US2315020A

US2315020A - Gang relay

Info

Publication number: US2315020A
Application number: US374428A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman H Saunders; Nils A Judsen
Original assignee: Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co
Current assignee: Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co
Priority date: 1941-01-15
Filing date: 1941-01-15
Publication date: 1943-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1960-03-30

Description

N. H. SAUNDERS ETAL 2,315,020

GANG RELAY Marc zh 30, 1943.

Filed Jan. 15, 1941 271/222 0 jVarman/Yfiaunaers M'ZsfiJudsezz 32 structures.

Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GANG RELAY Application January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,428

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a useful improvement in gang relays and more particularly to the type which are used in telephone systems for establishing connections in conversational circuits between calling and called subscribers.

The object of this invention is to provide a relay of this type which permits ready adjustment, is cheap to manufacture, is compact, reliable in operation, which eliminates parts, and which may be economically positioned in space adjacent to other relays.

One of the features of this invention resides in the organization of the relay so that it may be nested with respect to other relays on a switchboard so as to reduce the space required for line finder, selector, connector or other relays in automatic switchboards. Another feature resides in the arrangement of the parts and of the springs so that ready adjustment may be made. A further feature resides in the simplified construction of the heel iron, and the adjusting screw so that less critical limits may be applied in manufacture, resulting in consequent economies, and. ultimately in simplified Other features and advantages will appear from the description of the invention taken in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawin In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the relay with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view with parts broken away as viewed on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the relay of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a partial section of a relay bank nested together.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the relay is shown in its preferred form as comprising an operating magnet I0, having a core I2 projecting at one end to form a pole piece and extending at the other end into a threaded boss l4, provided with means 16 for securing the heel iron I8 to the operating magnet and for securing the relay structure to a supporting framework 20 which may be arranged in either a horizontal or vertical direction.

Spring contact elements are mounted on the relay in the form of stacks 22 so as to provide a multiplicity of circuit connections under the control of the one relay magnet. The free contact springs 24 rest against metal strips 26 of somewhat ductile material which serve as a stop.

These springs are adjacent to the lever contact springs '28 which are relatively movable with respect to the free springs, and the entire group of spring contacts in the stack are insulatably mounted at 39 upon a mounting plate 32, which latter is detachably secured through its central section to the heel iron I8 by means of suitable fastening means 34. In the preferred arrangement, this connection is accomplished by counter-sunk machine screws. The mounting plate is rigidly secured to the heel iron thereby preserving the contact spring stacks in definite positions at all times. Each stack is in turn fastened upon the mounting plate by two screws 345.

An operating lever 38 is arranged to extend across the width of the front of the relay so as to provide an operating means for all of the spring contacts in the various stacks. An armature 40 effects the operation of the actuating lever 38. The armature is preferably angular in section, having a portion 42 to which the operating lever may be secured by appropriate fastening means shown in the form of rivets M. The other leg 46 of the armature extends adjacent to the pole piece I2 and is arranged in adjustable relation thereto by means of the adjusting screw 48 which latter is of relatively large diameter and may have a right hand screw providing a means for close adjustment of the extent of movement of the operating lever. A look nut 50 secures the screw in adjusted position so as to preclude variations of adjustment when the device is in operation.

The armature and operating lever are pivotally supported upon the heel iron by means of the threaded studs 52. These studs are spaced laterally on the front edge of the heel iron thereby retaining the operating lever and armature in aligned relation to the other parts of the relay at all times. Spring nuts 54 serve to hold the parts in the position as described.

The stacks of spring contacts are positioned on the mounting plate at either side of the center thereof, as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2 thereby providing a space 56 in which the coil of operating magnet of the next adjacent relay may nest. This arrangement of relays is seen in Fig. 5 providing a very compact relationship of the relays when mounted upon a switchboard panel.

In Fig. 5, a series of contact spring stacks 22 are positioned above each operating lever 38, and an operating magnet I0 is positioned below each operating lever. The stacks are on each side of the magnet ID of the next higher relay. The operation of a lower magnet l0 eiiects the movemerit of the operating lever 38, above it, and in turn operates the spring stacks 22, above it, (and to the side of the operating coil of the magnet next above it).

It will be readily seen that the arrangement described permits a very marked economy of space in connection with the height of a switchboard and permits of a more economical fabrication of the parts of the relay as groups. For example, the spring contacts and mounting plate may be fabricated as one assembly, with the armature and operating lever as another, and the operating magnet itself as a third.

The heel iron is greatly simplified over those heretofore commonly used. The armature and operating lever are also simplified. Special spring contacts are eliminated and simple bumper pins 58 of insulating material are arranged to extend the movement of the operating lever to all the lever contact springs in the stacks.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, variations within the true spirit and scope of the same are to be determined by the appended claims,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

We claim:

1. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in a row, each relay including a bar extending transversely of the row of relays, a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted transversely of the row of relays in substantial alignment on said bar and an electromagnet and associated means for actuating said sets of contact springs, the sets of contact springs oi each relay being arranged in two groups separated to provide a space therebetween and means for mounting said relays with the electromagnet of each preceding relay positioned in the space between the groups of contact springs of the next succeeding relay.

2. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in a row, each relay including a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted in substantial alignment transversely of the row of relays and an electromagnet and associated means for actuating said sets of contact springs, the sets of contact springs of each relay being arranged in two groups separated to provide a space therebetween substantially centrally of the relay, and means for mounting said relays with the electromagnet of each preceding relay positioned in the space between the groups of contact springs of the next succeeding relay.

3. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in a row; each relay including a bar extending transversely of the row of relays, a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted on said bar in substantial alignment and an electromagnet and associated means for actuating said sets of contact springs; the sets of contact springs of each relay being arranged in two groups separated to provide a space therebetween substantially centrally of the relay, and means for mounting said relays with the electromagnet of each preceding relay positioned in the space between the groups of contact springs of the next succeeding relay.

4. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in a row; each relay including a bar extending transversely of the row of relays, a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted in substantial alignment on one side of said bar and an electromagnet and associated means for actuating said sets of contact springs mounted on the other side of said bar; the sets of contact springs of each relay being arranged in two groups separated to provide a space therebetween and. means for mounting said relays with the electromagnet of each preceding relay positioned in the space between the groups of contact springs of the next succeeding relay.

NORMAN H. SAUNDERS. NILS A. JUDSEN.