EP0434463A2 - High voltage relay - Google Patents
High voltage relay Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0434463A2 EP0434463A2 EP90314175A EP90314175A EP0434463A2 EP 0434463 A2 EP0434463 A2 EP 0434463A2 EP 90314175 A EP90314175 A EP 90314175A EP 90314175 A EP90314175 A EP 90314175A EP 0434463 A2 EP0434463 A2 EP 0434463A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- arrangement
- housing
- contacts
- movable
- electrically insulating
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
- H01H51/29—Relays having armature, contacts, and operating coil within a sealed casing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/64—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact
- H01H50/643—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact intermediate part performing a rotating or pivoting movement
- H01H50/644—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact intermediate part performing a rotating or pivoting movement having more than one rotating or pivoting part
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
- H01H50/023—Details concerning sealing, e.g. sealing casing with resin
- H01H2050/025—Details concerning sealing, e.g. sealing casing with resin containing inert or dielectric gasses, e.g. SF6, for arc prevention or arc extinction
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
- H01H50/026—Details concerning isolation between driving and switching circuit
Definitions
- This invention relates to relay arrangements and more particularly to relay arrangements which are capable of switching large energies but which are inexpensive to manufacture.
- One type of relay used at present includes contacts which are housed within an envelope of glass and metal which also contains an insulating gas at a relatively high pressure, typically in the region of three atmospheres.
- Such an envelope is expensive to fabricate because of the difficulties in providing good sealing between the glass and metal parts, particularly where electrical leads are taken out through the glass wall and because glass tends to be difficult to work.
- the present invention arose from an attempt to design a relay arrangement which is particularly suitable for use with medical defibrillators and which is relatively cheap to manufacture.
- a relay arrangement comprising fixed and movable contacts contained within a housing which is of plastic material and filled with electrically insulating gas.
- plastic material for the housing, the arrangement may be fabricated relatively cheaply, preferably using moulding techniques. Furthermore, the problems caused when materials having different coefficients of expansion are used in the envelope are reduced or avoided.
- the relay arrangement must be able to hold off in the region of 5.5 kV for use in defibrillator equipment and be capable of switching 500 J.
- the gas pressure within the housing is approximately one atmosphere, reducing stresses on the housing walls caused by differences between internal and external pressures.
- the insulating gas used must be such that, unlike air, say, it does not readily conduct and if it has by-products then they must also be non-conductive.
- the particular plastic material used depends on its properties when it comes into contact with the insulating gas.
- the movable contact is pivoted at two pivot points. This enables a large amount of movement to be produced in a relatively short time. Thus, it is possible to space the movable and fixed contacts at fairly large distances apart to reduce the tendency for arcing to occur without significantly impairing the performance of the relay.
- two sets of fixed and movable contacts are included and a member of electrically insulating material is located between the two sets, thus giving additional shielding against arcing.
- the member is an actuator for moving the movable contacts, this being a particularly convenient configuration.
- a relay arrangement used in medical defibrillator equipment includes two sets of contacts generally indicated at 1 and 2 respectively.
- Each set 1 and 2 of contacts includes two fixed contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6 and a movable contact 7 and 8.
- the sets 1 and 2 of contacts are located within a housing 9 which is of a plastic material and is cuboid, having rectangular faces.
- the housing 9 is filled with an insulating gas, at a pressure of approximately one atmosphere.
- the contacts 3 and 4 of the first set 1 are mounted on a common post, the electrical connection to the lower contact 4 being made by a wire 10 and that to the upper contact 3 by a wire 11. Insulating material 12 is located between the contacts 3 and 4 and the wires 10 and 11 are also insulated.
- the movable contact 7 is pivoted at two points 13 and 14.
- the pivot point 14 at the end of the movable contact 7 remote from the fixed contacts 3 and 4 consists of a slot in a metal portion 15 of a post 16 through which the contact 7 passes.
- a cylindrical rod 17, attached to an actuator member 18 is located against the contact 7, the contact 7 including a curved part to accommodate the rod 17.
- the second set 2 of contacts is substantially identical in configuration to the first set.
- the part of the actuator member 18 between the two sets is of electrically insulating material.
- the housing 9 also includes a coil 19 which provides means for electromagnetically moving the actuator 18. Normally, the actuator 18 is held in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, by a spring 20, the movable contacts 7 and 8 being in contact with the upper fixed contacts 3 and 5. When the coil 19 is energised, the actuating member 18 is moved downwardly and the movable contacts 7 and 8 come into contact with the lower fixed contacts 4 and 6.
- the actuator member 18 comprises a horizontal part 21 as shown and a substantially vertical part 22.
- the vertical part 22 is arranged to extend sufficiently far that, when the member 18 is in its upper most position, the lower fixed contacts 4 and 6 are electrically shielded by it.
- the base 23 of the housing 9 includes moulded portions 24 through which electrical connectors are taken. During manufacture of the relay arrangement, the coil 19 and contacts 1 and 2 are assembled on the base 23 and then the remainder of the housing sealed to the base 24. The housing 9 is then evacuated via a vent hole and the insulating gas pumped in.
- a circuit arrangement which includes the relay arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a high voltage d.c. supply 25 connected across a capacitor 26 via the movable contacts 7 and 8 of the relay arrangement.
- the capacitor is also connected to paddles 27 and 28 which, in use, are held in contact with a patient who is being defibrillated.
- the high voltage d.c. supply 25 is switched on to charge the capacitor 26, the movable contacts 7 and 8 being in the position shown, when the required amounts of energy is stored, the operator triggers the arrangement and a voltage pulse is applied to the relay coil 19. This activates the relay so that the capacitor 26 is discharged via an inductor 29 across the paddles 27 and 28.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to relay arrangements and more particularly to relay arrangements which are capable of switching large energies but which are inexpensive to manufacture.
- Relay arrangements used in equipment such as medical defibrillators, for example, must be able to withstand large hold off voltages without arcing and capable of being switched quickly. One type of relay used at present includes contacts which are housed within an envelope of glass and metal which also contains an insulating gas at a relatively high pressure, typically in the region of three atmospheres. Such an envelope is expensive to fabricate because of the difficulties in providing good sealing between the glass and metal parts, particularly where electrical leads are taken out through the glass wall and because glass tends to be difficult to work.
- The present invention arose from an attempt to design a relay arrangement which is particularly suitable for use with medical defibrillators and which is relatively cheap to manufacture.
- According to the invention there is provided a relay arrangement comprising fixed and movable contacts contained within a housing which is of plastic material and filled with electrically insulating gas. By using plastic material for the housing, the arrangement may be fabricated relatively cheaply, preferably using moulding techniques. Furthermore, the problems caused when materials having different coefficients of expansion are used in the envelope are reduced or avoided. The inventor has realised that, although a housing of plastic material may not be generally as strong as a conventional glass/metal construction, that by suitably configuring the contacts within the housing a lower pressure gas may be used whilst retaining satisfactory performance. The relay arrangement must be able to hold off in the region of 5.5 kV for use in defibrillator equipment and be capable of switching 500 J. By using relatively large gaps between metal parts within the housing and having an insulating gas filling this may be achieved at relatively low gas pressures, enabling plastic to be used even in such a demanding application. It is preferred that the gas pressure within the housing is approximately one atmosphere, reducing stresses on the housing walls caused by differences between internal and external pressures.
- The insulating gas used must be such that, unlike air, say, it does not readily conduct and if it has by-products then they must also be non-conductive. The particular plastic material used depends on its properties when it comes into contact with the insulating gas.
- In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the movable contact is pivoted at two pivot points. This enables a large amount of movement to be produced in a relatively short time. Thus, it is possible to space the movable and fixed contacts at fairly large distances apart to reduce the tendency for arcing to occur without significantly impairing the performance of the relay.
- In one embodiment of the invention two sets of fixed and movable contacts are included and a member of electrically insulating material is located between the two sets, thus giving additional shielding against arcing. Preferably, the member is an actuator for moving the movable contacts, this being a particularly convenient configuration.
- One way in which the invention may be performed is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a relay arrangement in accordance with the invention;
- Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1; and
- Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram.
- With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a relay arrangement used in medical defibrillator equipment includes two sets of contacts generally indicated at 1 and 2 respectively. Each
set 1 and 2 of contacts includes twofixed contacts movable contact sets 1 and 2 of contacts are located within a housing 9 which is of a plastic material and is cuboid, having rectangular faces. The housing 9 is filled with an insulating gas, at a pressure of approximately one atmosphere. - The
contacts 3 and 4 of the first set 1 are mounted on a common post, the electrical connection to thelower contact 4 being made by a wire 10 and that to the upper contact 3 by a wire 11. Insulating material 12 is located between thecontacts 3 and 4 and the wires 10 and 11 are also insulated. Themovable contact 7 is pivoted at twopoints 13 and 14. Thepivot point 14 at the end of themovable contact 7 remote from thefixed contacts 3 and 4 consists of a slot in ametal portion 15 of apost 16 through which thecontact 7 passes. At the other pivot point 13, a cylindrical rod 17, attached to anactuator member 18 is located against thecontact 7, thecontact 7 including a curved part to accommodate the rod 17. - The
second set 2 of contacts is substantially identical in configuration to the first set. The part of theactuator member 18 between the two sets is of electrically insulating material. - The housing 9 also includes a
coil 19 which provides means for electromagnetically moving theactuator 18. Normally, theactuator 18 is held in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, by aspring 20, themovable contacts fixed contacts 3 and 5. When thecoil 19 is energised, the actuatingmember 18 is moved downwardly and themovable contacts fixed contacts 4 and 6. - The
actuator member 18 comprises ahorizontal part 21 as shown and a substantiallyvertical part 22. Thevertical part 22 is arranged to extend sufficiently far that, when themember 18 is in its upper most position, the lowerfixed contacts 4 and 6 are electrically shielded by it. - The
base 23 of the housing 9 includesmoulded portions 24 through which electrical connectors are taken. During manufacture of the relay arrangement, thecoil 19 andcontacts 1 and 2 are assembled on thebase 23 and then the remainder of the housing sealed to thebase 24. The housing 9 is then evacuated via a vent hole and the insulating gas pumped in. - With reference to Figure 3, a circuit arrangement which includes the relay arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a high voltage d.c. supply 25 connected across a
capacitor 26 via themovable contacts paddles - In use, the high voltage d.c. supply 25 is switched on to charge the
capacitor 26, themovable contacts relay coil 19. This activates the relay so that thecapacitor 26 is discharged via an inductor 29 across thepaddles
Claims (11)
- A relay arrangement comprising fixed (3, 4, 5, 6) and movable (7, 8) contacts contained within a housing (9) which is of plastic material and filled with electrically insulating gas.
- An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas pressure within the housing is approximately one atmosphere.
- An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing (9) is a hollow cuboid.
- An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the movable contact (7, 8) is arranged to move between two fixed contacts (3 and 4, 5 and 6).
- An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the movable contact (7, 8) is pivoted at two pivot points (13, 14).
- An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and including electromagnetic means (19) for moving the movable contact (7).
- An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and including two sets (1, 2) of fixed and movable contacts and a member of electrically insulating material (18) located between the two sets.
- An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the electrically insulating member is an actuator (18) for moving the movable contacts.
- An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing (9) is manufactured using moulding techniques.
- An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the housing includes moulded lead-through portions (24) through which electrical conductors are passed.
- An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and adapted and constructed for use with defibrillator equipment.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8929126 | 1989-12-22 | ||
GB898929126A GB8929126D0 (en) | 1989-12-22 | 1989-12-22 | Relay arrangements |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0434463A2 true EP0434463A2 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
EP0434463A3 EP0434463A3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
EP0434463B1 EP0434463B1 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
Family
ID=10668462
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19900314175 Expired - Lifetime EP0434463B1 (en) | 1989-12-22 | 1990-12-21 | High voltage relay |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0434463B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69028906D1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB8929126D0 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4127533A1 (en) * | 1991-08-20 | 1993-02-25 | Siemens Ag | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF |
EP0574058A2 (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1993-12-15 | Alcatel STR AG | Relay |
ES2076104A2 (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1995-10-16 | Releco Sa | System of assembling contacts for electromagnetic relays. |
EP0982746A2 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2000-03-01 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Single-pole relay switch |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE9111577U1 (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-01-28 | EURO-Matsushita Electric Works AG, 8150 Holzkirchen | Electromagnetic relay |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4168480A (en) * | 1978-02-13 | 1979-09-18 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Relay assembly |
FR2437219A1 (en) * | 1978-09-27 | 1980-04-25 | Philips Nv | HEART DEFIBRILLATOR |
EP0026231A1 (en) * | 1978-09-12 | 1981-04-08 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Method of manufacturing gas-filled electric switch |
EP0118841A2 (en) * | 1983-03-12 | 1984-09-19 | Alcatel N.V. | Method of sealing a relay |
EP0130500A2 (en) * | 1983-07-02 | 1985-01-09 | Alcatel N.V. | Water-proof electromagnetic relay |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3129304A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1964-04-14 | Cutler Hammer Inc | Reversible contact molded frame relay |
DD125526A3 (en) * | 1975-09-19 | 1977-04-27 | ||
US4039984A (en) * | 1976-03-11 | 1977-08-02 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Pressurized relay assembly |
-
1989
- 1989-12-22 GB GB898929126A patent/GB8929126D0/en active Pending
-
1990
- 1990-12-21 GB GB9027801A patent/GB2239354B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-12-21 DE DE69028906T patent/DE69028906D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-12-21 EP EP19900314175 patent/EP0434463B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4168480A (en) * | 1978-02-13 | 1979-09-18 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Relay assembly |
EP0026231A1 (en) * | 1978-09-12 | 1981-04-08 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Method of manufacturing gas-filled electric switch |
FR2437219A1 (en) * | 1978-09-27 | 1980-04-25 | Philips Nv | HEART DEFIBRILLATOR |
EP0118841A2 (en) * | 1983-03-12 | 1984-09-19 | Alcatel N.V. | Method of sealing a relay |
EP0130500A2 (en) * | 1983-07-02 | 1985-01-09 | Alcatel N.V. | Water-proof electromagnetic relay |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4127533A1 (en) * | 1991-08-20 | 1993-02-25 | Siemens Ag | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF |
US5344432A (en) * | 1991-08-20 | 1994-09-06 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Implantable medical device and method for the manufacture thereof |
EP0574058A2 (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1993-12-15 | Alcatel STR AG | Relay |
EP0574058A3 (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1994-01-05 | Alcatel STR AG | Relay |
US5554963A (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1996-09-10 | Alcatel Str Ag | Gas-filled plastic enclosed relay |
ES2076104A2 (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1995-10-16 | Releco Sa | System of assembling contacts for electromagnetic relays. |
EP0982746A2 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2000-03-01 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Single-pole relay switch |
EP0982746A3 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2001-09-12 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Single-pole relay switch |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9027801D0 (en) | 1991-02-13 |
EP0434463A3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
GB2239354A (en) | 1991-06-26 |
GB2239354B (en) | 1994-08-31 |
GB8929126D0 (en) | 1990-02-28 |
DE69028906D1 (en) | 1996-11-21 |
EP0434463B1 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
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