US2577602A - Method for adjusting the sensitivity of contact devices - Google Patents

Method for adjusting the sensitivity of contact devices Download PDF

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Publication number
US2577602A
US2577602A US777199A US77719947A US2577602A US 2577602 A US2577602 A US 2577602A US 777199 A US777199 A US 777199A US 77719947 A US77719947 A US 77719947A US 2577602 A US2577602 A US 2577602A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
relay
contact
armature
current
piece
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US777199A
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English (en)
Inventor
Everett T Burton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AT&T Corp
Original Assignee
Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL707003242A priority Critical patent/NL140749B/xx
Priority to NL74595D priority patent/NL74595C/xx
Priority to BE482442D priority patent/BE482442A/xx
Application filed by Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc filed Critical Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc
Priority to US777199A priority patent/US2577602A/en
Priority to FR966089D priority patent/FR966089A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2577602A publication Critical patent/US2577602A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/327—Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
    • G01R31/3277—Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches
    • G01R31/3278—Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches of relays, solenoids or reed switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/28—Relays having both armature and contacts within a sealed casing outside which the operating coil is located, e.g. contact carried by a magnetic leaf spring or reed
    • H01H51/282—Constructional details not covered by H01H51/281
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/28—Relays having both armature and contacts within a sealed casing outside which the operating coil is located, e.g. contact carried by a magnetic leaf spring or reed
    • H01H51/284—Polarised relays
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/4902—Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49758—During simulated operation or operating conditions

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved method for the sensitivity adjustment of circuit makers and breakers and particularly to devices known as glass sealed mercury contact relays.
  • the object of the invention is to produce an accurately adjusted relay without recourse to mechanical bending, screw adjustment or other mechanical movement of the parts thereof.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a relay in which the adjustment is stable and will remain in this condition for over a long period of service.
  • the elements of the relay are assembled, then plotted in a steel cover beyond the possibility of mechanical adjustment or interference with the parts and then adjusted by a magnetic influence externally applied.
  • the elements of the relay are first of all a glass sealed Contact arrangement in which an armature is fed by capillary action from a pool of mercury sealed Within the glass envelope and which is then filled with hydrogen under high pressure, by way of example, 250 pounds to the square inch.
  • This glass sealed contact device is then placed along the axis of a solenoid and a small permanent magnet is positioned above the Contact element in such a position that it will bias the action of the relay but will be little affected by the magnetic influence of the solenoid.
  • This assembly is then placed within a steel cover similar to the covers used on metal radio tubes and the entire assembly lled with Wax or other plastic which is then left to harden. A conventional octal base is then attached to this assembly and the proper connections to the pins thereof are made.
  • nent magnet results from the magnetomotive 'forces used in the solenoid.
  • the above result is accomplished because of the fact that the magnetomotive force of a solenoid with little ferromagnetic material along its axis is concentrated near the center of the winding near the contacts of the switch but is of low concentration near the ends of the winding.
  • a feature of the invention may, therefore, be stated as a relay consisting of a glass sealed mercury contact device centered within an operating solenoid biased to the proper sensitivity by a permanent magnet with these elements permanently held in position by a plastic within a magnetic shield.
  • Another feature of the invention is a method of producing a sensitive and stable relay by fixing all of the mechanical parts against movement within a protecting shield and then adjusting the relay by an external magnetomotive force sufficient in strength to penetrate the magnetic shield and to aiect an element of the relay.
  • Another feature of the invention is a method of producing a sensitive and stable relay by rendering the coil, the contact and the biasing magnet rigid and inflexible within a protecting shield and then adjusting the relay by rst over-magnetizing the permanent magnet and then demagnetizing the said permanent magnet until the operation of the relay is within predetermined limits.
  • Another feature of the invention is the use of an unmagnetized element of permanent magnetic material which is built into the structure of the relay and then properly magnetized after all the elements thereof have been rendered rigid and inflexible.
  • Tl-.e drawings consist of two sheets having nine gures as follows:
  • Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the completed relay
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective drawing with the glass envelope broken away to show the interior construction and arrangement of the contact device
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the armature contact piece resting on its back contacts
  • Fig. 5 is a conventional diagram indicating the connection of the relay winding and the armature and various armature contacts to the pins of a conventional octal radio tube base;
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which the permanent magnet within the relay is magnetized
  • Fig. 7 is a graph showing the rise and fall of the direct current used for magnetizing the permanent magnet in the circuit of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram showing how the permanent magnet within the relay after being strongly magnetlzed is partially demagnetized.
  • Fig. 9 is a graph illustrating the manner in which alternating current is applied to the coil of Fig. 8 in order to properly demagnetize this permanent magnet.
  • the contact device of the present relay consists of a glass tube I into which a metal tube 2 is sealed at the bottom. 'I'his metal tube is for the usual purpose of exhausting the air from the envelope, introducing the mercury and later pumping the tube full of gas at high pressure. When these operations have been completed then the tube is crushed at its lower end and welded together.
  • the short piece of wire 3 is conducting material which is used in the welding operation in order to produce the proper concentration of welding current and which itself becomes welded to the tube 3.
  • wires 4 and 5 constitute back contacts of the device and as shown in Fig. 4 these have pieces of contact metal 6 and 'I respectively attached thereto.
  • Similar wires 8 and 9 are used for the front contacts and they are somewhat longer so that they will provide a low reluctance circuit contiguous to the armature piece I0.
  • This armature piece is attached through the use of a light spring II to the metal tube 2.
  • a small piece of permanent magnetic material I5 is attached as by soldering to one of the front contact wires 9 and is insulated from the other wire 8 by a small piece of insulation I6.
  • the switch as so described is then inserted within a solenoid I'I and this assembly is then placed within a steel cover I8 made of magnetic material so as to provide magnetic shielding for the relay.
  • This assembly is then inverted and filled with a liquid plastic 25 such as hot wax which upon cooling will hold the parts of the relay rigid and inflexible. Therefore, all parts of the relay are beyond reach for adjustment by conventional means.
  • the tube is then attached to a conventional base I9 provided with the pins 20 and 2i and wired up according to the diagram of Fig. 5.
  • the relay After the relay has been completely assembled, it is inserted into a device consisting of a coil 22 wound in a case 23 of ferro-magnetic material. Since a number of relays of difierent dimensions may be processed by this device it is provided with a screw 24 of ferro-magnetic material whereby the coil may be adjusted over the top of the relay until the piece of permanent magnetic material indicated by the broken line rectangle 25 is properly positioned.
  • the permanent magnet is then subjected to a very strong magnetic field by connecting the coil 22 to a source of direct current through a time switch 2B adjusted to limit the flow of current to la definite time, by way of example, ten seconds.
  • Circuit elements such as a thyrite rectifier 21, a condenser 28 and resistance 29 are connected to the wiring of the o coil 22 so that there will be no oscillation on the break of the circuit by the time switch 26. These circuit elements are provided to make the application of direct current to the current 22 as nearly like that indicated by the graph of Fig. 7 as possible.
  • the magnetization provided by the coil 22 is sufficient to saturate the steel cover I8 of the relay and penetrate to the piece of magnetic material I5 to strongly magnetize the latter so that the armature will be preferably held over to the front contact wires 8-9 of the relay.
  • a coil 30 is slipped over the top of the relay in order to demagnetize the permanent magnetic material I5 sufliciently to adjust the relay to its proper working condition.
  • the relay is connected to a test set II which may be similar to that shown in Patent No. 2,432,092 granted to E. B. Ferrell on December 9, 1947 (Serial No. 500,935, filed September 2, 1943).
  • a source of alternating current is connected to a device 32 by means of which the potential delivered to the circuit may b ⁇ e varied. Current then flows through the two poles of a stator.
  • a rotor is connected in series with the coil 30 but in the position shown is held open by a switch 33.
  • the handle 34 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction until the rotor of this device comes in line with the stator whereupon alternating current of a maximum value will iiow through the coil 30.
  • the handle 34 is then slowly moved into the position shown so that the amount of current in the coil 30 is gradually decreased in the manner indicated by the graph of Fig. 9.
  • the relay may be tested by the test set 3l.
  • the contact 35 of the variable device 32 is moved so that the coil 30 may be more strongly energized. In this manner the piece of magnetic material I5 may be demagnetized until the relay responds in the desired manner.
  • An accurately adjusted relay may be thus produced so that the armature I normally rests against its back contacts and will upon the energization of the solenoid II move to its front contacts on a preferred value of current.
  • piece I5 be overmagnetized with respect to the ultimate adjustment required thereof, consequently, it is possible but not commercially practical for piece I5 to be overmagnetized and still not cause armature Il) to move away from its position against contact wires 4 5 in that with this procedure one cannot be absolutely sure that piece I5 is overmagnetized with respect to the ultimate adjustment required.
  • the operate current required is less than that necessary for the specified operate value inasmuch as piece I5 exerts an excessive attraction force upon the armature. To adjust this excessive force piece I5 is demagnetized slightly by the procedure hereinbefore outlined.
  • piece I5 is overmagnetized by the procedure hereinbefore outlined. Again, in order to make sure that suiiicient overmagnetization has taken place, it is preferable that armature I0 be caused to make contact with wires 8 9 in response to the excessive magnetization of piece I5.
  • piece I5 be overma-gnetized to the extent that armature I0 is caused to contact wires 8 9, the exact requirement being merely that piece I5 be overmagnetized with respect to the ultimate adjustment required thereof and this requirement can be attained without causing armature I0 to break contact with wires 4 5.
  • piece I5 With piece I5 in this condition the release current value required to permit armature I0 to move away from contact wires 8 9 when armature contact is made therewith will be less than the release current value specied. To correct this, piece I5 is demagnetized in accordance with the procedure hereinbefore outlined in a small increment.
  • the demagnetization should continue until said armature just frees itself from wires 8 9 thereby making contact with wires 4 5.
  • the effect of the demagnetization step upon the release sensitivity adjustment is determined thereafter by applying any operate current value to solenoid I'I which will cause armature I0 to contact wires 8 9 and thereafter reducing said current in value until the armature is restored to its position against Contact wires 4 5. If the current which caused the armature to move away from contact wires 8 9 is smaller than the release value specified, the demagnetization and testing steps should be repeated until the release current value is brought up to the specified value.
  • a very sensitive and stable relay may be formed.
  • a method for adjusting the operate current sensitivity of a magnetically shielded make and break contact device of the type wherein a magnetizable armature biased by a permanent magnet coupled thereto is caused to make operative contact with an electrode in response to a specied operate current through a winding which is also magnetically coupled to said armature comprising the steps of overmagnetizing said permanent magnet with respect to the ultimate magnetic adjustment required thereof, demagnetizing said permanent magnet by subjecting same to a demagnetizing magnetic eld in incremental steps of increasing intensity, each demagnetizing step being sufficiently intense to saturate the magnetic shield of the device being adjusted, and after each demagnetizing increment testing said contact device by passing an operate current through the winding thereof of suicient amplitude to cause said armature to make operative contact with said electrode, and continuing said alternate demagnetizing and testing steps upon said contact device until the specied operate sensitivity adjustment is attained.
  • demagnetizing said permanent magnet by subjecting same to a demagnetizing magnetic field in incremental steps of increasing intensity, each demagnetizing step being sufficiently intense to saturate the magnetic shield of ,the device being adjusted, testing said contact device by passing acurrent through the winding thereof a suilcient amplitude to cause said armature to make operative contact with said electrode and subsequently reducing the value of said current until said contact is broken, thereby determining the effect of said demagnetizing steps in adjusting the contact device to the specified sensitivity value, and continuing said demagnetizing and testing steps upon said contact device until the specified release sensitivity adjustment is attained.
  • demagnetizing magnetic eld comprises a plurality of alternating magnetic cycles, the peak values of said cycles being of gradually increasing amplitude and thereafter of gradually decreasing amplitude.
  • said deinagnetizing magnetic field comprises a plurality of alternating magnetic cycles, the peak values of said cycles being of gradually increasing amplitude and thereafter of gradually decreasing amplitude.
  • a method as dened in claim 3 wherein said demagnetizing magnetic eld comprises a plurality of alternating magnetic cycles, the peak values of said cycles being of gradually increasing amplitude and thereafter of gradually decreasing amplitude.
  • a method for adjusting the sensitivity of a make and break contact device of the type wherein a magnetizable armature biased by a permanent magnet coupled thereto is caused to make contact with an electrode in response to a current of specified amplitude through a winding which is also magnetically coupled to said armature comprising the steps of overmagnetizing said permanent magnet with respect to the ultimate magnetic adjustment required thereof, demagnetizing said permanent magnet by subjecting same to a demagnetizing magnetic field comprising a plurality of alternating magnetic cycles, the peak values thereof being of gradually increasing amplitude and thereafter gradually decreasing amplitude, said demagnetization occurring in incremental steps of increasing intensity, testing said contact device after each incremental demagnetization step by passing a current through the winding thereof of sufficient amplitude to cause said armature to make contact with said electrode, and alternately applying said demagnetizing and testing steps to said contact device until the specified operative sensitivity adjustment is attained.v

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
US777199A 1947-10-01 1947-10-01 Method for adjusting the sensitivity of contact devices Expired - Lifetime US2577602A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL707003242A NL140749B (nl) 1947-10-01 Werkwijze om een rhodiumkatalysator te reactiveren.
NL74595D NL74595C (pt) 1947-10-01
BE482442D BE482442A (pt) 1947-10-01
US777199A US2577602A (en) 1947-10-01 1947-10-01 Method for adjusting the sensitivity of contact devices
FR966089D FR966089A (fr) 1947-10-01 1948-05-07 Relais

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US777199A US2577602A (en) 1947-10-01 1947-10-01 Method for adjusting the sensitivity of contact devices

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US2577602A true US2577602A (en) 1951-12-04

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US (1) US2577602A (pt)
BE (1) BE482442A (pt)
FR (1) FR966089A (pt)
NL (2) NL74595C (pt)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2806186A (en) * 1954-03-24 1957-09-10 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay adjusting set
US2834847A (en) * 1955-05-13 1958-05-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2855017A (en) * 1954-12-28 1958-10-07 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Device for adjusting the relative position of the contacts in a glass enclosed contact switch
US2914600A (en) * 1952-09-05 1959-11-24 Chicago Telephone Of Californi Embedded coil and method of manufacturing
US2914634A (en) * 1958-01-23 1959-11-24 Clare & Co C P Contact structure for mercury relays
US3243795A (en) * 1963-03-08 1966-03-29 Eastman Kodak Co Battery condition indicator
US3341746A (en) * 1964-04-21 1967-09-12 Dow Chemical Co Control method and apparatus
US3533025A (en) * 1969-01-31 1970-10-06 Adams & Westlake Co Flat pack relay

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US821992A (en) * 1902-05-01 1906-05-29 North Electric Co Relay device.
US1611089A (en) * 1923-09-24 1926-12-14 North East Electric Co Adjustment of magnetic tachometers
US1837723A (en) * 1928-06-12 1931-12-22 Western Electric Co Method of manufacturing electrical connecting plugs
US1933511A (en) * 1930-06-13 1933-10-31 Leon B Manson Electrical illuminating device
US2060235A (en) * 1935-06-22 1936-11-10 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay
US2264022A (en) * 1940-06-27 1941-11-25 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay
US2342354A (en) * 1941-08-09 1944-02-22 Honeywell Regulator Co Metal-clad switch
US2406036A (en) * 1943-05-22 1946-08-20 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Sealed contact device
US2459306A (en) * 1944-07-21 1949-01-18 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Contact protection for mercury wetted switch contacts
US2485024A (en) * 1945-03-21 1949-10-18 Amalgamated Wireless Australas Electromagnetically operated vacuum sealed relay

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US821992A (en) * 1902-05-01 1906-05-29 North Electric Co Relay device.
US1611089A (en) * 1923-09-24 1926-12-14 North East Electric Co Adjustment of magnetic tachometers
US1837723A (en) * 1928-06-12 1931-12-22 Western Electric Co Method of manufacturing electrical connecting plugs
US1933511A (en) * 1930-06-13 1933-10-31 Leon B Manson Electrical illuminating device
US2060235A (en) * 1935-06-22 1936-11-10 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay
US2264022A (en) * 1940-06-27 1941-11-25 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay
US2342354A (en) * 1941-08-09 1944-02-22 Honeywell Regulator Co Metal-clad switch
US2406036A (en) * 1943-05-22 1946-08-20 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Sealed contact device
US2459306A (en) * 1944-07-21 1949-01-18 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Contact protection for mercury wetted switch contacts
US2485024A (en) * 1945-03-21 1949-10-18 Amalgamated Wireless Australas Electromagnetically operated vacuum sealed relay

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2914600A (en) * 1952-09-05 1959-11-24 Chicago Telephone Of Californi Embedded coil and method of manufacturing
US2806186A (en) * 1954-03-24 1957-09-10 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Relay adjusting set
US2855017A (en) * 1954-12-28 1958-10-07 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Device for adjusting the relative position of the contacts in a glass enclosed contact switch
US2834847A (en) * 1955-05-13 1958-05-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2914634A (en) * 1958-01-23 1959-11-24 Clare & Co C P Contact structure for mercury relays
US3243795A (en) * 1963-03-08 1966-03-29 Eastman Kodak Co Battery condition indicator
US3341746A (en) * 1964-04-21 1967-09-12 Dow Chemical Co Control method and apparatus
US3533025A (en) * 1969-01-31 1970-10-06 Adams & Westlake Co Flat pack relay

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE482442A (pt)
FR966089A (fr) 1950-09-29
NL140749B (nl)
NL74595C (pt)

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