EP2831901B1 - Relay having two switches that can be actuated in opposite directions - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electromagnetic relay with an electromagnetic system, an armature, a first switch and a second switch.

Such an electromagnetic relay according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document WO93 / 23866 known. Other known relays of this type (US Pat. EP 0 197 391 A2 . US 4,703,293 A . US 6,107,903 A ) comprise a solenoid system having at least one coil, a coil core, and two pole pieces defining two opposing relay ends. The relay housing has fixed contacts of the switches on the opposing relay ends. The movable contacts of the switches sit at the end of contact springs, which lead in the central region of the relay via conductive spring elements to a respective Nutzstromanschluss. There are two parallel contact springs with a total of four contacts for the operation of four switches provided, which are located at the top of the relay in corner positions. With the US Pat. No. 6,670,871 B1 a poled relay is known which has a base body with an electromagnet and power supply lines for this and for fixed contacts of switches and an armature which is pivotally connected via two torsion springs to the base body and having two leaf springs with movable contacts at the ends. A permanent magnet, each with a pole on its top and bottom is fixed with its top on the anchor and makes its movements with. The power supply to the moving contacts via each of the torsion springs and the leaf springs, so that a separate use as a diagnostic switch on one side of the relay and as a load switch on the other side of the relay is not possible.

In a known safety switching relay ( DE 36 00 856 A1 ), a base body is provided, which surrounds the exciter coil trough-shaped and forms a contact chamber on both sides, each containing a main contact, which are actuated via slide by an armature which is formed at the end of a yoke as a one-armed lever and at the free end an additional lever arm has, which actuates an additional auxiliary contact. The main contacts and auxiliary contact, together with pins, are located at the bottom of the relay.

DE 197 05 508 C1 shows an electromagnetic relay with a three-pole permanent magnet, which is joined between the pole pieces of the spool and has a rotary coupling surface on which a two-arm armature of the relay is mounted. Each anchor end actuates a switch on the underside of the relay, where the pins are located, via an associated slider.

With the DE 38 37 092 A1 For example, an adjustable relay is known which includes a coil and a single armature extending transversely across an actuating coil end and actuating an actuator extending along the coil of switch contacts which, together with terminal pins, extend in a row along the coil end opposite the coil Operating coil end are located.

The WO 93/23866 A1 discloses a polarized power relay with a rocker armature on the relay top and a contact set with contact spring on the bottom of the relay. A movable slider of insulating material couples one of the armature ends to the movable end of the contact spring to open or close the contact spring set depending on the armature position. A diagnostic switch that provides information about the position of the anchor is not provided.

In a polarized miniature relay ( DE 2 148 177 A ) is a base plate provided with pins on which two movable load contact springs can be actuated transversely to the base plate plane between load fixed contacts. For this purpose, an actuating pin bearing rocker arm is mounted pivotably parallel to the base plate plane and cooperates with pole plates, which comprise the ends of a permanent magnet angular. A coil having two windings and a core is disposed between the pole plates adjacent to the rocker armature. A foil with coil terminals connects the windings with associated pins on the underside of the base plate. Because of the close proximity of the load contacts and load contact springs to the coil terminals mounted on the foil, the voltage resistance of the relay is not high.

The invention is based on the object to provide a relay with the smallest possible space and high sensitivity, in which a switch is suitable as a diagnostic switch the armature position and another switch as a load switch for currents with higher amperage.

The electromagnetic relay comprises an electromagnetic system having a longitudinally oriented coil and core defining at their ends first and second relay ends. The pole pieces extend in the transverse direction and carry at a first relay side in the longitudinal direction extending magnetic poles with which a two armature leg exhibiting relay armature works together. Near the first relay end and on the first relay side, a first switch is arranged, which can be used as a diagnostic switch. The first switch has at least one stationary fixed contact and a movable contact which sits at the end of a contact spring which is attached to the first armature leg. The first switch is connected to power connections, which, starting from a second, the relay side opposite the first relay side leads to the first relay side. A second switch, which can be used as a load switch, is arranged on the second relay side and comprises at least one stationary fixed contact and a movable contact attached to a contact spring. The movable contact is driven by an electrically insulating coupling member from the second anchor legs. The power connections of the second switch are arranged close to the second relay end on the second relay side, which forms the side facing away from the armature underside of the relay. Thus, the two switches are far from each other, as it were arranged at diagonally spaced locations on the relay. The armature-near first switch is switched directly by the tilted position of the armature and expediently used as a diagnostic switch, as with him the contact position of the antivalent load contact safely can be detected. The second switch, located at the bottom of the relay, is used as a load switch because there is enough room at this point to accommodate appropriately sized contacts through which the load current, even at higher amperes, should flow.

With regard to the construction of the relay, the rocker anchor system is preferred. The contacts of the two switches are arranged on each opposite side of the coil in the longitudinal direction and move transversely to the longitudinal direction when the relay is switched. The first leg of the rocker armature is coordinated with the first switch and the second leg of the rocker armature with the second switch, such that upon movement of the respective switch in the downward direction, the switch is closed and opened in the upward direction. The contact sets of the switches therefore assume antivalent switching states. The armature near first switch is operated as a normally closed contact switch and the second switch used as a load switch as a normally open contact switch. The load switch, which is driven via the coupling member is further actuated by a spring attached to the armature, which drives the coupling member. This improves the normally closed and normally open functions of the circuit breaker.

The first switch, which is operated as a diagnostic switch and normally closed contact switch, is expediently equipped with double contact in order to signal the closed position safely.

The relay according to the invention may include a pole assembly and a coil assembly, which greatly facilitates the manufacture of the relay. Namely, the pole assembly can be fabricated with a magnetized permanent magnet out of association with the coil assembly, thereby avoiding damaging the coil assembly during the magnetization process.

In an expedient design of the relay, the pole assembly and the fixed contacts of the switch are mounted in a support member. The individual parts of the pole assembly and the fixed contacts are expediently embedded in the carrier component in plastic.

In the case of the construction with a pole assembly and a coil assembly, the support member is designed floor-like, so that the coil assembly can be inserted into the support member as in a drawer.

The carrier component may include a bus bar on its underside, which forms a current loop together with the contact spring of the circuit breaker, which exerts an additional closing force on the load switch in the event of a short-circuit current.

At anchor can be mounted a one-piece spring element which is effective at one end as a contact spring of the switch and at the other end as an actuating spring (return spring) of the armature.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform des Relais schräg von oben auf eine Längsseite und eine Schmalseite bei abgezogener Gehäusehaube,

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch das Relais,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Trägerbauteils schräg von oben auf eine Längsseite sowie eine Stirnseite,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Spulenbaugruppe,

Fig. 5

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Einzelteile des Relais,

Fig. 6

eine zweite Ausführungsform des Relais in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 7

einen Längsschnitt durch das Relais der Fig. 6, und

Fig. 8

eine Explosionsdarstellung des Relais.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a first embodiment of the relay obliquely from above on a longitudinal side and a narrow side with the housing cover removed,

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the relay,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a support member obliquely from above on a longitudinal side and an end face,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a coil assembly,

Fig. 5

an exploded view of the parts of the relay,

Fig. 6

a second embodiment of the relay in perspective view,

Fig. 7

a longitudinal section through the relay of Fig. 6 , and

Fig. 8

an exploded view of the relay.

The electromagnetic relay is composed of a magnet system and a switch system (including a diagnostic switch 20 and a load switch 30), which are provided by Housing parts are held together and protected. The magnet system comprises an electromagnet, which is connected via magnetic flux parts 7, 8, 9 with a permanent magnet 11 and an armature 12. Main part of the electromagnet is a coil assembly 10, which consists of a wound on a support body 5, a coil 1, a ferromagnetic core 2 and ferromagnetic pole pieces 3 and 4 as a unit. The core 2 may be integrally formed with one of the pole pieces, or with two pole pieces. The magnetic flux parts 7 and 8 form the poles of the electromagnet. The magnetic flux part 9 forms a bearing piece for the here designed as a rocker armature armature 12. The permanent magnet 11 is in the first embodiment of the relay bipolar and can be arranged on the illustrated side of the switch 20, or on the opposite side.

In the illustrated embodiment ( Fig. 4 ), a terminal block 6 is connected to the coil assembly 10, which is favorable for a compact design of the relay. The terminal block 6 comprises switching signal pins 15, 16 with Abbiegeschenkeln 15 a, 16 a for direct connection to the coil ends of the coil 1. A Prüfkontaktanschlussstift 25 is formed cranked and can be clamped between terminal block 6 and pole piece 3.

This in Fig. 4 illustrated component is designed to be in a drawer 42 of a story-like support member 40 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) are pushed in and mounted. For this purpose, the drawer 42 has two cavity extensions 43 and 44, in addition to the coil assembly 10 and the Terminal block 6 record and position. The carrier component 40 in FIG Fig. 3 still has the second Prüfkontaktanschlussstift 26 and an associated fixed contact 21. For the embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 5 However, the relay is provided to secure both Prüfkontaktanschlussstifte 25, 26 by embedding in the support member 40.

The floor-like support component 40 is also responsible for receiving the magnetic flux parts 7, 8 and 9 and the permanent magnet 11. For this purpose, a niche-partitioned upper cavity 41 is provided. The bodies 7, 8, 9 and 11 are fixed by embedding in the support member 40. On the top of the support member 40 are depending on the type Fig. 3 . 4 or Fig. 1 . 5 a fixed contact 21 or two fixed contacts 21, 21 a are provided, which are in electrical connection with the connection pins 25, 26, and which are fixed in the support member 40 by embedding.

The switch system includes a diagnostic switch 20 and at least one load switch 30 which are located at diagonally opposite locations with respect to the relay. The diagnostic switch 20 includes the fixed contact 21, possibly also the second fixed contact 21 a, and a movable contact 22 which is attached to a contact spring 23. The contact spring is fixed to the leg 12a of the armature 12 and is actuated by the latter. The movable contact 22 establishes the electrical connection with the terminal pin 25. In the case of using two fixed contacts 21, 21a side by side, the movable contact 22 bridges these two Fixed contacts, so that a closed current path via the connection pins 25, 26 is formed.

The load switch 30 comprises a fixed contact 31 and a movable contact 32 which sits on a contact spring 33 which is fastened to the carrier component 40 via a busbar 34 and, moreover, is in electrical connection with a load connection pin 35. The fixed contact 31 is connected to a further load terminal pin 36 in a conductive connection. The actuation of the contact spring 33 via an electrically insulating coupling member 37, the upper end of which is mechanically connected to the second leg 12 b of the armature 12.

The armature 12 has, in addition to its two legs 12 a and 12 b, a bent bearing part 12 c, with which the armature 12 is seated on the bearing piece 9. Depending on the type of function of the relay (monostable, bistable) and the required opening forces on the switches 20 and 30, the legs 12a, 12b of the armature 12 are of different lengths and are held with different pole gap widths by spring elements. Such spring elements can be formed by parts of the contact spring 23, an overstroke spring 38 and the contact spring 33. The contact spring 23 is riveted or otherwise secured to the leg 12a of the armature 12 and has an armature spring extension consisting of a spring bar 23a, a torsion spring 23b and a mounting tab 23c. With the fastening tabs 23 c, the armature 12 is fixed in a certain angular position to the surfaces of the poles 7 and 8 on the bearing piece 9, for example by welding. The overstroke spring 38 is with its free end in a slot of the insulating Coupled coupling member 37 mounted to the drive connection between the leg 12b of the armature with the insulating coupling member 37 and thus the switch 30 to accomplish. The insulating coupling member 37 may also be pivotally mounted directly on the armature 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the overstroke spring has an armature spring extension that includes a spring bar 38a, a torsion spring 38b, and a mounting tab 38c that is fixedly welded or otherwise secured to the bearing piece 9. The overall spring behavior of the relay is determined by the interaction of the spring forces of the spring extensions 23a, 23b and 38a, 38b with the contact spring 33. In addition to the spring forces, the magnetic attraction forces on the armature 12 also play a role, whether a monostable or a bistable relay is obtained. For the forces of attraction on the legs 12a, 12b of the armature, the strength of the permanent magnet 11 and the sizes of the pole faces of the pole pieces 7, 8 play a role. If the magnetic attraction in one end position of the armature is greater than the force acting in the lifting direction spring force and in the other end position, the magnetic attraction less than the lifting force of the springs, then there is a monostable relay. If, on the other hand, the magnetic attraction force in both end positions of the armature is greater than the spring force acting in the lifting direction, a bistable relay is present.

The contact spring 23 has a free end which is split fork-shaped to form two contact spring legs, on the undersides of two contact pieces to form the contact 22 are attached. In this way, it is ensured that when closing the switch 20 of the movable contact 22 comes into contact with the one or more fixed contacts 21 and 21a via spring force. It is understood that the spring force can also emanate from the fixed contact, if this is resilient (not shown).

If the switch 20 has two juxtaposed fixed contacts 21, 21a, which are connected via the support member 40 to the terminal pins 25, 26, then the contact spring 23 with forked end acts as a bridge contact to switch the current flow between the terminal pins 25, 26 ,

The support member 40 has on its underside a busbar 34, in which the load pin 25 is mounted. At the load switch averted end of the relay, the load contact spring 33 is riveted to the busbar 34 to extend along the busbar 34 and the underside of the support member 40 until reaching the insulating coupling member 37 and to be linked to the lower end of the coupling member.

While the support member 40 is the main element of the housing, there is still a housing bottom 50 and a housing cover 60. Between the underside of the support member 40 and the housing bottom 50 extends a shallow cavity 45 (FIG. Fig. 2 ), which serves to receive the load contact spring 33 and its range of motion to the fixed contact 31. The fixed contact 31 is riveted to the load pin 36 and this in turn attached to the housing bottom 50. Alternatively, an attachment to the support member 40 comes into consideration. As attachment methods, embedding in Plastic, overmolding, glue or clamps are applied.

As in Fig. 2 and 5 illustrated, the support member on a guide 46 for guiding the insulating coupling member 37. This guide 46 and the entire mounted relay is covered by the housing cover 60. A manually operable sliding switch 62 on the top of the housing cover 60 makes it possible to change the position of the armature 12.

In the monostable design of the relay with the switch 20 as a diagnostic switch and normally closed contact switch and the switch 30 as a load switch and normally-open contact switch, as in Fig. 2 shown, the contact spring 23 is responsible with their spring extensions 23a, 23b for the illustrated anchor position. The load switch 30 is open when the coil 1 is de-energized. If the coil 1 is traversed by a sufficiently strong control current, the electromagnet ensures that the armature 12 switches over, ie the leg 12b is attracted by the pole 8 and the leg 12a is repelled by the pole 7. The overstroke spring 38 drives the insulating coupling member 37 and this the contact spring 33 with the movable contact 32, which comes on the fixed contact 31 to close the load circuit via the pins 35, 36.

When the coil 1 is de-energized, the spring forces take over the armature 12 and pull the armature 12 in the in Fig. 2 shown rest position back. If the movable contact 32 should be welded to the fixed contact 31, the in Fig. 2 right thighs of Over-stroke spring 38 tensioned until the movable contact 32 is torn off the fixed contact 31.

When the load switch 30 is closed, there is a current path via the connecting pin 35, the busbar 34, the contact spring 33 to the movable contact 32 and fixed contact 31 and the connecting pin 36, wherein the current flows in the busbar 34 and in the contact spring 33 partially in the opposite direction. As a result, electrodynamic forces are generated which increase the NO contact force. This may be useful in the event of a short circuit as well as the fact that the load switch 33 is located in the isolated chamber 45 below the support member 40 that houses the coil assembly 10.

With the Fig. 6 . 7 and 8th a second embodiment of the invention is shown. Similar components to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals. The basic structure of the relay according to the second embodiment follows the first embodiment, and therefore corresponding parts of description will not be repeated and only the differences will be discussed.

In the second embodiment of the relay, the permanent magnet 11 is made of two sections 11a and 11b and with a magnetic flux part 9 made of soft iron interposed therebetween and forms a three-pole permanent magnet. The portion 11a has the stronger coercive force than the portion 11b. The two sections 11a and 11b have the magnetic flux part 9 towards the same polarity, so either both are there as a south pole or formed as a north pole, while to the outer ends of the relay out then the total three-pole permanent magnet 11 north poles or even south poles. The magnetic flux part 9 conveys the adjoining polarity, for example, south pole when the permanent magnet points out north pole, and north pole when the permanent magnet faces south pole.

In the second embodiment, the bearing of the armature 12 relative to the first embodiment is modified by a cross spring 39 takes over the storage of the armature 12 on the magnetic flux part 9. The cross spring 39 has tabs 39a, with which it is connected to the magnetic flux part 9 by welding, also a torsion bar 39b and transverse to a support tabs 39c for supporting the armature 12. On the cross spring 39 can still be another tab 39d attached, the is used to dampen the impact of the armature 12 on the magnetic flux part 8 and at the same time it is tensioned, which is useful in the subsequent switching of the armature 12, since the armature is then more easily detached from the magnetic flux part 8. The cross spring 39 acts as a torsion spring, d. H. there is no bearing friction and the hysteresis losses of the spring 39 are very small.

As a further variant, the second embodiment has a one-piece design of contact spring 23 and overstroke spring 38. The contact spring 23 is electrically conductive and connected to the electrically conductive armature 12, which in turn is connected via the electrically conductive cross spring 39 with the electrically conductive magnetic flux part 9, which in turn is in electrically conductive connection with the Prüfkontaktanschlussstift 25.

To adapt the adhesive force of the armature 12 at the leg 12b to the magnetic flux part 8, an intermediate piece 8a made of sheet metal or plastic is still provided. Because of the different lengths of the legs 12a, 12b of the armature 12 namely the Abhebekräfte exerted there are different, which is somewhat compensated by the intermediate position of the part 8a.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are to be read by way of example, and that the invention is not limited thereto, but that it can be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the features, whether disclosed in the specification, claims, figures, or otherwise, also individually define essential components of the invention, even if described together with other features.

Claims (15)

1. An electromagnetic relay, comprising:

   - an electromagnetic system with a coil (1) and a core (2) aligned in a longitudinal direction and having ends that define a first and a second end of the relay at each of which pole pieces (3, 4) extend transversely thereto, which pole pieces are connected to a pole assembly (7, 8, 9, 11) that includes a permanent magnet (11) and extends in parallel to the coil and the core along a first side of the relay that is opposite to a second side of the relay with respect to the coil and the core;

   - an armature (12) arranged on the first side of the relay, which has two legs (12a, 12b) and is pivotally mounted relative to the pole assembly (7, 8, 9, 11);

   - a second switch (30) usable as a load switch, which is arranged on the second side of the relay close to the second end of the relay and comprises at least one fixed contact (31) and one movable contact (32) attached to a contact spring (33), which is actuated by the armature (12) through an electrically insulating coupling member (37);

   - switch signal terminals (15, 16) which are arranged on the second side of the relay close to the first end of the relay and connected to the coil (1); and

   - power terminals (35, 36) which are arranged on the second side of the relay close to the second end of the relay and connected to the load switch (30); and

   - a housing for accommodating the electromagnetic system, the armature (12), and the switches (20, 30);

   characterised by

   - a first switch (20) usable as a diagnostic switch, which is arranged on the first side of the relay close to the first end of the relay and comprises at least one fixed contact (21) and one movable contact (22) that is attached to a contact spring (23) actuated by the armature and connected to test power terminals (25, 26) extending from the second side of the relay to the first side of the relay.
2. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1,
   wherein the pole assembly (7, 8, 9, 11) includes a respective magnetic flux piece (7, 8) adjacent to each pole piece (3, 4) and a magnetic flux piece (9) for pivotally supporting the armature (12), and wherein the permanent magnet (11) is arranged between the magnetic flux pieces (7, 8, 9).
3. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2,
   wherein the permanent magnet (11) is formed unitarily and has two poles.
4. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2,
   wherein the permanent magnet (11) is formed in two parts and has three poles.
5. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the movable contacts (22, 32) are arranged in a manner so that when the first switch is open the second switch is closed, and vice versa.
6. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the contact spring (23) of the first switch (20) on the first side of the relay extends in the longitudinal direction of the relay, with the movable contact (22) near the first end of the relay, and wherein the contact spring (33) of the second switch (30) on the second side of the relay extends in the longitudinal direction of the relay, with the movable contact (32) near the second end of the relay.
7. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the armature (12) extends in the longitudinal direction of the relay and is formed as a rocking armature which directly actuates the first switch (20) with its first leg (12a) on the first side of the relay and drives the insulating coupling member (37) with its second leg (12b) on the second side of the relay to actuate the second switch (30).
8. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electromagnetic system in cooperation with the armature (12) and the force of springs (23, 33, 38, 39) is operable such that the first switch (20) functions as a normally closed contact switch and the second switch (30) functions as a normally open contact switch.
9. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first switch (20) has a movable contact (22) with two contact pieces which are attached to a resilient fork-shaped end of the contact spring (23).
10. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein a coil assembly (10) is provided as a structural unit including a coil (1) wound around a support body (5), a ferromagnetic core (2), and ferromagnetic pole pieces (3, 4).
11. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a shelf-like support component (40) which accommodates the pole assembly (7, 8, 9, 11) including the magnetic flux pieces (7, 8, 9) and a magnetized permanent magnet (11) on an upper level, and accommodates the coil assembly (10) including the coil (1), the core (2), and the pole pieces (3, 4) on an intermediate level.
12. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 11, wherein the magnetized permanent magnet (11) comprises of two portions (11a, 11b) with a magnetic flux piece (9) interposed therebetween and is effective as a three-pole magnet.
13. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the armature (12) is pivotally mounted on the pole assembly (7, 8, 9, 11) by means of a torsion spring (39).
14. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the support component (40) includes an electrically conductive power rail (34) aligned in the longitudinal direction and having one end near the first end of the relay, and wherein the contact spring (33) of the second switch (30) is secured to said end of the power rail to form a current loop, whereby in case of an elevated current an electrodynamic force is applied on the contact spring (33) in the closing direction of the second switch (30).
15. The electromagnetic relay according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the housing comprises a housing cap (60) including a manual switch (62) for manually changing the position of the armature (12).

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