US2802917A - Remote control relay switch - Google Patents

Description

1957 J. ODEGAARD 2,802,917

REMOTE CONTROL RELAY SWITCH Filed July 6, 1954 IN V EN TOR. JJA f/V yaw/Z4527 BY Unitcd States Patent REMOTE CONTROL RELAY SWITCH John Odegaard, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,240

1 Claim. (Cl. 200-87 This invention relates to electric relay switches which are remotely controlled.

In burglar alarm systems, for example, it is highly desirable to provide an arrangement which will set off a continuous alarm signal uponthe occurrence of a momentary actuation. In conventional designs, wherein the actuating switch is in series with the power source and the alarm device, opening of the actuating switch will discontinue the alarm signal. As an illustration, a trespasser entering through a door or a window can, after hearing the alarm, disconnect the actuating switch, thereby stopping the signal.

In other conventional systems, wherein parallel circuits to a single source of power are utilized, excessive wiring arrangements are required, decreasing the ease of concealment.

In the instant arrangement, by providing separate circuits, each energized by independent power sources, for the actuating switch and for the alarm itself, the above noted problems are avoided.

It is a further practical requirement that the relay switch controlling the circuit containing the alarm device be automatically contact maintaining until manually reset. If this relay switch does not maintain such contact tightly, the resulting signal will be discontinuous upon the occurrence of stray vibrations. The usage of such means as spring biased levers will result in such discontinuity. Moreover, it is fundamental that the means used to maintain contact after actuation should not be subject to deterioration, since such deterioration would probably go unnoticed.

Consequently, it is the general inventive object to provide a relay switch for a circuit controlling an alarm signal or the like, wherein the relay switch is remotely actuated by a primary switch powered by an independent source of power, the said relay switch, once actuated, tightly maintaining contact until manually reset.

Another object of this invention is the provision of two circuits having independent sources of power, wherein the first circuit contains a manually actuated switch in series with a solenoid means for actuating a relay switch which in turn closes the second circuit containing in series an alarm signal until the relay switch is manually reopened.

Another more specific object of this invention involves the provision of a relay switch which is normally biased to the open position and closed by means of a solenoid actuating a lever, said closure being forcibly maintained by additional magnetic means.

Further objects and inventive details will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the relay switch.

Figure 2 shows a section taken through plane 2-2 with the switch open.

Figure 3 shows the same sectional view with the switch closed.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the switch with the cover removed, illustrating the wiring arrangement.

Figure 5 shows a section through a modification of the switch.

Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram including the various operative elements in perspective.

Referring to Figure 1, the relay switch 10 is seen to comprise the plastic base 11 formed with the pedestal 12 in which is press-fitted the solenoid 13. Located on the opposite end of base 11 are the upright supports 14 for the fulcrum 15, upon which the hollow plastic tubular lever 16 is pivoted by means of the depending arms 17 (Figure 2). A stop 18 is threadedly connected to the base 11 adjacent the closed end 19 of the lever 16 to limit the rotation of the lever 19 when the steel ball 20 is between the stop 18 and the fulcrum 15. Solenoid 13 is centrally bored to receive the magnetic prongs 21 hooked to the hanger arm 22 from which is suspended the prongs 21 by means of the eye 23 passing through the hole 24. Adjacent the pedestal 12 there is provided a removable permanent magnet 25 in alignment with the aperture 26 of the lever 16, whereby the contact can be had between the ball and the magnet 25 when the ball is in contact with the wall 27 of the pedestal 12. It is to be noted that the wall 27 and the magnet 25 dually prevent the ball from leaving the tube, and the aperture 26 is of the proper dimension to ensure contact between the lever and the ball when the ball is contacting the magnet 25, as better seen in Figure 3. Referring again to Figure 3 it is apparent that no contact is had between the prongs 21 and the solenoid, excepting at the junction of the outer surface 28 and the bore which contacts the eye 23, thereby aiding in arresting the lever pivoting action.

The switch assembly is completely enclosed by the plastic housing 29 which further incorporates a lever spring 30 fixed to the upper side 31 of the housing 29. The lever spring 30 is actuated by the manual reset button 32 fitted slidably through the hole 33 through the side 31.

The wiring can be better seen in Figure 4 wherein the lever 16 has attached on the under side 34 the terminal 35 with the contact point 36 and receives current through the wire 37 connected through the bracket 38 with the line wire 39. The other end of the circuit receives current through the line wire 40 by means of the plate terminal 41 provided with the contact point 42 for coaction with the point 36.

Referring now to Figure 6, it is seen that lines 39 and 40 connect the alarm device 43 and the outlet plug 44 in series with the relay switch 10.

Consequently, when the plug 44 is connected to a source of power, current will be available to operate the alarm device 43 when the relay switch has been closed.

The solenoid 13 is energized via the lead wires 45 and 46, which are fastened to the brackets 47 and 48 attached to the base 11. Lead wire 45 is connected to the battery 49 and lead wire 46 is connected to the control switch 50, which in turn has a lead wire 51 connected to the other terminal of the battery 49, whereby the switch 50 and the solenoid are in series with the source of power battery 49. Thus, when the switch 50 is closed, as by movement of the door 52 against the lever 53, the solenoid 13 becomes energized, creating a magentic pull upon the prongs 21. As a result, the arm 22 is urged towards the solenoid allowing the gravity to roll the ball 20 towards the wall 27. When the ball is in contact with the wall 21, the magnet 25 further urges the ball downward to increase the pressure of the ball upon the rim of the aperture 26, resulting in the lever 16 being firmly retained in the position shown in Figure 3. When so retained, the contact point 36 abuts contact point 42, completing the alarm device circuit which will sound a warning signal.

Referring to Figure 5, a modified form of relay switch 54 is shown, wherein all the elements described in connection with relay switch are identical with one exception. The exception comprises the omission of the supplementary holding device, magnet 25. The operation of switch 54 is obviously similar to thatv of switch 10, the effect of the omission of magnet 25 being merely'areductionof retaining pressure by the ball against the tubular lever 16.

' The lever 16 remains in the closed position of Figure 3, until reset to the circuit open position by pressing the button 32. Thus, the alarm device 43 will give a continuous signal, until the reset button 32 is manually actuated.. Figure 2 shows the switch 10 in the open circuit position ready for the next subsequent actuation by the tripping of switch 50.

:It is obvious that the above arrangement dispenses with unnecessary wiring and provides a signal which is inde-' pendent of the control switch 50, once the signal has started. Because of thecompact nature of the relay switch, concealment is simplified. Moreover, the balllever-magnetic combination described, maintains a firm unyielding alarm circuit closure. 'It is also quite apparent that the disclosed design reduces fabrication costs.

Although the disclosed relay switch is the preferred form, in the circuit diagram of Figure 6 a conventional mercury switch can be substituted to give a practical working arrangement (not shown). The illustration of the switch and circuits in connection with a burglar alarm environment should not be construed as a limiting condition. Obviously, other devices (not shown) than the alarm device 43 can be incorporated.

It should also be further noted that the species resulting from variations in disclosed combinative elements, omissions of combinative elements and/or changes in size, shape, and/ or material, should all be regarded as falling within the contemplated inventive scope.

Having thus disclosed the nature of this invention, what is now claimed as new is as follows:

A relay switch comprising a base, a lever pivoted to 4 said base, a housing, and said base being disposed in said housing, one end of said lever being biased to its open position, said lever including an electric terminal having an exposed contact point and said base having a second electric terminal with a contact point disposed oppositely of said first contact point, a solenoid, and a magnetic member secured to the other end of said lever cooperating with the solenoid and a reset button projecting through that housing and adapted to reverse the circuit closing position of that lever to its open position, in which the said lever comprises a hollow tube and which includes means for firmly retaining the closed circuit position of said lever, in which the said retaining means comprises a ball of magneticmaterial moving from one end of that lever to its other end upon operation of said solenoid, and which includes a permanent magnet secured to said base cooperable with said ball to releasably hold said lever in the circuit closing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,589 Brownell Nov. 6, 1894 561,422 Minnis June 2, 1896 690,651 Hauxhurst Jan. 7, 1902 754,391 Robinson Mar. 8, 1904 783,014 Booth Feb. 21, 1905 917,760 Hart Apr. 13, 1909 936,648 Marshall Oct. 12, 1909 959,371 Miller May 24, 1910 988,093 Hart Mar. 28, 1911 1,058,570 Fagerlund Apr. 8, 1913 1,379,242 Beck May 24, 1921 1,645,019 Opperman Oct. 11, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 238,151 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1925v

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