US2013990A - Direct current polar relay - Google Patents

Description

Sept. l0, 1935. J. F. MERKEI.

DIRECT CURRENT POLAR RELIAY Filed May 12, 1931 @PM/Qa Z/Z Z5, ATroRNEY A Sept. l0, 1935.

J. FQ MERKEL DIRECT CURRENT POLAR RELAY Filed May 12, 1951 s sheets-sheet 2 lNvEgToR BY i@ ZM /'VATTORNEYl fl Slpt.` 10, 1935. 1 F, MERKEL 2,013,990

DIRECT CURRENT POLAR RELAY Filed May l2, 1951 3 Shees-SheefI 3 FIG.. 4.

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 DIRECT CURRENT POLAR RELAY Joseph F. Merkel, Rochester, N. Y., assgnor to -General Railway Signal Company, Rochester,

p'pleaummy 12, 1931, sei-iai No. 536,917 Claims. (Cl. '200%110) This invention relates in general to relays adapted for railway use, and has more particular reference to direct current relays of the twoposition polarized type.

5 Among the objects of this invention is to; provide a two-position polarized direct current relay of the motor type wherein contacts are operated by the motor driving meansto either of two extreme positions and are held in such extreme positions by suitable spring biasing means.

' A further object is to provide that the contacts shall be quickly operated from one extreme position to another as compared to the relatively slow movement of the motor driving means, and that any rebound or oscillation of the armature from its extreme postionaydue to momentum gained in operation, shall not result in movement of the contacts as then operated. A further object is to provide a suitable relay structure or mechanism in a compact arrangement which will be particularly leihcient and dependable for use in railroad signalling systems, as for example, in the remote control circuit for machines as disclosed in the application of W. H.l Hoppe et al. Ser. No. 474,758, iiled August 12, 1930 which became Patent No. 1,877,876 dated September 20,

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will be in part 'obvious from the accompanying drawings and in part pointed out as the description progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in whichzn 1 is a plan view of a relay constructed in accordance with the present invention with certain parts thereof shown in cros's section as viewed on line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the relay of this invention with certain parts shown in cross section as viewed on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;`

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the relay of this invention with certain parts thereof removed, as viewed terminal structure for the brush holder of the relay as viewed on line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a, fragmentary sectional view of the spring stop of the relay as viewed on line 'I-'I of Fig. 1; -and 5 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring support for the cover glass of the relay as viewed on line 8-8 of Fig. 1,.

With reference to the accompanying drawings,

;the relay of the present invention may be said 10 to comprise a motor structure and a contact structure, with these -two structures so combined in a single unit as to be most efficient and to require the smallest amount of space. The relay is vertically arrangedjthat is, the motor strucl5 ture or driving means forms the lower part of the relay above which the contact structure or mechanism is mounted.

The base member B (see Figs. 2 and 3) of the relay is of the Vmolded skeleton type with ribs 20 and webs suitably located to strengthen the member and with four projecting base lugs I0, II, I2 and I3 suitably drilled for receiving bolts tosecure this base member B in its proper location; while at the central portion of this base 25 member B (see Fig. 2), a depression is provided for receiving the motor armature A and to form a. seat for its bearings, as hereinafter described. The upper surface of the base member B is iinished to provide a smooth surface upon which 30 the permanent magnets M1, M2, M3, and M4 are suitably positioned together with a motor frame member F.

The motor frame member F. includes two iron pole pieces P1 and 1:'2 (see Fig. 4) oppositely dis 35 posed and around which the remainder of the metal of the frame member is molded. In order that these pole pieces may be suitably held in position, each one is provided with six extending lugs I4. After the motor frame member F is 40 molded, the inside is finished to receive the armature A while the outer surface of the pole pieces P are also suitably nished so as to4 make close contact with the respective poles oi' the permanent magnets M1, M1, M3 and M4. Also, 45

` the lower side of this motor frame member F is finished to form a tight tting annular rabbet joint withthe upper surface of the base member B around the depression provided for receiving the armature A (see Fig. 2).

The motor frame member F is held in position by four tap bolts I5, I6, I'I and I8 with their respective lock washers; while the permanent magnets M1 and M2 are held in position around the motor frame member F on the right hand 55 side (see Fig. 2) and to the base member B by a clamp I9 and a stud bolt 2B with a suitable nut and lock washer, and similarly the permanent magnets M1l and M4 are held in positionl around the motor frame member F on the left hand side and secured to the base member B by a clamp 2| and a stud bolt 22 with a suitable nut and lock washer. l

The base member VB, the motor of the frame member F except the pole pieces P. the clamps I9 and 2l, together with the bolts 20 and 22 are preferably formed of some non-magnetic metal, such for example as a1uminum.brass or the like, so as not to interfere with the magnetic circuits of the motor structure by forming undesirable magnetic leakage paths. f

The armature A has not been shown in great detail, but is preferably formed of iron laminations mounted upon a suitable shaft 25 and provided with windings so arranged as to provide two poles. At this point, it may be well to state that the opposite poles as p1 and p1 of the armature are preferably located. as shown, displaced 30 from the center line of the pole pieces P1 and P1' (see Fig. 4), as the relay mechanism is arranged to allow a movement of the armature A which provides that the amature assumes corresponding relative positions with respect to the poles P in either of its two extreme operated positions whereby to stop the armature, in each case, while the magnetic attraction is urging it to further movement.

A ball bearing 25 comprising an outer and inner bearing race is provided fitted into a bearing seat in the central depressed portion of the base member B. The amature A, located with- .in the motor frame member F, is vertically supported by the inner race of the ball bearing 23 by the shoulder 2l of the armature shaft 2l.

A circular commutator member 26 (see Figs. 2 Aand 3) of any suitable insulating material, is fitted over the armature shaft 25 up to the shoulder 21, and is prevented from turning on this shaft by reason of suitable knurling thereon. This commutator member 2l has located on opposite sides commutator segments Il and 29 of suitable conducting material, which segments are riveted in position and are connected to the coils of the armature A by suitable lead wires.

'Ihe housing. of the armature A and its commutator is in part comprised of a molded bakelite wall member Wv arranged to be mounted on the motor frame member F by an annular rabbet joint. Extending through this wall member W are two terminal posts Il and l5 with suitable lock nuts and washerawhich secure brush holder support members 8l and Il within recesses provided by extending bosses on the wall member W. This prevents any turning movement of the supporting members Il and Il while tightening the lock nuts of the terminal posts. Protruding extensions I9 and I0 are riveted to the support members 3J and Il respectively to which brush.

holders Il and 42 are pivotally mounted.

These brush holders Il and 42 are formed in a U-shape, a part of which is removed so as to ilt over the respective extensions Il and lli so as to be pivotally attached thereto (see Fig. 6). 'I'he inside of the U formed by each brush holder provides a recess for suitable brushes Il and Il which are held in position by bolts 45 and 4Bn respectively (see Fig. 3). These brushes 43 and 44 may be oi' carbon impregnated with copper or any other suitable type brush material adapted to cooperate with commutator segments. At the free ends of the brush holders 4| and I2 insulated members 41 and 4B are riveted thereto Vbeing biased towards each other (see 3) by a, coil spring 49. This coil spring is adjusted to 5 provide the proper tension for the desired pressure` with which the brushes 43 and 44 engage their respective commutator segments 29 and 28.

A combination terminal block and frame member T of molded bakelite serves to enclose the 10 space allotted to the armature A and its assoelated commutator and brushes. 'I'his frame member T is generally circular in shape with terminal posts 55, 5 6, 51, 58, 59, 60, 6|, 62 and 63 arranged around the outer edge, The lower side l5 of this frame member has a circular raised portion adapted to form an annular rabbet joint with the wall member W; While the upper side of this frame memberT provides a circular contact recess or cavity which is offset with respect to 20` the circular armature recess or cavity (see Fig. 2,)

The frame member T and the wall member W are secured to the motor frame member F by two tap bolts 6l and 65. The wall member W is 4in- 25 sured oi proper alignment with the frame member T and frame member F by two extending bosses 66 and 61 through which the tap bolts 64 and. 65 respectively pass.

The upper end of the shaft 25 protrudes 30 through the frame member T through an opening provided therein and in so doing passes through the inner race of a. ball bearing 68, the outer race of which is press fitted into a suitable seat provided in the frame member 'I'. The ex- 35 tending end of the i aft 25 is squared to receive a crank arm 69 whi h is further held in position upon the shaft by a tap bolt 10 threaded into the end of the shaft. l

The crank arm 59 serves two purposes. namely, 40 to engage spring stops which absorb the momen* tum given to the armature during operation, and to suitably engage the .contact operating mechanism so as to impart the motion of the armature to the movable contacts. Spring stops S1 and 45 S* are included in the contact cavity, one on each side oi the shaft 2li.

The spring stop S1, for example, has been shown in section in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.` This stop is shown as comprising an outer 50 shell 'H which is secured to the frame member T by screws l2 and 13. The outer shell 1| is adapted to receive a plunger 'M having a head 15 and a shoulder 15. 'Ihe head 15 ci the plunger 1 4 passes through an opening in the outer shell 55 'Il xmtil the shoulder 16 engages .the shell and is normally held or biased to this position, as illustrated, by a coil spring l1 which is passed over the plunger'll and compressed by the hollow nut 'I8 threaded into position where it is held by a 60 suitable lock washer.

The spring stops S1 and S1 are positioned so that the heads of their respective plungers engage the opposite sides of the crank arm 69 when the armature has completed the corresponding move- 65 ment of 120 from one position to the other. At the center of the contact cavity, a stud bolt B5 is threaded into frame member T holding a washer l5 in position around shaft 25 of the armature. At the upper end of this stud bolt 85, a contact drive member 81 is pivoted thereto and held in position by a suitable washer 88 and cotter key 89. This contact drive member 81 has threepins 90, Si and 92 mounted upon three protruding extremities, while a fourth protrud- 75 ing extremity is bifurcated to receive avroller 93 which is mounted on a bearing pin 94 suitably supported by-the crank arm 69. The roller'93 is held upon this pin 94 because of the groove in the roller, the outer edges of which engage the contact drive member 81 as may be best seen in Figs. 1 and 5.

Extending toward the center of the contact cavity from the respective terminal posts located around the edge of the frame member T, are contact support members 95, 96, 91, 98, S9, ,3|00, |0|, |02, and |03. The contact supports 95, 91, 98, |00, |0|, and |03 are up-turned at right angles to which suitable contact points of coin silver, platinum-indium or the like are riveted. Between each pair of these fixed contacts is a movable contact member pivotally held by a pin extending upwardly through its respective contact support member. Each one of the movable contact members is provided with a pair of contact points of coin silver, platinum-iridium or the like, which are adapted to engage their respective fixed 4contact points when the movable contact members are in proper positions.

For example, movable contact member |05 formed in the shape of a rocker arm is pivotally mounted on contact support member S9 by the pin |06 which is riveted to the support member (see Fig. 5,) This movable contact member |05 has an ar'm |01 extending towards the central part of the contact cavity opposite a corresponding extending arm of the contact drive member and has a pin |08 passing through it. The arm |01 is connected to the extending arm of the contact drive member carrying pin 9| by a com- -pressible connector comprising two flat slotted screw shaped insulating pieces ||0 and two insulating washers ||2 and ||3,'and a coil spring ||4. The insulating piece ||0 is placed on the upper side of the extending arms while the insulating piece is placed on the lower side of the extending arms with each of these pieces so located that the pins 9| and |08 fall within their respective slots at either end of these pieces. The insulating washers ||2 and ||3 are located over the pieces ||0 and I and are biased apart by coil spring I4, which is compressed sufliciently to produce the desired contact pressure.

It is obvious that the movement of contact drive member 81 from one positionto the other will cause the coil spring i4 to be further compressed which willv then act upon the movable contact member |05 so as to actuate it quickly to the opposite position when the pin 0| has passed beyond a line passing through. the pins |05 and |08. In other words, the contact drive member 01 together with each of the compressible connectors provide toggle means or over-center devices for quickly snapping the respective movable contact members from one position to the other depending upon the direction of movement of the contact drive member 81.

The contact support members 05, 80, 91, 98, 88, |00, |0|, |02, and |03 are provided with recesses in the combination terminal block and frame member T so that a level surface is presented to the lower edge of a cover C.

This cover member C is circular in shape and is formed of molded bakelite and has an openlng at the top which is provided with a felt washer |20 passing around the inside thereof and against which a cover glass |2| is located. This cover glass |2| is held in position by four spring members |22, |23, |24 and |25 which are attached to the cover C at the four-extending ears |26,

|21, |28, and |20 respectively. These springs are permanently fixed to the cover by eyelets which are spun through holes in the respective spring members and holes in the extending ears of the cover C (see Fig. 8), where, for example, spring |23 is attached to extending ear |21 by eyelet |35. The tap bolts |30, |3|, |32,and |33, which hold the cover C in place pass through the inside of the respective eyelets. At the point on the cover C where the ears |20, |21, |28, and.|29 protrude, recesses are provided on the inside of the cover C for the springs |22, |23, |24, and |25 respectively.

It is noted, that the permanent magnets M1, M2, M3, and M4 are arranged with like poles facing each Aother as indicated for example in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings. With this arrangement the inside of the pole piece P1 is caused to be a north pole, and the inside of the pole piece P2 is caused to become a south pole. The ccmmutatcr segments and brushes are arranged so that during the 120 movement of the armature, the Same brush always engages the same commutator segment. Thus, with one polarity of potential applied to the terminal posts 35 and 38, the poles p1 and p2 will be north and south respectively and hence be repelled by the pole pieces P1 and l?2 respectively rotating the armature A in a clockwise direction to actuate the contact drive member to an opposite extreme position thereby closing the opposite or reverse contacts, so to speak, and opening those contacts illustrated as closed in Fig. l of the drawings. The application of potential of the opposite polarity would o-f course reverse the rotation of the armature and cause theiI elements of the relay mechanism to assume normal positions as shown.

It is obvious that the movement of the armature A from one extreme position to the other will gain momentum in such operation which will be dissipated or stopped by the spring stops S1 and S2. Any oscillation or rebound occurring at the completion of each operation cannot of course move the movable contact members as then actuated but may merely vary the contact pressure to a very slight degree. This is true as the movement due to any rebound which may occur is such a relatively small degree of movement compared to the degree of movement required to operate the contacts. Thus, the movement of the movable contacts is accomplished quickly or in what may be termed as snap action and the contacts positively remain in their operated positions.

Having described a relay mechanism constructed and arranged according to the present invention, it is desired to be understood that this form is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number of forms which it may assume; and, it is to be further understood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the spenent magnets located on said base plate, two pole pieces associated with said permanent magnets, a F

molded frame for supporting said pole pieces, an armature adapted to rotate upon a vertical axis and cooperating with said two pole pieces, windings on said armature'arrange'd, when energized,

to create two opposite magnetic poles in said armature, commutator segments connected to said windings, brushes cooperating with said commutator segments, means limiting the movement of said armature to an arc forming any angle less than a straight angle and causing opposite positions of said armature to bear corresponding relations to said pole pieces, whereby energize.- tion ot said armature with one polarity will rotate it to one position and energization with the other polarity will rotate it to the opposite position, and contacts operated by movement of said armature.

2. In a relay mechanism, two xed contacts, a movable contact member pivotally mounted between said two contacts and adapted to engage one or the other of said two contacts when moved in one direction or the other, one extending arm on said movable contact member, a contact drive member pivotally mounted, another extending arm on said contact drive member, a spring biased connector for connecting said one and said another extending arms, a crank actuating means for the contact drive member, whereby said movable contact member is moved to and held against one or the other of said two xed contacts when said one and said another extending arms are out oi alignment with the pivot points of said contact drive member and the pivot point of said movable contact member, and means for actuating said contact drive member.

3. In a relay mechanism, a base plate, oppositely disposed U-shaped permanent magnets mounted on said base plate, a motor frame member of non-magnetic material mounted ,within said permanent magnets and having pole pieces engaging said permanent magnets, an armature mounted in said motor frame member and adapted to cooperate with said pole pieces, a contact housing member mounted over said motor frame member, contacts mounted on said contact housing member, means operatively connecting said armature and said contacts, and a cover for said Contact housing having a transparent cover glass mounted therein.

4. In a relay, in combination, a reversible motor drive member, a plurality of fixed contacts, a movable contact member movable alternatively to contact with the xed contacts, an

elastically biased toggle joint connected to the movable contact member, an actuating plate connected to the other end of the' toggle joint, and a crank connection between the drive member and the actuating plate.

20 5. In a relay, in combination, a reversible l motor drive member, a plurality of fixed contacts, a plurality 'of movable contact members each movable alternatively to contact with a respective two of the xed contacts, an elastically biased toggle joint connected to each of the movi able contact members, an actuating plate connected to the other ends of each of the toggle joints, and a crank connection between the drive member and the actuating plate.

JOSEPKH F. MERKEL.

Images