US2015156A - Electrical relay - Google Patents

Description

Sept 24 1935. L. E RICHMGND ELECTRI GAL RELAY Filed NOV. 1'7, 1932 INVENTOR. iouz's Fz'c/zmwuZ ATTORNEYS- Patented Sept. 24, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL RELAY Louis E. Richmond, Shelby, Ohio, assignor to The Autocall Company, Shelby, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application November 1'7, 1932, Serial No. 643,064

9 Claims. (01. 200-87) The present invention relates to that type of electrical apparatus designed for the purpose of reproducing electric impulses from one circuit to another. Generally, such a relay action, as it is called, has been accomplished by the mechanical movement of a solenoid or armature adapted to close the contacts of one electric circuit, and energized by the magnetomotive force of the other electric circuit. It is the general object and nature of my invention to provide a novel form of moving element in such a combination which shall possess the advantages of eiiiciency and facility of operation, as well as a substantially greater durability as compared to the devices of the prior art; The more precise objects and advantages of my invention shall be enumerated and become apparent as the following description proceeds. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Fig. l is a half sectioned elevation of the relay constructed according to the principle of my invention and showing the moving elements in normal or de-energized position; Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows the moving elements in circuit closing or energized position; Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram illustrative of a simple form of circuit in which my relay may be used; Fig. 4 is a section plan view on relatively small scale illustrating the direction and concentration of the lines of magnetic force induced between the terminals of the secondary circuit.

Heretofore electric relays have utilized a single element in the form of a bar or rod as the mechanically moving element adapted to close the contacts of the secondary circuit. The prominent disadvantages inherent in such a construction were that there occurred an unusually noisy operation when the contact was initially made and an objectionable sparking due to current surges when the contact was broken. Briefly outlined, the principle of my invention contemplates the formation of such an armature or solenoid element into a plurality of small particles which will be adapted to remain inmutual contact one with the other and to move against the terminal pieces with practically no noise at all, or at most a slight swishing sound; additionally, these particles are adapted to prevent excessive sparking, line surge and self induction are prevented when the contact is broken, due to the multiplicity of contacts, and the gradual decrease of magnetic constriction of said contacts during the cycle of change from magnetomotive urge to gravitational urge when the magnetic force is interrupted by opening the primary circuit.

Now referring more particularly to the annexed drawing, 1 have undertaken to describe a form of apparatus which is considered as a practical embodiment of the above delineated principle. The numeral generally designates a metallic housing member which serves as a magnetic yoke as well as a supporting member for the device. An electric coil or coils 2 are supported within the housing member I. In the top and bottom portion of the housing l are the openings 3 and 4 which are adapted to receive the closed chamber 5 which is composed of a non-conducting material such as glass. A pair of magnetically conducting bars or magnetic cores 6 and I extend through the upper and lower ends respectively of the chamber 5. The upper terminal has its lower end enlarged or flared into the conical form des ignated by the numeral 8. A cap 9 composed of a material such as silver or copper having a relatively high co-emcient of electrical conductivity is adapted to cover the lower contacting surface of the magnetic core end 8. Alternatively, the cap 9 may be displaced by a heavy electro-plated layer of silver or copper. The contacting portion of the magnetic core I is in the form of a cylinder having a rounded or semi-spherical end, and is designated by the numeral i0. Similarly, a silver or copper cap or heavy electro-plate H is secured over the terminal portion H) "of the core I and adapted to serve as a contacting surface. In the interior of the chamber 5 and occupying the space between the ends of the cores t and l are found a plurality of small particles l2, which, in their preferred form, are spherical. A washer 13 or nonmagnetic material is positioned immediately below the cap l i and is for the pu pose of retaining the spherical balls l2 in proper position as shown in Fig. 1 when no current is passed through the magnetic energizing coil 2. Another washer composed of insulating material is threadably secured to the threaded portion 15 of the magnetic core 6, and is for the purpose of adjustably regulating the position of the chamber 5 with respect to the electro-magnetic coil 2. Terminal caps It and I? are attached to each exposed ends of the cores 6 and 1 respectively. The conducting wires or cables !8 and It in turn lead from the terminal caps 5, E1.

The interior of the chamber 5 is to be pneumatically exhausted and filled with an inert gas, or a non-conducting fluid to provide a non-oxidizing and quenching medium. The exhausting duct 20 is provided through the axis of the magnetic core 6, placing the interior of the chamber 5 in communication with the outside atmosphere. It is contemplated that the duct 20 may be equally as well positioned in the core I, or both. The provision of the duct 20 eliminates the necessity of providing an additional opening through the wall of the chamber 5, and greatly facilitates the operation of exhausting or charging the interior of such chamber.

In the operation of the above described device, two electrical circuits are utilized, and may be designed as a primary and secondary circuit, respectively. Now referring to the diagrammatic Fig. 3, the primary circuit consists of a source of electric energy 2| connected to a switch 22 which is adapted to intermittently open and close such circuit. The conducting wires 23 and 24 connect the electrical source M and switch 22 to the electro-magnetic coil 2. Now, the secondary circuit consists of the chamber 5 with its above described interior elements and the conducting wires l8 and I! leading to another source of electrical energy 25 and an element such as an alarm signal bell 28. It is to be noted that any similar electrically motivated device, such as a signal light or code recorder may take the position of the alarm cell 2'. When the primary circuit is closed, the coil 2 becomes electrically energized and a. magnetic field is induced in the magnetic cores 6 and 7. This magnetic field is conducted through the terminals or cores 6 and l, and sets up a magnetic flux having a path of travel substantially as indicated by the lines 21 in Fig. 4. The balls I2 are then urged due to magnetic energization to move from their normal position as shown in Fig. 1 to their final energized position as shown in Fig. 2, whereby an electric contactz-is' obtained between the terminals 6 and 'Lthrough the balls i2, incidentally closing the secondary circuit. Analyzing the movement of the balls l2, it is to be found that they move first from theirtposition in Fig. l inwardly and centrally towa'rdthe post II. In this position they form substantially a cone having its base on a line coincident with the upper surface of the supporting washer l3. The movement of the balls, which is of course very rapid and continuous with their initial movement, is upward, following the magnetic field toward the bottom surface of the enlarged core portion 8. In their final position they are as shown in Fig. 2, defining substantially an inverted cone having its base along the bottom surface of the core end 8 and its apex magnetically held in contact with core I. when the primary circuit is again opened and the magnetic field induced by the coil 2 is dissolved, the balls I2 in turn become slowly deenergized, permitting dissipation of secondary line surge and resume their position of Fig. 1, thereby gradually breaking the contact and opening the secondary circuit. It should also be noted at this point that the balls I! are composed of a material having a substantially low magnetic retentivity such as iron or soft steel, and are coated with a layer of material such as silver or copper having a relatively high co-efilcient of electric conductivity. There is sufficient retentivity in the material of the balls i2, however, so that they will not simultaneously drop to normal gravitational position, but their partial residual magnetism will tend to hold them in contacting position a fraction of a moment longer, whereby a current surge, especially if it happens to be the peak of an alternating current wave will be satisfactorily dissipated. This latter function is of unusual advantage in alternating current installations, since the rapid opening of alternating current contacts invariably results in excessive sparking, whereas a slow breaking of such contacts is marked by the total absence of any destructive sparking. It should also be'remarked that the lower terminal end [0 is made of a cross-sectional size or diameter substantially equal to twice the cross-sectional size of the balls II, this latter structural expedient is for the purpose of providing a sufiiciently large contacting surface whereby an adequate number of the balls I! will be retained in contact with the lower terminal upon energization.

Inasmuch as the magnetic field induced by the coil 2 is of varying intensity at different points, the chamber 5 is made adjustable as to its position with respect to such magnetic field. This latter expedient is attained by means of lowering or raising the threaded portion ii of the upper terminal G with respect to the supporting washer I.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an electric relay possessing an unusual efliciency of operation, eliminating the disadvantageous and objectionable features of devices found in the prior art.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be. employed instead of the one explained, change beingmade as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an electric relay,: the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, a chamber of insulating material'defining an enclosed space in said magnetic field, magnetic cores extending into the interior of said chamber and spaced apart from each other, a plurality of balls composed of material having a low magnetic retentivity retained within said chamber and normally occupying a. portion of the space between said cores, said balls being adapted to be moved by the magnetomotive force of said magnetic field to bridge the space between said terminals in mutually contacting relationship, and means for adjusting the relative position of said chamber with respect to said magnetic field.

2. In an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, a chamber of insulating material defining an enclosed space in said magnetic field, magnetic cores extending into the interior of said chamber and spaced apart from each other, a plurality of balls composed of material having a low magnetic retentivity retained within said chamber and normally occupying a portion of the space between said cores, said balls being adapted to be moved by the magnetomotive force of said magnetic field to bridge the space between said magnetic cores in mutually contacting relationship, and a duct through one of said cores communicating with the interior of said chamber.

3. In an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, a chamber of insulating material defining an enclosed space in said magnetic field, magnetic cores extending into the interior of said chamber and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of spherical elements composed of material of low magnetic retentivity disposed within said chamber, one of said cores having an enlarged flat surface, the other of said cores being in the form of a cylinder having a. rounded end, whose axis is disposed normal to said fiat surface.

4. In an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, a chamber of insulating material defining an enclosed space in said magnetic field, magnetic cores extending into the interior of said chamber and spaced apart from each other, and a pluralityof spherical elements composed of material of low magnetic retentivity disposed within said chamber, one of said cores having an enlarged fiat surface, the other of said cores being in the form of a cylinder having a rounded end, whose axis is disposed normal to said flat surface and a coating of material having a relatively high co-eificient of electric conductivity on the contacting surfaces of said magnetic cores.

5. In an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, a chamber of insulating material defining an enclosed space in said magnetic field, magnetic cores extending into the interior of said chamber and spaced apart from each other, a plurality of spherical elements composed of material having a low magnetic retentivity retained within said chamber and. normally occupying a portion of the space between said cores, one of said cores having an enlarged flat surface, the other of said cores being in the form of a cylinder having a rounded end, whose axis is disposed normal to said fiat surface and a coating of material having a relatively high coefficient of electric conductivity on the contacting surfaces of said cores, said particles also having a surface coating of material of relatively high electric conductivity.

-6. In an electric relay of the character described, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, magnetic cores conducting said field and mounted in spaced relationship, and a plurality of relatively small balls composed of material having a low magnetic retentivity,

said balls being confined in a space between said cores, one of said cores projecting into the midst of said balls when in normal position and being surrounded thereby, said balls being adapted to bridge the space between said cores upon energi- 5 zation of said magnetic field.

7. In an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, a chamber of insulating material defining an enclosed space in said magnetic field, magnetic cores extending into the interior of said chamber and spaced apart from each other, a plurality of balls composed of material having a low magnetic retentivity retained within said chamber and normally occupying a portion of the space between said cores, one of said cores projecting into the midst of said balls when in normal position and being surrounded thereby, said balls being adapted to be moved by the magnetomotive force of said magnetic field to bridge the space between said cores in mutually contacting relationship.

8. In" an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, spaced apart terminals within said field, and a plurality of spherical elements of magnetic material occupying a portion of the space between said terminals, one of said terminals having a flat surface, the other having a cylindrical surface whose axis is disposed normal to said fiat surface.

9. In an electric relay, the combination of an electrically energized magnetic field, spaced apart terminals within said field, and a plurality of spherical elements of magnetic material occupying a portion of the space between said terminals, one of said terminals having a flat surface, the other having a cylindrical surface whose axis is disposed normal to said flat surface, the diameter of said cylindrical surface being substantially twice that of said spherical elements.

LOUIS E. RICHMOND.

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