EP0323057A2 - Elektrischer Schalter - Google Patents

Elektrischer Schalter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0323057A2
EP0323057A2 EP88311597A EP88311597A EP0323057A2 EP 0323057 A2 EP0323057 A2 EP 0323057A2 EP 88311597 A EP88311597 A EP 88311597A EP 88311597 A EP88311597 A EP 88311597A EP 0323057 A2 EP0323057 A2 EP 0323057A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrical
insulating board
improved
switch
set forth
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Withdrawn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
EP88311597A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0323057A3 (de
Inventor
Robert Smolley
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.)
Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
Original Assignee
TRW Inc
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 TRW Inc filed Critical TRW Inc
Publication of EP0323057A2 publication Critical patent/EP0323057A2/de
Publication of EP0323057A3 publication Critical patent/EP0323057A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/60—Auxiliary means structurally associated with the switch for cleaning or lubricating contact-making surfaces
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/06—Contacts characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to electri­cal switches and, more particularly, to electrical switches providing reliable, low-resistance electri­cal connections.
  • Electrical switches are used in a wide vari­ety of applications, including, for example, electro­magnetic relays in telephone switching systems, push-­button switches in push-button telephones, and key switches in electronic keyboards that control various electronic systems, such as computers and calcula­tors.
  • An electrical switch that is utilized in one of these applications can be expected to make and/or break an electrical circuit millions of times during its lifetime. Not only must the switch provide good performance during each making and/or breaking of the electrical circuit, but the switch must also provide a low and stable electrical resistance when the cir­cuit is closed. Consequently, the key component of an electrical switch is the contact assembly, which is typically a pair of electrical contacts that mechan­ically open or close to make or break the electrical circuit.
  • the new approach should preferably minimize electri­cal contact resistance, be relatively simple and, most importantly, prevent film formation, surface contamination and erosion of the contact surfaces.
  • the present invention is directed to these ends.
  • the present invention resides in an improved electrical switch providing a low electrical-resis­tance connection and a simple, inherent wiping action of the contact surfaces.
  • the improved electrical switch includes a pair of electrical contacts, an insulating board disposed between the electrical contacts, and a switch mecha­nism.
  • the insulating board has a conductive connector element disposed in an opening in the insulating board at a position corresponding to the electrical contacts.
  • the switch mechanism compresses the elec­trical contacts and the conductive connector element together, thereby electrically connecting the electri­cal contacts.
  • an electromagnetic relay utilizing the technique of the present invention includes an electromagnet, a hinged armature lever and a contact assembly.
  • the contact assembly includes a pair of electrical contacts and an insulating board disposed between the two contacts.
  • the insulating board has a conductive connector element disposed in an opening in the insulating board at a position corresponding to the electrical contacts.
  • the connector element is preferably formed from a strand of metal wire that is wadded together to form a nearly cylindrical "button" of material having a density of between twenty and thirty per­cent.
  • the wadded-wire connector element fits snugly in the opening of the insulating board and protrudes slightly above and below the board.
  • the wadded-wire connector element makes electrical contact at multi­ple points when compressed against a contact surface, thus wiping the contact surfaces free of any film or surface contamination and providing a low electrical-­resistance connection.
  • Wadded-wire connector elements of this type have significant advantages over other types of con­nectors and provide connections of high integrity and reliability.
  • this mechanical connector element has very few associated variables that can affect the quality of the connection. The only significant variables are the size of the connector element and the compressive force used to make the connection, both of which can be accurately controlled.
  • the compression of the wadded-wire connector element is substantially elas­tic so that, when the compressive force of the arma­ture lever is removed, the wadded-wire connector element returns to its original shape.
  • a push-button switch in accordance with the technique of the invention includes a push-­button switch mechanism and a contact assembly.
  • the contact assembly includes an electrical conductor, an electrical contact and an insulating board disposed between the conductor and the contact.
  • the insulating board has a wadded-wire connector element disposed in an opening in the insulating board at a position corresponding to the conductor and the contact.
  • the push button switch mechanism includes a switch hous­ing, a push button positioned in a recess of the housing and a spring to maintain the push-button switch in the open position. Depressing the push button against the force of the spring compresses the electrical conductor, the conductive connector element and the electrical contact together to electrically connect the conductor and the contact.
  • the present invention is embodied in an improved electrical switch providing a low electri­cal-resistance connection and a simple, inherent wiping action of the contact surfaces.
  • a switch's electrical contacts are subject to a variety of hazards that can result in their failure. These hazards include, for example, film formation on the contact surfaces and surface contamination and erosion of the contact surfaces.
  • Several techniques, such as contact-protection circuits and elaborate mechanical systems for wiping the contact surfaces have been used in the past for enhancing contact life and, therefore, switch reliability. However, these techniques have generally added unnecessary complexi­ties to the switch and, in some cases, have actually increased the likelihood of a failure of the switch.
  • the improved electrical switch includes a pair of electrical contacts, an insulating board disposed between the electrical contacts, and a switch mechanism.
  • the insulating board has a conductive connector element disposed in an opening in the insulating board at a position corresponding to the electrical contacts.
  • the switch mechanism compresses the electrical contacts and the conductive connector element together, thereby electrically connecting the electrical contacts.
  • the switch mechanism includes an electromagnetic relay and, in another presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch mechanism includes a push-button switch.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an electromagnetic relay 10 in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the electromagnetic relay 10 a normally-open, single-pole, single-throw relay, includes an electromagnet 12, a hinged arma­ture lever 14 and a contact assembly 16.
  • Electrical contact 22 is attached to the base of the relay 10 (not shown) and electrical contact 24 is attached to the non-hinged end of the armature lever 14.
  • the insulating board 26 has a conductive connector element 28 disposed in an opening in the insulating board at a position corresponding to the electrical contacts 22, 24.
  • the connector element 28 is preferably formed from a strand of metal wire that is wadded together to form a nearly cylindrical "button" of material having a density of between twenty and thirty percent. As shown in Figure 1, the wadded-wire connector element 28 fits snugly in the opening of the insulating board 26 and protrudes slightly above and below the board. The wadded-wire connector ele­ment 28 makes electrical contact at multiple points when compressed against a contact surface, thus wiping the contact surfaces free of any film or sur­face contamination and providing a low electrical-­resistance connection.
  • Wadded-wire connector elements of this type have significant advantages over other types of con­nectors and provide connections of high integrity and reliability.
  • this mechanical connector element In contrast to other types of connec­tions, this mechanical connector element has very few associated variables that can affect the quality of the connection. The only significant variables are the size of the connector element and the compressive force used to make the connection, both of which can be accurately controlled.
  • the wadded-wire connector element 28 em­ployed in the illustrative embodiments can be fabri­cated using nickel wire, or wire made from such alloys as beryllium and copper, silver and copper, or phosphorus and bronze.
  • the compression of the wadded-­wire connector element 28 is substantially elastic so that, when the compressive force of the armature lever 14 is removed, the wadded-wire connector ele­ment 28 returns to its original shape.
  • the wadded-wire connector element 28 is manufactured by Technical Wire Products, Inc. of Piscataway, New Jersey, under the trademark Fuzz Button.
  • the insulating board 26 is preferably formed from an insulating material, such as a glass ceramic or a plastic.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a push-button switch 40 in accordance with another presently preferred embodi­ment of the invention.
  • the push-button switch 40 in­cludes a push-button switch mechanism 42 and a con­tact assembly 44.
  • the contact assembly 44 includes an electrical conductor 46, an electrical contact 48 and an insulating board 50 disposed between the conductor and the contact.
  • the insulating board 50 has a wad­ded-wire connector element 52 disposed in an opening in the insulating board at a position corresponding to the conductor 46 and the contact 48.
  • the push button switch mechanism 42 includes a switch housing 54, a push button 56 positioned in a recess of the housing and a spring 58 to maintain the push-button switch 40 in the open position. Depressing the push button 56 against the force of the spring 58 com­presses the electrical conductor 46, the conductive connector element 52 and the electrical contact 48 together to electrically connect the conductor and the contact.
EP88311597A 1987-12-24 1988-12-07 Elektrischer Schalter Withdrawn EP0323057A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13801087A 1987-12-24 1987-12-24
US138010 1987-12-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0323057A2 true EP0323057A2 (de) 1989-07-05
EP0323057A3 EP0323057A3 (de) 1990-07-25

Family

ID=22480042

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88311597A Withdrawn EP0323057A3 (de) 1987-12-24 1988-12-07 Elektrischer Schalter

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0323057A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH01281619A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2714565A1 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-06-30 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Perfectionnements aux télécommandes.

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1572902A (de) * 1967-10-23 1969-06-27
US3613036A (en) * 1970-07-02 1971-10-12 John O Kurtz Electrical contacts
DE2310906A1 (de) * 1972-03-06 1973-09-13 Essex International Inc Relais
US3879586A (en) * 1973-10-31 1975-04-22 Essex International Inc Tactile keyboard switch assembly with metallic or elastomeric type conductive contacts on diaphragm support
US4044322A (en) * 1976-07-09 1977-08-23 Essex Group, Inc. Electromagnetic solenoid relay assembly and electrical connection means therefor
FR2615320A1 (fr) * 1987-05-12 1988-11-18 Schoeller & Co Elektrotech Interrupteur a bouton-poussoir

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5341786A (en) * 1976-09-28 1978-04-15 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Contact device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1572902A (de) * 1967-10-23 1969-06-27
US3613036A (en) * 1970-07-02 1971-10-12 John O Kurtz Electrical contacts
DE2310906A1 (de) * 1972-03-06 1973-09-13 Essex International Inc Relais
US3879586A (en) * 1973-10-31 1975-04-22 Essex International Inc Tactile keyboard switch assembly with metallic or elastomeric type conductive contacts on diaphragm support
US4044322A (en) * 1976-07-09 1977-08-23 Essex Group, Inc. Electromagnetic solenoid relay assembly and electrical connection means therefor
FR2615320A1 (fr) * 1987-05-12 1988-11-18 Schoeller & Co Elektrotech Interrupteur a bouton-poussoir

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2714565A1 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-06-30 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Perfectionnements aux télécommandes.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH01281619A (ja) 1989-11-13
EP0323057A3 (de) 1990-07-25

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