US2636095A - Relay - Google Patents

Description

F. SCHULTE April 21, 1953 RELAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1932 Inn;

INVENTOR Frz'zz sa/iw April 21, 1953 F. SCHULTE RELAY Filed July 17, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 6 1 -11 f! 20 at T1311? 1? 5 f7/ 39 6 I 39, r 1 i III! 6,2 l I" 6/ i a .5 3 3;

/0 INVENTOR F'rzfz Jakalfe ATTORNEY April 21, 1953 sc u 2,636,095

RELAY Filed July 17, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR F f .S'ckulie.

aJZ/JM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1953 RELAY Fritz Schulte, Philadelphia, Pa., 'assignor to Thomas D. Bowes, Bala-Cynwyd, Pa.

Application July 17, 1952, Serial No. 299,435

(01. zoo-97 Claims.

This invention relates to relays, and particularly to relays with substantial immunity to vibrations and accelerative forces.

While the invention has particular relevance to a companion application now in course of preparation relating to an invention directed to circuits incorporating some of the features of Bowes Patents No. 2,465,606, oi March 22, and No. 2,563,577, of August "7, 1951, in the utilization thereof in establishing progr ss we changes in output torque in the drive tomotive devices such as in automobiles, boats, and the like, the invention herein is of broader scope and incorporates improvements in relays per which are of utility in any circuit use in which vihra tions or accelerative forces are comprehended being actually or potentially incident on a relay.

It is among the objects of the invention to improve the construction of relays; to provide a relay with damping so as to render it immune to reaction from extraneous forces other than electrical; to provide a relay spring-biased toward "one setting and electrically bias-able toward another setting against the spring bias; to vide a relay for controlling alternate circuits With a restricted relay motion; to provide a relay comprising a pivoted oscillatable member with damping means effective on the pivot to preclude motion thereof other than that which predeterininedly desired; to provide a relay having damping imparting slov. response to electrical energiz'ation or deenergization and which is inertially damped against aecelerative forces; to provide a relay immune to accelerative forces including angular accelerative forces; to

provide stops for relays which prevent bouncing to insure maintenance of the circuit condition existing at the time of contact with the stops; and to provide other objects and improvements as will appear as the description proceeds.

The relays of the type under discussion are those which are potentially exposed to accelerative forces of two forms. The first "is a linear force acting at right, acute or obtuse angles of incidence to ans lying a plane ol'it'alflilig the axis of rotation of the movable portions of the relay. These are absorbed without reaction by insuring that the hills of oscillation or the mew able DbltiO nS Of the relay iS exactly centered ill the center of mass of the moving relay portions. The second are what be designated torsional accelerations in which the forces are nominear lSuItfliltS Of complex fdles efietihg angular incidence On the pivotal axis. In the instant invention these latte! forces are absorbed without reaction by providing a jack shaft "with a second mass of equal inertia to that of the primary relay moving mass. The important fea ture of the connection between the main and jack shafts is that they are caused to have opposite directions of rotation. it will be obvious that within this broad concept the connections may be any suitable means that may be found most expedient. For instance, one the siinplest is to constitute the relay mass and the inertial mass as complemental segmental gears, in which case the two masses could lie generally in the same plane. Other forms of connections included spur gears, a pair of levers or arms mounted respectively on the respective shafts, With a pin and slot connection between the free ends of the arms, pulleys and a reversed belt may be used.

In securing the same inertia between the two masses, 1. e. the inertia of the mass of the movable relay centered on the axis of the main shaft, and the inertia of a neutralizing mass, centered on the axis of the jack shaft, it will be understood that in the simplest form, with each mass shaped as a segmental gear in mutually complemental relation, the masses can be made identical with a l zl ratio between the rotation mas es; This same principle of course maintains with the other forms of masses and interconnections when a 1:1 ratio is observed. If the masses on each shaft are of the same shape, diameter, and weight, and rotate oppositely in this same 1:1 ratio, they obviously will have the same inertia. Spur gears of the same diameter and number of teeth connecting the masses through their respective shafts or other 1:1 drive connections represent a perfect solution to the accelerativ'e problems, as it makes no difference in this case how ponderous the masses, how slow or how fast the acceleration, or if the acceleration is rapidly changing direction or reverses, as in reciprocation.

In departures from the ideal situation described above it is pointed out that the ideal ratio of 1:1, may be changed to anything else desired, when complemental changes are made in the respective masses. instance, if a gear with teeth is mounted on the main shaft mounting the movable mass of the relay, in mesh with a pinion gear with 10 teeth on the jack shaft, the ratio becomes 16:1. Consequently to neutralize or counterbalance the given mass of the relay on the main shaft, it is only nece sary to provide a mass on the jack shaft having one tenth of the inertia of the main mass. While it is possible that this arrangement may not be quite as effective in all accelerative problems as the recited 1:1 mass ratio, as it is conceivable that a long drawn out circular acceleration might react more strongly on the large mass than on the smaller mass finally resulting in motion of both, there may be compensations attaching to the enhanced damping possible. Thus, if eddy current braking is used on the jack shaft mass, it is relatively ineffective at very low speeds of rotation of the latter. However, when its relative speed is as a factor of 10 to the main mass, this rapid rotation gives greatly enhanced braking. In any case however, as will be pointed out, the spring bias is applied to the main shaft, which may be weak in the 1:1 ratio of masses and rotational speeds, and may be much stronger in the higher ratios as recited, tending to minimize the reactions from such long continued circular accelerations.

In connection with the brake effects of the organization it is pointed out that this can be regulated or adjusted by increasing or decreasing the magnetism. However, if the magnetism is increased too much, the relay may be slow to react under certain conditions of use. If the magnetism is decreased in order to gain speed, there may be a bounce eifect at the end of the relay stroke, which may actuate the circuit controllers more than once in a form of chatter. It is desirable to so absorb such impact as to stop the stroke without storing of energy such as to cause a bounce at such stop.

In carrying out the invention in an illustrative embodiment a first mass is mounted on a first shaft with the center of mass coincident with the axis of the shaft, a second mass is mounted on a second shaft with its center of mass coincident with the axis of the second shaft, a driving connection is established between the masses of predetermined ratio of rotation of the masses in opposite directions, the magnitude of said masses being predeterminedly such with reference to the ratio of relative rotations that the masses have the same inertia, a circuit controller is provided for actuation by said first mass as a function of angular motion thereof, electromagnetic means is provided for exerting torque on said first mass, and a spring bias effective on said first mass in opposition to such torque.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this description:

Fig. 1 represents a plan of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 represents a bottom or reflected plan thereof;

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary horizontal section thereof;

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary vertical section therethrough;

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary side elevation thereof;

Fig. '7 represents a fragmentary side elevation thereof;

Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 represent various views of further modifications of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, a support IE) is provided, such as a mounting plate, on which and on such auxiliary support means as may be necessary, indicated at II, a main shaft I2 is journalled with its axis of oscillation generally normal to the spaced support elements IE3 and Ii. The upper end of the shaft I2 mounts a horizontal arm I3, normal to the axis of shaft I2,

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journalling a roller I4 at its free end. The roller I i in restricted motions of shaft I2 bears alternately against microswitch actuating levers I5 and I5. Lever I5 is suitably pivoted to a microswitch housing I? and mounts a bearing portion for engaging and inwardly pressing, or releasing, the outwardly biased switch-actuating plunger I8, as is common with micro-switches. Lever I3 is suitably pivoted to a micro-switch housing 23 and mounts a bearing portion for engaging and inwardly pressing, or releasing, the outwardly biased switch-actuating plunger 2i, as is also common with micro-switches.

It will be understood that micro=switches are used for convenience and where snap action is essential, and the invention is not limited thereto, as the arms I5 and I6 may comprise contactcarrying members, moving relative to other contacts in switch organizations, as shown in Fig. 8, for example, to be described. Such microswitches, or other switch organizations, may comprise respectively either single pole, or multipole circuit-controlling devices. Movement of lever arm I5, for instance, may be from one made circuit through break, to closing another made circuit, or simply move to make an unmade circuit as a function of lever movement. The same, of course, is true of lever arm I6.

Shaft I2 is subjected to angular mechanical bias, and preferably this is a controllable bias to establish balance with the electromagnetic torsion forces incident on the shaft I2. As shown in Fig.4, a torsion spring 22 has its inner end connected to the shaft I2, and the outer end is engaged with an adjustable anchor device. Conveniently, this device may comprise an arcuate- 1y slotted arm 23 having the anchor extension 22 and an actuating handle 25. The slot 26 is generally concentric with the axis of shaft I2 and engaged by a stud 21, depending from the upper support element I I. The arm 23 is frictionally held where set, but can be manually swung to vary the loading of the torsion spring. The spring 22 is adjusted so that the shaft I2 is biased angularly to such point as to cause roller I4 on arm I3 to engage one of the lever arms I5 or I6, and to close (or open) a circuit controlled by such lever arm.

The shaft I2 mounts a sprocket gear 30, which is in constant mesh with a small pinion gear 3I carried on a jack shaft 32 journalled on the support plate I9 and on an extension support arm 33. Jack shaft 32 mounts a counterbalancing rotor or mass 34, for rotation with but oppositely to shaft I2, as a geared and illustratively, amplified function of rotation thereof. The mass 34 is a smaller mass than the primary mass including the electromagnetic element, to be described, and it is preferred to efiect braking thereof through eddy-current effects, by substantially surrounding the mass 34 with radially disposed permanent electromagnets 35, suitably mounted beneath support plate Ill.

In order to actuate the relay, the main shaft [2 mounts an electromagnetically-responsive armature. In the preferred embodiment this comprises a generally S-shaped armature 35, having short radial inner arm portions 4!) and M merging respectively into generally parallel oppositely extending perpendicular intermediate arm portions 42 and 43, which merge respectively into parallel oppositely extending outer arm portions A4 and 45 providing external shoulders 46. The

outer arm portions mount the generally arcuate short terminal solenoid core arms 41 and 4B, the

curvature of which is concentric generally with the axis of the shaft l2. The armature or rotor thus formed is preferably comprised of laminations, and is symmetrically balanced while having appreciable mass. This is a convenient way to form the armature of plural stampings, although the only essential feature is the oppositely presenting electromagnetically-responslve generally curved terminal members 41 and 48 concentric with the axis of shaft I 2. In other words, the arm formation for mounting the terminal members is important but can be changed if desired.

The armature 39, arm l3, roller 14, constitutes a primary mass having a center coincident with the axis of shaft 12. For actuating the armature and thus the shaft I2 against the bias from the torsion spring 22, a pair of spaced hollow electromagnetic coils is provided, as at 50 and 5| respectively, coil 50 has a hollow bore 52 to receive core arm 8? of the armature, and coil 51 has a hollow bore 53 to receive the core arm 48 of the armature. It will be seen that energiz'ation of either coil, with a given potential by a solenoid action pulls the juxtaposed arm 41 or 48 into the bore thereof for a proportional distance, against the increasing bias of the torsion spring 22. Owing to the braking, this is a very slow movement, stopping when the electromagnetically-induced torque balances the springapplied or developed torque. While the coils may be selectively energized in accordance with control circuit operation, it is preferred that they be so coupled into a control circuit as to be equally and simultaneously energized and deenergized. It will be understood that the control circuit for the coils will eifect inputs of varying amplitude, thus effecting varying pull on the solenoid arms of the rotor, and that in a sluggish response, the latter will assume a position consonant with balance of opposing mechanical and electrical forces effective on the main shaft l2.

In order to cushion the relay against shock and bouncing back adverse effects, it is preferred to provide a spring-loaded friction stop or dash pot for engagement by the armature rotor in one adjustable position. A simple form thereof is shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7, and 11 hereof. To a suitable post Gt mounted on the support plates or similar devices It and ll, a spring housing BI is mounted, the axis of which is generally tangential of the axis of shaft [2 and mounts the adjustable abutment element 62 in the path of a shoulder or corner 45 of the armature. Preferably the abutment element is disposed to stop the angular motion of the armature under the bias of the torsion spring. While it is sufiicient generally to provide but one such abutment, it will be understood that if desired they may be disposed in pairs to limit each end of the armature stroke. The stops are so arranged as to frictionally absorb any kinetic energy of impact.

The essential of the relay is an armature movable in one sense in response to energization of an electromagnetic device, as opposed to a mechanical bias in the other sense. The circuit controllers will be actuated or inert according to the position of arm l3 and roller 14, when balance is achieved. It will be apparent that the result sought can be secured by other forms of mechanism.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the main shaft l2 mounts an annu'lar armature it, of the squirrel cage type,

having the embedded copper bars or conductors porting H. The armature is surrounded by a coil organization 12 of the three phase type. The roller (4 on the arm [3 is disposed between contact arms l5 and [6' for the switch organizations 11' and 2%. These latter are the equivalents of the micro-switches ll and 20 in the earlier figures, except that they are not of the snap type of the micro-switch. Contact arm 15' is biased to normally make contact with contact 13, and to break this contact and to make contact with contact 14 when the roller progressively moves contact arm 15'. Relatedly, contact arm IE is normally made with contact 15, which is broken, and contact is made with contact it under pressure of roller 14 against arm I6.

As has been noted, the switch organization shown in Fig. 8 can be used interchangeably with the micro-switches of the earlier figures, in either form of the invention.

It will be understood that as is preferred in all cases, the squirrel cage rotor 10, arm 13 and roller l4 and stop arm 18 constitute a primary mass having a center coincident with the axis of shaft 12. In an illustrative exemplification of a 1:1 ratio of masses, as shown in Fig. 9, a mass 11, illustratively having the same inertia as that of the primary mass just mentioned, is centered on a jack or stub shaft 32, suitably journalled on the support. A pair of gears, respectively 30' and 19, both having the same diameter and the same number of teeth, are mounted respectively on main shaft 12 and stub shaft 32, so that mass 11 turns oppositely to and has the same inertial effects as the primary mass. (Ewing to the mass distribution and ratio relative rotations, the primary and secondary masses develop the same inertia and effect mutual counterbalancing in accordance with what has preceded. In effecting braking or damping of the unit, although eddy current brake effects can be resorted to, in accordance with the preceding matter, it may be preferred to utilize other damping. Thus the mass 11 may be submerged in damping fluid such as silicone oil or the like, disposed in a housing 18.

In the fragmentary section shown in Fig. 10, the same organization of squirrel cage rotor 10 and main shaft (2 is provided, as in Figs. 8 and 9, but the gearing ratio and the mass ratio is as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the smaller mass 34 damped by eddy current effects in the rotation of mass 34 relative to fixed permanent magnets 35.

It will be understood that the torque on the primary mass including the squirrel cage rotor varies in accordance with the energization of the three phase windings 12, against the bias from a spring 22, for actuation of the controlled switches in a manner similar to that already described.

In all cases it will be observed that the relay has a relatively heavy primary rotor movable slowly in angular motion as a resultant of mutually opposing mechanical bias and electromagnetic forces, damped by forces on the counterbalancing mass, and immune to response to both linear and curvilinear accelerations, by reason of the oppositely rotating masses of the same inertia.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A relay comprising a support, first means having a center of mass, means for supporting said first means at its center of mass for movement relative to said support between limits, second means having a center of mass, means for supsaid second means at its center of mass for movement relative to said support, linking means connected between the respective first and second means to cause them to move synchronously in opposite relative directions, the ratio of masses and relative rates of synchronous motion of the first and second means effecting substantially equal inertia of the first and second means whereby relative motion of .the respective first and second means due to inertia is mutually cancelled to nullify reactions. due to accelerative forces incident on said relative to said support between limits on an axis substantially coincident with the center of said mass, a second mass, means mounting said second mass for oscillation relative to said support on an axis substantially coincident with the center of said second mass, means linking the masses for synchronous opposite oscillations, the ratio of angular motions of the masses and the masses being so integrated that both masses have substantially the same inertia and are mutually cancelling in reactions to accelerative forces incident on the support, electromagnetic means for imposing angular torque on one of said masses, and a circuit controller operable as a function of angular position of one of said means.

3. A relay as recited in claim 2, and damping means associated operatively with one of said masses.

4. A relay as recited in claim 2, and eddycurrent braking damping means associated with one of said masses.

5. A relay as recited in claim 2, and damping fluid operative on one of said masses. 6. A relay as recited in claim 2, in which the said first and second masses are substantially identical in weight and in which the ratio of synchronous movement thereof is substantially 1:1.

'7. A relay as recited in claim 2, in which said first and second masses are unequal in weight and in which the ratio of synchronous movement is other than 1:1.

8. A relay as recited in claim 2, in which one of said masses at least in part constitutes an electromagnetic armature.

9. A relay as recited in claim 2 in which mechanical bias means is provided opposing the torque applied by said electromagnetic means.

10. A relay as recited in claim 2, and a resilient friction stop element forming one of said limits to absorb without rebound impacts of said first mass.

11. A relay comprising a support, a main shaft journalled on the support, an arm mounted on the shaft generally normal thereto, a first and a second circuit-controller mounted on the sup- ,port in spaced relation on opposite sides of said arm, means on the arm for actuating the respective circuit-controllers with movements of the shaft and arm in the proper appropriate sense, an electromagnetically-responsive rotor mounted on said shaft, coil means mounted on the support for actuating the rotor, and means biasing the shaft and arm toward one circuit-controller actuation.

12. A relay comprising a support, a main shaft journalled on the support, an arm mounted on the shaft generally normal thereto, a first and a second circuit-controller mounted on the support in spaced relation on opposite sides of said arm,

means on the arm for actuating the respective circuit-controllers with movements of the shaft and arm in the proper appropriate sense, complemental electromagnetic means on the shaft and support respectively which when energized moves the shaft and arm toward one circuit-controller, and means biasing the shaft and arm toward the other circuit-controller.

13. A relay as recited in claim 12 in which the complemental electromagnetic means comprises a generally e shaped armature having free-ended oppositely presenting generally arcuate legs, and a spaced pair of hollow coils juxtaposed to said free ends.

14. A relay as recited in claim 12 in which the complemental electromagnetic means comprises a squirrel cage rotor and a three-phase coil winding surrounding said rotor.

15. A relay comprising a support, a main shaft journalled on the support, an arm mounted on the shaft generally normal thereto, a first and a second circuit-controller mounted on the support in spaced relation on opposite sides of said arm, means on the arm for actuating the respective circuit-controllers with movements of the shaft and arm in the proper appropriate sense, comp mental electromagnetic means on the shaft and support respectively which when energized moves the shaft and arm toward one circuit-controller, means biasing the shaft and arm toward the other circuit-controller, and stop means limiting the angular motion of the shaft in response to the bias.

16. A relay comprising a support, a main shaft journalled on the support, an arm mounted on the shaft generally normal thereto, a first and a second circuit-controller mounted on the support in spaced relation on opposite sides of said arm, means on the arm for actuating the respective circuit-controllers with movements of the shaft and arm in the proper appropriate sense, complemental electromagnetic means on the shaft and support respectively which when energized moves the shaft and arm toward one circuit-controller, means biasing the shaft and arm toward the other circuit-controller, stop means limiting the angular motion of the shaft in response to the bias, a jack shaft, a rotor mass mounted on the jack shaft, and gearing between the main and jack shafts to actuate the rotor mass as a function of angular motion on said main shaft.

1'7. A relay comprising a support, a main shaft journalled on the support, an arm mounted on the shaft generally normal thereto, a first and a second circuit-controller mounted on the support in spaced relation on opposite sides of said arm, means on the arm for actuating the respective circuit-controllers with movements of the shaft and arm in the proper appropriate sense, complemental electromagnetic means on the shaft and support respectively which when energized moves the shaft and arm toward one circuit-controller, means biasing the shaft and arm toward the other circuit-controller, stop means limiting the angular motion of the shaft in response to the bias, a jack shaft, a rotor mass mounted on the jack shaft, gearing between the main and jack shafts to actuate the rotor mass as a function of angular motion on said main shaft, and magnetic means juxtaposed to said rotor mass to damp the rotations thereof by eddy current effects.

18. A relay comprising a support, circuit controlling means mounted for pivotal oscillation on establish similar inertia as functions of mass and respective rotative speeds.

19. A relay as recited in claim 18 and damping means on at least one of the connected means.

20. A relay as recited in claim 18 with shock absorbing means forming at least one limit of oscillation of one of said connected means.

FRITZ SCHULTE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Tatum Ma 11, 1915 Number

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