US2290489A - Relay - Google Patents

Description

JulyZl, 1942. MIG. NELsEN nm. v2,290,489

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Filed pw. 2e. 195s /08 jizz/mema/wz fige, ddmwd faer Patented July 21, 1942 RELAY Marvin G. Nelsen and Edward G. Baker, Chicago, lIll., assignors to Guardian Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation oli Illinois Application December 2.6, 1939, Serial No. 311,007

Claims.

The present invention relates to relays, and more particularly to relays of the electro-magnetic type having a movable armature together with switch means connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to the movement of the armature.

In most of the electro-magnetic relays of the general type referred to that have heretofore been designed and manufactured, the switch means for controlling an electrical circuit incident to the movement of the armature usually necessitates the use of a special mounting bracket associated with the field piece. Such construction results in a rather awkward unitary device of substantial size limiting its field of use, and which is relatively expensive to manufacture.

One of the objects c'.' the present invention is to provide an improved form of electro-magnetic relay of the character indicated which is of relatively compact form, durable, positive in operation and capable of being manufactured for substantially less than equivalent devices heretofore marketed.

Another object is to provide an improved form of electro-magnetic relay of the type indicated which is characterized. by the provision of a panel of insulating material rigidly attached to the upper end of the core in a manner to.con stitute a head for the coil, said panel also serving to provide a convenient mounting surface for the switchingmeans to be actuated lincident to the movement of the armature.

A further object is to provide an improved relay device of the character indicated wherein a panel of insulating material is rigidly attached to the upper end of the core in a manner to constitute a head for the coil and also serve as a convenient mounting for novel switch means of relatively simple form and which is capable of being easily assembled.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of our device-whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter morerfully set forth, pointed out in our claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a relay device cmbodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view part in section and part in elevation, taken substantially as indicated at line 2 2 of Figure 1.

elevation, taken substantially as indicated at line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a relay device embodying a modified form of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the relay shown in Figure d.

Figure 6 is a view part in section and part in elevation, taken substantially as indicated at line 6--6 of Figure el.

The electro-magnetic relay illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing includes a stamped, metal tield piece l0 of generally U-shaped formation,` one leg of which, as indicated at ii, continues into an extension l2, bent inwardly above the field piece to serve as a stop for limiting the movement of the armature away from the core, as hereinafter described.

The upper portion of the leg Il of the field piece is reduced and shouldered as indicated at I4 in Figure 3, to provide a seat or hinge mounting for an armature I6. Said armature is slotted and snugly fitted on said reduced portion of the leg li and includes a. rearwardly extending portion l1 formed to provide an anchorage for one end of a coil spring I8, the lower end of which spring being attached to a lug 20 struck out of the lower portion of the upright leg Il of the field piece. The extension I2 of the leg Il is tapered as seen in the drawing, and the extreme end portion thereof is bent downwardly to a position to be encountered by the armature I6 at its uppermost position of adjustment, as seen in Figure 2, to which position it is yieldingly urged by the coil spring I8.

Rigidly mounted within the U-shaped field piece I0 on a seat of insulating material 22 is a coil- 23 having a core 24, the upper end of which extends a substantial distance above the end of the coil 23. Mounted on said extended end of the core is a panel 2B of insulating material seated closelyl against the end of said coil 23 so as to constitute a head therefor. The panel is rigidly secured in position on the end of the coil by staking of the end of the core at a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart points, as indicated at 21. The panel 25 preferably includes a notched portion 26 of U-shaped form to embrace the upright leg Il of the field piece for assisting in maintaining the panel in fixed position.

'Ihe panel of insulating material in the construction illustrated is preferably of such dimensions as to provide portions 26 projecting later- Figure 3 is a View part in section and part in 55 ally beyond opposite sides of the armature i6.

and 30, respectively,

These portions of the panel 2t provide convenient mountings for a dual set of switch means which, as illustrated, are similarly mounted on each of said panel portions 26". means each comprise a conductor finger 29 riveted to the upper side of said portion of the panel and a conductor finger 3B riveted to the underside of said portion of the panel iii-offset relation to nger 29, as may be seen in Figure 2. Said conductor fingers are'dimensioned to extend forwardly beyond the edge of the panel and are provided with cooperating contact buttons 23 and 3138, respectively, and the other ends cf said conductor fingers are formed with terminals 29h for connection to conduccircuits to be controlled. iingers 3e include an exend, projecting a subtor wires of electrical Each of the conductor tension 30 at the forward stantial distance forwardly corresponding conductor ngers 29, in position to be engaged and-actuated by a transversely extending bar 32 of insulating material rigidly attached to and projecting to opposite sides of the free end portion of the armature i6.

It is to be understood that the conductor fingers 30 are formed of resilient material and are normally biased in a direction with respect to correspon 'ng conductor fingers 29 so as to dispose the contact buttons 29a and 30e in engagement with each other. It will therefore be apparent that when the coil 23 is deenergized the armature i6, under influence of spring I8, is caused to assume a position as seen in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawing with the 4contact buttons 29a and 3|)a of the respective switches in engagement to complete portions of electrical circuits to be controlled. When the coil is energized, the armature I6 is attracted to the core 24 as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2, and the movement of the tion causes the bar 32 to depress the extensions 30 of the conductor fingers 30 to move said fingers against their biasing force for separating the contact buttons 3|!a from their cooperating contact buttons 29,

While the switch means herein shown and described is shown in normally closed position when the armature is deenergized, manifestly said switch means may be modified so as to function inl a manner opposite to that shown and described.

In the modified relay device illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 of the drawing, the field piece, coil, core `and armature and certain other elements are substantially identical to corresponding elements of the construction above described and for convenience like parts in said Figures 4 to 6 are accorded the same reference characters as in Figures 1 to 3, together withI the exponent "a.

In this construction a panel of insulating material indicated at ,35 is secured to the core 24 in the same manner as above describedand includes a portion 35 projecting laterally from one side of said armature I6. Mounted on said portion 358L of the panel of insulating material is a switch device including conductor fingers 31 and 38 riveted in longitudinally oiset relation to the upper and lower sides respectively of said portion 35a of the panel of insulating material. Said conductor fingers are formed as stampings and are relatively rigid and each includes right angularly bent, spaced apart portions 31n and 38a disposed in substantial align- Said switch beyond the end of theV armature to such posi-- aaogasc and in spaced relation to the armature |68. Said conductorflngers are provided with extensions 31b and 38b respectively for connection to conductor wires in an electrical circuit to be controlled. Said bent portions 31 and 38 of the conductor fingers as may be seen in Figure 5' of the drawing, are bent downwardly in parallel spaced apart relation at an angle to the plane of the armature in either its attracted or released position. The ends of said angular portions 31a and 388L are provided with spaced apart contact buttons 31 and 38 respectively. Mounted on the armature i6@ in alignment with the contact buttons 31 and 38 is a conductor iinger 39 of flexible material having a portion extending forwardly beyond the free end of the armature and bent downwardly at an angle to extend between the contact buttons 31, 38C. Said conductor nger 39 is provided with a double contact button 39' to alternately engage contact buttons 31c and 38C, by movement lof the armature |61.

Due to the action of the coil spring 18a, the armature |69' is urged to its upper limit of movement when the coil 23 is deenergized, disposing the contact button 39a of conductor finger 39 in engagement with the contact button 31c of switch finger 31. When the coil is venergized and the armature I6 is attracted to the core 24a the conductoriinger 39 moves downwardly with the armature and disposes 4its contact button 39a in engagement with contact button 38C.

Thus, the movement of the armature alternately controls portions of two different electrical circuits. 'I'he purpose of forming the conductor finger 39 of flexible material and disposing the bent portions 31a and 38a of the conductor fingers 31 and 38 respectively at an angle as above described is to permit double contact button 39a to engage the contact buttons 31 or 38 in a wiping manner for assisting in maintaining the contacts clean and assuring posiment with each other and extending in front of tive completion of electrical circuit through said contacts.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 one end of the coil 23a is connected by a conductor wire 40 to the conductor finger 3,9 on

said armature. The other end of the coil as indicated by conductor wire 42 together with the terminals 31b and 38b may be connected in electrical circuits to be controlled by actuation of the armature of the relay.

The relay devices herein disclosed result in simplification of construction, reduced labor time in assembly, and provides a relatively compact device at substantially reduced cost as compared to the equivalent devices now available.

Although we have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of our invention, manifestly it is capable of further modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiments herein disclosed, except `as we may be so limited in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A relay including a coil and a core, a field piece having an upright legA disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly tuting a head for the coil, said panel including a portion projecting laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movementV of the armature toward or away from the core, said switch means comprising a pair of conductor lingers rigidly attached at corresponding ends to opposite surfaces of the laterally projecting portion of said panel of insulating material, and having terminal portions for connection to conductor wires.

2. A relay including a coil and a' core, a field piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an amature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including a portionl projecting laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward or away from the core, said switch means comprising a pair of conductor fingers rigidly attached at corresponding ends inlongitudinally offset relation to the opposite surfaces of the laterally projecting portion of said panel of insulating material, and having terminal portions for connection to conductor wires.

3. A relay including a coil and a core, a field piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including a portion projecting laterally beyond one side'edge of the armature, switch means mounted on said projecting portion of the panel of insulating material and adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward or away from the core, said switch means including a pair of switch fingers attached to opposite sides of -said portion of the panel of insulating material and having corresponding ends projecting beyond the forward edge of said panel and provided with cooperating contact buttons, one of said fingers being yieldingly biased in one direction relatively to the other finger, and a member of insulating material secured to the free end of the armature in position to engage and move said yielding finger, in opposition to its biasing force, upon attraction of said armature toward said core.

4. A relay including a coil and a core, a field piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a, relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including portions extending laterally beyond opposite side edges of the armature, separate switches mounted on the respective laterally projecting portions of the panel of insulating material, each of said switches being adapted for connection in electrical circuits to be controlled, including a pair of fingers having cooperating contact buttons, one of said fingers of each switch being yieldingly biased in one direction relatively to the other iinger, and a member of insulating material secured to the free end ot the amature in position to engage and move said yielding nnextending laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward and away from the core, said means comprising a pair of switch fingers connected to said portion of the panel and having spaced apart contact buttons, and a switch finger. secured to and movable with said armature and disposed between said contact buttons, and normally in engagement with' one of said contact buttons, said movable finger serving to alternately engage the contact buttons of the fingers of said pair for completing portions of electrical circuits, incident to movement of the armature.

6. A relay including a coil and a core, a field piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed `in registration with the end of the corea relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including a portion extending laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled'incident to movement of the armature toward and away from the core, said means comprising a pair of switch fingers connected to opposite sides of said portion of the panel and having corresponding angularly bent spaced apart portions disposed beyond the outer end of the panel in front of the free end of the armature, contact buttons on leach of said bent portions, and a switch finger secured to and movable with said armature and having an extension projecting between said contact buttons and normally in engagement with one of said buttons, said movable finger serving to alternately engage the contact buttons of the fmgers of said pair for completing portions of electrical circuits, incident to movement of the armature.

7. A relay-including a coil and a core, a iield piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a. head for the coil, said panel including a portion extending laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward and away from the core, said means comprising a pair of rigid switch fingers connected to opposite sides of said portion of the panel and having corresponding angularly bent spaced apart portions disposed beyond the outer end of the panel in front of the free ends of the armature, contact buttons on each of said bent portions, and a flexible switch finger secured to and movable with said armature and having an extension projecting between said contact buttons and normally in engagement with one of said buttons, said movable finger serving to alternately engage the contact buttons of the linger of said pair for completing portions of electrical circuits, incident to movement of the armature.

8. A relay including a coil and a core, a field piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including a portion extending laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward and away from the core, said means comprising a pair of switch fingers connected to opposite sides of said portion of the panel and having corresponding angularly bent spaced apart portions disposed .beyond the outer end of the panel in front of the free end of the armature, said bent portions of the pair of switch fingers being disposed substantially parallel to each other at an angle to the plane of the armature at either its attracted or released position, contact buttons on each of said bent portions, and a switch finger secured to and movable with said armature and having an extension projecting between said contact buttons and normally n engagement with one of said buttons, said movable finger serving to alternatelyengagedzhe contact buttons of the fingers of said pair for completing portions of electrical circuits, incident to movement of the armature.

9. A relay including a coil and a core, a eld piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the eld piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the Acore and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including a portion extending laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be con'- nected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward and away from the core, said means comprising a pair of switch fingers connected to opposite sides of said portion of the panel and having corresponding angularly bent spaced apart portions disposed beyond the outer end of the panel in front of the free end of the armature, said bent portions of the pair of switch lingers being disposed substantially parallel to each other at an angle to the plane of the armature at either its attracted or released position, Contact buttons on each of said bent portions, and a switch finger secured and movable with said armature and having an extension projecting at substantially the same angle as said bent portions between said contact buttons and normally in engagement with one of said buttons, said movable finger serving to alternately engage the contact buttons of the lingers of said pair for completing portions of electrical circuits, incident to movement of the armature.

l0. A relay including a coil and a core, a iield piece having an upright leg disposed adjacent the coil, an armature hingedly connected at one end to the leg of the field piece and disposed in registration with the end of the core, a relatively rigid panel of insulating material rigidly secured to the upper end of the core and constituting a head for the coil, said panel including a portion extending laterally beyond one side edge of the armature, and switch means adapted to be connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled incident to movement of the armature toward and away from the core, said means comprising a pair of Irigid switch fingers connected to opposite sides of said portion of the panel and having corresponding angularly bent spaced apart portions disposed beyond the outer end of the panel in front of the free end of the armature, said bent portions of the pair of switch fingers being disposed substantially parallel to each other at an angle to the plane of the armature at either its attracted or released position, contact buttons on each of said bent portions, and a flexible switch iinger secured to and movable with said armature and having an extension projecting between said contact buttons and normally in engagement with one of said buttons, said movable finger serving to alternately engage the contact buttons of the lingers of said pair for completing portions of electrical circuits, incident to movement of the armature.

` MARVIN G. NELSEN. EDWARD G. BAKER.

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