US2534354A - Plug-in magnetic switch housing - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1950 A. c. KELLER 2,534,354

PLUG-IN MAGNETIC SWITCH HOUSING Filed Oct. 8, 1947 45/ 63 64 25 [D m34 3l LWR uw LF-@ /NVENTOR 6 68 59 69 6 6 62 65 66 lWAC. KELLER (y lamap( A 7' TOR/VE V Patented Dec. 19, 1950 PLUG-IN MAGNETIC SWITCH HOUSING Arthur C. Keller, Bronxville, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application catchers, 1947,`siia1N0.7'7s,524

1 claim. (c1. 20o- 87) This invention relates to electrical relays or selectors and more particularly, to electrical relays or selectors operable for use as selector devices in a signaling system.

. The object of the invention is to provide a selective relay which will operate in' a required manner when signal currents of aY plurality of different predeterminedA frequencies kare applied tothe relay. o

' Affeature Yof the invention resides in an operating unitfor a plurality of electrical switch devices, the operating unit having a coil common to theplurality of switch devices.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is aA view in perspective of an electrical relay embodying the' invention;

lFig.' 2y is an enlarged top pla'n view of the relay shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view, in vertical cross-section, of the relay and taken on the lines 3 3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of an electrical signaling system in which the relay of this invention is included.

Inselective signaling systems and apparatus employed in selectively signaling substations fromja central station the selective signaling maybe accomplished, in part, by sending out from a central .stationv signaling currents of a pluralityy of different predetermined frequencies. Each substation may be provided with a plurality of switch deviceseach of which is sensitive to and operable to close contacts when signalingcurrents of a predetermined frequency are received at the substation. Each switch device at a substation may be sensitive to signaling currentsof a frequency different from the -frequency to whichanother switch deviceis sensitive'and eachfswitch device may be provided with its ownoperating coil. The switch devices and their individual operating coils require considerable space 'at a substation for their accommodation. The space available at a substation for accommodation ofthe switch devices and their operating coils may be quite limited In my invention the electrical relay comprises apluralityof switch devices and a single operating unit* common to the switch devices.

l'As shown "in Fig. 1 thefrelay 4 of this invention comprisesa'set 5 ofswitch devices and an oper'- ating' unit 6 for and'common tol the-switch devices inthe set 5,. Four switch devices are shown inithe set ibut the invention is not limited-'to this number since aV-s'malleroi" larger 'number-fof ,switch devices might be" employedwithout de- 2 parting from the spirit of the invention. It will be assumed, however, merely for example, that the-set. 5 comprises the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I0. A I

i Each Aswitch device 1, S, 9 and IIl comprises a tubular casing Il equipped at one end as shown in Fig. 3 with a base I2 in which paired pin-type terminals I3 are mounted in spaced relation, the pin-type terminals i3 projecting downwardly from the base I2. Within the casing II is an electromagnetically operable switch structure having a vibratile contact carrying element operable at a predetermined frequency to close `and open contacts in the switch device during part of each operating cycle of vibration. lilachrswitch` device 1, 8, 9 and Ill is operable at a'different frequency from another of the switch devices in the set 5. Y The switch devices 1, '8,' 9 `and I0 areir'emov'- ably supported in the operating unit 6 which comprises an insulating body I4 having spaced recesses I5, I6, I1 and I8 formed therein to receive respectively the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I0. Spaced recesses I9 and 2U are formed in the insulating body I4 for a purpose to be later `ex` plained. The base of each recess l5, I6, I1 and I8 is apertured at spaced points V2I and k22 to accommodate tubular terminals l23 and 24 respectively, each of which has an aperturedtabV portion 25 extending through an aperture 26 in the lower end of the insulating body I4. The base of each recess I9 and 29 is apertured at 21 and 28 respectively to accommodate tubular termij nals 29 and `3l) each of which has an apertured tab portion 3| extending through an aperture k32 formed in the lower end of the insulating body I4. Each tab portion 25 and 3| is provided with an offset tongue 33 and 34 respectively to engage the lower end 35 of the insulating body II4 to prevent upward movement of the tubular terminalsin the insulating body I4. y The insulating body I4 forms a support for the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and Ill which may be thrust endwise into the respective recesses I5, I6, Y

I1l and I3 in the insulating body Il! and so that each of the paired pin-type terminals I3 enters and'frictionally engages a tubular terminal. For instance, when the switch device Illv vis'thrust endwise into the recess I8 one of the pair of pintype terminals I3 on the switch device I0 l'enters and frictionally engages" the tubular terminal 23; the tubular terminal` 24 in the recess I8 being entered and frictionally engaged by the Yother 'pinetype terminal I3 on the switch device Ill.'` 1 -Supported on the top ofthe insulatingbody-M is an operating coil 36 to provide means by which the vibratile elements of the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I0 may be made to vibrate. The operating coil 36 is dimensioned to surround the set 5 of switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I9 and is held in place on top of the insulating body I4 by means of a tubular casing 31. A portion of the tubular casing 31 extends downwardly about a portion of the insulating body I4 and another portion of the tubular casing 31 extends upwardly about the operating coil 36. The upper end of the tubular casing 31 is bent inwardly over the upper end of the operating coil 36 as shown at 38. An apertured mounting bracket 39 is supported on the insulating body I4 and extends into a groove 40 formed in the insulating body I4. Flange portions 4I of the tubular casing 31 extend over outer edge portions 42 of the mounting bracket 39 and are bent inwardly under the mounting bracket 39 to prevent upward movement of the tubular casing 31 relative to the insulating body I4.

The operating coil 36 is provided with a pair of lead wires 43, one of which extends downwardly through the recess I9 and into the aperture 21 to the tubular terminal 29, the lead wire 43 extending into the aperture 21 being electrically connected to the tubular terminal 29. The other lead wire 43 extends through the recess 2!! and is electrically connected to the tubular terminal 30.

Y Each switch device 1, 8, 9 and I6 as shown in Fig. 3 comprises a vibratile member 44 operable at a predetermined frequency and relative to a contact 45. The vibratile member 44 may carry a contact piece 46 to make contact with the contact 45 when the vibratile member 44 is set in vibration. 'I'he vibratile member 44 may be part oi.' a tuning fork and form one of the tines of the tuning fork, the other tine being a vibratile member 41. The vibratile members 44 and 41 are magnetically operable under influence of the perating coil 36 and are disposed on opposite sides of a pole-piece 48 extending from a permanent magnet 49 mounted on a non-magnetic but electrical conducting bar D supported on the base I2. The permanent magnet 49 and its pole-piece 48 produce a magnetic eld in the vicinity of the free ends of the vibratile members 44 and 41. The conducting bar 56 is in electrical connection with one of the pin-type terminals in the pair I3.

The other pin-type terminal in the pair I3 is in electrical connection through a conductor 5I with a conducting plate 52 which is in electrical connection with the contact 45. The conducting plate 52 is insulatingly mounted on the permanent magnet 49 and is provided with an opening through which the contact piece 46 may pass to engage the contact 45.

It will be seen that the operating coil 36 extends around those parts of the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I0 in which the magnetic iield prevails and in which the contacts 45 and 46 and pole piece 48 are located. Energization of the coil 3S will therefore affect in some measure the magnetic eld in each of the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I0. When the operating coil is energized with curent of a frequency corresponding to the frequency to which a particular switch device in the set 5 is tuned the switch device tuned to that frequency will operate to successively close and open the contacts 46 and 45. The vibratile elements in the switch devices not tuned to that frequency will not operate to close and open their contacts. The operating coil 36 may be simultaneously energized with currents of different frequencies corresponding to the frequencies required to operate a plurality of the switch devices in the set 5.

Assuming that each switch device in the set 5 is tuned to operate at a frequency different from another switch device in the set 5 and that the operating coil 36 is simultaneously energized with currents of frequencies corresponding to the frequencies required for operation of all switch devices in the set 5 the switch devices in the set 5 will al1 be operated to close and open their contacts. Y

As shown in Fig. 4 the electrical relay of this invention may serve as a selective relay in a signaling system in which a central station 53 has conductor lines 54 and 55 leading to a substation 56 in which apparatus shown below the dotdash lines in the figure is provided. irl-this case the switch devices 1, 8, 9 and I9 and the operating coil 36, above described, are located at the substation 56. Contact in the switch device 1 is in connection through a conductor 51 with a source of current supply 59. Contact 45 in switch device 1 is in connection with Contact 46 in switch device 8 through a conductor 59. Contact 45 in switch device 8 is in connection with contact 46 in switch device 9 through a conductor 66, contact 45 in switch device 9 is in connection withv contact 46 in switch device I8 through a conductor 6I and contact 45 in switch device I0 is in connection through a conductor 62 with the gas tube 63, the plate element of which is connected by conductor 64 to a telephone switch hook 65 controlling a bell signal 66. The conductors 54 and extending from the central station 53 are in connection with the operating coil 36 at the substation 55.

Although the central station 53 is shown in Fig. 4 as being in connection with substation 55 through a wire system it is to be understood that signaling between the central station 53 and the substation 56 may be by radio transmission. When the central station 53 sends out signaling current of a frequency corresponding to the frequency required for operation of a switch device in the set 5 and the signaling current of that frequency energizes the operating coil 36, the switch device tuned to that frequency will operate to close and open its contacts.

When the central station 53 simultaneously sends out signaling currents of a plurality of frequencies and corresponding to the frequencies to which the switch devices in the set 5 are tuned the switch contacts of all the switch devices in the set 5 will close and open and this closing and opening of the contacts will be repeated periodically during the energization of the switch devices. During the operation of the switch devices there will occur a coincidence of closing of all the contacts in the switch devices in the set 5 to complete a circuit to and through the gas tube 63 as follows: battery 58, conductor 51, resistance 61, contacts 45 and 45 of switch device 1, resistance 68, conductor 59, contacts 46 and 45 of switch device 6, resistance 69, conductor 69, contacts 46 and 45 of switch device 9, resistance 1U, conductor 6I, contacts 46 and 45 of switch device I9, conductor 62, gas tube 63, conductor 64, switch hook 65 (closed), bell signal 66, battery 1I, conductor 12 to battery 58. When the contacts in the switch devices 1, 8,2 9 and I9 coincidentally close and the gas tube 63 is fired the bell signal 65 operates to indicate that the substation 56 is being i called by the central station 53. j

I f 015.11? Sliktatops are included in the system and these substations are equipped with the selective relay of this invention the selective relay at each substation may be made to be operative under a different combination of signals from those assigned to other substations simply by having the switch devices in the set at each substation constructed to operate on signaling currents of frequencies diierent from the set of frequencies assigned to any other substation.

Under certain conditions in which it is found important to reduce erosion of contacts in the switch devices, resistances are sometimes provided in series with the contacts in the switch devices. The resistances 61, 68, 69 and 10 shown in Fig. 4 may be of a relatively low wattage type and connected directly to the contacts in order to avoid in some measure the capacity of the parts of the unit and prevent make contact erosion due to discharge of this capacity.

The switch devices in the set 5 have been shown as being of a type in which a single make contact is provided, the contact being made once for each cycle of operation of the vibratile element. Two contacts might be provided, however, for each vibratile element, one contact being disposed near one side of the vibratile element and the other contact being disposed near the other side of the vibratile element. In this case a make contact would occur once for each half cycle of operation of the vibratile element.

What is claimed is:

An electrical relay comprising an insulating base member having longitudinally extending bores therein, terminals located in the bottom of said bores, said terminals being tubular in configuration and having a portion thereof extending beyond the bottom surface of said base member, switching devices comprising tubular housings containing electromagnetically operable contacts, removably mounted in said bores and having pin terminals thereon in engagement with said tubular terminals, an electrical energizing coil surrounding said switching devices and positioned on the top of said insulating base member, a mounting plate member positioned on said base member and having ears projecting therefrom for securing the relay to a support, a tubular metallic casing surrounding said coil and a portion of said base member for holding said coil in position, the upper portion of said casing embracing the upper surface of said coil and the lower portion in engagement with the underside of said mounting plate, and terminals on said base member electrically connected to said coil.

ARTHUR C. KELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 388,092 Rysselberghe Aug. 21, '1888 2,152,955 Coyne Apr. 4, 1939 2,187,115 Ellwood et al. Jan. 16, 1940 2,289,830 Ellwood July 14, 1942 2,348,088 Nicholas et al. May 2, 1944 2,368,953 Walsh Feb. 6, 1945 2,420,232 Deal May 6, 1947 2,451,810 Cohen Oct. 19, 1948

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