EP3678159B1 - Verbesserte dreiphasige relaisansätze für automobil- oder geräteanwendungen - Google Patents

Verbesserte dreiphasige relaisansätze für automobil- oder geräteanwendungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3678159B1
EP3678159B1 EP19398017.4A EP19398017A EP3678159B1 EP 3678159 B1 EP3678159 B1 EP 3678159B1 EP 19398017 A EP19398017 A EP 19398017A EP 3678159 B1 EP3678159 B1 EP 3678159B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
magnetic
armature
electromagnet
core member
slidable coupler
Prior art date
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Application number
EP19398017.4A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3678159A1 (de
Inventor
Maria Inês Cunha
Antonio Perdigão Duarte Silva
Tiago Teixeira
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.)
Tyco Electronics Componentes Electromecanicos Ltda
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Tyco Electronics Componentes Electromecanicos Ltda
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/22—Polarised relays
    • H01H51/2236—Polarised relays comprising pivotable armature, pivoting at extremity or bending point of armature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
    • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
    • H01F7/121—Guiding or setting position of armatures, e.g. retaining armatures in their end position
    • H01F7/122—Guiding or setting position of armatures, e.g. retaining armatures in their end position by permanent magnets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
    • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
    • H01F7/14—Pivoting armatures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/22—Polarised relays
    • H01H51/2227—Polarised relays in which the movable part comprises at least one permanent magnet, sandwiched between pole-plates, each forming an active air-gap with parts of the stationary magnetic circuit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/22—Polarised relays
    • H01H51/26—Polarised relays with intermediate neutral position of rest

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to relays for general switching applications, and more particularly, to electromagnetic relays providing three switching states for automotive and/or appliances applications.
  • Inductive circuit breakers such as relays
  • Single relays are conventionally used in applications that operate in only two states, for e.g. on and off states. Each relay state corresponds to a specific configuration of connections among the relay contacts, which can be changed or switched to another state or configuration in response to one or more control signals.
  • Simple relays are generally operated by an inductive coil that actuates on a movable armature for switching on or off a contact with a terminal of a power source.
  • Conventional change-over relays also provide two switching states by an arrangement of a change-over spring (CO terminal) and two stationary contact terminals, generally referred to as normally closed (NC) and normally open (NO), between which the CO terminal can be moved.
  • the CO terminal is generally connected to a terminal of a motor or electrical appliance and is actuated by a magnetic system to switch contact to either the NO or NC terminals, which are respectively connected to the power source terminals.
  • Both these type of relays can be operated with a single control line but are limited to only two relay states.
  • two or more single relays may be combined.
  • Conventional relays based on a combination of two independent relays are capable of yielding four independent switching states (or three switching states if some mechanical coupling between two switching states is added) but typically use two magnetic systems driven by two independent coils that can have the same or independent activation signals.
  • Each relay is still controlled by an individual control line and an individual driver for converting a digital input control signal into an analogue signal for activating or deactivating the relay.
  • the conventional double relay arrangement requires two mandatory control lines to control each relay independently, which implies synchronization between control lines, leading to a more complex circuit design and programming effort.
  • Motor reverse requires at least three operating states for applying at the motor terminals one of: positive polarization (+/-) for motor motion in one direction, reversed polarization (-/+) for inverting the direction of motor motion, and halt/stop (-/- or +/+) for halting or stopping the motor.
  • a double relay configuration based on two change-over relays is conventionally used in motor reverse applications, in which the motor rotates in a direction defined by the activated relay. When both relays are deactivated, both motor terminals are connected to the negative terminal of the power source (or ground potential), thereby stopping the motor motion and discharging the motor inductive system.
  • the conventional double relay configuration also provides an additional fourth state that might not be necessary.
  • the motor motion will also stop in the event that both relays are simultaneously activated, i.e. both motor terminals are connected to the same positive potential (+/+), however, in a slower manner since the inductive system will take more time to de-energize.
  • the double relay format has the drawback of requiring software handling and synchronization for switching the state of the individual relays simultaneously. This requires additional control lines for operating each relay, additional load as well as the necessary routing in comparison to single relay formats. More elements require more space and increase hardware and software complexity, as well as costs. These aspects are particularly important for motor applications, where relays are in general mounted in a PCB driver module or in a relay box.
  • This three-state relay design is based on two armatures that are actuated by an inductive coil for switching two spring arrangements coupled by a slider. The two spring arrangements may be switched among a neutral position corresponding to a brake or blocking state of the motor, a left position to apply power of a given polarity at the motor terminals and a right position for inverting the polarity of the applied power.
  • this relay design might be not sufficiently compact for some applications and/or prone to mechanical vibrations due to the double-armature concept.
  • Patent application publication WO 2018/050861 (A1 ) describes an electromagnetic actuator with two operating states and comprising: a coil, one or more permanent magnets, and an armature.
  • the armature is pivotable between: a first position in which the armature is retained by a first magnetic circuit including at least one of the one or more permanent magnets and the armature; and a second position in which the armature is retained by a second magnetic circuit including at least one of the one or more permanent magnets and the armature.
  • the coil is configured such that it can be actuated to generate an opposing magnetic circuit to oppose the first and/or second magnetic circuit to move the armature from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions.
  • Three-state relay design including applications which operate with three level power adjustment (e.g. off, minimum and maximum power), such as headlights, wipers or fans, and applications which require polarity reversal with in-between circuit energy drain.
  • three level power adjustment e.g. off, minimum and maximum power
  • headlights wipers or fans
  • applications which require polarity reversal with in-between circuit energy drain e.g. off, minimum and maximum power
  • the present invention has been made in view of the shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a magnetic actuator for a three-state switching relay and an electromagnetic relay comprising same, which are capable of yielding three independent switching states with a compact and easy to control design, while providing improved robustness against vibrations.
  • the present invention provides a magnetic actuator for a three-state switching relay, comprising: an armature having two arms that extend laterally from a center region of the armature; and a magnetic system adapted to apply a magnetic force on at least one of the armature arms for causing the armature to rotate about its center region from a neutral position to any of a first operating position and a second operating position; wherein the magnetic system comprises: an electromagnet adapted to create a magnetic flux field based on an input control signal supplied by a control line, an end side of the electromagnet facing the armature; a core member extending longitudinally across an inner side of the electromagnet; at least two outer poles arranged on an outer side of the electromagnet, each outer pole extending adjacent to the electromagnet towards the end side facing the armature; and at least two permanent magnets, each permanent magnet being arranged in a separation gap between a respective outer pole and the core member and magnetically polarized with respect to the core member so that the core member, each outer pole and
  • said magnetic resistance differential causes a differential between the magnetic forces applied by each outer pole on the respective armature arm that is adapted to rotate the armature towards the outer pole associated with the lower magnetic resistance path.
  • the armature is rotatively coupled to the core member through a hinge spring mounted through the center region of the armature; the hinge spring is adapted to maintain the armature in the neutral position when the electromagnet is de-energized.
  • the armature has a groove at said central region that is adapted to engage with a tip of the core member, wherein the groove and the tip are designed with complementary shapes such that the tip provides a fulcrum about which the armature rotates between the neutral position and any of the first and second operating positions and blocks a lateral displacement of the armature during rotation.
  • each arm of the armature extends laterally away from the center region such that the cross-section of the armature has the shape of an angled double wing.
  • the core member is configured with a T-shape having a longitudinal limb and two transverse limbs, the longitudinal limb being adapted to be inserted along the longitudinal inner axis of the electromagnet and each transverse limb being adapted to extend outwards from an end side of the longitudinal limb; and each permanent magnet being arranged between a respective transverse limb and a respective outer pole.
  • each of the outer poles is designed with a L-shape including a longitudinal arm and a transverse arm that substantially form a right angle to each other, the outer poles being arranged outside the electromagnet with the respective longitudinal arms extending along the electromagnet longitudinal axis and the transverse arms extending inwards towards the core member; and each permanent magnet being arranged on the transverse arm of the respective outer pole and facing the core member.
  • the electromagnet is formed by a single coil wounded in a same direction about the longitudinal inner axis such that the direction of the magnetic flux field created by the electromagnet is controlled by the sign of the input control signal; and/or each permanent magnet is a two-pole magnet.
  • the magnetic bridge element has a portion with a thinner cross-section, the thickness of the thinner cross-section being selected such that magnetic bridge element is magnetically saturated at a desired flux density to limit the magnetic flux that can be passed through the second magnetic path and to force an amount of magnetic flux exceeding the desired flux density to pass through the first magnetic path.
  • the invention further provides an electromagnetic relay, comprising: a magnetic actuator according to the invention.
  • the electromagnetic relay further comprises a slidable coupler mechanically coupled to the armature of the magnetic actuator and adapted to perform a linear movement when the armature is rotated from the neutral position to any of the first and second operating positions; and a contact assembly adapted to switch among any of three switching states under the actuation of the slidable coupler.
  • the contact assembly comprises: a first arrangement of contacts comprising a movable contact element and at least one stationary contact element, the first arrangement of contacts being arranged on a first side of the magnetic actuator; wherein the slidable coupler includes a first pressure feature adapted to exert pressure on a side of the movable contact element during a linear movement of the slidable coupler from the neutral position towards a second side, opposed to the first side, after a first travelling distance, and a second pressure feature adapted to exert pressure on the opposed side of movable contact element during a linear movement of the slidable coupler from the neutral position towards the first side, after travelling a second travelling distance, and the second travelling distance is higher than the first travelling distance; and a second arrangement of contacts comprising a movable contact element and at least one stationary contact element, the second arrangement of contacts being arranged on the second side of the electromagnetic relay, opposite to the first arrangement of contacts; wherein the slidable coupler includes a third pressure feature adapted to exert pressure on the a movable contact
  • each of the first and second arrangements of contacts comprises first and second stationary contact elements, the first stationary contact elements corresponding to outer stationary contact elements and the second stationary contact elements corresponding to inner stationary contact elements with respect to the movable contact elements of the first and second arrangements of contacts.
  • the slidable coupler is adapted to make each movable contact element to come into contact with the respective first or second stationary contact depending on the movement direction of the slidable coupler, such that: a first switching state is achieved when the slidable coupler is moved, in a first movement direction, from the neutral position into a first position at which the slidable coupler presses each movable contact element against the respective stationary contact elements on the side defined by the slidable coupler movement direction; a second switching state is achieved when the slidable coupler is moved, in a second movement direction opposed to the first movement direction, from the neutral position into a second position, at which the slidable coupler presses each movable contact element against the respective stationary contact elements on the side defined by the second movement direction; and third switching state is achieved when the slidable coupler is in an intermediate position corresponding to the neutral position at which the slidable coupler exerts no pressure on each of the movable contact elements.
  • the movable contact element is a change-over terminal
  • the first stationary contact elements are normally closed terminal and the second stationary contact elements are normally opened terminal.
  • first and second stationary contact elements extend in a direction approximately transverse to the direction of the linear movement of the slidable coupler, and the movable contact element extends in a direction that makes a non-zero angle with the direction first and second stationary contact elements and such that an end part of the movable contact element rests in contact with an end part of the first stationary contact element when the slidable coupler is in the neutral position.
  • the longitudinal direction is the direction of the illustrated Y axis, a movement in the positive or negative direction of the Y axis being referred to as a longitudinal movement to the right or to the left, respectively.
  • the vertical direction is a direction parallel to the direction of the Z axis in the figures, the upward direction corresponding to a +Z direction and the downward direction to a -Z direction.
  • a plane parallel to the plane defined by the X and Y axes in the figures is referred to as an horizontal plane in the following description.
  • Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an electromagnetic relay 100 according to an embodiment.
  • the electromagnetic relay 100 is a three-state relay capable of switching between any of three different states for providing three different levels of operating voltage at the relay output terminals 110 and 120 based on the contact configuration and one or more potential voltage applied at each of the relay input terminals 130, 140, 150, 160.
  • Each of the three operating states of the relay 100 correspond to a specific configuration of connections between contacts of a contact assembly 300 and can be switched to another configuration under the actuation of a magnetic actuator 200, as it will be explained below.
  • the electromagnetic relay 100 may comprise a base 400 with features adapted to receive and fix the contact assembly 300 with the magnetic actuator 200 thereon, for e.g. by press-fit.
  • the magnetic actuator 200 is designed with a shape and size suitable for fitting within the contact assembly 300.
  • a perspective view of the electromagnetic relay 100 with the magnetic actuator 200, the contact assembly 300 and the base 400 in an assembled condition is shown in Fig. 2 .
  • the electromagnetic relay 100 may also include a cover (not shown) for covering and protecting the contact assembly 300 and the magnetic actuator 200 in harsh environments.
  • the base 400 and/or the cover may be made of a plastic material, such as LCP GF 30.
  • the magnetic actuator 200 and the contact assembly 300 may be directly mounted on a PCB or inside a box of the appliance to be operated.
  • the input control terminals 210, 220 of the magnetic actuator 200 and the relay terminals 110 - 140 protrude from a same side of the base 400 so as to facilitate electrical connections with external circuitry (not shown) from a same side of the relay 100.
  • the magnetic actuator 200 is mechanically coupled to the contact assembly 300 for changing its contact configuration between any of three switching configurations via magnetic actuation in response to an input control signal applied at input terminals 210, 220 of the magnetic actuator 200.
  • the contact assembly 300 provides a first operating state where the voltage input at the relay input terminals 130 and 160 is output with a given polarity, a second operating state where the voltage input at the relay input terminals 150 and 130 is output, i.e.
  • the magnetic actuator 200 includes a rocking armature 230 that is pivotally supported on the magnetic actuator 200 at a center region 240 of the armature 230.
  • the armature 230 can rotate in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction about a rotation axis C that extends through the center region 240 under the actuation of a magnetic system 250 of the magnetic actuator 200, as it will be explained later.
  • the armature 230 is preferably made of a single piece of rigid material and designed with two arms 232, 234 that extend in opposed directions on each side of the center region 240. As illustrated in more detail in Fig.
  • the armature arms 232, 234 may have a symmetric shape and extend from the center region 240 with an inclination angle such that the rocking armature 230 does not have a flat shape but rather an angled double-wing shape with respect to the center region 240.
  • the center region 240 then acts as a fulcrum about which the armature 230 rotates in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction about the rotation axis C.
  • the angled double-wing shape also provides an air separation gap between the tips of the armature arms 232, 234 and outer poles of the magnetic system 250 when the armature 230 is in a neutral position, as it will be explained later.
  • the armature 230 may be fixed to a coil body 260 of the magnetic system 250 by a hinge spring 236 that is mounted on the center region 240 of the armature 230 and fixed to receiving features 262 provided in the coil body 260.
  • the hinge spring 236 functions as a torsional spring that ensures mechanical contact of the armature with a core member of the magnetic system 250.
  • the magnetic system 250 is designed to apply a magnetic force on at least one of the armature arms 232, 234 that causes the armature 230 to rotate about the rotation axis C from a neutral position to either a first operating position (for e.g. by rotating in a clockwise direction) or a second operating position (for e.g. by rotating in counter-clockwise direction).
  • the magnetic system 250 comprises an electromagnet 270 responsible for creating a magnetic flux field in response to an input control signal supplied at the input control terminals 210, 220 for and which is responsible for the magnetic forces to be applied on the armature 230.
  • the electromagnet 270 may be provided as a bobbin or a single coil that is wound around the coil body 250.
  • the electromagnet 270 is oriented with respect to the armature 230 such that one of its end sides faces the armature 230, approximately centered with the armature center region 240, and its inner longitudinal axis L is approximately aligned in a direction transverse to the rotation axis C and passing through the center of mass of the armature 230.
  • the magnetic system 260 includes a core member 280 that extends longitudinally across the inner side of the electromagnet 270 and at least two outer poles 292, 294 arranged on an outer side of the electromagnet 270.
  • the core member 280 and the outer poles 292, 294 are made of soft magnetic materials so as to respectively concentrate the magnetic flux created by the electromagnet 270 along the magnetic flux paths defined by the core member 280 and the outer poles 292, 294 in the inner and outer sides of the electromagnet 270, respectively.
  • Each of the outer pole 292, 294 extends adjacently along the electromagnet 270, preferably between the end facing the armature 230 and the opposed end of electromagnet 270.
  • the outer poles 292, 294 and the core member 270 are provided as separate parts so as to provide two alternative magnetic paths for applying a resultant magnetic force on one arm or the other arm of the armature 230 depending on the direction of the magnetic flux field created by the electromagnet 270, as it will be explained later.
  • the magnetic actuator 200 further includes at least two permanent magnets 296, 298.
  • Each permanent magnet 296, 298 is arranged in a separation gap between a respective outer pole 292, 294 and the core member 270 and are provided with a magnetic polarization suitable for increasing or decreasing the magnetic resistance along the magnetic circuit branch formed by the core member 280, the permanent magnet 296 (or 298) and the respective outer pole 292 (or 294) depending on the direction of the magnetic flux created by the electromagnet 270.
  • the permanent magnet 296 is arranged with a magnetic polarization that is the inverse of the magnetic polarization of the permanent magnet 298 arranged on the other branch of the magnetic circuit, i.e.
  • the two permanent magnets 296, 298 produce sensitivity of the magnetic system 250 to the polarity of the electromagnet 270, so that when the electromagnet 270 is energized with a specific polarity, the different poles 292, 294 will exert attractive magnetic forces of different intensity on the armature arms 232, 234, respectively.
  • a binary force is produced on the center hinge 250 of the armature 230 due to the differential between the magnetic forces exerted by the top ends of each outer pole 292, 294 on the respective armature arms 232, 234.
  • the design of the magnetic circuit 250 can be optimized by providing a core member 280 with a T-shape that includes a longitudinal limb 282 adapted to be inserted along the longitudinal inner axis L of the electromagnet 270 and two transverse limbs 284, 286 that protrude from an end side of the longitudinal limb 282 and the electromagnet 270 on a side opposed to the armature 230.
  • each outer pole 292, 294 may be designed so as to almost form a yoke with a U-shape when arranged around the electromagnet 270, but which are provided as separate elements so as to decouple the magnetic flux paths flowing through the outer poles 292, 294 from each other.
  • each outer pole 292, 294 may be provided with similar L-shapes having a longitudinal arm and a transverse arm that substantially form a right angle with each other, the length of the longitudinal arm being suitable for extending at least along the entire longitudinal length of the electromagnet 270.
  • the transverse arms are oriented towards the core member 280 and partially overlap the end side of the electromagnetic 270 opposed to the armature 230.
  • Each permanent magnet 296, 298 is then arranged on the transverse arm of the respective outer pole 292, 294 and facing the core member 280.
  • the electromagnet 270 When the electromagnet 270 is de-energized, the resultant magnetic force applied to the armature arms 232, 234 by the respective outer poles 292, 294 is null or negligible. In this state, the armature 230 is maintained in the neutral position, i.e. with similar air gap separation between the tips of the armature 232, 234 and the respective outer poles 292, 294, through the action of the hinge spring 250.
  • Fig. 7 is a graphical representation of simulation results for the resultant magnetic force applied on the armature as a function of the air gap separation between an outer pole and the tip of the respective armature arm.
  • the maximum intensity of the actuating force is reached at null separation distance between the outer pole and the armature arm (full contact between armature arm and outer pole) and progressively decreases with the increase on the separation distance, which is minimal when the armature reaches the neutral position.
  • Fig. 8 The operation of switching the contact assembly 300 of the electromagnetic relay 100 among any of three switching states under the actuation of the magnetic actuator 200 will now be described with reference to Fig. 8 .
  • one arm 232 of the armature 230 is mechanically coupled to a slidable coupler 500 positioned on a lateral side of the magnetic system 250.
  • the slidable coupler 500 performs a linear movement along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic system 250, for e.g. rightwards (positive direction of Y-axis in Fig.
  • the slidable coupler 500 has a main body 510 with an elongated form along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis) and a pair of legs 520, 522 provided at an intermediate position that extend transversely from each side of the longitudinal direction of the main body 510.
  • the pair of legs 520, 522 include coupling features 530, 532 at each extremity for mechanically coupling with corresponding mating features 236, 238 provided in the armature arm 232.
  • the slidable coupler 500 is mechanically coupled to the contact assembly 300 such as to switch configuration of contacts during its longitudinal movement.
  • Fig. 9 shows a lateral view of the contact assembly 300 with two arrangements of contacts and the slidable coupler 500 in a neutral position.
  • the contact assembly 300 includes a first arrangement of contacts 310 comprising a movable contact element 312 and two contact elements 314, 316 positioned on each side of the movable contact element 312.
  • the contact elements 314, 316 are preferably stationary contacts that maintain their relative position with respect to the electromagnetic relay 100 in the assembled state, whereas the movable contact element 312 can be moved or switched between the contact elements 314, 316.
  • the movable contact element 312 corresponds to a change-over (CO) terminal
  • the stationary contact elements 314, 316 correspond to normally closed (NC) and normally opened (NO) terminals, respectively.
  • the contact assembly 300 includes a second arrangement of contacts 320 that is located on a side of the magnetic actuator 200, opposite to side where the first arrangement of contacts 310 is placed when the electromagnetic relay 100 is assembled.
  • the second arrangement of contacts 320 comprises a movable contact element 322 arranged between stationary contact elements 324, 326.
  • the stationary contact elements 324, 326 correspond to normally closed and normally opened terminals and the movable contact element 322 to a change-over terminal adapted to come into electrical contact with either one of the stationary contact elements 324, 326.
  • the movable and stationary contact elements are positioned with respect to each other within the respective contact arrangements 310, 320 and coupled by the slidable coupler 500 so as to obtain three different switching states of the contact assembly 300 as explained in the following with reference to Figs. 9 to 10 .
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a case where the slidable coupler 500 is in the intermediate, neutral position and both movable contact elements 312, 322 are in a resting position, i.e. each of the movable contact elements 312, 322 is in electrical contact with the outer stationary contact element of the respective contact arrangement, i.e. with the stationary contact elements 314 and 324.
  • the slidable coupler 500 exerts no contact pressure on the movable contact elements 312, 322.
  • This switching state corresponds to the armature 230 being in the neutral position, such as illustrated in Fig. 6 .
  • the contact assembly 300 may be made to switch from the neutral state to one of the first and second operating states of the electromagnetic relay 100 under the actuation of the armature 230 via the slidable coupler 500.
  • one of the movable contact elements 312, 322 is made to change from its resting position, where it is in contact with one of the stationary contact elements of respective contact arrangement 310, 320, into a contact with the opposed stationary contact element, i.e. the stationary contact element positioned in the movement direction of the slidable coupler 500, while the other of movable contact elements 312, 322 remains in its resting position.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a case where a first switching state of the contact assembly 300 is achieved by displacing the slidable coupler 500 in a first movement direction (rightwards in Fig. 10 ) into a first position, thereby displacing the movable contact element 312 on the left side of the contact assembly 300 in the movement direction, from its resting, contact position with the outer stationary contact element 314 into a contact position with the inner stationary contact element 316.
  • the movable contact element 322 located on the right side of the contact assembly 300 i.e. in the movement direction of the slidable coupler 500, remains in its resting position though being now pressed against the outer stationary contact element 324 by the slidable coupler 500.
  • a second switching state is achieved when the slidable coupler 500 is moved in a movement direction opposed to the first movement direction, for e.g. leftwards, under the actuation of the armature 230 into a second position, at which the slidable coupler 500 presses each movable contact element 312, 322 against the respective stationary contact elements 314, 326 positioned leftwards from the movable contact elements 312, 322 (i.e. in the direction of movement of the slidable coupler 500).
  • the stationary contact elements 314, 316, 324, 326 may be provided as rigid contact terminals extending in a direction approximately transverse to the direction of the linear movement of the slidable coupler 500. Contact pads may be added at the respective end parts for improving contact with movable contact elements 312, 322.
  • the movable contact elements 312, 322 may be provided with a resilient body or connected by a spring to a support of the contact assembly 300 or the base 400 in order to reduce resistance against the movement induced by the slidable coupler 500.
  • Fig. 11 shows a configuration of the movable contact element 322 (or 312) having a flat base 330 for attaching or inserting to a support of the contact assembly 300 or the base 400 of the electromagnetic relay 100, and a resilient body 340 that extends almost vertically from the flat base 330 with an inclination angle ⁇ larger than 90°.
  • the inclination angle ⁇ , of the movable contact elements 312, 322 ensures that the movable contact elements 312, 322 are in stable electrical contact with the respective outer stationary contact elements 314, 326 when the relay is in the neutral state and the magnetic actuator 200 is not energized.
  • other contact configurations may be envisaged in which both the movable and the stationary contact elements extend in parallel to each other.
  • the resistance against movement applied by the movable contact elements 312, 322 on the slidable coupler 500 may be reduced by decoupling the stages when the slidable coupler 500 applies mechanical force on the movable contact elements 312 and 322, as explained below with reference to Figs. 13 - 15 .
  • the contact pads of the stationary contact elements 314, 316, 324, and 326 are represented in Figs. 13 - 15 .
  • Fig. 13 illustrates schematically the slidable coupler 500 in the neutral state with respect to the contact elements of the contact assembly 300.
  • First and second pressure elements 540, 550 are provided on the left and right sides of the slidable coupler 500 for pushing the respective movable contact elements 312 or 322 from their respective neutral positions when the coupler 500 is moved rightwards or leftwards, respectively.
  • the first and second pressure elements 540, 550 are positioned with respect to the respective movable contact elements 312 or 322 so as to leave an initial gap 560 between them when the slidable coupler 500 is in the neutral position.
  • the slidable coupler 500 does not exert mechanical force on the movable contact element 312 or 322 in the neutral position.
  • the respective first or second pressure element 540 or 550 will enter into contact with the respective movable contact element 312 or 322 only after the slidable coupler 500 is linearly displaced from the neutral position by a first traveling distance that approximately corresponds to the value of the initial gap 560.
  • the first pressure feature 540 on the left side of the slidable coupler 500 contacts and starts exerting pressure on the left side of the movable contact element 312 only after the slidable coupler 500 has been displaced rightwards by a distance equal to the initial gap 560.
  • the slidable coupler 500 is still not applying mechanical force on the movable contact element 322 on the left side of the contact assembly 300.
  • the slidable coupler 500 also includes additional third and fourth pressure elements 542, 552 provided on the inner left and right sides of the slidable coupler 500.
  • the pressure elements 542, 552 In the neutral position the pressure elements 542, 552 have a separation from the respective movable contact elements 312, 322 that corresponds to an overtravel distance 570 by which the slidable coupler 500 has to be additionally displaced for bringing the movable contact element 312 or 322 into contact with the opposed, inner stationary contact element 316 or 326.
  • Fig. 15 illustrates the case where the movable contact element 312 is brought into contact with the inner stationary contact element 316 after the slidable coupler 500 has been further displaced rightwards by the overtravel distance 570.
  • the pressure element 552 on the right side of the slidable coupler 500 exerts pressure onto the movable contact element 322, which helps to maintain the movable contact element 322 in electrical contact with the outer stationary contact element 324, and therefore improves resistance of the electrical connection against vibrations.
  • the slidable coupler 500 is first linearly displaced by a distance corresponding to the initial gap 560 with reduced resistance from only one of the movable contact elements 312 or 322, and then by an overtravel distance 570 in the same movement direction for bringing the movable contact element 312 or 322 into contact with the opposed stationary contact element.
  • the overall displacement of the slidable coupler 500 when switching from the neutral state to one of the first and second operating states corresponds to an overall distance approximately equal to equal to the initial gap 550 and the overtravel 570.
  • the overtravel distance 570 is higher than the initial gap 550 for improving stability of the contacts in the three switching states.
  • Fig. 16 shows a circuit diagram of a motor reverse application using a three-state relay 600 according to principles of the present invention for switching between any of a neutral state for stopping/halting the motor, a first state for driving the motor in given direction and a second state for reverting the direction of the motor movement.
  • the three-state relay 600 has NO terminals 610 and NC terminals 620 that are respectively coupled to the positive and negative terminals of a power source, such as a battery.
  • the movable CO terminals 630 are electrically coupled to the terminals of the motor 640 and remain in the resting position, i.e.
  • the three-state relay 600 can be switched from the neutral state to any of two operating states for operating the motor 640 with direct or reverse rotation by supplying a single input signal from a signal source 660 and which is converted by a single driver 672 into an analogue signal with suitable polarity and intensity for causing a rotation of the relay armature in the direction associated with the desired motor rotation.
  • Fig. 17 shows a circuit diagram of a headlight or fan application using the three-state relay 600 shown in Fig. 16 .
  • the NO terminals 610 of the three-state relay 600 are not connected to the same positive terminal of a power source as in Fig. 16 but rather to respective potential voltages V1 and V2 so that two different power levels for driving the appliance can be achieved depending on whether one or the other of the CO terminals 630 is made to contact one or the other of the NO terminal 610.
  • the neutral state is achieved when the CO terminals 630 are both switched to connect to the NC terminals 620.
  • Fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of a magnetic actuator 700 according to a second embodiment, which differs from the configuration described above with reference to Fig. 6 in the shape of the rocking armature 730 and of the extremity of the core member 280 by which the rocking armature 730 is supported.
  • the armature 730 is designed with a recess or groove 740 at a centre region and which extends along the armature rotation axis C.
  • the recess or groove 740 is designed with an inverted-V shape suitable to engage with the extremity 750 of the core member 280 in a pivoting manner.
  • Two armature arms 732, 734 extend in opposed directions from each side of the groove 740 and are preferably symmetric in shape.
  • the armature arms 732, 734 also make a non-zero angle with respect to a plane transverse to the rotation axis C such that the extremities of the armature arms 732, 734 do not physically contact the ends of the outer poles 292, 294 of the magnetic system 250, respectively, when the armature 730 is in a neutral position.
  • the extremity 750 of the core member 280 onto which the rocking armature 730 is supported is provided with V-shape suitable to engage with the armature groove 740 and to provide a pivot point or fulcrum 750 around which the armature 730 can rotate in a clockwise/counter-clockwise manner.
  • the V-inverted shape of the groove 740 has an overture angle larger than the angle of the V-shaped tip of the core member 280 such as to allow the armature 730 to pivot between the neutral and the first/second operating positions, while blocking lateral movements along the Y-direction.
  • the inverted-V shape of the groove 740 improves stability of the armature movement by preventing lateral displacements of the armature 730 towards the left or right sides of the rotation axis C when the armature 730 is magnetically actuated to switch from the neutral position to the first or second operating positions.
  • the principles and details of operation of the magnetic actuator 700 are the same as those described above with reference to the magnetic actuator 200, namely, the magnetic actuation produced by the magnetic system 250 onto the armature 730 for rotating it from the neutral position to either the first operating position (for e.g. where the armature arm 734 is rotated in the clockwise direction to contact the outer pole 294) or a second operating position (for e.g. where the armature arm 732 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction to contact the outer pole 292), and therefore, these will not be repeated here.
  • the armature 730 is preferably made of a single piece of rigid material and may be fixed to the coil body 260 of the magnetic system 250 by a hinge spring 736 mounted on the centre region 740 of the armature 730 and fixed to receiving features (not shown) in the coil body 260.
  • the hinge spring 736 may also functions as a torsional spring that improves the mechanical contact of the armature 730 with the end 750 of core member 280.
  • the groove 740 and fulcrum 780 may be designed with shapes different from the inverted V-shape and V-shape described above, as long as these provide sufficient degree of freedom for the pivoting movement of the armature 730 while constraining any lateral displacements of the armature 730 during rotation.
  • FIG. 19 A configuration of a magnetic actuator 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 19 - 20 .
  • the magnetic actuator 800 differs from the magnetic actuator 200 described above with reference to Fig. 6 in comprising one or more magnetic bridging elements for defining a double-loop magnetic path for the magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet 270.
  • the magnetic actuator 800 in the present example includes at least two permanent magnets 296, 298 that are respectively arranged with opposed polarizations in the respective separation gap between the transverse arms 292', 294' of the outer poles 292, 294 and the left and right limbs 286, 284 of core member 280 to provide two magnetic paths of different magnetic resistance for the magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet 270.
  • the magnetic flux generated by the coil of the electromagnet 270 is symmetric with respect to the coil longitudinal axis L, and therefore, it would be distributed equally, in the absence of the permanent magnets 296, 298, between the magnetic circuit branch formed by the core member 280, the armature 230, and the outer pole 292 on one side of the electromagnet 270 and the magnetic circuit branch formed by the core member 280, the armature 230 and the outer pole 294 on the opposed side as illustrated in Fig.
  • the sensitivity of this magnetic actuation principle to the energizing current polarity is further improved by adding magnetic bridging elements 810, 820 to each transverse arm 292', 294' of the outer poles 292, 294, respectively.
  • the magnetic bridge element 820 is arranged at an end of the transverse arm 294' and extends transversely towards the longitudinal limb 282 of the core member 280 such as to partially overlap the longitudinal limb 282, without contacting it, from a lateral side of the core member 280.
  • the dimensions of the magnetic bridge element 820 and distance from the longitudinal core limb 282 are selected such as to establish a second magnetic path through the core member 280, the magnetic bridging element 820, and the transverse arm 294' for the magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet 270.
  • This second magnetic path provides a shortcut for the passage of a fraction of the magnetic flux produced by the electromagnet, independent on the polarity of the energizing current, which allows to improve stability of the overall magnetic actuation principle.
  • the magnetic bridge element 820 has a thinner portion with a thickness that is selected such as to ensure that the magnetic bridging element 820 is magnetically saturated at a desired flux density.
  • the predetermined level is preferably selected so as to correspond to a magnetic flux density at which the magnetic bridge elements 810, 820 are magnetically saturated by magnetic flux density produced by the electromagnet 270 alone at a desired energizing current, i.e. without taking into account the effect of the permanent magnets 296, 298, such as illustrated in Fig. 21 (D) .
  • Fig. 21 (C) illustrated the distribution of the resultant magnetic flux when taking into account the effect of the permanent magnets 296, 298 (where the polarization of the permanent magnets is represented with black arrows) and the magnetic saturation of the bridge elements 810, 820.
  • a fraction of the magnetic flux produced by the electromagnet 270 passes across the bridge element 810 on the left side of the actuator, and the remaining flux is directed towards the core limb 286 and the permanent magnet 296 due to the saturation of the bridge element 810, so that a double-loop magnetic path is established on the left branch of the magnetic actuator.
  • the bridge element 820 is also saturated by the magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet 270, which has the same direction inside the bridge element 820 as the magnetic flux introduced by the permanent magnet 298.
  • the magnetic flux introduced by the permanent magnet 298 cannot be shortcut by the bridge element 820, and no double-loop magnetic path is formed.
  • the subtraction effect from the permanent magnet 298 on the right-side onto the flux generated by the electromagnet 270 is maintained, thereby creating a differential of attractive forces that cause the armature 230 to rotate towards the left-side.
  • the polarity of the electromagnet energizing is inverted, situation described above is also invert and the double-loop magnetic path is established at the right side of the magnetic actuator.
  • the magnetic bridge elements 810, 820 are made of a magnetic material, such as iron. As shown in Figs. 19 - 20 , one of the magnetic bridge elements 810, 820 is provided on one side of the magnetic actuator 800 (for e.g. element 810 at the actuator front-side in Fig. 19 ) while the other magnetic bridge element is provided at the opposed side of the magnetic actuator 800 (for e.g. element 820 at the actuator back-side in Fig. 20 ), instead of on a same side of the magnetic actuator 800, for avoiding magnetic interference between the bridge elements 810, 820 and magnetic short-circuit between the transverse arms 292', 294' of the outer poles 292, 294.
  • a magnetic material such as iron.
  • the armature 730 described above with reference to Fig. 18 is also applicable to the magnetic actuator 800 of the present embodiment.
  • the concepts described above allows yielding a three-state relay which can be switched under actuation of a single armature operable with a single inductive coil by simply reversing the sign of the input control signal fed to the single inductive coil.
  • the contact configurations corresponding to the neutral configuration (off state) are achieved by deenergizing the single coil, and therefore, do not require additional excitation coils for reverting the armature to its neutral position.
  • three switching states may be achieved with a single relay format that can be easily operated with a single control line, without requiring synchronization between multiple operation lines and complex circuitry.
  • the present invention provides magnetic actuators and electromagnetic relays with a compacter design and of simple operation.
  • the magnets and other components of the magnetic actuators can be assembled by simple insertion or press fitting, and thereof, the assembly of the electromagnetic relay requires no welding or riveting.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Magnetischer Aktuator für ein Dreizustands-Schaltrelais (100; 700), umfassend:
    einen Anker (230; 730) mit zwei Schenkeln (232, 234; 732, 734), die sich seitlich von einem Mittelbereich (240; 740) des Ankers (230; 730) aus erstrecken; und
    ein magnetisches System (250), das so eingerichtet ist, dass es eine magnetische Kraft auf wenigstens einen der Anker-Schenkel (232, 234; 732, 734) ausübt, um den Anker (230; 730) zu veranlassen, sich von einer neutralen Position um seinen Mittelbereich (240; 740) herum an eine beliebige von einer ersten Betriebsposition und einer zweiten Betriebsposition zu drehen;
    wobei das magnetische System umfasst:
    einen Elektromagneten (270), der so eingerichtet ist, dass er auf Basis eines über eine Steuerleitung zugeführten Eingangs-Steuersignals ein Magnetfluss-Feld erzeugt, wobei eine Endseite des Elektromagneten dem Anker (230; 730) zugewandt ist;
    ein Kernelement (280), das sich in Längsrichtung über eine Innenseite des Elektromagneten (270) erstreckt;
    wenigstens zwei äußere Pole (292, 294), die an einer Außenseite des Elektromagneten (270) angeordnet sind, wobei sich jeder äußere Pol an den Elektromagneten (270) angrenzend in Richtung der dem Anker (230; 730) zugewandten Endseite erstreckt; sowie
    wenigstens zwei Permanentmagneten (296, 298), wobei jeder Permanentmagnet in einem Trennspalt zwischen einem jeweiligen äußeren Pol und dem Kernelement (280) angeordnet und in Bezug auf das Kernelement (280) magnetisch so polarisiert ist, dass das Kernelement (280), jeder äußere Pol (292, 294) und der jeweilige Permanentmagnet (296, 298) einen jeweiligen Weg für den durch den Elektromagneten (270) erzeugten Magnetfluss bilden;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder der äußeren Pole (292, 294) enthält:
    einen Quer-Schenkel (292'; 294'), an dem die Permanentmagnete (296, 298) jeweils angeordnet sind und der so eingerichtet ist, dass er sich nach innen in Richtung eines Längs-Arms (282) des Kernelementes (280) erstreckt, ohne mit dem Längs-Arm (282) in Kontakt zu kommen, und so einen ersten magnetischen Weg über das Kernelement (280), den Permanentmagneten und den Quer-Schenkel für den durch den Elektromagneten (270) erzeugten Magnetfluss ausbildet; und
    ein magnetisches Brückenelement (810; 820), das sich von dem Quer-Schenkel (292'; 294') so in Richtung des Längs-Arms (282) erstreckt, dass es den Längs-Arm (282) von einer Längsseite des Kernelementes (280) aus teilweise überlappt, ohne mit ihm in Kontakt zu kommen, und so einen zweiten magnetischen Weg über das Kernelement (280), das magnetische Brückenelement und den Quer-Schenkel für den von dem Elektromagneten (270) erzeugten magnetischen Fluss ausbildet.
  2. Magnetischer Aktuator nach Anspruch 1, wobei
    die Permanentmagnete (296, 298) unterschiedlich gepolt sind und so unterschiedlichen magnetischen Widerstand der jeweiligen Magnetfluss-Wege bewirken;
    der Magnetpol jedes Permanentmagneten (296, 298) dem Kernelement (280) mit einem Vorzeichen zugewandt ist, das dem Vorzeichen des anderen Permanent-Magnetpols entgegengesetzt ist.
  3. Magnetischer Aktuator nach Anspruch 2, wobei der unterschiedliche magnetische Widerstand einen Unterschied zwischen den durch jeden äußeren Pol auf den jeweiligen Anker-Schenkel ausgeübten magnetischen Kräften bewirkt, durch den der Anker (230; 730) in Richtung des äußeren Pols gedreht wird, der dem Weg mit geringerem magnetischen Widerstand zugeordnet ist.
  4. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei
    der Anker (230; 730) über eine Gelenkfeder (736), die über den mittleren Bereich (240; 740) des Ankers (230; 730) installiert ist, drehbar mit dem Kernelement gekoppelt ist;
    die Gelenkfeder (736) so eingerichtet ist, dass sie den Anker (230; 730) in der neutralen Position hält, wenn der Elektromagnet unerregt ist.
  5. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei
    der Anker (730) in dem mittleren Bereich eine Nut (740) aufweist, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie mit einer Spitze (780) des Kernelementes (280) in Eingriff kommt, wobei die Nut (740) und die Spitze (780) mit komplementären Formen so ausgeführt sind, dass die Spitze (780) einen Drehpunkt bildet, um den sich der Anker (730) zwischen der neutralen Position und einer beliebigen von der ersten sowie der zweiten Betriebsposition dreht und eine seitliche Verschiebung des Ankers bei Drehung verhindert.
  6. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei
    jeder Schenkel des Ankers (230; 730) sich seitlich so von dem Mittelbereich (240; 740) weg erstreckt, dass der Querschnitt des Ankers (230; 730) die Form eines winkelförmigen Doppelflügels hat.
  7. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei
    das Kernelement (280) in einer T-Form ausgeführt ist, die einen Längs-Arm (282) und zwei Quer-Arme (284, 286) aufweist, wobei der Längs-Arm (282) so eingerichtet ist, dass er entlang der Innen-Längsachse (L) des Elektromagneten (270) eingeführt wird, und jeder Quer-Arm so eingerichtet ist, das er sich von einer Endseite des Längs-Arms (282) nach außen erstreckt; und
    jeder Permanentmagnet zwischen einem jeweiligen Quer-Arm und einem jeweiligen äußeren Pol angeordnet ist.
  8. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei
    jeder der äußeren Pole (292, 294) in einer L-Form ausgeführt ist, die einen Längs-Schenkel und eine Quer-Schenkel einschließt, die im Wesentlichen einen rechten Winkel zueinander bilden, die äußeren Pole (292, 294) außerhalb des Elektromagneten angeordnet sind, und sich die jeweiligen Längs-Schenkel entlang der Längsachse des Elektromagneten erstrecken und sich die Quer-Schenkel nach innen in Richtung des Kernelementes (280) erstrecken, und
    jeder Permanentmagnet an dem Quer-Schenkel des jeweiligen äußeren Pols angeordnet ist und dem Kernelement (280) zugewandt ist.
  9. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, wobei
    der Elektromagnet (270) durch eine einzelne Spule gebildet wird, die in gleicher Richtung so um die Innen-Längsachse gewickelt ist, dass die Richtung des durch den Elektromagneten (270) erzeugten Magnetfluss-Feldes durch das Vorzeichen des Eingangs-Steuersignals gesteuert wird; und/oder
    jeder Permanentmagnet (296; 298) ein zweipoliger Magnet ist.
  10. Magnetischer Aktuator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei
    das magnetische Brückenelement (810; 820) einen Abschnitt mit einem dünneren Querschnitt aufweist, wobei die Dicke des dünneren Querschnitts so gewählt wird, dass das magnetische Brückenelement (810; 820) bei einer gewünschten Flussdichte magnetisch gesättigt ist und den Magnetfluss begrenzt, der über den zweiten magnetischen Weg geleitet werden kann, und einen Anteil des Magnetflusses, der die gewünschte Flussdichte übersteigt, zwangsweise über den ersten magnetischen Weg leitet.
  11. Elektromagnetisches Relais, das umfasst:
    einen magnetischen Aktuator (200) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10.
  12. Elektromagnetisches Relais nach Anspruch 11, das des Weiteren umfasst:
    einen verschiebbaren Koppler (500), der mechanisch mit dem Anker des magnetischen Aktuators gekoppelt und so eingerichtet ist, dass er eine lineare Bewegung durchführt, wenn der Anker von der neutralen Position an eine beliebige von der ersten und der zweiten Betriebsposition gedreht wird; und
    eine Kontaktbaugruppe (300), die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie, betätigt von dem verschiebbaren Koppler (500), zwischen einem von drei Schaltzuständen umschaltet.
  13. Elektromagnetisches Relais nach Anspruch 12, wobei die Kontaktbaugruppe (300) umfasst:
    eine erste Anordnung von Kontakten (310), die ein bewegliches Kontaktelement (312) und wenigstens ein stationäres Kontaktelement (314, 316) umfasst, wobei die erste Anordnung von Kontakten an einer ersten Seite des magnetischen Aktuators angeordnet ist;
    der verschiebbare Koppler (500) eine erste Druck-Struktur, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie bei einer linearen Bewegung des verschiebbaren Kopplers (500) von der neutralen Position in Richtung einer der ersten Seite gegenüberliegenden zweiten Seite nach einer ersten Bewegungsstrecke Druck auf eine Seite des beweglichen Kontaktelementes (312) ausübt, sowie eine zweite Druck-Struktur enthält, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie bei einer linearen Bewegung des verschiebbaren Kopplers (500) von der neutralen Position in Richtung der ersten Seite nach Zurücklegen einer zweiten Bewegungsstrecke Druck auf die gegenüberliegende Seite des beweglichen Kontaktelementes (312) ausübt, und
    die zweite Bewegungsstrecke länger ist als die erste Bewegungsstrecke; sowie
    eine zweite Anordnung von Kontakten (320), die ein bewegliches Kontaktelement (322) und wenigstens ein stationäres Kontaktelement (324, 326) umfasst, wobei die zweite Anordnung von Kontakten (320) an der zweiten Seite des elektromagnetischen Relais, der ersten Anordnung von Kontakten gegenüberliegend, angeordnet ist; und
    der verschiebbare Koppler (500) eine dritte Druck-Struktur, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie bei der linearen Bewegung von der neutralen Position in Richtung der zweiten Seite nach Zurücklegen der zweiten Bewegungsstrecke Druck auf das bewegliche Kontaktelement (322) der zweiten Anordnung (320) ausübt, sowie eine vierte Druck-Struktur enthält, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie bei der linearen Bewegung von der neutralen Position in Richtung der ersten Seite nach Zurücklegen der ersten Bewegungsstrecke Druck auf das bewegliche Kontaktelement (322) der zweiten Anordnung (320) ausübt.
  14. Elektromagnetisches Relais nach Anspruch 13, wobei
    jede von der ersten und der zweiten Anordnung von Kontakten (310; 320) erste und zweite stationäre Kontaktelemente (314, 316; 324, 326) umfasst,
    und die ersten stationären Kontaktelemente (314; 324) äußeren stationären Kontaktelementen entsprechen und die zweiten stationären Kontaktelemente (316; 326) inneren stationären Kontaktelementen in Bezug auf die beweglichen Kontaktelemente (312; 322) der ersten und der zweiten Anordnung von Kontakten (310; 320) entsprechen.
  15. Elektromagnetisches Relais nach Anspruch 14, wobei:
    der verschiebbare Koppler (500) so eingerichtet ist, dass er das bewegliche Kontaktelement (312; 322) jeder der ersten und der zweiten Anordnung von Kontakten (310; 320) in Abhängigkeit von der Bewegungsrichtung des verschiebbaren Kopplers (500) so in Kontakt mit dem ersten stationären Kontakt (314; 324) oder dem zweiten stationären Kontakt (316; 324) der jeweiligen ersten und zweiten Anordnung von Kontakten (310; 320) bringt, dass:
    ein erster Schaltzustand hergestellt wird, wenn der verschiebbare Koppler (500) in einer ersten Bewegungsrichtung von der neutralen Position an eine erste Position bewegt wird, an der der verschiebbare Koppler (500) jedes bewegliche Kontaktelement (312; 322) an die jeweiligen stationären Kontaktelemente an der Seite drückt, die durch die Bewegungsrichtung des verschiebbaren Kopplers bestimmt wird;
    ein zweiter Schaltzustand hergestellt wird, wenn der verschiebbare Koppler (500) in einer zweiten Bewegungsrichtung von der neutralen Position an eine zweite Position bewegt wird, an der der verschiebbare Koppler (500) jedes bewegliche Kontaktelement (312; 322) an die jeweiligen stationären Kontaktelemente an der Seite drückt, die durch die zweite Bewegungsrichtung bestimmt wird; und
    ein dritter Schaltzustand hergestellt wird, wenn sich der verschiebbare Koppler (500) an einer Zwischenposition befindet, die der neutralen Position entspricht, an der der verschiebbare Koppler (500) keinen Druck auf eines der beweglichen Kontaktelemente (312; 322) ausübt.
EP19398017.4A 2019-01-04 2019-12-20 Verbesserte dreiphasige relaisansätze für automobil- oder geräteanwendungen Active EP3678159B1 (de)

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AU1461666A (en) * 1967-08-14 1969-02-20 Electro-mechanical bi-stable motive unit
US3621419A (en) * 1970-02-19 1971-11-16 Leach Corp Polarized latch relay
JPS5268952A (en) * 1975-12-05 1977-06-08 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Polar relay
JPH06283088A (ja) * 1993-03-26 1994-10-07 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 電磁継電器
EP3211653B1 (de) * 2016-02-23 2019-08-14 Tyco Electronics Componentes Electromecanicos Lda Elektromagnetisches relais für drei schaltpositionen
EP3297004B1 (de) * 2016-09-15 2020-04-08 Fas Medic S.A. Elektromagnetischer aktuator mit schaukelnder armatur

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