EP1455372B1 - Relay with core having partly enlarged cross section - Google Patents

Abstract

A partition plane (26) extends between first (19) and second (20) core elements in a coil's lengthwise direction (L) parallel to a yoke (3). Interlayered surfaces are made as flat and smooth as possible on the parting plane as well as on a buffer surface (27) between a cross-sectional enlargement (22) and the yoke. This avoids air gaps in transitional areas and losses in magnetic flux.

Description

The invention relates to a relay with a bobbin, a core passing through the bobbin and a yoke, wherein the cross-sectional area of the core in the region of the transition to the yoke and at the yoke facing away from the end of the core is greater than in the surrounding of the bobbin center region of the core.

Relays with these features are known for example from EP-A-202 651, EP-B-363 976. EP-B-691 667 and DE-C-42 32 228.

Another relay is described in US-A-3,497,845, which comprises a bobbin, a core arranged in the bobbin, and a yoke.

In WO-A-00 24019 a safety valve is described with a U-shaped Kemjoch having a core and a yoke leg, wherein the core leg is arranged in a bobbin.

In all these relays, the bobbin, the core and the yoke form a magnet system which causes a switching action when the coil is energized. In the course of the switching process, upon energization of the coil, a magnetic switching force is generated, which moves an armature. The movement of the armature is transferred to a contact spring, which then closes or opens contacts.

A disadvantage of the known from the prior art relays are in part only low switching forces or at high switching forces large designs.

The invention is therefore based on the object to improve a relay of the type mentioned so that large switching forces can be achieved with a small volume.

This object is achieved for the above-mentioned relay in that the core is formed from at least two core elements.

This solution is structurally simple and leads to smaller designs of the relay at a constant high switching force.

According to the preamble of the first claim, the center region of the core surrounded by the bobbin has a reduced cross-section, which provides room for additional coil windings, so that the coil can generate a higher magnetic force. In contrast, in the transitional region between the yoke and the core and at the end face of the core facing away from the yoke, the cross-section is made widened, so that a high magnetic flux can be conducted from the core to the yoke. Both measures, the cross-sectional widening in the transition region between core and yoke and the reduction in cross-section and the increased winding space for the bobbin, complement each other optimally in generating a higher switching power.

The core is formed according to the invention from at least two core elements.

The performance of the thus improved relay can be increased by various, mutually independently advantageous developments, as explained below.

If, for example, the yoke facing away from the end face of the core forms a pole face, which cooperates with a movable armature, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the surface area of the pole face according to the invention be greater than the cross-sectional area in the central region of the core. Due to the enlarged pole surface, a high magnetic flux acts on the armature, which ensures high switching forces and fast switching operations.

The core can also be tapered in a development in the region of the bobbin, so that at both ends of the core large cross-sectional areas for a line of magnetic flux with low losses are available and at the same time in the region of the taper space for additional windings of the bobbin held by the coil is provided.

The assembly of the core in the bobbin can be simplified by a series of independent developments.

The core elements can be designed to be used successively in the track body, so that in spite of the cross-sectional widening a simple assembly is possible, even if the cross-sectional widening of the core engages behind the bobbin.

At least two core elements may have a cross-sectional widening towards the yoke; Furthermore, at least two core elements may have a cross-sectional widening to the pole face.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the core in the bobbin despite the cross-sectional widening, a core element can be inserted substantially in the bobbin be designed. In particular, the core element can be fitted in inserted in already inserted in the bobbin further core element.

The assembly of the core element can be further facilitated by the fact that at least one core element is configured substantially free of undercuts or substantially cuboid-shaped. This configuration facilitates in particular the insertion of the core element in the bobbin.

The core may also consist of a plurality of transverse to the longitudinal extent of the bobbin juxtaposed core elements are minimized by the power loss when switching on and / or off the excitation current of the coil. The core elements may be permanently pre-assembled in this embodiment.

Further, the core or at least one core element may be integrally formed with the yoke to minimize the losses in the transition of the magnetic flux from the core to the yoke and to reduce assembly costs.

In order to be able to assemble the bobbin and the yoke as efficiently as possible as a one-piece module during the assembly process, in the case of a yoke formed integrally with at least one core element, this core element can be designed to be insertable into the bobbin. By this measure, the module unit of bobbin and yoke is completed by simply inserting the yoke in the bobbin. Only the core element provided with the cross-sectional widening must be inserted into the bobbin before insertion of the core element on the yoke.

In order to minimize the losses during the transition of the magnetic flux from the core to the yoke, at least one core element can at least touch the yoke, so that the air gaps penetrated by the magnetic field are as small as possible or absent.

In the following, the invention will be explained with reference to various embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The different features in the individual embodiments can be combined independently of each other, as has already been set out above in the individual advantageous embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine Ausführungsform eines Relais in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 2

eine Ausführungsform eines Spulenkörpers mit Kern und Joch in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 3

den Kern und das Joch der Ausführungsform der Fig. 2 in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 4

eine Ausführungsform eines Kernelements in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 5

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Kernelements in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 6

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Kernelements in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 7

eine Ausführungsform eines Spulenkörpers in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht;

Fig. 8

den Spulenkörper der Fig. 7 in einer Ansicht von Pfeil VIII; und

Fig. 9

eine Ausführungsform eines Spulenkörpers mit eingesetztem Kernelement in einer schematischen Perspektivansicht.

Show it:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of a relay in a schematic perspective view;

Fig. 2

an embodiment of a bobbin with core and yoke in a schematic perspective view;

Fig. 3

the core and the yoke of the embodiment of Figure 2 in a schematic perspective view.

Fig. 4

an embodiment of a core element in a schematic perspective view;

Fig. 5

a further embodiment of a core element in a schematic perspective view;

Fig. 6

a further embodiment of a core element in a schematic perspective view;

Fig. 7

an embodiment of a bobbin in a schematic perspective view;

Fig. 8

the bobbin of Figure 7 in a view of arrow VIII. and

Fig. 9

an embodiment of a bobbin with inserted core element in a schematic perspective view.

First, the general structure of a relay will be described with reference to FIG.

A relay 1 has a coil wound on a bobbin 2 (not shown in FIG. 1), a yoke 3 and a core passing through the bobbin 2 (not shown in FIG. 1). The yoke 3 terminates in a pole face 4 which adjoins a working air gap 5 borders. In other embodiments, the pole face 4 may also be formed on the core.

The working air gap 5 is arranged between the pole face 4 and a movable armature 6. The armature 6 is connected in a motion-transmitting manner with a contact spring 8 via a connecting element 7 guided along the bobbin 2, so that a movement of the armature 6 inevitably leads to a movement of the contact spring 8.

The contact spring 8 in turn is arranged between two mutually spaced in the direction of movement of the contact spring contacts 9, 10, wherein they can preferably only one of the two contacts 9, 10 touch. Usually, the contact spring 8 is biased so that it rests in the power-free state against one of the contacts, for example the contact 10.

If an exciting current is passed through the coil, a magnetic force is generated at the pole surface 4, which attracts the armature 6 and seeks to reduce the working air gap. As a result, the armature 6 moves from its rest position. About the connecting element 7, this movement is transmitted to the contact spring 8. As a result, the contact spring 8 also moves out of its rest position and is pressed against the contact 9.

The contacts 9, 10 and the contact spring 8 are each provided with guided to outside the relay pins 11, 12, 13. The contact pins 11, 12, 13 may each be present in pairs.

The contacts 11, 13 and 11, 12 are closed in dependence on the position of the contact spring 8. For example, in the rest position of the contact spring 8 shown in FIG. 1, the contacts 11 and 12 are connected to one another via the contact spring 8 and the contact 11.

In order to create defined contact points on the contacts 9, 10 and the contact spring 8, contact pills 14, 15, 16 may be provided on the contacts 9, 10 and / or the contact spring 8.

In Fig. 2, an embodiment of the bobbin 2 with the yoke 3 and the coil passing through the core 17 is shown, wherein the viewing direction is directed obliquely on the pole face 4.

For the sake of clarity, the coil which is held by the bobbin 2 in the circumferentially extending recess 18 is omitted in FIG.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the core 17 has two core elements 19, 20 which lie perpendicular to one another perpendicular to the coil direction.

In the longitudinal direction of the bobbin 2, the core 17 protrudes from the bobbin 2.

In Fig. 3, the yoke 3 and the core 17 is shown in the perspective of FIG. 2 with the bobbin 2 removed.

It can be seen that the one core element 20 is formed integrally with the yoke 3, while the other core element 19 rests against the yoke 3 and the core 20. Towards the armature, on the end face 21 of the core 17, both core elements 19, 20 terminate flush to form a substantially flat end face 21, which can also serve as a pole face 4.

One of the core elements 19, 20, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the core element 20 formed integrally with the yoke, is substantially cuboid and has no projections and / or undercuts.

The other, separate core element 19 is provided in the longitudinal direction L of the coil at the respective end faces with cross-sectional widenings 22, 23. The cross-sectional widenings 22, 23 engage behind the bobbin 2.

In the center region of the core 17, which is surrounded by the bobbin 2, the cross section of the core is reduced in relation to the two end regions located in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin. This results in a recess 25 which can be used as an additional winding space for the coil, so that the coil has a higher winding number and / or density.

If the core 17 does not adjoin the working air gap 5 of the relay 1, the cross-sectional widening 23 can also be dispensed with, although this impairs the flow of the magnetic field from the core into the armature; Of course, the pole face 4 formed by the yoke 3 may have a cross-sectional widening.

As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the dividing plane 26 extends between the two core elements 19, 20 in the longitudinal direction L of the coil parallel to the yoke 3. At the parting plane 26, as well as at the abutment surface 27 between the cross-sectional widening 22 and the yoke 3, the superposed surfaces are as flat and smooth as possible. This avoids air gaps in the transition areas and losses in the magnetic flux.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show further embodiments of the core element 20. In all of these core elements 20, the cross-section at the two longitudinal ends 22, 23 is widened in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the coil.

The cross-sectional plane Q is shown schematically in FIG. 4 once in the middle region as a cross-sectional plane Q ₁ and once in the end region as a cross-sectional plane Q ₂ . As can be seen, the surface area of the cross section Q _{2 is} greater than the area of the cross section Q ₁ .

The core element 19 of FIG. 4 is efficiently manufactured in one piece and has bent ends 22, 23. By a over the entire width of the core member 19 extending recess 28 in the vicinity of the bending radius 29 of the bending process is facilitated.

In Fig. 5, a core member 19 is shown, which is composed of a plurality of individual elements 19a, 19b, ..., which are arranged side by side. The number of juxtaposed and preferably touching core elements 19a, 19b,... Is arbitrary; in FIG. 5, four adjacent elements are shown by way of example only. The cross-sectional areas or contours of the individual core elements 19a, 19b,... In a plane lying in the longitudinal direction L are the same. To the core element 19 in the 5 easy to handle embodiment, the core elements 19a, 19b, ... integrally connected to each other, for example, glued, soldered or welded.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6 is an embossed part of a metal material, in which the two cross-sectional extensions 22, 23 in the form of obliquely extending in the longitudinal direction L of the coil, embossed ramps are configured. Alternatively, the core element 19 can also be produced by injection molding.

In Fig. 7, the bobbin 2 is shown, wherein the core 17 and the yoke 3 are omitted. The bobbin 2 has a passage 30 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the bobbin, which is open on both sides.

In the middle region 31 of the bobbin 2, which substantially coincides with the recess 18 for the coil, the clear cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the passage 30 is reduced to make room for additional coil windings. The shape of the region 32 is adapted to the shape of the respective cross-sectional widening 22, 23, so that the core element 19 with the cross-sectional widenings 22, 23 in the passage 30 can be included. The cross-section of the passage 30 is dimensioned at its smallest point so that the cross-sectional widening 22 of the core element 19 can still be inserted through the passage 30. When inserted, the cross-sectional widenings 22, 23 engage behind the bobbin 2, so that the core element 19 is held substantially immovably by the bobbin.

As can be seen in Fig. 8, in which the bobbin 2 of Fig. 7 is shown in the direction of view VIII, the cross-sectional widening of the passage 30 at the two open ends can be designed differently, for example, at one end a flush termination of Kerns with the bobbin 2 and at the other end to allow the core 17 to protrude.

The passage 30 is designed so that when inserted core element 19 with cross-sectional extensions 22 and 23 extending through the bobbin 2 therethrough Free space 33 remains of substantially constant clear width. In the free space 33, the other core element 20 can be inserted 19 after insertion of the respective other core element. Held by the cross-sectional widenings 22, 23, the one core element 19 can no longer be removed from the passage 30 as long as the other core element 20 is inserted. By a press fit of the core member 20, the core can be held firmly in the bobbin. For this purpose, the cross section of the core element 20 is slightly larger than the cross section of the free space 33.

In the following, the assembly process of a relay according to the invention will be briefly described.

First, in the relay, the core element 19 is used, which is provided with at least one cross-sectional widening 22, 23. As soon as the cross-sectional enlargements 22, 23 are received in the extension 32 of the passage assigned to it, the other core element 20 is inserted into the remaining free space 33.

Depending on whether the cross-sectional widenings 22, 23 are formed integrally on the yoke 3 or on the separate core element 19, first the yoke 3 or the core element 19 is placed in the passage 30. Subsequently, the substantially quäderförmige core element 20 is inserted.

Claims (11)

1. A relay (1) having a coil former (2), a core (17) passing through the coil former (2) and a yoke (3), the cross-sectional area (Q₂) of the core (17) being larger in the area of transition to the yoke (3) and at the end face of the core (17) remote from the yoke (3) than in the central area (31) of the core (17) surrounded by the coil former (2), characterised in that the core (17) is formed of at least two core elements (19, 20; 19a, 19b, ...).
2. A relay (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the core (17) is of tapered configuration in the area of the coil former (2).
3. A relay (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that one core element (20) is configured to be substantially insertable into the coil former (2).
4. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one core element (20) is configured to be substantially free of undercuts.
5. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the yoke (3) is in one piece with one of the core elements (19, 20).
6. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the core element (19, 20) provided in one piece on the yoke (3) is substantially cuboid in configuration.
7. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the core element (19, 20) provided in one piece on the yoke (3) is configured to be insertable when a further core element (19, 20) has already been introduced into the coil former (2).
8. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least two core elements (19, 20; 19a, 19b, etc.) are provided, whose cross-section (Q₂) is configured to widen towards the yoke (3).
9. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least two core elements (19, 20; 19a, 20a, etc.) are provided, whose cross-section (Q₂) is configured to widen towards the pole face (4).
10. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one core element (19, 20) is in contact with the yoke (3).
11. A relay (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one cross-sectionally widened portion (22, 23) of the core (17) engages behind the coil former (2).

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