EP0198594A2 - Relais - Google Patents

Relais Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0198594A2
EP0198594A2 EP86301820A EP86301820A EP0198594A2 EP 0198594 A2 EP0198594 A2 EP 0198594A2 EP 86301820 A EP86301820 A EP 86301820A EP 86301820 A EP86301820 A EP 86301820A EP 0198594 A2 EP0198594 A2 EP 0198594A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
armature
housing
solenoid coil
contact
relay
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP86301820A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0198594A3 (de
Inventor
Alan Godfrey
John Sydney James
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Keyswitch Varley Ltd
Original Assignee
Keyswitch Varley Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Keyswitch Varley Ltd filed Critical Keyswitch Varley Ltd
Publication of EP0198594A2 publication Critical patent/EP0198594A2/de
Publication of EP0198594A3 publication Critical patent/EP0198594A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
    • H01H50/04—Mounting complete relay or separate parts of relay on a base or inside a case
    • H01H50/041—Details concerning assembly of relays
    • H01H50/042—Different parts are assembled by insertion without extra mounting facilities like screws, in an isolated mounting part, e.g. stack mounting on a coil-support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/16—Magnetic circuit arrangements
    • H01H50/18—Movable parts of magnetic circuits, e.g. armature
    • H01H50/24—Parts rotatable or rockable outside coil
    • H01H50/26—Parts movable about a knife edge

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a relay and it relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a relay suitable for use in the control and/or supervisory systems of an automobile.
  • Each relay should, of course, be designed to operate reliably in the hostile environment encountered in the engine of an automobile and there is an increasing demand for more compact designs at lower costs.
  • Figure 1 shows a known form of relay, described in GB 1,265,138. It comprises an electromagnet 1 provided with a yoke 2 and an armature 3, which is biassed by a coil spring 4 away from the electromagnet.
  • a contact spring 5 mounted on the armature can establish an e4ectrical connection between a common contact member - (not shown), formed integrally with the yoke, and a respective one or two other contact members 6, 7 depending on whether the electromagnet is energised or de-energised.
  • This design of relay is found to be unsatisfactory in practice. The arrangement is rather bulky and can be difficult to protect satisfactorily from dust, fumes and the like.
  • an electrically conductive braid 8 is needed to establish electrical continuity between the contact spring 5, rpounted on the armature, and the common contact member, formed integrally with the yoke. After repeated use of the relay the braid tends to wear; moreover, the braid must be attached by welding and this increases the assembly time.
  • Use of a coil spring is also inconvenient as special anchorages must be provided on the armature and the yoke. In this example the yoke is connected to the live terminal and this can result in arcing problems if two relays are mounted side-by- side.
  • a relay comprising a hollow, preformed housing configured to locate a number of component parts in respective preset positions, wherein said component parts include a solenoid coil; a magnetic circuit associated with the solenoid coil which comprises a yoke, a core arranged to lie on a longitudinal axis of the solenoid coil and an armature, proximate one end of the core, the armature being displaceable pivotally with respect to the core in response to energisation or de-energisation of the coil; and a contact spring, cooperable with said armature, to establish an electrical connection between first and second electrically conductive contact terminals in dependence of the state of energisation of the coil, characterised in that said contact spring, said armature and said contact terminals are located inside said housing, the contact terminals projecting from one side only of the housing so as to be connectable to a planar assembly board, and said solenoid coil is located outside the housing on a side thereof opposite said one side, the longitudinal axi
  • a relay of the kind defined is found by the inventors to be beneficial, particularly so when used in the control and or supervisory systems of an automobile.
  • the solenoid coil outside the housing, other components parts can be arranged, within the housing, with improved economy of space giving a more compact configuration commensurate with mounting on a planar assembly board. This can also lead to shorter electrically conductive path lengths allowing relatively high currents, sometimes demanded in an automobile relay, to be passed with reduced self heating.
  • the component parts may be assembled, with precision, in their intended positions, obviating the need for elaborate manual setting subsequent to assembly.
  • the housing encloses some of the component parts it gives some protection against accidental displacement either in use of the relay or during assembly. If desired, a dust cover and base plate may be fitted to give additional protection against dirt, grease, fumes and the like.
  • Use of a common preformed housing can lead to a substantial reduction of assembly time and so overall costs and, to this end, said armature, said first contact terminal and said contact spring may be locatable, in one operation, in a housing as a sub-assembly.
  • the first contact member may comprise part of a frame member, and said contact spring cooperates with the armature to bias the armature resiliently against the frame member and away from the core, the armature being free to pivot relative to the frame member in response to energisation or de-energisation of the solenoid coil.
  • This arrangment overcomes the need for a separate spring biassing means and or electrically conductive braid as used commonly in a number of known relays.
  • the relay includes a solenoid coil 10, wound on a bobbin 11, in association with a magnetic circuit comprising a magnetic core 12, arranged to lie on a longitudinal axis XX of the coil, a yoke 13 around the core and an armature 14.
  • the armature is supported within a hollow, preformed housing 30 and, as is shown in greater detail in Figure 3, comprises a plate-like element 15 with an integral, down-turned end portion 16.
  • the armature is biassed resiliently away from the core (i.e. downwardly in Figure 2) by a flat contact spring 17 which is mounted on a support frame 18 and engages against one edge of an opening 0 in the end portion.
  • the armature is free to pivot on axis YY in response to energisation or de-energisation of the solenoid coil and, in the shown (de-energised) position, the contact spring establishes an electrical connection between the contact terminal 19, which forms part of frame 18, and a normally closed contact member 20 connected electrically to a respective contact terminal 21.
  • the solenoid coil is in the energised condition the armature is attracted (upwardly) by the core causing the contact spring to establish an electrical connection between contact terminal 19 and a normally open member 22 which is connected electrically to a respective contact terminal 23.
  • the switching condition of the relay can be changed.
  • Housing 30 is formed as a moulding of a suitable plastics material capable, in this example, of withstanding, without distortion, the relatively high temperatures encountered in the engine of an automobile.
  • a suitable material is found to be polybutylene terephthalene (PTB).
  • PTB polybutylene terephthalene
  • Bobbin 11 is formed integrally with, and externally of, the housing as part of the same moulding.
  • the bobbin could alternatively be formed as a separate piece part to be mounted on the housing, with a snap-action for example, after the coil has been wound.
  • the housing has a number of internal, shelf-like formations so disposed as to guide, and locate with precision, certain of the component parts.
  • Contact terminals 21, 23 are assembled in their respective locations in slotted recesses 31, 32 defined by respective formations F,, F 2 ( Figures 2 and 4a).
  • armature 14, contact spring 17 and supporting frame 18 are located, as a sub-assembly (SA), shown in Figure 3, at the opposite end of the housing - ( Figures 2 and 4b), slotted formations F,, F4 serving to guide and locate respective anchoring tabs,24, 25 forming part of frame 18.
  • Formations F 3 , F 4 also serve as end stops ensuring that the contact forming tip of spring 17 is positioned correctly between the contact members 20, 22.
  • contact spring 17 has an upturned finger 26 which bears resiliently against element 15 and urges the armature back against frame 18, as shown in Figure 3.
  • the armature has two arcuate lugs L,, L 2 . one on each side of member 15, which locate against respective arcuate surfaces (eg S), formed internally as recesses in opposite side walls of the housing.
  • the lugs and surfaces cooperate as bearings which assist to locate the armature correctly, in abutting relationship against the yoke, and also facilitate pivotal movement thereof in response to energisation in de-energisation of the solenoid coil.
  • the contact terminals 19, 21 and 23 protrude from the lower side of the housing and are connectable to a planar assembly board. If desired, a protective dust cover 33 may be fitted over the housing, as shown, and this may be sealed by a base plate 34, which serves to protect the component parts from solder runs when the relay is mounted on an assembly board.
  • the contact terminals can be accommodated in respective openings formed in the base plate.
  • sub-assembly consisting of armature 14, contact spring 17 and supporting frame 18, maybe positioned in the housing in one operation leading to a more convenient handling procedure and a significant reduction in assembly time.
  • contact spring 17 has two wing formations W,, W2 which bear against respective edges of two openings 26, 27 in element 15.
  • the wing formations bias the armature resiliently against frame 18 which is configured to allow the armature to pivot about axis P, as represented by arrow A.
  • Other parts of the relay are substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and are ascribed like reference numerals.
  • a relay in accordance with the present invention wherein the contact terminals protrude from one side of the housing for connection to a printed circuit board, and the solenoid coil is positioned externally of the housing, on the opposite side, with the longitudial axis of the coil orthogonal to the plane of a printed circuit board, is found by the inventors to be beneficial, particularly so when used in the control and/or supervisory systems of an automobile.
  • the relay occupies a relatively small area (2.4cm x 1.6cm) on the circuit board while providing adequate separation of the current carrying terminals, contacting terminals 19, 21 and 23 being spaced apart from one another by about 1.6cm and 0.7cm respectively. This can lead to shorter path lengths allowing relatively high currents, sometimes demanded in an automobile relay, to be passed with reduced self heating.
  • the housing encloses some of the component parts and so provides some protection against accidental displacement during assembly and in use.
  • a dust cover and a base plate if fitted, give additional protection against dust, fumes, grease and the like and also allow a number of relay to be arranged in a close-packed formation on a printed circuit board.
  • a relay in accordance with the present invention is well suited to mounting on planar assembly board (eg for use in the control and or supervisory systems of an automobile), is relatively compact as compared with some known relays and involves a relatively short assembly time.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
EP86301820A 1985-03-16 1986-03-13 Relais Withdrawn EP0198594A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB858506890A GB8506890D0 (en) 1985-03-16 1985-03-16 Relay
GB8506890 1985-03-16

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0198594A2 true EP0198594A2 (de) 1986-10-22
EP0198594A3 EP0198594A3 (de) 1987-11-04

Family

ID=10576135

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86301820A Withdrawn EP0198594A3 (de) 1985-03-16 1986-03-13 Relais

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0198594A3 (de)
JP (1) JPS61218037A (de)
AU (1) AU5480286A (de)
GB (2) GB8506890D0 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0262433A1 (de) * 1986-09-06 1988-04-06 Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft Relais, insbesondere Kleinrelais

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4686500A (en) * 1985-01-31 1987-08-11 Nec Corporation Electromagnetic relay
EP0286432A3 (de) * 1987-04-09 1990-06-06 PED Limited Relais

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3242285A (en) * 1963-03-21 1966-03-22 Guardian Electric Mfg Co Relay with unitary field piece construction
DE1639422A1 (de) * 1968-03-06 1971-02-04 Sihn Jr Kg Wilhelm Elektromagnetisches Relais
US3792392A (en) * 1972-12-18 1974-02-12 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay construction
DE2532527A1 (de) * 1975-07-21 1977-02-10 Heinrich Kundisch Elektrisches relais

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3204057A (en) * 1961-09-11 1965-08-31 Thermosen Inc Multicontact evacuated magnetic reed relay
GB1111455A (en) * 1965-07-28 1968-04-24 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Relay
GB1177905A (en) * 1968-06-28 1970-01-14 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Electrical Contact Assembly
FR2522195A1 (fr) * 1982-02-24 1983-08-26 Micronde Sa Relais coaxial inverseur hyperfrequence

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3242285A (en) * 1963-03-21 1966-03-22 Guardian Electric Mfg Co Relay with unitary field piece construction
DE1639422A1 (de) * 1968-03-06 1971-02-04 Sihn Jr Kg Wilhelm Elektromagnetisches Relais
US3792392A (en) * 1972-12-18 1974-02-12 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay construction
DE2532527A1 (de) * 1975-07-21 1977-02-10 Heinrich Kundisch Elektrisches relais

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0262433A1 (de) * 1986-09-06 1988-04-06 Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft Relais, insbesondere Kleinrelais
US4827232A (en) * 1986-09-06 1989-05-02 Alcatel N.V. Relay, particularly miniature relay

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2173042A (en) 1986-10-01
GB8506890D0 (en) 1985-04-17
EP0198594A3 (de) 1987-11-04
GB8606221D0 (en) 1986-04-16
JPS61218037A (ja) 1986-09-27
AU5480286A (en) 1986-09-18

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Inventor name: JAMES, JOHN SYDNEY