EP0017640B1 - Miniature mercury-wetted reed switch - Google Patents

Miniature mercury-wetted reed switch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0017640B1
EP0017640B1 EP80870018A EP80870018A EP0017640B1 EP 0017640 B1 EP0017640 B1 EP 0017640B1 EP 80870018 A EP80870018 A EP 80870018A EP 80870018 A EP80870018 A EP 80870018A EP 0017640 B1 EP0017640 B1 EP 0017640B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
capsule
armature
spring
mercury
switch according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP80870018A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0017640A3 (en
EP0017640A2 (en
Inventor
Romain Bollen
Jean-Marie Ponsard
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CP Clare International NV
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CP Clare International NV
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Publication date
Application filed by CP Clare International NV filed Critical CP Clare International NV
Priority to AT80870018T priority Critical patent/ATE4399T1/en
Publication of EP0017640A2 publication Critical patent/EP0017640A2/en
Publication of EP0017640A3 publication Critical patent/EP0017640A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0017640B1 publication Critical patent/EP0017640B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00Contacts
    • H01H1/06Contacts characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved
    • H01H1/08Contacts characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved wetted with mercury
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00Contacts
    • H01H1/64Protective enclosures, baffle plates, or screens for contacts
    • H01H1/66Contacts sealed in an evacuated or gas-filled envelope, e.g. magnetic dry-reed contacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a back-and-forth type mercury reed switch, that is to say which interrupts one circuit before establishing another.
  • This type of switch is also called a Form C switch.
  • a mercury blade switch includes a blade armature whose base is immersed in a cup containing mercury and whose free end is capable of moving between two fixed contacts.
  • the effect of this capillarity allows the mercury to spread over the surface of the blade, thus wetting the cooperating surfaces of the armature and the fixed contacts. It thus really establishes a mercury-mercury contact having a very low contact resistance.
  • FIG. 1 The prior art of a back-and-forth type mercury capsule according to FR-A-2 286 487 is illustrated by the drawing of FIG. 1.
  • the frame is formed by a cantilevered blade 1 fixed at its lower end in the cup of mercury 2.
  • the armature 1 is adjusted to a neutral position between the contacts 3 and 4 so that the armature behaves like a spring without initial pressure.
  • the normally closed state is obtained using a permanent magnet P fixed externally near the contacts.
  • a switch is made that can work either in normal monostable mode (the armature returning to its initial position after removal of the excitation), or in bistable mode (the armature returning to its initial position only response to reverse excitation).
  • FR-A-2 242 765 is a sealed capsule switch comprising two contacts situated at the ends of the capsule and a frame which extends axially in the capsule, the frame being terminated by two pole pieces so alternatively to be able to stick against a separate contact when the armature tilts.
  • the armature switches around a real fixed pivot point and has no mechanical energy to promote the opening of the contacts, which limits the speed of tilting of the armature by a non-negligible inertia.
  • the problem which the invention aims to solve is to produce a back-and-forth type mercury blade switch, which has its own mechanical energy to promote the opening of the contacts, which can be easily produced in miniature capsule and which can be used in any position.
  • an armature switch rocking between two fixed contacts which is characterized by a helical spring extending axially inside the capsule and attached by its central part. to a cylindrical annular electrode which surrounds it and which is fixedly placed inside the capsule, said spring working in flexion, and by the fact that the blade of the armature extends inside the spring and is suspended at the ends of said spring at two points located symmetrically with respect to the transverse axis of said blade, the pole pieces of the frame protruding from said ends of the spring, so that the aforementioned spring constitutes a reservoir of mechanical energy .
  • a mercury capsule according to the invention can be used with advantages in all applications where a long service life, a high switching speed, high reliability and / or the possibility of working in any environment are required. position, for example: test equipment, military equipment, telecommunications equipment and more particularly subscriber equipment, industrial process control equipment.
  • the armature 1 has a central blade-shaped part 11 and two pole ends 12 and 13.
  • the fixed contacts 2 and 3 are situated at the opposite ends of the armature 1 so that each of the poles 12, 13 of the armature is capable of bonding alternately against one of the contacts 2, 3 when the armature tilts.
  • the frame is made of a magnetic material, for example Permalloy or “Crovar (product of. the Vacuumschmelze GmbH, Hanau, RFA).
  • the frame 1 is suspended from the ends of a helical spring 5 extending longitudinally around the central part 11 of the frame.
  • the suspension points 51 and 52 of the frame 1 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle of the length of the frame.
  • the spring 5 is made to work on bending.
  • the spring 5 is fixed at its central part inside a metallic cylindrical ring 6 kept fixed inside the sealed capsule 10.
  • the ring 6 serves as a central electrode.
  • the capsule is provided with external connections for the contacts 2 and 3 for the central electrode 6.
  • the capsule 10 is formed by two glass tubes 10A, 10B arranged in alignment with a spacing between them, the annular electrode 6 being located symmetrically with respect to the pivot point of the frame 1.
  • the fixed contacts 2 and 3 are surrounded by metal tubes 20 and 30 serving magnetic shunts.
  • the internal wall of the tubes 20 and 30, the surface of the armature 1, the spring 5, the internal surface of the annular electrode 6 and the surface of the contacts 2 and 3 are wetted with a film of mercury.
  • the cooperating surfaces of the poles 12 and 13 and of the fixed contacts 2 and 3 are lined with pellets of a material which cannot be wetted by mercury, for example chromium oxide. These pellets are denoted 7 in the view of FIG. 3. They must have a sufficiently small surface so that, when the reinforcement 1 tips over, the mercury which spurts from the contact zone is quickly replaced because otherwise the high frequency switching will would find it made more difficult.
  • the poles 12 and 13 of the armature must also have a large enough surface so that a too large drop of mercury which is projected against the wall of the capsule can be sucked by said poles.
  • FIGS. 4 A / D The operation of the switch according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 A / D in which the excitation coil has not been shown.
  • FIG. 4A the armature 1 is shown in the position in which its pole 12 sticks against the contact 2, leaving its pole 13 detached from the contact 3.
  • the initial state of imbalance is created by one of the means which will be described later. .
  • the left and right marginal parts of the spring 5 are subjected to a certain bending moment due to the initial state of imbalance and these marginal parts therefore store a certain mechanical energy.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrated two examples of embodiment using permanent magnets exteriors to create the initial state.
  • two permanent magnets 21 and 22 are externally fixed on the capsule 10.
  • the strength and the position of the magnets relative to the pivot point of the armature are chosen and adapted according to the mode of desired operation.
  • two magnets of unequal forces will be chosen which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the pivot point of the armature or two equal magnets located at different distances from the pivot point.
  • An annular permanent magnet could also be provided in an off-center position relative to the transverse axis of the capsule.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates such an embodiment: the annular permanent magnet is designated by 23.
  • the external connection with the annular electrode 6 is ensured by means of a sheet of electrically conductive material 24 placed on the surface exterior of glass tubes 10A and 1 OB.
  • the initial magnetic state can also be created without the addition of external permanent magnets, by polarizing the armature so that it itself constitutes a permanent magnet.
  • Figures 7 and 8 graphically illustrate the polarization profiles of the armature 1 to achieve monostable and bistable operating modes.
  • the armature 1 is polarized in opposite directions on either side of a section 14 offset from the middle section.
  • the bistable mode (FIG. 8) the armature is polarized in opposite directions on either side of the middle section 15.
  • the annular electrode is generally connected to ground.
  • FIG. 9 shows a capsule 10 and the excitation coil 40 which surrounds it, housed in the inside of the housing 50 mounted on a base 60 from which the connection pins 70 emerge.
  • the reference 80 designates a filling material.

Abstract

1. A mercury-wetted reed switch of the break-before-make type comprising a capsule (10) including a pair of contacts and a movable magnetic armature (1) consisting of a beam (11) extending axially inside the capsule (10) and having two pole ends (12, 13) capable of alternately contacting engagement with a respective contact (2, 3) when the armature (1) is pivoting, characterized by a helicoidal spring (5) extending axially inside the capsule (10) and being attached at its central portion to a cylindrical annular electrode (6) which extends around it and which is fixedly positioned inside the capsule, said spring (5) working in flexion mode, and by the beam (11) of the armature (1) extending inside the spring (5) and being suspended to the ends of said spring at two points (51, 52) symmetrically situated with respect to the transversal axis of said beam (11), the pole ends (12, 13) of the armature projecting beyond said ends of the spring (5), whereby said spring is capable of storing mechanical energy.

Description

La présente invention concerne un commutateur à lame au mercure du type va-et-vient, c'est-à-dire qui interrompt un circuit avant d'en établir un autre. Ce type de commutateur est également appelé commutateur Forme C.The present invention relates to a back-and-forth type mercury reed switch, that is to say which interrupts one circuit before establishing another. This type of switch is also called a Form C switch.

Un commutateur à lame au mercure comprend une armature à lame dont la base se trouve immergée dans une coupelle contenant du mercure et dont l'extrémité libre est susceptible de se mouvoir entre deux contacts fixes. L'effet ce capillarité permet au mercure de s'étendre sur la surface de la lame, mouillant ainsi les surfaces coopérantes de l'armature et des contacts fixes. Il s'établit ainsi réellement un contact mercure- mercure ayant une résistance de contact très faible.A mercury blade switch includes a blade armature whose base is immersed in a cup containing mercury and whose free end is capable of moving between two fixed contacts. The effect of this capillarity allows the mercury to spread over the surface of the blade, thus wetting the cooperating surfaces of the armature and the fixed contacts. It thus really establishes a mercury-mercury contact having a very low contact resistance.

La technique antérieure d'une capsule au mercure de type va-et-vient d'après FR-A-2 286 487 est illustrée par le dessin de la figure 1. A l'intérieur d'une capsule scellée, l'armature est formée par une lame en porte-à-faux 1 fixée à son extrémité inférieure dans la coupelle de mercure 2. L'armature 1 est ajustée en une position neutre entre les contacts 3 et 4 de telle sorte que l'armature se comporte comme un ressort sans pression initiale. L'état normalement fermé est obtenu à l'aide d'un aimant permanent P fixé extérieurement près des contacts. Suivant la position de l'aimant on réalise un commutateur pouvant travailler soit en mode monostable normal (l'armature reprenant sa position initiale après suppression de l'excitation), soit en mode bistable (l'armature ne reprenant sa position initiale qu'en réponse à une excitation inverse). Sur "'la figure 1, le relais P est placé pour créer un mode bistable. Dans les deux cas, la fonction de l'armature est de fournir une force de basculement mécanique suffisante autour d'un point de pivotement fixe réel. L'inconvénient d'une telle capsule est que le commutateur ne peut travailler que si la capsule est utilisée en position verticale, ce qui en limite l'usage aux applications où cette condition est respectée. De plus, une capsule au mercure de ce genre peut difficilement être miniaturisée et elle est relativement coûteuse.The prior art of a back-and-forth type mercury capsule according to FR-A-2 286 487 is illustrated by the drawing of FIG. 1. Inside a sealed capsule, the frame is formed by a cantilevered blade 1 fixed at its lower end in the cup of mercury 2. The armature 1 is adjusted to a neutral position between the contacts 3 and 4 so that the armature behaves like a spring without initial pressure. The normally closed state is obtained using a permanent magnet P fixed externally near the contacts. Depending on the position of the magnet, a switch is made that can work either in normal monostable mode (the armature returning to its initial position after removal of the excitation), or in bistable mode (the armature returning to its initial position only response to reverse excitation). In "'Figure 1, the relay P is placed to create a bistable mode. In both cases, the function of the armature is to provide sufficient mechanical tilting force around an actual fixed pivot point. The disadvantage of such a capsule is that the switch can only work if the capsule is used in a vertical position, which limits its use to applications where this condition is met. In addition, a mercury capsule of this kind can hardly be miniaturized and it is relatively expensive.

On connaît par ailleurs (FR-A-2 242 765) un commutateur en capsule scellée comprenant deux contacts situés aux extrémités de la capsule et une armature qui s'étend axialement dans la capsule, l'armature étant terminée par deux pièces polaires en sorte de pouvoir alternativement coller contre un contact distinct lorsque l'armature bascule. Dans un tel commutateur, l'armature bascule autour d'un point de pivotement fixe réel et ne possède aucune énergie mécanique pour favoriser l'ouverture des contacts, ce qui limite la vitesse de basculement de l'armature par une inertie non négligeable.Also known (FR-A-2 242 765) is a sealed capsule switch comprising two contacts situated at the ends of the capsule and a frame which extends axially in the capsule, the frame being terminated by two pole pieces so alternatively to be able to stick against a separate contact when the armature tilts. In such a switch, the armature switches around a real fixed pivot point and has no mechanical energy to promote the opening of the contacts, which limits the speed of tilting of the armature by a non-negligible inertia.

Le problème que vise à résoudre l'invention est de réaliser un commutateur à lame au mercure de type va-et-vient, qui possède une énergie mécanique propre pour favoriser l'ouverture des contacts, qui peut être aisément réalisé en capsule miniature et qui peut être utilisé dans n'importe quelle position.The problem which the invention aims to solve is to produce a back-and-forth type mercury blade switch, which has its own mechanical energy to promote the opening of the contacts, which can be easily produced in miniature capsule and which can be used in any position.

L'invention résout ce problème par un commutateur à armature basculant entre deux contacts fixes d'après le préambule de la revendication 1, qui se caractérise par un ressort hélicoïdal s'étendant axialement à l'intérieur de la capsule et attaché par sa partie centrale à une électrode annulaire cylindrique qui l'entoure et qui est placé de façon fixe à l'intérieur de la capsule, ledit ressort travaillant à la flexion, et par le fait que la lame de l'armature s'étend à l'intérieur du ressort et est suspendue aux extrémités dudit ressort en deux points situés symétriquement par rapport à l'axe transversal de ladite lame, les pièces polaires de l'armature dépassant lesdites extrémités du ressort, de manière que le ressort précité constitue un réservoir d'énergie mécanique.The invention solves this problem by an armature switch rocking between two fixed contacts according to the preamble of claim 1, which is characterized by a helical spring extending axially inside the capsule and attached by its central part. to a cylindrical annular electrode which surrounds it and which is fixedly placed inside the capsule, said spring working in flexion, and by the fact that the blade of the armature extends inside the spring and is suspended at the ends of said spring at two points located symmetrically with respect to the transverse axis of said blade, the pole pieces of the frame protruding from said ends of the spring, so that the aforementioned spring constitutes a reservoir of mechanical energy .

Une capsule au mercure conforme à l'invention peut être utilisée avec avantages dans toutes les applications où l'on exige une longue durée de vie, une vitesse de commutation élevée, une fiabilité élevée et/ou la possibilité de travailler dans n'importe quelle position, par exemple : les équipements d'essais, les équipements militaires, les équipements de télécommunications et plus particulièrement les équipements d'abonnés, les équipements de contrôle de procédés industriels.A mercury capsule according to the invention can be used with advantages in all applications where a long service life, a high switching speed, high reliability and / or the possibility of working in any environment are required. position, for example: test equipment, military equipment, telecommunications equipment and more particularly subscriber equipment, industrial process control equipment.

L'invention est exposée plus en détails dans ce qui suit avec référence aux dessins joints sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 montre, à titre de comparaison, un mode d'exécution illustrant la technique antérieure ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de la capsule du commutateur suivant l'invention ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue agrandie d'un détail de la figure 2 ;
  • la figure 4 illustre le fonctionnement du commutateur suivant l'invention ;
  • les figures 5 et 6 représentent deux modes de réalisation du commutateur suivant l'invention ;
  • les figures 7 et 8 sont deux graphiques illustrant deux profils de polarisation de la lame pivotante dans un autre mode de réalisation du commutateur suivant l'invention ;
  • la figure 9 illustre un exemple de composant miniature original incorporant une capsule au mercure suivant l'invention.
The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 shows, for comparison, an embodiment illustrating the prior art;
  • Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the capsule of the switch according to the invention;
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the switch according to the invention;
  • Figures 5 and 6 show two embodiments of the switch according to the invention;
  • Figures 7 and 8 are two graphs illustrating two polarization profiles of the pivoting blade in another embodiment of the switch according to the invention;
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an example of an original miniature component incorporating a mercury capsule according to the invention.

Se référant à la figure 2 qui montre une coupe dans la capsule d'un commutateur suivant l'invention, on voit que l'armature 1 présente une partie centrale en forme de lame 11 et deux extrémités polaires 12 et 13. Les contacts fixes 2 et 3 sont situés aux extrémités opposées de l'armature 1 de manière que chacun des pôles 12, 13 de l'armature soit capable de coller alternativement contre un des contacts 2, 3 lorsque l'armature bascule. L'armature est constituée d'un matériau magnétique, par exemple le Permalloy ou le « Crovar (produit de. la firme Vacuum- schmelze GmbH, Hanau, R.F.A.).Referring to FIG. 2 which shows a section in the capsule of a switch according to the invention, it can be seen that the armature 1 has a central blade-shaped part 11 and two pole ends 12 and 13. The fixed contacts 2 and 3 are situated at the opposite ends of the armature 1 so that each of the poles 12, 13 of the armature is capable of bonding alternately against one of the contacts 2, 3 when the armature tilts. The frame is made of a magnetic material, for example Permalloy or “Crovar (product of. the Vacuumschmelze GmbH, Hanau, RFA).

L'armature 1 est suspendue aux extrémités d'un ressort hélicoïdal 5 s'étendant longitudinalement autour de la partie centrale 11 de l'armature. Les points de suspension 51 et 52 de l'armature 1 sont disposés symétriquement par rapport au milieu de la longueur de l'armature. Le ressort 5 est réalisé pour travailler à la flexion. Le ressort 5 est fixé à sa partie centrale à l'intérieur d'un anneau cylindrique métallique 6 maintenu fixe à l'intérieur de la capsule scellée 10. L'anneau 6 sert d'électrode centrale.The frame 1 is suspended from the ends of a helical spring 5 extending longitudinally around the central part 11 of the frame. The suspension points 51 and 52 of the frame 1 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle of the length of the frame. The spring 5 is made to work on bending. The spring 5 is fixed at its central part inside a metallic cylindrical ring 6 kept fixed inside the sealed capsule 10. The ring 6 serves as a central electrode.

La capsule est munie de connexions extérieures pour les contacts 2 et 3 pour l'électrode centrale 6. Dans le mode d'exécution illustré à la figure 2, la capsule 10 est formée de deux tubes en verre 10A, 10B disposés en alignement avec un écartement entre eux, l'électrode annulaire 6 étant située symétriquement par rapport au point de pivotement de l'armature 1. A l'intérieur des tubes de verre 10A et 10B les contacts fixes 2 et 3 sont entourés de tubes métalliques 20 et 30 servant de shunts magnétiques. La paroi intérieure des tubes 20 et 30, la surface de l'armature 1, le ressort 5, la surface intérieure de l'électrode annulaire 6 et la surface des contacts 2 et 3 sont mouillés par une pellicule de mercure.The capsule is provided with external connections for the contacts 2 and 3 for the central electrode 6. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the capsule 10 is formed by two glass tubes 10A, 10B arranged in alignment with a spacing between them, the annular electrode 6 being located symmetrically with respect to the pivot point of the frame 1. Inside the glass tubes 10A and 10B the fixed contacts 2 and 3 are surrounded by metal tubes 20 and 30 serving magnetic shunts. The internal wall of the tubes 20 and 30, the surface of the armature 1, the spring 5, the internal surface of the annular electrode 6 and the surface of the contacts 2 and 3 are wetted with a film of mercury.

Les surfaces coopérantes des pôles 12 et 13 et des contacts fixes 2 et 3 sont garnies de pastilles en une matière qui ne peut être mouillée par le mercure, par exemple l'oxyde de chrome. Ces pastilles sont notées 7 sur la vue de la figure 3. Elles doivent avoir une surface suffisamment petite pour que, lorsque l'armature 1 bascule, le mercure qui jaillit de la zone de contact soit rapidement remplacé car sinon la commutation à fréquence élevée se trouverait rendue plus difficile. Les pôles 12 et 13 de l'armature doivent d'autre part avoir une surface suffisamment grande pour qu'une goutte de mercure trop grosse qui se trouverait projetée contre la paroi de la capsule puisse se trouver aspirée par lesdits pôles.The cooperating surfaces of the poles 12 and 13 and of the fixed contacts 2 and 3 are lined with pellets of a material which cannot be wetted by mercury, for example chromium oxide. These pellets are denoted 7 in the view of FIG. 3. They must have a sufficiently small surface so that, when the reinforcement 1 tips over, the mercury which spurts from the contact zone is quickly replaced because otherwise the high frequency switching will would find it made more difficult. The poles 12 and 13 of the armature must also have a large enough surface so that a too large drop of mercury which is projected against the wall of the capsule can be sucked by said poles.

Pour être opérationnelle, la capsule telle que décrite plus haut doit être complétée d'une bobine d'excitation ainsi qu'il est bien connu dans le domaine de l'art. Le fonctionnement du commutateur suivant l'invention est illustré aux figures 4 A/D sur lesquelles n'a pas été représentée la bobine d'excitation. A la figure 4A on a représenté l'armature 1 dans la position dans laquelle son pôle 12 colle contre le contact 2, laissant son pôle 13 décollé du contact 3. L'état de déséquilibre initial est créé par un des moyens qui seront décrits ultérieurement. Lorsque la bobine d'excitation n'est pas excitée, les parties marginales gauche et droite du ressort 5 sont soumises à un certain moment de flexion en raison de l'état de déséquilibre initial et ces parties marginales emmagasinent dès lors une certaine énergie mécanique.To be operational, the capsule as described above must be supplemented with an excitation coil as is well known in the art. The operation of the switch according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 A / D in which the excitation coil has not been shown. In FIG. 4A, the armature 1 is shown in the position in which its pole 12 sticks against the contact 2, leaving its pole 13 detached from the contact 3. The initial state of imbalance is created by one of the means which will be described later. . When the excitation coil is not excited, the left and right marginal parts of the spring 5 are subjected to a certain bending moment due to the initial state of imbalance and these marginal parts therefore store a certain mechanical energy.

Lorsque la bobine d'excitation se trouve parcourue par un courant, le champ magnétique qu'elle engendre produit une force magnétique qui tend à faire pivoter l'armature 1 (Figure 4B) : le pôle 12 de l'armature se décolle du contact 2 en créant un pont de mercure 21. Ce pont se rompt avant que le pôle 13 de l'armature n'atteigne le contact 3 (Figure 4C). Enfin, achevant son basculement, l'armature 1 amène son pôle 13 en contact avec le contact 3 (Figure 4D) et alors les parties marginales du ressort 5 emmagasinent de nouveau une certaine énergie mécanique. On voit ainsi que l'armature 1 bascule autour d'un point de pivotement fictif.When a current is traversed by the excitation coil, the magnetic field it generates produces a magnetic force which tends to rotate the armature 1 (Figure 4B): the pole 12 of the armature comes off from contact 2 by creating a mercury bridge 21. This bridge breaks before the pole 13 of the armature reaches contact 3 (Figure 4C). Finally, completing its tilting, the armature 1 brings its pole 13 into contact with the contact 3 (Figure 4D) and then the marginal parts of the spring 5 again store some mechanical energy. It can thus be seen that the armature 1 rocks around a fictitious pivot point.

L'état de déséquilibre initial est créé par des moyens magnétiques que l'on va décrire dans ce qui suit en se référant aux figures 5 à 8. Sur les figures 5 et 6 sont illustrés deux exemples de mode d'exécution utilisant des aimants permanents extérieurs pour créer l'état initial. Dans l'exemple de la figure 5, deux aimants permanents 21 et 22 se trouvent fixés extérieurement sur la capsule 10. La force et la position des aimants par rapport au point de pivotement de l'armature sont choisies et adaptées en fonction du mode de fonctionnement désiré. Pour un mode monostable qui exige une dissymétrie magnétique dans le système, on choisira deux aimants de forces inégales disposés symétriquement par rapport au point de pivotement de l'armature ou deux aimants égaux situés à des distances différentes du point de pivotement. Un aimant permanent annulaire pourrait également être prévu en une position décentrée par rapport à l'axe transversal de la capsule.The initial state of imbalance is created by magnetic means which will be described in the following with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. In FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrated two examples of embodiment using permanent magnets exteriors to create the initial state. In the example of FIG. 5, two permanent magnets 21 and 22 are externally fixed on the capsule 10. The strength and the position of the magnets relative to the pivot point of the armature are chosen and adapted according to the mode of desired operation. For a monostable mode which requires a magnetic asymmetry in the system, two magnets of unequal forces will be chosen which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the pivot point of the armature or two equal magnets located at different distances from the pivot point. An annular permanent magnet could also be provided in an off-center position relative to the transverse axis of the capsule.

Pour un mode de fonctionnement bistable qui exige une symétrie magnétique dans le système, on disposera deux aimants en sorte de créer deux forces magnétiques égales. On pourra obtenir le même résultat en disposant un aimant permanent annulaire unique en une position centrée par rapport à l'axe transversal de la capsule. La figure 6 illustre un tel mode d'exécution : l'aimant permanent annulaire est désigné par 23. La connexion extérieure avec l'électrode annulaire 6 est assurée au moyen d'une feuille de matériau conducteur de l'électricité 24 placée sur la surface extérieure des tubes de verre 10A et 1 OB.For a bistable operating mode which requires magnetic symmetry in the system, two magnets will be arranged so as to create two equal magnetic forces. The same result can be obtained by placing a single annular permanent magnet in a centered position relative to the transverse axis of the capsule. FIG. 6 illustrates such an embodiment: the annular permanent magnet is designated by 23. The external connection with the annular electrode 6 is ensured by means of a sheet of electrically conductive material 24 placed on the surface exterior of glass tubes 10A and 1 OB.

L'état magnétique initial peut également être créé sans adjonction d'aimants permanents extérieurs, en polarisant l'armature en sorte qu'elle constitue elle-même un aimant permanent. Les figures 7 et 8 illustrent graphiquement les profils de polarisation de l'armature 1 pour réaliser des modes de fonctionnement monostable et bistable. Pour le mode monostable (figure 7), l'armature 1 est polarisée en sens contraires de part et d'autre d'une section 14 décentrée par rapport à la section médiane. Pour le mode bistable (figure 8) l'armature est polarisée en sens contraires de part et d'autre de la section médiane 15. L'électrode annulaire est généralement reliée à la masse. Les faibles dimensions que l'on peut donner à la capsule au mercure suivant l'invention permettent de loger une ou plusieurs capsules au mercure et la bobine d'excitation dans un boîtier de protection muni des broches pour les connexions extérieures, offrant ainsi un composant au mercure miniature tel que l'illustre à titre d'exemple la figure 9. Ce dessin montre une capsule 10 et la bobine d'excitation 40 qui l'entoure, logées à l'intérieur du biîtier 50 monté sur une embase 60 d'où émergent les broches de connexion 70. La référence 80 désigne une matière de remplissage.The initial magnetic state can also be created without the addition of external permanent magnets, by polarizing the armature so that it itself constitutes a permanent magnet. Figures 7 and 8 graphically illustrate the polarization profiles of the armature 1 to achieve monostable and bistable operating modes. For the monostable mode (FIG. 7), the armature 1 is polarized in opposite directions on either side of a section 14 offset from the middle section. For the bistable mode (FIG. 8) the armature is polarized in opposite directions on either side of the middle section 15. The annular electrode is generally connected to ground. The small dimensions that can be given to the mercury capsule according to the invention make it possible to accommodate one or more mercury capsules and the excitation coil in a protective case provided pins for external connections, thus providing a miniature mercury component as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 9. This drawing shows a capsule 10 and the excitation coil 40 which surrounds it, housed in the inside of the housing 50 mounted on a base 60 from which the connection pins 70 emerge. The reference 80 designates a filling material.

Claims (8)

1. A mercury-wetted reed switch of the break- before-make type comprising a capsule (10) including a pair of contacts and a movable magnetic armature (1) consisting of a beam (11) extending axially inside the capsule (10) and having two pole ends (12, 13) capable of alternately contacting engagement with a respective contact (2, 3) when the armature (1) is pivoting, characterized by a helicoidal spring (5) extending axially inside the capsule (10) and being attached at its central portion to a cylindrical annular electrode (6) which extends around it and which is fixedly positioned inside the capsule, said spring (5) working in flexion mode, and by the beam (11) of the armature (1) extending inside the spring (5) and being suspended to the ends of said spring at two points (51, 52) symmetrically situated with respect to the transversal axis of said beam (11), the pole ends (12, 13) of the armature projecting beyond said ends of the spring (5), whereby said spring is capable of storing mechanical energy.
2. A switch according to claim 1, wherein there is provided an annular permanent magnet (23) coaxially extending around the capsule (10) and centrally positioned relative to the annular electrode (6).
3. A switch according to claim 1, wherein there are provided a pair of permanent magnets attached externally to the capsule (10), said magnets having opposed magnetic directions.
4. A switch according to claim 1, wherein the armature is polarized oppositely on both sides of a particular section thereof.
5. A switch according to claim 4, wherein the armature is made of a hard magnetic material.
6. A switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coacting surfaces of said polar ends (12, 13) of the armature (1) and the ends of the stationary contacts (2, 3) are provided with spots (7) made of a material which cannot be wetted with mercury, and wherein the surface of the armature (1), the spring (5), the inner surface of the annular electrode (6) and the surface of the stationary contacts (2, 3) are wet with a film of mercury.
7. A switch according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising two metallic tubes (20, 30) positioned inside the capsule (10) so as to surround the stationary contacts (2, 3) thereby to serve as magnetic shunts.
8. A switch according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least one mercury-wetted reed capsule (10) and at least one energizing coil (40) housed inside one housing (50), said housing having openings for connection terminals (70), said terminals being connected to the stationary contacts and the annular electrode in each capsule.
EP80870018A 1979-03-15 1980-03-14 Miniature mercury-wetted reed switch Expired EP0017640B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT80870018T ATE4399T1 (en) 1979-03-15 1980-03-14 MERCURY-WETTED MINIATURE GAS SWITCH.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU81053A LU81053A1 (en) 1979-03-15 1979-03-15 MINIATURE MERCURY BLADE SWITCH
LU81053 1979-03-15

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0017640A2 EP0017640A2 (en) 1980-10-15
EP0017640A3 EP0017640A3 (en) 1980-11-26
EP0017640B1 true EP0017640B1 (en) 1983-08-03

Family

ID=19729123

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80870018A Expired EP0017640B1 (en) 1979-03-15 1980-03-14 Miniature mercury-wetted reed switch

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0017640B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS55143717A (en)
AT (1) ATE4399T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3064469D1 (en)
LU (1) LU81053A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2131230A (en) * 1982-10-07 1984-06-13 Weston William A Electric switching devices
JP2685746B2 (en) * 1986-10-06 1997-12-03 日本ヒユーレツト・パツカード 株式会社 Low noise mercury switch
FR2620821B1 (en) * 1987-09-17 1990-09-14 Inst Francais Du Petrole VOLTAGE INDICATOR DEVICE BETWEEN A MEMBER AND A CONNECTING ELEMENT

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3380006A (en) * 1964-08-11 1968-04-23 Fifth Dimension Inc Logic circuits
US3643185A (en) * 1970-10-05 1972-02-15 Gen Electric Mercury-wetted relay and method of manufacture
FR2242765A1 (en) * 1973-08-31 1975-03-28 Gillard Michel
SE388713B (en) * 1974-08-22 1976-10-11 Mo Energeticheskij Institut TUNGRELE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0017640A3 (en) 1980-11-26
JPS55143717A (en) 1980-11-10
DE3064469D1 (en) 1983-09-08
ATE4399T1 (en) 1983-08-15
LU81053A1 (en) 1980-09-24
EP0017640A2 (en) 1980-10-15

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