing (3) back onto it Throw side of the housing (3) that is away from the radiation source (10). 09853/1635 -π- Blank page