GB2239354A - Relay arrangements - Google Patents
Relay arrangements Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2239354A GB2239354A GB9027801A GB9027801A GB2239354A GB 2239354 A GB2239354 A GB 2239354A GB 9027801 A GB9027801 A GB 9027801A GB 9027801 A GB9027801 A GB 9027801A GB 2239354 A GB2239354 A GB 2239354A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- arrangement
- housing
- contacts
- eev
- relay
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
- H01H51/29—Relays having armature, contacts, and operating coil within a sealed casing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/64—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact
- H01H50/643—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact intermediate part performing a rotating or pivoting movement
- H01H50/644—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact intermediate part performing a rotating or pivoting movement having more than one rotating or pivoting part
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
- H01H50/023—Details concerning sealing, e.g. sealing casing with resin
- H01H2050/025—Details concerning sealing, e.g. sealing casing with resin containing inert or dielectric gasses, e.g. SF6, for arc prevention or arc extinction
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
- H01H50/026—Details concerning isolation between driving and switching circuit
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)
Description
1 1 Relay Arrangements 3 --- Z:7- 3 A This invention relates to relay
arrangements and more particularly to relay arrangements which are capable of switching large energies but which are inexpensive to manufacture.
Relay arrangements used in equipment such as medical defibrillators, for example, must be able to withstand large hold off voltages without arcing and capable of being switched quickly. one type of relay used at present includes contacts which are housed within an envelope of glass and metal which also contains an insulating gas at a relatively high pressure, typically in the region of three atmospheres. Such an envelope is expensive to fabricate because of the difficulties in providing good sealing between the glass and metal parts, particularly where electrical leads are taken out through the glass wall and because glass tends to be difficult to work.
The present invention arose from an attempt to design a relay arrangement which is particularly suitable for use with medical defibrillators and which is relatively cheap to manufacture.
t 2 P/8263/EEV According to the invention there is provided a relay arrangement comprising fixed and movable contacts contained within a housing which is of plastic material and filled with electrically insulating gas. By using plastic material for the housing, the arrangement may be fabricated relatively cheaply, preferably using moulding techniques. Furthermore, the problems caused when materials having different coefficients of expansion are used in the envelope are reduced or avoided. The inventor has realised that, although a housing of plastic material may not be generally as strong as a conventional glass/metal construction, that by suitably configuring the contacts within the housing a lower pressure gas may be used whilst retaining satisfactory performance. The relay arrangement must be able to hold off in the region of 5.5 kV for use in defibrillator equipment and be capable of switching 500J. By using relatively large gaps between metal parts within the housing and having an insulating gas filling this may be achieved at relatively low gas pressures, enabling plastic to be used even in such a demanding application. It is preferred that the gas pressure within the housing is approximately one atmosphere, reducing stresses on the housing walls caused by differences between internal and external pressures.
v 3 P/8263/EEV The insulating gas used must be such that, unlike air, say, it does not readily conduct and if it has by-products then they must also be non- conductive. The particular plastic material used depends on its properties when it comes into contact with the insulating gas.
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the movable contact is pivoted at two pivot points. This enables a large amount of movement to be produced in a relatively short time. Thus, it is possible to space the movable and fixed contacts at fairly large distances apart to reduce the tendency for arcing to occur without significantly impairing the performance of the relay.
In one embodiment of the invention two sets of fixed and movable contacts are included and a member of electrically insulating material is located between the two sets, thus giving additional shielding against arcing. Preferably, the member is an actuator for moving the movable contacts, this being a particularly convenient configuration.
one way in which the invention may be performed is 1 k 4 P/8263/EEV now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a relay arrangement in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a relay arrangement used in medical defibrillator equipment includes two sets of contacts generally indicated at 1 and 2 respectively. Each set 1 and 2 of contacts includes two fixed contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6 and a movable contact 7 and 8. The sets 1 and 2 of contacts are located within a housing 9 which is of a plastic material and is cuboid, having rectangular faces. The housing 9 is filled with an insulating gas, at a pressure of approximately one atmosphere.
The contacts 3 and 4 of the first set 1 are mounted on a common post, the electrical connection to the lower contact 4 being made by a wire 10 and that to the upper P/8263/EEV contact 3 by a wire 11. Insulating material 12 is located between the contacts 3 and 4 and the wires 10 and 11 are also insulated. The movable contact 7 is pivoted at two points 13 and 14. The pivot point 14 at the end of the movable contact 7 remote from the fixed contacts 3 and 4 consists of a slot in a metal portion 15 of a post 16 through which the contact 7 passes. At the other pivot point 13, a cylindrical rod 17, attached to an actuator member 18 is located against the contact 7, the contact including a curved part to accommodate the rod 17.
The second set 2 of contacts is substantially identical in configuration to the first set. The part of the actuator member 18 between the two sets is of electrically insulating material.
The housing 9 also includes a coil 19 which provides means for electromagnetically moving the actuator 18. Normally, the actuator 18 is held in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, by a spring 20, the movable contacts 7 and 8 being in contact with the upper fixed contacts 3 and 5. When the coil 19 is energised. the actuating member 18 is moved downwardly and the movable contacts 7 and 8 come into contact with the lower fixed contacts 4 and 6.
i 1 1 6 P/8263/EEV The actuator member 18 comprises a horizontal part 21 as shown and a substantially vertical part 22. The vertical part 22 is arranged to extend sufficiently far that, when the member is is in its upper most position, th lower fixed contacts 4 and 6 are electrically shielded by it.
The base 23 of the housing 9 includes moulded portions 24 through which electrical connectors are taken. During manufacture of the relay arrangement, the coil 19 and contacts 1 and 2 are assembled on the base 23 and then the remainder of the housing sealed to the base 24. The housing 9 is then evacuated via a vent hole and the insulating gas pumped in.
With reference to Figure 3, a circuit arrangement which includes the relay arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a high voltage d.c. supply 25 connected across a capacitor 26 via the movable contacts 7 and 8 of the relay arrangement. The capacitor is also connected to paddles 27 and 28 which, in use, are held in contact with a patient who is being defibrillated.
In use, the high voltage d.c. supply 25 is switched on to charge the capacitor 26, the movable contacts 7 and 8 e k 7 P/8263/EEV being in the position shown, when the required amount of energy is stored, the operator triggers the arrangement and a voltage pulse is applied to the relay coil 19. This activates the relay so that the capacitor 26 is discharged via an inductor 29 across the paddles 27 and 28.
4 8
Claims (13)
- P/8263/EEV 1. A relay arrangement comprising fixed and movable contacts contained within a housing which is of plasti material and filled with electrically insulating gas.c
- 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas pressure within the housing is approximately one atmosphere.
- 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing is a hollow cuboid.
- 4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the movable contact is arranged to move between two fixed contacts.
- 5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the movable contact is pivoted at two pivot points.
- 6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and including electromagnetic means for moving the movable contact.9 P/8263/EEV
- 7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and including two sets of fixed and movable contacts and a member of electrically insulating material located between the two sets.
- 8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the electrically insulating member is an actuator for moving the movable contacts.
- 9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is manufactured using moulding techniques.
- 10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the housing includes moulded lead-through portions through which electrical conductors are passed.
- 11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and adapted and constructed for use with defibrillator equipment.
- 12. A relay arrangement substantially as illustrated in and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.0 P/8263/EEV
- 13. A circuit arrangement substantially as illustrated in and described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.A Published 1991 at Me Patent Office. State House. 66/71 High Holborn. London WC1R41P. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point Cwrnfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB898929126A GB8929126D0 (en) | 1989-12-22 | 1989-12-22 | Relay arrangements |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9027801D0 GB9027801D0 (en) | 1991-02-13 |
GB2239354A true GB2239354A (en) | 1991-06-26 |
GB2239354B GB2239354B (en) | 1994-08-31 |
Family
ID=10668462
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB898929126A Pending GB8929126D0 (en) | 1989-12-22 | 1989-12-22 | Relay arrangements |
GB9027801A Expired - Fee Related GB2239354B (en) | 1989-12-22 | 1990-12-21 | Relay arrangements |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB898929126A Pending GB8929126D0 (en) | 1989-12-22 | 1989-12-22 | Relay arrangements |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0434463B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69028906D1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB8929126D0 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE9111577U1 (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-01-28 | EURO-Matsushita Electric Works AG, 8150 Holzkirchen | Electromagnetic relay |
US5554963A (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1996-09-10 | Alcatel Str Ag | Gas-filled plastic enclosed relay |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4127533A1 (en) * | 1991-08-20 | 1993-02-25 | Siemens Ag | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF |
ES2076104B1 (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1997-11-16 | Releco Sa | CONTACT MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAYS. |
DE69936026T2 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2007-08-16 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Kadoma | Single-pole switch arrangement with relays |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB917479A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1963-02-06 | Brookhirst Igranic Ltd | Electromagnetic relay |
US4039984A (en) * | 1976-03-11 | 1977-08-02 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Pressurized relay assembly |
GB1524404A (en) * | 1975-09-19 | 1978-09-13 | Schaltelektronik Veb K | Switches |
US4168480A (en) * | 1978-02-13 | 1979-09-18 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Relay assembly |
US4580005A (en) * | 1983-07-02 | 1986-04-01 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Wash-tight electromagnetic relay |
US4675987A (en) * | 1983-03-12 | 1987-06-30 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Method of sealing a relay |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5539154A (en) * | 1978-09-12 | 1980-03-18 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Method of fabricating gassfilled electric switch |
NL7809766A (en) * | 1978-09-27 | 1980-03-31 | Philips Nv | HEART DEFIBRILLATOR. |
-
1989
- 1989-12-22 GB GB898929126A patent/GB8929126D0/en active Pending
-
1990
- 1990-12-21 DE DE69028906T patent/DE69028906D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-12-21 GB GB9027801A patent/GB2239354B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-12-21 EP EP19900314175 patent/EP0434463B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB917479A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1963-02-06 | Brookhirst Igranic Ltd | Electromagnetic relay |
GB1524404A (en) * | 1975-09-19 | 1978-09-13 | Schaltelektronik Veb K | Switches |
US4039984A (en) * | 1976-03-11 | 1977-08-02 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Pressurized relay assembly |
US4168480A (en) * | 1978-02-13 | 1979-09-18 | Torr Laboratories, Inc. | Relay assembly |
US4675987A (en) * | 1983-03-12 | 1987-06-30 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Method of sealing a relay |
US4580005A (en) * | 1983-07-02 | 1986-04-01 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Wash-tight electromagnetic relay |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE9111577U1 (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-01-28 | EURO-Matsushita Electric Works AG, 8150 Holzkirchen | Electromagnetic relay |
US5554963A (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1996-09-10 | Alcatel Str Ag | Gas-filled plastic enclosed relay |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8929126D0 (en) | 1990-02-28 |
EP0434463A2 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
DE69028906D1 (en) | 1996-11-21 |
GB9027801D0 (en) | 1991-02-13 |
EP0434463B1 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
EP0434463A3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
GB2239354B (en) | 1994-08-31 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19961221 |