US2633488A - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1953 B. w. BRION 2,633,488

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Filed April 1e, 194s 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 Gttorneg March 31, 1953 B. w. BRION 2,633,488

ELEc'lRon/IAGNETIcl RELAY Filed April le, 1948 A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Gttorneg Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Application April 16, 1948, Serial No. 21,481

9 Claims.

My invention relates to electromagnetic relays and more particularly to polarized relays of the direct current type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved polarized relay which is extremely sensitive in operation yet rugged in construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide a relay design which is simple in construction and the parts of which may be readily fabricated by stamping operation.

It is further an object of this invention to provide an easily adjustable relay.

Another object of this invention is to provide a polarized relay in which a minimum of adjustment and maintenance is required.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a relay which is compact and economical to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relay with an improved contact structure in which maximum life and good electrical contact is insured.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a polarized relay in which the polarizing magnets are readily interchangeable.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a study of the following specication and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the relay;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the relay with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a right end elevation view of the relay as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a left end elevation View of the relay as shown in Figure 1.

The electromagnetic or polarized relay disclosed in Figures l through 4 is mounted on a base member I5 composed of an insulating material, preferably Bakelite or other similar plastic material. Base member IG is a molded structure having a substantially square lower or base surface Il, two upstanding portions I2 and a contact supporting portion I3 attached to or formed integral with one of the upstanding portions !2. A cavity I4 or recess is formed in base member Ii! between the upstanding portions I2 in which is positioned the magnetic core structure I5 of the relay. The contact mounting portion I3 abutting one of the upstanding portions I2, as seen in Figure 2, houses the stationary contact structure IE for the relay. Terminals I? and I8 positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of this mounting portion provide a means for connecting to the stationary elements CJI of the stationary contact structure I6 in a manner later to be described. A U-shaped notch I9 and holes 25 in the lower surface I I of base member Il! provides a means for attaching said base member to any particular surface desired in any suitable manner.

The magnetic core structure I5 positioned in the recess I4 formed in base member I0 by the upstanding portions I2 includes a pair of identical U-shaped core members 23, 24 of magnetic material such as nickel iron alloy. The core members 23, Z4 have at their extremities transversely extending pole pieces 25, 25 respectively which are integral with said core members. Similarly each core member 23, 24 has an extending L-shaped magnet mounting bracket portion "2l, 2B, respectively, located equi-distant between the pole pieces 25, 26 of each core member. The free extremities of these magnet mounting bracket portions have tapped holes therein for purposes later to be described. Core member 2li is positioned in the recess I4 of base member I] such that its pole pieces 25 rest on the upstanding portions I2 of said base member and within slots in said upstanding portions I2 not shown in the drawing. The upper core member 23 is positioned with its pole pieces 25 in near abutting relationship to the pole pieces 26 of core member 24 and with the main portion of the core member extending in the opposite direction from that of core member 24. The magnet mounting bracket portion 21 is disposed in the same direction as that of portion 28 of core member 24 such that the extremities thereof lie in the same plane. Positioned between the pole pieces 25 and 26 of core members 23, 24 respectively, are a pair of U-shaped spacer members 3l of non-magnetic material. These spacer members, in addition to their general coniiguration, are bent at their open extremity such that that portion will lie parallel with the pole pieces 25, '26 and are bent at the closed extremity such that that portion will be disposed away from the upper core member 23. The bifurcated portion of each spacer member 3l iits around a reduced portion 32 of upper core member 23 and underneath the pole pieces 25. A pair of air gaps 38 are defined by the positioning of the spacer members 3l between the pole pieces 25, 2 which air gaps are limited in one direction by the pole pieces 25, 26 and in the other direction by the bifurcated ends of the spacer members 3i. Brackets 33, 34 secure the spacer members SI and the upper core member 23 as well as lower core member 24 lin position within the slots or notches in the opstanding portions I2 and the cavity it therebetween. The brackets are made of a non-magnetic material and are secured to the upstanding portions l2 of base member lo by screws which mount into tapped holes in the upstanding portions. Bracket 34 diiTers from bracket 33 in that it has an upstanding flange portion 35 attached thereto with a tapped hole si therein, the purpose oi which will be later described. Also assisting in the positioning of core members 23, 2s with respect to one another is a permanent magnet lil which is attached to the magnet mounting bracket portions 21, 28 respectively of said members. Magnet it has preferably notches at either extremity and is secured to the bracket portions El, 23 by screws 4l which t into tapped holes in the bracket portions. Core members 2s, 'Sie and magnet it form a cavity or opening in the magnetic core structure I5 within which is mounted coil or winding a which is wound on a bobbin es of insulating material. Bobbin is has an aperture il therethrough which is somewhat larger in cross dimension than the air gaps 33 such that an armature which is positioned therethrough will not engage the bobbin.

Armature 5@ is a rod-like member of high permeability magnetic material which is rectangular in cross-section and which cross-section is reduced from that of the air gap 35i and aperture 4l of bobbin 56. It is pivoted on a mounting structure 52 located outside ci the magnetic core structure i5 and secured to base member l0. The pivoted extremity of armature 5@ has a portiont bent normal thereto at which point a flexible plate 5d is attached, as by rivets 5b, the flexible plate or reed 5Fl being positioned between 'the bent portion of the armature 5i? and a non-magnetic backing plate 55 over which the rivets 56 are bent to make a secure and positive connection between the armature 5d and flexible plate or reed 5d. Armature dii, flexible plate or reed 5t and backing plate 5E are all made of good electrical conductive material for purposes to be later noted. The exible member or reed 54 is bifurcated at its lower extremities which bifurcations 6@ are attached to an adjustable mounting plate 5l and a terminal plate 52 in any suitable manner such as by rivets 53 shown herein. The bifurcations adjustable mounting plates Si and terminal plate SZ, all of which members are made of a good electrically conductive material, for purposes to be noted. later. Plate @i is positioned in a slot E55 of base member i@ extending from i the Ylower surface il along one of the opstanding portions i2, as can be seen in Figure 3. Plate BI includes notches @t therein through which mounting screws di are positioned into tapped holes in the base member. As determined by the notches its, the adjustable plate Si may be moved up and down within the slot t5 to position the structure mounted thereon and hence armature 563 within the air gap til of core structure I5. The free or upper end of flexible reed or plate 54 is also bifurcated as at it best shown in Figure 3. A screw il positioned in this bifurcation and engages the tapped. aperture :il of mounting bracket 3d such that the position of this bifurcated end of reed 5d may be varied, hence biasing the armature 5@ in a downward direction. =As shown in Figure 2, the adjustable mounting plate 6l is so positioned on base member i0 that armature is located nearest the pole piece 25 of core member 23 at the pivoted bil are placed between i 4 extremity thereof. Similarly, adjustable screw l! is positioned against the flexible member 5G at the bifurcated extremity i@ to bias the armature downward at its unpivoted extremity into engagement with its stationary contact structure i6.

Armature dll at its unpivoted extremity carries contact 'l5 which engages lcontacts "it, 'li of the stationary contact assembly It, as can best be seen in Figures 2 and e. yStationary contact structure i6 which is attached to the base member iii at the contact mounting portion i3 includes contact frames it, i9 attached to said mounting portion it by terminal screws il', E3, respectively. An opening it is positioned in the contact mounting portion i3 of base member iii for the purpose of housing the contact structure It as well as giving access to that portion for mounting and assembly of said contact structure. The terminal il is actually a screw which extends through a portion of the contact mounting portion it into opening te such that contact frame it may be positioned thereon and a nut and washer 3i threaded over the screw to secure said contact to the base member. Similarly, contact frame it is secured to the Contact mounting portion i3 by means of terminal i8 whose threaded portion extends into opening St where an apertured end of contact frame 'is is positioned thereon and a nut and washer threaded onto the terminal screw to secure the rame. rlhe contact frames i8 and 'i9 are attached to the contact mounting portion i3 of base member lo near the extremityof said upstanding portion and the aperture 30 therein. These frames extend in the longitudinal direction of the upstanding portion i2 oi base member lli and aperture il@ being disposed substantially parallel to one another and to either side of that portion of armature 5@ which carries the movable Contact l5. Frame members 1S, it have attached thereon flexible contact carrying reeds B3, 34, respectively, which carry the stationary contacts l, 'Il respectively. Contact carrying reeds 83, tf1 are disposed on that side of their respective contact trames which lies away from the armature 5@ and are attached thereto in any suitable manner as rivets 85. The reeds tlg, 8d are bent along their extremity such that the free end is biased into engagement with the contact frame. Positioned at these free ends of contact carrying reeds t3, 84 are the stationary contacts is, l? respectively which are attached to the reeds by pin-like rivets. The pins carrying the contacts extend through holes in the respective contact frames it, i9 such that the reed is positioned on one side of the contact frame and the contact member which it mounts is positioned on the other side of the contact frame. Stationary contacts i6, 'll are aligned on the contact frames lf3, i9 respectively to be engaged by the movable contact 'i5 carried on armature 5t. The free ends of contact frames 1t, 'iii have an additional aperture or hole 816, El respectively therein into which the pin-like tips 9d, si of adjustment screws t2, t3 extend. The adjustment screws t2, 93 are threaded through tapped holes in the contact mounting portion it of base member iii and extend into the opening llt, to engage the free ends of the contact frame members. These screws work against the rigidity or bias of the Jtrame members to position said members into desired proximity with the contact carrying armature 5t. The frame members l, 'it do not engage the armature, however, since stationary contacts 16, 11 are positioned between the armature and frame and upon engagement of the movable contact 15 with either of these contacts, the latter move against the bias of their respective mounting reeds a limited distance provided by the pinlike mounting rivets to absorb armature inertia and provide for Wipe of the contacts.

The operation of the present relay is conventional for a polarized relay utilizing a direct currentactuating winding or coil. Magnet 4i) of the present relay is attached to the core members 23 and 24 in such a manner that the upper end of the magnet is of south polarity and the lower end of the magnet is of north polarity and hence pole pieces 25 are magnetized to a south polarity and pole pieces 2B to a north polarity. Similarly, coil is so wound and positioned in Vthe cavity of core structure i5 that it magnetiaes armature 50, when energized, with a south polarity near its pivoted extremity and a north polarity near its contact carrying or free extremity. As was previously noted the armature is positioned in the vair gaps 33 of the core structure l 5 in such a manner that it is closer to the upper pole piece 25 at the pivot end in the air gap of the pivoted extremity and closer to the lower pole piece 26 in the air gap at the unpivoted extremity. Similarly flexible reed 54 is biased by compression through adjustment screw 'll and a tapped hole 3l of flange 36 to bias the armature 5t toward the pole piece 25 at the unpivoted extremity. With 'coil 46 deenergized, armature 5l! is affected by two conditions to hold it in a predetermined position, that is, with movable contact l5 engaging stationary contact TI. These conditions biasing the armature in the normally deenergized position are the bias of flexible reed 54 and the magnetic pull created by the permanent magnet 40. The flux in the magnetic core structure due to magnet 4o alone will tend to circulate directly across the air gaps 33. but a portion of this flux due to the proximity of the armature to pole piece 25 at the pivoted extremity and pole piece 2B at the unpivoted extremity will pass through the armature itself tending to draw the armature toward the lower pole piece at the unpivoted extremity. As coil 45 is energized with a direct current of a particular polarity, a ux will be built up in the magnetic I circuit and a definite polarity will be established at or near the extremities of the armature. This polarity will be such that a north pole will be created near the unpivoted extremity and a south pole near the pivoted extremity and the attraction between the armature and the upper pole 25 having a south polarity at the unpivoted extremity will be such to cause the armature to move away from engagement of contacts l5, il into engagement with contacts 15, T6. This type of operation will be a snap action since the magnetic pull created by the ux in the armature Will be larger than that created by the permanent magnet, After the armature 5@ has moved to the Lipper position, that is with contacts 15, i5 made, the ilux caused by the energization of coil 45 will tend to circulate through the upper core member 23 and armature 5G. This circulating flux will tend to hold the armature in its newly acquired position with sufficient contact pressure to establish a good electrical circuit between the contacts.

Similarly, as energization of coil 45 is decreased, this circulating flux will decrease to a point where the effect of the biasing spring will overcome the magnetic pull caused by it and the armature will be moved away from engagement ofl contacts 15, 7.6. At this point, the energization of the magnetic circuit due to the magnet 40 alone is such as to move the armature into engagement with contact 15, TI with a similar snap actionk and suf'- cient contact pressure will be had at these contacts due to the eiective magnetic pole and bias of the reed 54.

The electrical circuits for this relay are conventional inasmuch as all parts of the contact structure are made of good electrically conductive material. Circuits are established from stationary contacts 16, 'H to terminals I'i and rI8 respectively through their respective reeds' and contact frames. Similarly contacts 'I5 are connected to the terminal plate 52 through a circuit formed by the armature itself, the flexible reed 54, andthe terminal point 62.

While I have illustrated the preferred-embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many other modifications or adaptations of this improved relay will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it should be clearly understood that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A polarized relay comprising, in combination: aninsulated base member. having a recess therein; a magnetic core structure including a pair of U-shaped core members of magnetic material having pole. pieces at either extremity thereof and transversely extending Vmagnet mounting bracket portions integral therewith. located equi-distant between said -pole pieces; a pair of U-shaped spacci' members of nonxnagnetic material; one of said core members being positioned in said recess of said base member, the other said core members being positioned with its pole pieces in near abutting relationship to the .pole pieces of said first named core member and with said magnet mounting bracket portion extending in the same direction as that of the first named core member; said spacer members beingr positioned between the pole pieces in said near abutting relation to denne an air gap at either extremity of said core structure; bracket means securing said core members and said spacer members in a nxed relation to said base member at either extremity of said core structure; a bar type permanent magnet mounted between said magnet mounting bracket portions and removably secured thereto; a rod-like armature of magneticv material positioned to extend through said air gaps and between extremities of 'said U-shaped spacermembers, said armature being mounted on'a pivot structure located outside said core structure; said pivot structure including a iiexible reed to which said armature is attached and an adjustable mounting plate mounted on said base member carrying said reed; said armature being positioned through said adjustable plate closer to one of the pole pieces of the pair denning the air gap nearest the pivoted extremity thereof to magnetically bias said armature into a predetermined position; means including a ilange attached to one of said bracket means adapted to adjust said iiexible reed and further bias said armature into said predetermined position; and a Winding encircling said armature and disposed within said core structure, said winding when energized magnetizing said armature and causing it to be displaced from its predetermined position.

2. In a rela-y, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member of insulating material, said core structure including a pair of core members with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a permanent magnet bridging said core members, said core members being positioned with said pole pieces in near abutting relationship, nonmagnetic bifurcated spacer members positioned between said pole pieces to deiine an air gap therebetween, an armature positioned in said air gap and pivoted on a mounting structure external of said core structure for movement between the bifurcated portions of said spacer members, `'said armature mounting structure including a iiexible reed to which said armature is secured and an adjustably mounted plate to which said reed is secured, said reed having an extending portion cooperating with an adjustable screw means secured to said base member for biasing said armature into a predetermined position, and coil means encircling said armature and positioned within said core structure. l i

3. A polarized relay comprising a magnetic core structure mounted in a recessed base member, said core structure including a pair of core members with pole pieces in near abutting relaticnship to one another to define a pair of air gaps therebetween, nonmagnetic bifurcated spacer members positioned between said pole pieces to accurately denne said air gaps, nonmagnetic bracket means securing said core structure including said core members and said spacer members to said base member, one of said bracket members having an extending flange therefrom with an adjusting means mounted therein, a permanent magnet bridging said core members to establish a polarity in said pole pieces, a pivotally mounted armature positioned in said air gaps for movement between the bifurcated portions of said spacer members, said `armature including an extending reed-like` biasing member which cooperates with said adjusting means of said flange on said one of said bracket members, and a coil encircling said armature and positioned in the recess of said base member,

4. In a relay, a magnetic core structure having a pair vof iixed air gaps therein including an energizing means mounted on a base, and an armature cooperating with said core structure positioned in said air gaps and pivotally mounted f lon an armature mounting structure attached to said base, said armaturemounting structure including a flexible reed to which said armature is secured and a plate. mounted on said base to which said reed is secured, said .reed having an extending portion with an adjustable screw means therein which cooperates with said base to bias said armature into a predetermined position, said plate being adjustable to vary the position of said armature within said air gaps of said magnetic core structure.

5, A- polarized relay comprising in combination: an insulating base member having a recess therein; a magnetic core structure including a pair of U-shaped core members of magnetic material having pole pieces at either extremity thereof and a transversely extending magnet mounting bracket portion integral therewith located equidistant between said pole pieces, a

said core structure and a coil receiving cavity therebetween; permanent magnet means connected between said magnet mounting bracket portions to energize said pole pieces with denite magnetic polarities, a bar type armature of magnetic material disposed within said air gaps between the extremities of said spacer members and pivotally mounted on an adjustable reed type mounting structure located on said base member external of said core structure to be nearer one than the other of said pole pieces of said pair forming the air gap nearest the pivotal mounting; said magnet means setting up magnetic polarities in said pole pieces to bias said armature toward said lower pole piece at the unpivoted extremity of said armature; and a coil surrounding said armature and positioned within said cavity in said core structure to magnetize said armature and overcome the bias created by said permanent magnet means.

6. In a relay, a base of insulating -material having a recess therein, a magnetic core structure positioned in said recess, said core structure including a pairof U-,shaped core members having pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a magnetic energizing member bridging said core member to set up xed magnetic polarities in said pole pieces, said core members being positioned with said pole pieces in near abutting relationship and with non-magnetic bifurcated spacer members therebetween to define with said pole pieces a pair of air gaps, a bar type armature positioned within said pair of air gaps and pivotally mounted for movement between said abutting pole pieces from a point outside of said core structure, adjustable biasing means attached between said armature and said base member, iiexible means mounting said armature for pivotal movement, said mounting means being attached to said base member and movably adjustable relative thereto to vary the position of said bar type armature within vsaid *air .gaps and between said pole pieces, and a coil encircling said armature and positioned within said core structure.

`7. In a relay, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member of insulating material,

said core structure including a pair of core members with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a permanent magnet bridging said core members,v said core.l members being lpositioned with said pole` pieces in near abutting relationship, non-magnetic bifureated spacer members positioned between said pole pieces to define an air gap therebetween, an armature positioned' in said air gap and pivoted on 4a mounting structure external of saidcore structure for movement between the bifurcated portions of said spacer members, said armature mounting structure including a flexible reed to which said yarmature is secured and an adjustable mounting plate to which said reed is secured, said plate being mounted on said base member, adjustable biasing means attached between said base member and said armature for biasing said armature into a predetermined position, and coil means encircling said armature and positioned within said core structure. 4

il. In a lrelay, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member of insulating material. said core structure including a pair of core members with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a permanent magnet bridging said core members, said core members being positioned on said base member with said pole pieces in near abutting relationship to dene a pair of airgaps therebetween, a bar type armature of magnetic materia-1 positioned in said air gaps, adjustable means attached to said base member and pivoting said armature from a point external of said core structure for movement between said pole pieces forming said air gaps, flexible reed means included in said adjustable pivoting means for said armature having an extending portion, an adjustable screw means secured to said base and engaging said extending portion of said reed for biasing said armature into a predetermined position, and coil means encircling said armature and positioned within said core structure.

9. In a relay, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member of insulating material, said core structure including a pair of core members with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a magnetic energizing,r member bridging said core members, said core members being positioned with their pole pieces in near abutting relationship, non-magnetic spacer members positioned between said pole pieces to define an air gap therebetween, an armature positioned in said air gap `and pivoted on a mounting structure exteradjustable mounting plate to which said reed is secured, said reed having an extending portion BENJAMIN W. BRION.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,727,035 Prescott Sept. 3, 1929 2,057,605 Blosser Oct. 13, 1936 2,098,926 Schneider Nov. 9, 1937 2,141,820 Paredes Dec. 27, 1938 2,215,782 Ellis Sept. 24, 1940 2,245,511 Turnbull, Jr., et al. June 10, 1941 2,337,251 Knudsen Dec. 21, 1943 2,378,986 Dickten June 26, 1945 2,401,347 Hansen June 4, 1946 2,412,123 Carpenter Dec. 3, 1946 2,428,218 Herbst Sept. 30, 1947 2,428,687 Smith Oct. 7, 1947 2,443,784 Bullen June 22, 1948 2,454,973 Mason Nov. 30, 1948 2,483,658 Miller Oct. 4, 1949 2,490,280 Rees Dec. 6, 1949 2,491,098 Field Bec. 13, 1949

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