Classifications

• • 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
  • H01H1/08—Contacts characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved wetted with mercury

Definitions

• the invention relates to a switch with contacts wetted with mercury and with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
• a switch of this type is known from EP-PS 0008300.
• This known switch has at one end of the tubular glass body a contact carrier carrying the movable switching contact tongue and at the other end a contact carrier with immovable contact which interacts with the switching contact tongue in the closed position.
• a similar switch is known from USP 4,066,859, in which a movable switch contact tongue has capillary grooves in the longitudinal direction of its contact area for receiving the mercury, while the solid contact interacting therewith has a layer of non-metallic and of the mercury in its contact area has non-wettable material, which prevents direct contact of the switch contacts and which at least has a small through hole through which the mercury can come into direct metallic contact with the fixed contact when the switch is closed.
• a disadvantage of the switch is that, despite the small dimensions of the parts of the switch, the mercury has to travel relatively long distances between the air gap that receives the mercury and the contact area. It is therefore not always ensured, particularly with a high switching frequency and switching frequency, that a sufficient amount of mercury reaches the contact or contact area when the switch is closed.
• the electrode can consist of a metal sintered body.
• freely movable spherical bodies can also be provided in the switch housing, which serve as a carrier of such a porous sintered layer and thus as a store for the mercury.
• the object according to the invention is a switch with contacts wetted with mercury, in which, in the closed position of the switch, the electrical contact is made with the aid of a movable switch contact tongue, which at the same time is responsible for the capillary pumping action due to its elastic movements.
• the measures according to the invention are for taking up and storing a predetermined amount of mercury there, in the immediate vicinity of the contact area of the switch contact tongue store predetermined amount of mercury as a supply and permanently.
• the supply of mercury to the contact zone is substantially promoted, in particular with a high switching frequency and switching frequency, since the mercury required for wetting the contact zone only has to flow to a smaller extent back and forth between the air gap and the contact zone. This makes the mode of operation of the switch significantly more reliable and reproducible.
• the capillary action provided in addition to the capillary grooves by the measures according to the invention ensures that the mercury does not splash when the switch is shaken or as a result of the switching movements, but remains in the intended contact zone area. This enables the required switch properties to be guaranteed even when the switch is subjected to high loads and has a long service life.
• the amount of mercury stored by the switch contact tongue itself due to the measures of claim 1 may be sufficient for the adequate wetting of the contact zone when the switch is closed. In these cases, the additional introduction of a predetermined amount of mercury into the tubular glass body is not required when the switch is installed. However, if an additional amount of mercury is required, it is much smaller than before, which also makes assembly easier. The total amount of mercury for the switch can also be reduced since, due to the measures taken, the mercury remains in the region of the contact zone when the switch is closed and is less likely to spray inside the tubular glass body.
• the measures according to claim 1 can be implemented in practice in various ways. Two preferred options are those according to claims 3 and 5, according to which the switching contact tongue itself is made of a sintered metal with a predetermined capillary porosity and the switching contact tongue has a predetermined number of capillary holes in a predetermined distribution, these holes e.g. can be generated with a laser beam.
• the amalganization or saturation of the switch contact tongue with mercury takes place before the manufacturing
• FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a switch with contacts wetted with mercury according to the invention.
• Figure 2 in plan view of the associated contact carrier.
• FIG. 3 in plan view and on a larger scale, the switch contact tongue used in the arrangement of FIG. 1 according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 in a representation similar to Fig. 4 in partial section a modified embodiment of the switch contact tongue.
• the switch 1 according to FIG. 1 consists of a tubular glass body 2 which is melted at both ends 3 and 4. This is welded to a leaf spring 7, which in turn is welded to a shoulder 11 of the contact carrier 5 at T0.
• the contact carrier 5 is extended beyond the shoulder 11, as shown at 8, and forms an air gap 9 between this extension and the switching contact tongue, which is dimensioned and designed such that the arrangement in this area receives a mercury drop of a predetermined size and in Depending on the movements of the switching contact tongue 6, the mercury presses into the contact zone 20 or sucks back into the air gap 9 from this contact zone 20 when the switch is opened.
• the switch according to FIG. 1 is expediently designed with a symmetrical switching geometry, so that the same switching contact arrangements can be used for both ends.
• the contour carrier 5 is flattened at its outer end at 5a, so one
• Connection position e.g. To form a solder joint
• the switch contact tongue 6 has capillary grooves 18 running in the longitudinal direction on its inner surface. These serve to put the mercury in
• each switch contact tongue 6 is designed with a predetermined capillary porosity which is suitable for absorbing and securely storing a predetermined amount of mercury.
• the porosity is formed by capillary bores 19, 19a, 19b.
• the bores are evenly distributed in one or more rows or unevenly over the length and / or the width of the switch contact tongue 6.
• An arrangement in two parallel rows 19a, 19b has proven to be expedient, as is shown in FIG. 3.
• the holes have a corresponding diameter of e.g. 0.1 to 0.3 mm. Their mutual center distance can be between 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm.
• the capillary bores are expediently distributed uniformly between the area of the air gap 9 and the contact zone 20.
• the bores can advantageously be produced with a laser beam, care being taken that the mouths of the bores are formed at least on the side of the capillary grooves 18.
• the porosity of the switch contact tongue can also be achieved in another way according to FIG. 5.
• the switch contact tongue 25 in this case consists of a sintered metal with porous capillary recesses 26 of a predetermined size and porosity.
• the porosity of the switch contact tongue serves to receive and store a predetermined amount of mercury.
• the arrangement is expediently annealed before installation in the glass body.
• at least the switch contact tongue is galvanized and provided with a coating of metal, for example nickel, in such a way that the inner surfaces of the capillary pores or bores are also coated.
• amalganization and filling of the pores or bores with mercury This can be done using pressure and / or temperature.
• the pores or holes should be saturated with mercury if possible.
• the bores can be made before the cranking process of the switching contact tongue and before the welding with the leaf spring or the contact carrier.
• Saturation with mercury takes place after assembly of the contact carrier and switching contact tongue, but before installation in the vitreous. If necessary, a predetermined additional amount of mercury can be introduced into the glass body before the final sealing.
• the switch contact tongue 30 has capillary bores 32, 33 with a diameter of e.g. 0.5 mm and one
• the end slot 34 of e.g. 0.5 mm wide and a partial length 37 of e.g. 0.7 mm can have a bottom 39 closed to the outside.

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• Push-Button Switches (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=6361685

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

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Family Cites Families (7)

• 1988
  • 1988-08-26 DE DE19883829064 patent/DE3829064C1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1989
  • 1989-08-24 EP EP19890910084 patent/EP0390885A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1989-08-24 WO PCT/EP1989/000997 patent/WO1990002409A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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