US2562091A

US2562091A - Relay

Info

Publication number: US2562091A
Application number: US693595A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry C Harrison
Original assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1946-08-28
Filing date: 1946-08-28
Publication date: 1951-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-24
Also published as: BE473972A; NL71170C; FR947599A; GB626435A

Description

Julyl24, 1951 l H. c; HARRISON 2,562,091

RELAY Filed Aug. 2e, 194e l 2 sheets-sheet 1 /a [/5 [55 f/6 Uf f20 f2 i i /4 1 ,a I ,u u u /NVE/vroR By HCHRR/SON ATTORNEY July 24, 195] H Q HARRlSQN 2,562,091

RELAY Filed Aug. 28, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 ijf/7,:

/NVENTOR H C HA ,QR/50N Wwe. M

A T TORNEV Patented July 24, 1951 2,562,091 RELAY Henry C; Harrison, Port Washing-ton, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 28, 1946, Serial No.l 693,595 6 Claims.l (Cl. 200m-.104)

This invention relates to contact making devices and particularly to improvements in relay structures for use in telephone systems.

An object of the invention is to simplify the construction of relay devices and to decrease the cost thereof and another object is to increasel the facility of such relays to establish diiierent combinations of electrical make and break connections. Still another object is to increase the efficiency of operation and self-adjustment of the parts andV to decrease maintenance costs.

Heretofore relay structures have been usedfor special purposes in establishing or breaking connections in electrical circuits through the utiliza tion of an armature operating through cards or studs on springs to make and break such connections. In such structures the armature usually is pivoted on a knife edge or on a pin and is provided with extensions to control through such cards or studs the contact spring operations.l

In multicontact relays of this character the arrangement of the various springs, cards and studs and the arrangement of the return polepiece for the core does not always lend itself to as compact construction and economical spacing of the parts as could be desired, nor is itr usually possible to rearrange the parts for changing the spring combinations for making .or breaking electrical circuits without increasing the over-all size of the relay.

The applicants invention relates to a multicontact relay device that may be adjusted to various purposes in the telephone art for the establishing or breaking of connections in various groups without extensive changes and without increasing its size. To attain the objects of the invention above set forth the applicant has des.

signed a relay employing a laminated core hav-V ing three parallel iiat pole-piece members, although it is not necessary that the core be laminated. An energizing coil is wound around the central member, the outer members serving as return pole-pieces of the magnetic circuit. Across the free ends of these members is located an armature to which is secured a member of insulating material. Contact springs are arranged in a top and a bottom layer with an equal number of corresponding springs or spring sets in each layer. Each top spring consists of ,a single.

round wire with a light flat contacting strip secured thereto while each bottom spring consists of a pair of round wires. These latter wires may be of slightly different diameters to cause the periodicity of vibration of the two wires to be slightly diierent to thereby obviate contact chatter when the wires are engaged or disen gaged, The insulating member is provided with slots through which said contact springs project with some of the top springs firmly secured to the member and with others of these top springs loosely guided in their respective slots. The member and armature are therefore suspended on such top springs as are attached to the member so that no other suspension means are required for the armature. A crossbar of insulating material is provided between said two layers of springs and said cross bar and the slots' in the insulating member are so positioned as to guide the contact springs during the travel of said springs. In the case of the top springs secured to the member, when the armature is attracted by the core, said springs make contact with the corresponding bottom springs, while in the case of the top springs not secured to the member but guided in slots therein, when the armature is attracted by the core, said springs are disengaged from the corresponding bottom springs that are secured to and moved by the member. The springs of the top Ylayer are molded in a single insulation block and the springs in the bottom layer are also molded in another single corresponding block, these two blocks being secured one on top of the other and to another insulation block in which the rear end of the core is secured. A top cover member and a bottom cover member are securedl around these blocks and extend approximately halfway over the core, coil and springs and a front cover is also provided which is telescoped' over said top and bottom covers to completely enclose the relay structure. The front cover is provided at its front end with a window for the ready observance of the operation of the relay.

f y: The upper and lower blocks in which the springs are embedded are serrated at their rear edges, and a contact spring protrudes from each projection and from each recess in each layer so as to provide a greater separation distance ben, tween the terminal ends of springs in the layers and thereby decrease the danger of short-circuiting between the terminals.

The invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l shows a top view of a relay embodying the' applicants invention with part of the top and front cover broken away;

Fig. l2 is a cross-section taken on line 2-2 'of Fig. 1;

Fig@ 3 -is a side view` of the relay shown iny Figs.-

1 and 2 with certain interior parts dotted in;

Fig 4 is a front view of the relay with the front cover partly cut away;

Fig. 5 is a rear View of the relay;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the relay with the covers in place;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the relay showing the window;

Fig. 9 showsv a set of normally made contact springs and the armature and operating member; and

Fig. l shows a set of normally open contact springs and the armature and operating member.

Referring now to these drawings, the core structure I consists of a rear portion 2 and three forwardly extending prongs or pole-piece members, the central one designated 3 serving as a core and the side members designated 4 and 5 serving as return pole-pieces. This core is laminated to reduce hysteresis losses, but a solid core could be used. Around the central member 3 is Wound a coil 6 with the usual spoolheads at opposite ends. The rear end 2 of the core is mounted in an insulation block 1 which block, in turn holds a nut 8 in which a screw 9 is threaded and by means of which the relay may be mounted on a support not shown. The coil terminals III and I I are embedded in this blocky 1 and extend forwardly as shown at I2. On top of this block 1 is mounted another insulation block I3 in which a bottom layer of springs I4 is molded and on the top ofblock I3 is another insulation block I in which a top layer `of springs I6 is molded. The rearward ends of these blocks are so serrated that alternate springs have their terminals extending from projections or extensions in the blocks I3 and I5 as shown at I8 while the other terminals extend from depressions in the ends of the blocks as shown at I9. This is for the purpose of providing a maximum distance between adjacent springs to reduce the danger of short circuits.

Each of the top springs consists of a single wire with a nat piece Welded thereto while each of the bottom springs consists of a pair of wires as shown for example at in Fig. 1 or at 26 in Fig. 4. The two wires in each pair are of a slightly different diameter so as to reduce the probability of simultaneous 'reopening due to vibration when actuated. Across the front or pole-

piece ends

3, 4 and 5 of the core is located an armature 21. To this armature is secured an operating member of insulating material. This member 30 is provided with various slots or openings through which all of the springs project. Certain of the top springs are actually connected to the block as shown, for example, for those top springs I6 associated with contact strips 35 (Fig. 4). The method of securing one of these springs is shown in Fig. 10. For those contact strips 35, the forward at piece 20 is provided with a loop 36 and is welded to the corresponding spring I6 after having been looped over a cross-portion 31 of the member 30 while the spring I6 itself extends through a slot 38 so that the member 30 is held rmly between the piece 2|] and spring I6. By this means the armature 21 is suspended by those top springs IE associated with contact strip and by any other top springs which are normally in an open position as shown in Figs. 4 and 10. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 9, the other top springs I6 associated with contact strips such as 3,4, also provided with forward flat pieces 20, and

loops 3B, are free to move in guide slots in member 30 and are normally tensioned to rest on the top of the cross-rod or bar 42 formed of insulating material and mounted transversely in the relay top cover 55. In Fig. 9 the lower spring I4, companion to spring I6, is guided in the slot 43 in member 30 and is caused to be lowered by the cross portion 44 of the member 3U when actuated, while in Fig. 10 the lower spring I4 companion to spring I6 in this figure is guided in the slot 38 and normally tensioned to rest against the under surface of the cross bar 42. The springs shown in Fig. 9 are normally in contact with each other and the springs shown in Fig. 10 are normally separated. This cross-bar 42 is so located in relation to these springs, and to the slots and openings in member 30 that, as in the case of Fig. 9 where the mating springs are normally in contact, when the armature is attracted by the core the lower spring I4 will be moved by the member 3D to separate from the upper spring while the upper spring rests against the upper surface of the bar 42. On the other hand when the armature is operated and the springs are attached to the member 3D as shown in Fig. 10, a connection is made between springs I4 and I6 as the upper spring I6 is moved downwardly by the member 30 and makes contact with the lower spring I4.

While applicant has shown only two sets of springs in which the contacts are normally closed and the other ten sets of springs whereby connections are normally open, this arrangement of the springs may be varied for different requirements so that in some instances perhaps a smaller number of the connections are to be normally open with a corresponding increase in the number of connections normally closed. The essential thng of course is that some of the springs are actually connected to the armature as shown in Fig. l0 through the member 30 for the suspension of the armature. Therefore if all the spring connections are to be broken, additional springs may be provided for the sole purpose of suspending the armature and block in the manner shown in Fig. 10. It is therefore readily seen that with this construction the applicants structure may be readily changed to provide spring combinations for making and breaking connections without materially changing the construction of the relay or increasing its size or in other ways changing the general arrangement of the parts.

Referring now to the relay cover the upper cover 55 covers the upper surface of the relay and extends down over the sides as shown at 56 and 51 in Fig. '7 to the bottom of the relay and the corresponding bottom cover 58, covers the undersurface of the relay and has side projections or members 59 and 60 on the inside of the corresponding side members 56 and 51 of the upper cover. blocks 1, I3 and I5 completely and also part of the relay up to approximately half the distance towards the front of the relay structure. Over these two covers is telescoped thefront cover 62

bearing side members

53 and 54 and provided at its front end with a window 63 to enable the observation of the operation of the relay. In this manner the complete relay is entirely enclosed by a dustproof covering.

What is claimed is:

1. In a relay, a core, a coil associated with said core, a rst plurality of contact carrying springs arranged in a row, a second plurality'v These two covers enclose the insulationv of n fruitingl contact carrying springs arra'rigedili; arow adjacent'said frst'sprngs, an operating member of insulatingY material having slots therein through whichsaidsprings extend with some of said rst springs secured to said member while others are loosely guided in slots thereof, an armature zsecuredto said member, anda' crossbar located between said rows of springs, said slots in saidmemberl and the bar being so arranged in relation to saidsprings that such rst springs' as are secured to said member makecontact with mating second springs when said armature is attracted to said core whereas the-other flrst'springs which are not secured to said member `are' separated from mating second contacts when said'armature is attracted to said core, all of said springs being either guided by the slots of said member in their travel or movable thereby.

2. In a relay, a hat laminated core structure having a base portion and a central core member and two return pole-piece members extendging from said base portion, a coil surrounding the central core member, two terminal rods for said coil, an insulation block secured to the underside of the base of said core in which said rods are molded, a plurality of twin sets of bottom wire contact springs arranged in a row, an insulation block secured to the upper side of the base and in which said sets of bottom contact springs are molded, a row of top wire contact springs one wire spring for each twin set of bottom wire contact springs, an insulation block secured on the top of said upper insulation block and in which said top wire springs are molded, an operating member of insulating material having slots therein through which said bottom and top contact springs project toward the front of the relay with some of said top springs secured to said operating member while of the remaining top and bottom springs some are sldably guided in corresponding slots and others are xedly controlled for movement by slots in said member, an armature secured to said operating member and extending across the front ends of said three members of the core structure, a top cover member and a bottom cover member for said relay secured to the polepiece members and enclosing said three insulation blocks except in the rear and enclosing a major portion of the core, coil and springs, a stop bar having an insulation covering secured to the top cover and extending across and between said two rows of top and bottom springs, said slots in the operating block and the stop bar being so arranged in relation to the top and bottom spring sets that such of the top springs as are secured to the operating member make contact with corresponding bottom springs which are slidable in slots of said member and are normally tensioned against the undersurface of said bar when said armature is attracted toward said core, while such of the top springs as are not secured to the operating member are slidable in guiding slots in the operating member and are tensioned against the upper surface of said bar and disengaged from the mating springs which are movable by the member when the armature is attracted by the core structure to separate them from said corresponding top springs, a front cover for said relay telescoped over said top and bottom cover members in front of the relay to enclose entirely the front of said relay structure and a transparent window inserted in said theoperationsr sai-d tive by said'operating member and some guidable in slotsinv said operating member, a iixed'stopl member for said springs; said operating member and'xedstop member being so arranged, as .to cooperate with said-- springs sol that when the l; armature is attractedv byrvsaid core on the energization' of *saidv coil, the springsserving assuspension'springs'establish connections with corresponding' companion springs of a group of other springs guided in slots in said operating member 'and' the' group of springs operable by said, operating member*` break connection with correspondingcompanion springs of the group of springs guided in Islots in said operating member.

' I4. -A-.relay comprising a core, a coil, an armature, an operating member of insulating material attached to said armature, a set of single contact-carrying springs each comprising a single round wire, a set of pairs of mating contact carrying springs each pair comprising two round wires of unequal diameters, some of both of said sets of springs being attached to and operable by said operating member and some being guidable in slots in said operating member, a fixed stop member for said springs, said operating member and said fixed stop member being so arranged as to cooperate with said springs so that when the armature is attracted by said core on the energization of said coil, the ones of said single contact-carrying springs attached to the operating member establish connections with companion ones of said pairs of springs guided in slots in said operating member and the ones of said pairs of springs attached to said operating member break connections with companion ones of said single springs guided in slots in said operating member.

5. In a relay, a core, a coil, an armature, an operating member of insulating material attached to said armature, a iixed stop member and contact carrying springs some serving also as suspension springs for said operating member and armature by being attached to the operating member, while others are guided in slots in said operating member and still others are movable by said operating member by passing through slots in said operating member, said contact carrying springs being so arranged in relation to the operating member and to the xed stop member that when the armature is attracted on the energization of said coil, the springs serving as suspension springs make contact with some springs guided in the slots and the springs movable by said operating member break contact with other of said springs guided in the slots.

6. In a relay, a core, a coil, an armature, an operating member attached to said armature, molded blocks of insulation material secured to said core, contact springs consisting of twin wires molded in one of said blocks and arranged in a straight row in a lower layer, contact springs consisting of single wires molded in another of said molded blocks and with a ilat metal strip attached to each wire serving as a contact member and arranged in a straight row in an upper layer with each contact spring pair in said lower layer being located'opposite the metal strip of a corresponding spring `wire in the upper layer, certain contact springs in the upper layer being attached to said operating member to serve also as suspension means for said operating member and armature, While thev other of said springs in the upper layer are arranged tofbe guided in slots in said operating member and with the companion spring pairs in the lower layer of the first mentioned springs in .the upper layer arranged in openings in the operating member to be guided thereby and with the Acompanion spring pairs in the lower layeer of the second mentioned springs in the upper layer arranged in openings in the operating member to be moved therewith, a stationary member located between said two rows of springs so that the springs in the upper layer in the guide opening are tensioned against the upper surface of said stationary member and the springs in thelower layer in guide openings are tensioned against the lower surface of said stationary member and with the springs so formed that when the armature is attracted by the coil by the energization thereof, connections are established between the corresponding springs of the groups in which the upper springs are connected to the upper member and connections are broken between the remaining corresponding springs.

HENRY C. HARRISON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 991,829 Clement May 9, 1911 1,521,591 Beck Jan. 6, 1925 1,647,792 Gent Nov. 1, 1927 1,812,545 Nilson June 30, 1931 2,076,115 Benit Apr. 6, 1937 2,077,622 Field Apr. 20, 1937 2,377,137 Eaton May 29, 1945 2,427,483 Weiner Sept. 16, 1947 2,442,500 Lamb June 1, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 116,680 Australia Mar. 18, 1943