US1484709A - Sensitive relay - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26 1924.

J. H.- HAMMOND, JR

SENSITIVE RELAY Original Filed Feb. 27, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wZZ/ssm 1 j m ATTORNEYS Feb. 26 ,1924. I,484;7U9

.1. H. HAMMOND, JR

SENSITIVE RELAY Original Filed Feb. 27, 1915 2 sheets-sheet. 2

in w mam WITNESSES ww fmlv ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., F GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SENSITIVE RELAY.

' Application filed February 27, 1913. Serial No. 750,982. Renewed July 18, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HAYS HAM:

,MOND, J r., a citizen of the United States, re-

siding. in Gloucester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sensitive Relays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to relays for telegraph and other electric circuits, and relates more particularly to relays where great sensitiveness is required, as in radio telegraphy and submarine telegraphy.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan of my sensitive relay.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my sensitive relay. 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my sensitive relay made on the line 02-00 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the central part of my sensitive relay.

Fig. 5 is a section through one of the ivory blocks and mercury cu s.

In these drawings, ifierent views of the same parts have the same numbers. The magnetic field of the relay is created by the current in the coils 50 and 51,'this current being supplied from an external source, such as a battery, through the binding posts 53 and 54. The cores 48 and 49 are connected at the rear by a yoke 52, and in front are attached to the pole pieces 46 and 47 Between the pole pieces is the core 2, supported by the pieces 44 and 45, which are attached to the supporting bars 41 and 43, the latter being screwed to the pole pieces 46 and 47.

In the strong magnetic field between the core 2 and the pole pieces 46 and 47, the light coil 1, having a number of turns of insulated wire, is supported in the jeweled bea rings 7 and 8. The fine spiral spring 5 is connected to one end of the coil 1 and to the adjustable arm 3. The fine spiral spring 6 is connected to the other end of the coil 1 and to the adjustable arm 4. The springs 5 and 6 are also attached to the axis of the coil 1 in such a way that their tension can be regulated by the arms 3 and 4, respectively, and the position of the coil 1 adjusted.

The relay arm 9 is attached to the axis of the coil 1, but insulated therefrom, and at its extremities carries the contact points 10 and 11. The spring 12 can be attached to the relay arm 9 when it is desired to regulate the action of the relay. The spring 12 is fastened to the rod 13, which is adjustable in the strip 40, the latter being fastened to the pole pieces 47.

The ivory block or carrier 14 slides along the'supporting bar 41,.and is held by the strip 42, and its position can be adjusted as desired. It contains the mercury cup 16. The height of the mercury in cup 16 can be regulated by means of the screw 18, and the mercury is connected with the terminal 20, which is connected by means of the insulated wire 22 with the-binding post 24, the latter being connected by a conductor, not shown, with the binding post 26. The ivory block or'carrier slides along the supporting bar 43 and strip 28, and its position is adjusted by means of the thumb screw 29 and the spring 30. It contains the mercury cup 17, the height of the mercury in which is regulated by the thumb screw 19. Attached to the ivory block 15 is a small plate 56, holdin an adjustable screw 55, this screw being or the purpose of stopping the point 11.0f the relay arm 9 and preventing it from moving too far. The terminal 21 makes contact with the mercury in cup 17, and is connected by means of the insulated wire 23 with the binding post 25. The latter is connected by a conductor, not shown, with the binding post 27.

The adjustable arm 3 is attached to the bridging strip 31, which is insulated from the screw posts that support it on the pole pieces 46 and 47. The strip 31 is connected by means of the insulated wire 33 with the binding post 35, the latter being connected by a conductor, not shown, with the bindin post 37. The adjustable arm 4 is connects by means of the insulated wire 32, with the binding 0st 34, the latter being connected by a con uctor, not shown, with the bindin post 36. The strips 38 and 39, attache to the pole pieces 46, act as stops for the coil 1, and prevent it from swinging too far in either direction.

The action of my relay is as follows: Current from a battery or some other source is sent through the coils and 51 so that the cores 48 and 49 and the pole pieces 46 and 47 are strongly magnetized, and a powerful magnetic field is created in the space between the pole pieces where the coil 1 swings. The feeble currents which are received at the apparatus enter by the binding post 37, pass through a conductor to the binding post 35, then through the insulated wire 33 to the strip 31, then through the adjustable arm 3 to the spiral spring 5 and to the swinging coil 1. After passing through the turns of coil 1, the currents pass through the sprial spring 6, the adjustable arm 4, the insulated wire 32, the binding post 34, and a conductor, to the binding post 36. The currents might take the opposite direction through the coil 1, entering by the binding post 36 and leaving by the binding post 37. The currents passing through the coil 1 will cause it to turn, the direction of turning depending upon the direction of the current and the direction of the magnetic lines of force in the field. When the coil 1 turns, the relay arm 9 will turn with it, and when the turning is in the proper direction, the contact points 10 and 11, at the ends of the relay arm 9, will make contact with the mercury in the cups 16 and 17 and complete a cir-v cuit from binding post 26 through a conductor to binding post 24, insulated wire 22,

terminal 20, mercury in cup 16, relay arm 9, mercurv in cup 17, terminal 21, insulated wire 23, inding post 25, and a conductor to binding post 27. A battery, or other suitable source of current, and any apparatus which it is desired to operate are connected to the binding posts 26 and 27. Under certain circumstances a small, steady initial current is sent through the coil 1, which tends to make it turn when the magnetic field is excited. This turning tendency is resisted by attaching the spring 12 to the relay arm 9, which prevents the points 10 and 11 from making contact with the mercury cups 16 and 17 until enough extra current enters the apparatus and passes through. the coil 1 to overcome the tension of the spring 12.

The position of the ivory block 14, containing the mercury cup 16, can be adjusted, by moving it alon the supporting bar 41, and the position 0 the ivory block 15, containing the mercury cup 17, can be adjusted with great exactness by means of the thumb screw 29. The height of the mercury in cup 16 can be regulated by screwing screw 18 in or out, and the height of the mercury in cup 17 can be likewise regulated by means of the thumb screw 19. When it is desired to operate the relay, the screws 18 and 19 are adjusted so that the top surface of the material in the cups 16 and 17 will be elevated above the top surfaces of the ivory blocks 14 and 15, and engage the paths of the contacts 10 and 11 respectively, and when the mercury is so positioned the contact points 10 and 11 will make contact with the mercury with verylittle friction. and at the same time will make good contact; The relay arm 9 is large enough to carry considerable current, and so the relay circuit will be able to carry enough current to operate any suitable apparatus. The

spring 12 does not carry current and so can be made as delicate as desirable. The various parts of the apparatus can be very nicely adjusted, as already described, the moving parts move with a minimum of 36116- tion, and the relay is extremely sensltive.

This relay may be used for the reception and relaying of signals in radio telegraphy, for receiving and relaying messages in submarine telegraphy and for any other purposes to which it is suited. The details of the apparatus and the arrangement of parts may be altered as found suitable in any given case, and in general I do not confine myself to the particular apparatus and mechanisms here shown, but various changes and modifications, within the knowledge of those skilled in. the art, may be made in the particular apparatus shown and described herein, without departing from the spirit of my invention, provided the means set forth in the following claims be emplo ed.

aving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A relay comprising an electro-magnet, a loop rotatably positioned in the field of said magnet, a pairof carriers adjustable in predetermined paths perpendicular to the fixed axis of said loop, a pair of liquid contacts in alinement with said paths and supported by said carriers respectively, an arm connected to but insulated from said 100 and a pair of solid contacts carried by said arm and arranged to be rotated about the fixed axis of said loopto engage said liquid contacts carried by said link and arranged,

to be rotated about the fixed axis of said loop to engage said liquid contacts respectively.

3. An electric relay, comprising a magnet, a loop of conducting material arranged to rotate in the field of said magnet about a fixed vertical axis, a pair of carriers adjustable horizontally in predetermined paths with respect to said magnet, a pair of liquid contacts arranged substantially in horizontal alinement and supported by said carriers respectively, an arm connected to but insulated from said loop and a pair of solid'contacts carried by said arm and arranged-to be rotated about said axis to engage said liquid contacts respectively.

4. An electric relay, comprising a magnet, a loop of conducting material -arranged to rotate in the field of said magnet about afixed vertical axis, a pair'of carriers separately adjustable horizontally in predetermined paths respectively with respect to said magnet, means including a screw for adjusting one of said carriers horizontally, a pair of liquid contacts arranged substantially in horizontal alinement and supported by said carriers respectively, an arm connected to but insulated from said loop, and a pair of solid contacts carried by said arm and arranged to be rotated about said axis to engage said liquid contacts respectively.

5. A relay comprising an electro-magnet, a loop rotatably positioned in the field of a said magnet, a pair of carriers adjustable in predetermined paths in planes perpendicular to the fixed axis of said loop, a pair of liquid contacts in alinement with said paths and supported b said carriers respectively, an arm connecte to but insulated from said loop, and a pair of solid contacts carried by said arm and arranged to be rotated about the fixed axis of said loop to engage said liquid contacts respectively.

6. A relay comprising an electro-magnet, a loop rotatably positioned in the field of said magnet a pair of carriers adjustable in predetermined paths in a plane perpendicular to the fixed axis ofcsaid loop, a pair of liquid contacts in alinement with said paths and supported by said carriers respectively, a connecting link operatively connected to but insulated from said loop, and a pair of solid contacts carried by said link and arranged to be rotated about the fixed axis of said loop to engage said liquid contacts respectively.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of Februa A. D. 1913.

JOHN HAYS AMMOND, JR. Signed in the presence of- GEOF. CHRARY, M. P. Wnnm.

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