US2827530A - Rotary relay - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1958 H. SAUER ROTARY RELAY Filed Feb. 9, 1955.

FIG.. 3

Sheets-Sheet 1 c4 |NTERRUPTER CKT' C5 AuxlLlAny C INVENTOR.

HANS SAUER ATTY.

H. SAUER March 18, 1958 ROTARY RELAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1955 INVENTOR.

HANS sAuEa FIG.9

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lll l lll Lr-n FIG.4

a hl I ATTY.

March 18, 1958 H, SAUERA y 2,827,530

ROTARY RELAY Filed Feb. 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.6

IN V EN TOR.

HANS SAU ER ATTY.

United States PatClt RTARY RELAY Hans Sauer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to General Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Appiication February 9, 1955, Serial No. 487,128

19 Claims. (Cl. M30- 104) This invention relates to electromagnetic relays of the rotary type and, more particularly, to improvements in rotary electromagnetic relays in which electrical contacts are operated by a continuous rotation of the mechanism. In a relay of the character contemplated by the present invention a single coil is inclosed in a cup, the core of the coil being rigidly secured at one extremity to the base of the cup and having at the opposite end a projecting shaft. The cup, of a magnetic metal, comprises a iirst heelpiece for the coil and is provided at its lip With a series of evenly spaced teeth disposed parallel with the axis of the coil core. A rotary armature having a series of radial poles corresponding in number to the series of heelpiece teeth is rotatably mounted on the coil core shaft such that if the coil is energized each of the armature poles will be magnetized and, should the poles at the moment of energization not be in alignment with the heel-piece teeth, the armature will be rotated until such alignment is completed.

A second cup also of a magnetic metal and also having a series of evenly spaced teeth disposed on its lip is provided to be rigidly secured to the other extremity of the coil core. The series of teeth of this second cup are identical in number with the teeth of the first cup and are similarly disposed parallel with the axis of the coil core. The second cup is arranged, however, so that its teeth alternate in their angular disposition with those of the ilrst cup. A second rotary armature having a series of radial permanent magnet poles corresponding in number to the series of second cup teeth is also rotatably mounted on the coil or core shaft rotatable with the first rotary armature. The poles ofthe second rotary armature, which are suitably insulated from the first armature, when moved out of alignment with the teeth of the second cup, will tend to be drawn back into alignment by the action of the permanent magnet. This rotary position, with the poles of permanent magnet in alignment with the teeth of the second cup, may be considered the normal position of the mechanism. However, in this position, due to the alternate disposition of the series of teeth of the two cups, the poles of the iirst or electromagnetic armature will be out of alignment with the teeth of the first cup. Energization of the coil then, as previously described, will move these last-mentioned poles and teeth into alignment and the mechanism out of its normal position. Upon deenergiaation of the coil the second or permanent magnetic armature will cause its now misaligned poles and teeth of the second cup to restore to a succeeding normal position, It is evident that the mechanism will have a number of normal positions equal to the number of teeth in the series of teeth of each of the cups. If the coil is now periodically energized and deenergized and assuming a proper timing of the energization, the armatures can be continuously caused to rotate about the coil core shaft in the manner broadly described.

In the present embodiment of this invention the first p 2,827,530 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 and second cups are suitably insulated from each other as by dove-tailing the insulator into the intervals formed by the alternating teeth. Also rotatably mounted on the core shaft and rotatable with the two rotary armatures are a pair of commutator rings each having successive contacting lobes thereon. Rigidly associated with the iirst cup are a series of tensioned contacting springs adapted to engage the contacting lobes of the commutator rings as the armatures are rotated. Thus two of the springs may be associated with one of the rings to control the periodic energization and deenergization of the coil, the springs closing a coil energizing circuit as they meet appropriate contacting lobes on the ring and opening the circuit as the lobes pass from contact as the armatures rotate. Other pairs of contacting springs may be associated with the other commutator ring to periodically close and open circuits associatedwith the said springs in accordance with the disposition of contacting lobes of the commutator ring all of which will be more speciiically described hereinafter. The device according to this invention is broadly described in the foregoing may be used in any application requiring cam switching, alternate onoif operation or as a stepping switch, andthe contacting sequence of any of the contact spring pairs can be altered by changing the positions of the commutator contacting lobes. 'he fundamental simplicity of such a relay having only a single moving part and that motion only continuously rotary obviously results in a relay which requires no attendance and the minimum amount of adjustment.

ICC

It is, accordingly, the principal object of my invention to provide a multi-contact electromagnet relay of the rotary type in which electrical circuits are periodically closed and opened by means of continuously rotating commutator rings associated with pairs of contacting springs with which the said circuits are associated, the commutator rings being associated with the sole moving element of the relay.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rotary relay of the character of the preceding paragraph in which a rotary armature with which the commutator rings are associated is provided with poles which may be periodically electromagnetized to thereby cause the poles to be successively attracted in a rotary direction to lixed circularly disposed poles of opposite polarity.

lt is a further object of my invention to provide in a rotary relay of the character described in the preceding paragraph, a permanent magnet armature having a plurality of poles which by successively attracting the armature in a rotary direction to fixed circularly disposed poles ot opposite polarity will cause the electromagnetic armature to be rotated away from its said fixed poles during the periods when it is not electromagnetized.

it is yet another object of my invention to provide an ectromagnetic relay in which a normal position is maintained by a permanent magnetic attractive force and movement from the said normal position is accomplished by a momentarily superior electromagnetic attractive force, restoration to a normal position being accomplished by the said permanent magnetic attractive force on removal of the electromagnetic attractive force.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an electromagnetic rotary relay of the character described in the preceding paragraph which will comprise a minimum number of parts and because of its simplicity of operation will insure durability and economy of operation.

A still further object or" my invention is the provision of an electromagnetic rotary relay which because of its construction insures a flexibility making it adaptable for a wide range of applications. The relay may, for example, bereadily hermetically sealed and readily adapted for plugin use.

A novel feature of my invention is the use of two cupshaped heelpieces associatedV with. separate operating armatures which heelpieces together with. aVV magnetic in.- sulator also constitute the enclosing. envelope for the relay.`

Another feature of. my invention is a. novel armature arrangementY inwhicli the armature is,Y adapted to` rotate continuously about. an. extension of the coil core.

Further obJ'ects and features. of my invention will become apparent toV those. versed in the art from a perusal ofthe detailed description of my invention which follows.V lllust'rating the various components of the inventiona'nd referredv to in the description are the accompanying drawings' in which:

Fig; l isV a partial section view of the preferred embodim'ent of'myfinvention in which is shown the relationship of the component elements and the manner in `which the'insulating element may be interposed between the cup' heelpieces,r

Fig.v` 2 is' a section view of the assembly taken along the. line 2--2' of Fig. I in which is. shown the relative positions with respect to the pole elements of the armatures when the operating coil is not energized,

Fig. 3- is a section view of the assembly taken along the'line' 3-3 of'Fig. l in which are shown the commutator rings and' their position with respect to the electromagnetic armature. Here also the relative positions of the contacting springs are symbolized together with associatedv circuits,

`Fig. 4 is an elevational section view showing the lirst cup heelpiec'e inclosing' the operating coil,

Fig. 5 is a top View of the elevation of Fig. 4 in which are shown the circularly disposed teeth forming the poles on thelip of theV lirst cup heelpiece,

Fig. 6 is an elevational partial sectional view of the in sulating element showing the manner of mounting the contacting springs and spring terminals,

Fig. 7 isl a top View of the elevation of Fig. 6 in which are shown the positions of one pairV of the concentrically disposed contacting springs,

Figi 8 is a sectional view taken along the line S--S of Fig. 7 showing the details of the contacting spring mounting,

Fig 9 is an elevational partial sectional view of the armature assembly showing an insulating' element holding in a fixed relative position the permanent magnetic and electromagnetic armatures, and

Fig. 10 lis a top view of the armature assembly showing the ciicularly disposed permanent magnetic poles.

'Referring particularly to Figs.V l, 4 and 5 of the drawings the preferred embodiment of my invention will now be described in'detail. An operating coil 15 for the relay is enclosed in av cylindrical cup 16 made of a magnetic metal. The coil is provided with a core 17 by means of one terminus of which it is rigidly secured to the base of'` the ycup 16 in any convenient manner as by riveting. A; pair of terminals 18 for the coil 15 extend through apertures 19 in the cup 16 provided therefor. The core l'l-atl the opposite terminus takes the form of a shaft 17aV extending a substantial distance beyond the spoolhead' ZUOftlie coil 15. The shaft 17a may be'undercut as*v at 17h todecreasev the bearing surface and hence the friction of any element ultimately to be rotated on said shaft. On the lip ofthe cup 16 are provided a series of evenly spaced teeth 21 extending substantially parallelwith the axis of the core 17 and shaft 17a. These teeth 21, in the preferred embodiment twelve in number, may conveniently be formed by cutting out at intervals portions of the lip of the cup 16. The shaft 17a is provided at the spool-head 'with a bushing or shoulder 22 upon which an assembly to be described may be freely rotated. The cup 16, as is evident from Fig. 1,.

ageamao,

In Fig. 6 is shown a cylindrical insulator element 30 having a lower portion 30a the outside diameter of which is such that it may be readily litted inside the cup 16 thus forming an insulating wall between the coil 15 and the cup 16. The insulator element 3i? further has an upper portion the outside diameter of which is such that when the element 30 is inserted into the cup 16 the cylindrical surface 39h will be flush with the outer surface of the cup 16 as is clearly shown in Fig. l. A shoulder 31 isprovided on the element 30 dividing the upperand lower portions 36h and 30a and insuring a positive fittingon the lip of the cup 16. The upper portion 30h of the cylindrical element 30 has a series of substantially rectangular cutouts 32 facing on the shoulder 31 and substantially parallel to the axis of the element 31B. The cutouts 32 are so spaced and dimensioned as to correspond precisely with the teeth Z1, the latter teeth being adapted to. dove-tail with the cutouts 32 as the element-30 is. insertedinto the cupv 16. The cutouts 32 and the teethV 21. may be slightly tapered to facilitate the introduction of the teethinto. the cutouts.

Integral with4 the element 30 and in a plane perpenf dicular. with the. axis thereofV is a partitionV 33 having av concentric. aperture, 34.adapted to admit the shoulder 2,2 of the. shaft 17a as the. element 3% is inserted in the cup. 16. On thisA partition 33 are mounted, in the pre. ferred embodiment, live pairs of contacting springs 35, one pair of which are shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Eig. 7 the contacts 36. of each pair of the spring 35 lie on five circles 1concentric with each other and with the axis of the cylindrical element 30 and, when the element 30 is inserted'in the cup 16, with the shaft 17a. The angular disposition of the contacts 36 of the springs 35 will be described in connection with the description of the commutator rings hereinafter. The contacting springs 35 may be axed `to the. partition 33' in any suitable manner such.v as by :means of the sleeve rivets 37. Electrically connected to or forming a part of the contacting springs 3S are the spring terminals 33 which pass through the partition 33v through suitable apertures provided therefore and lie along the inner wall of the lower portion 30a of the cylindrical element 30. When the element 30' is inserted in the cup 16 the terminals 38 will extend through the apertures 39 provided therefor in the base of the cup 16 and provide means for connecting the contacting springs 35V with associated circuits, not shown. As indicated in the sectional view of Fig. 8 the mounting ofthe springs 35 is preferably recessed to preclude the possibility of any spring mounting interfering with the contacting circuit of any other pairs of springs.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 17a and supported on the shoulder 22. is a rotor assembly 4o as shown in Fig. 9. A bushing 41 `of a magnetic metal adapted to freely rotate about the shaft 17a forms a hub about which the other components of the rotor assembly 41B are arranged. Around one end ofthe bushing 41 (around the lower portion as viewed in Fig, 9) is press fitted a sleeve 42 having.

a flange 42a ilaringV outwardly from and perpendicularly to the aXisof the sleeve 42 and the bushing 41. The lower` portion of the bushing 41 may be of a slightly reduced outside diameter to form a shoulder 41a against which the sleeve 42 may be snugly fitted. A flat disk 43l of a magnetic metal constitutes the electromagnetic armature. The armature 43 is provided with a concentric aperture whereby it may be passed over the sleeve 42 and seated rigidly against the liange 42a in a position perpendicular to the axis of the bushing 41. At its periphery` the disk 43 has a series of evenly spaced radial cutouts, twelve in number, leaving, as a result, twelve radially extending fingers 44. Each of the fingers 44 which constitute a plurality of poles for the armature 43 are turned downward at right angles to the plane of the' armature disk 43Y such that as. said armature disk 43 is rotated about the axis of the bushing 41 and the shaft 17a the faces'- 44a' ofy the poles 4.4 will be successively presented opposite the teeth 21 which constitute the poles or" the heelpiece. Upon the armature disk 43 being electromagnetized along a circuit as will be more particularly described hereinafter the poles 21 and the poles 44 will become oppositely polarized and thereby will tend to remain in or be induced into the said opposing relationship.

Also rigidly mounted on the bushing 41 but at its upper extremity, as viewed in Fig. 9, is a three sectional permanent magnet armature 45. A central hub 45a is rigidly affixed to the bushing 41 about which hub is rigidly fitted an annular permanent magnet 45b. The magnet 45b may conveniently be formed of a powdered metal and is encircled by a magnetic ring 45e. The three component sections of the permanent magnet armature 45 may be brought into one integral unit by any convenient process, such as by sintering. On the periphery of the ring 45C are a series of evenly spaced fingers 45d identical in number and angular disposition with thel fingers 44 of the armature disk 43. Through the influence of the permanent magnet 45b the fingers 45d which constitute a plurality of poles for the permanent magnetic armature 45 will be severally polarized oppositely to the polarization of the central hub 45a. As is evident in Fig. l each of the fingers 45d is notched at one corner `of its outer face is at 45e for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter. Separating the permanent magnet armature 45 and the electromagnetic armature 43 and maintaining these elements in a fixed rotary and axial relationship is a `circular insulating plate 46. This plate is adapted by means of a suitable aperture to be fitted about the sleeve 42 in a plane perpendicular with the axis of the bushing 41. Encircling the periphery of the insulator plate 46 is a series of evenly spaced insulating supports 46a, identical in number and angular disposition with the cutouts of the armature disk 43 and the intervals between the fingers 45d `of the ring 45e. The insulating plate 46 is adapted to be fitted firmly against the lower surface of the armature disk 43, the supports 46a, extending parallel to the axis of the bushing 41, passing between the teeth 44. The surface of the plate 46 facing the armature disk 43 may be undercut as indicated at 4.6i) to insure a positive contact between the two elements. Each of the supports 46a has at its extremity an abutment 46c upon each of which the main body of the three-sectional permanent magnet armature 45 is supported. The remaining portion of each of the supports 46c is tted into the intervals between the ingers 45d. Upon the arrangement of the component elements or the rotor assembly 40 upon the bushing 41 as described the elements are permanently secured in the described relationship in any convenient manner such as lby riveting the ends of the bushing 41 back upon the adjacent element. The portion 41C thus will hold the `armature 45 firmly against the supports 46a and the portion 41b will firmly hold in place the sleeve 42 and the insulator plate 46. The riveted surface 41b may at the same time provide a bearing surface to ride on the shoulder 22.

In the underside of the insulator plate 46 as viewed in Fig. 9 are imbedded two commutator rings 50 and 51 more clearly shown in the section View of Fig. 3. Each of the commntator rings 50 and 51 are provided with regularly spaced lobes de and Sith, and 51a, 51b and 51e, so arranged as to be successively associated with the contacts 36 of the springs 35 as the armature 40 is rotated in a manner to be more particularly described hereinafter.

A second cylindrical cup 6) also of a magnetic metal having an outside diameter prefera-bly similar to that of the first cup 16 is provided enclosing the rotor assembly 40 and constitutes a heelpiece for the permanent magnetic armature 45. On the lip of the cup 60 in a manner identical to that of the cup 16 are provided a series of evenly :spaced teeth 61 which constitute the poles of the heel- -6 piece. A central aperture in the base of `thevcllp 60 is provided through which the end of the shaft 17a may be inserted when the cup is inverted and positioned as shown in Fig. 1. at its `upper rim also has a series of substantially rectangular cutouts 39 similar to the cutouts 32 and adaptedl to receive the teeth 61 and may be similarly slightly tapered to facilitate the positioning of the cup 60. The teeth 61 and the cutouts 62 although substantially similar in size and identical in number with the teeth 21 and the cutouts 32 are arranged so that when the inverted cup 6d is positioned as shown in Fig. l the teeth 61 will be shifted in a rotary direction to alternate with the teeth 21 of the cup 16. The cup 60 may be secured to the shaft 17a in any convenient manner such as by riveting the projecting stub of the shaft 17a. As the rotor assembly 40 is rotated about the shaft 17a the lingers 44 of the electromagnetic armature disk 43 will be successively rotated past the teeth 21 of the enclosing cup 16 while simultaneously the fingers 45d of the permanent magnet armature 45 will be successively rotated past the teeth 61 of the enclosing cup 60. A slightly greater moment may be obtained for the permanent magnetic force by extending the distance of the face of each of the fingers 45d from the axis slightly beyond that of the fingers 44. For this reason a slight cut-back 30e is necessitated in the inner rim of the element 30. As is evident from Fig. 1 a compact, unitary assembly is formed by the three enclosing elements 16, 30 and 60 and obviously such a unit is readily adapted to be hermetically sealed should this be desirable.

Turning now to a consideration of the operation of my invention, it will be assumed that the coil 15 is connected by means of the terminals to a suitable source of power not shown in the drawings. On the view ot' Fig. 3 is superimposed for illustration only the symbolized circuits associated with the relay. The circuits are designated C1 to C5, respectively, which designations are also used to identify the concentric disposition of the pairs of contacting springs 35 of Fig. 7. Also shown in Fig. 3, by means of points representing the contacts 36 of the contacting springs 35, is the relative angular disposition of the contacting springs 35 of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Assuming the normal position of the rotor 40, i. e., with the coil 15 not energized, it is seen that the contacts 36 of the circuit C4 rest squarely on two adjacent lobes 50a of the commutator ring 50. These lobes 50a, of which in this embodiment there are twelve, complete, through the comrnutator ring 5G proper, the circuit C4 which may be connected between the coil terminals 18 and the source of power, not shown, the circuit C4 therefore comprising an interruptercircuit for the relay. As the coil 15 is energized through the aforesaid completed circuit a magnetic circuit is established as indicated in Fig. l by the broken line 66. At this point a second function of the sleeve 42 of the rotor assembly 46 becomes apparent. By increasing the cross-section of the disk armature 43 at its surface of contact with the bushing 41 and therefore with the core shaft 17a the reluctance at this transfer surface will be decreased thereby making available a greater flux density at the periphery, that is, at the poles With rotor 40 in its normal position, before the coil 15 is energized, the only force acting upon the rotor 40 will be the permanent magnetic force exerted through the circuit shown by the broken line 65. Thus at this time the poles 45d will each be held opposite one of the poles 61 of the inverted second cup 6i). This position of the armature 45 is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The electromagnetic armature 43 will at this time be in the position also shown in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3, that is, with the poles 44 substantially opposite the intervals between the teeth 21 of the heel-piece cup 16. When the coil 15 is now energized an electromagnetic force greater than that exerted by the permanent magnet and overcoming the latter The cylindrical insulator element 30.

e, assess@ 7 force causes each of the poles`44 to be attracted to the polel21 nearest-the nearest, as illustrated in Fig. 3, because of the comparative distances a and b-causing the electromagnetic armature 43 and therefore the rotor assembly 40 to be rotated in a clockwise direction. The faces 44a of the poles 44 may beV slightly curved in the direction indicated so that the gap distance a may be gradually decreased thereby resulting in a progressively greater magnetic attraction as the electromagnetic armature 43 rotates and while the coil l5 is energized. During this rotation the poles 45d of the permanent magnetic armature 45 have moved oil normal and the lobes 50a have moved from contact with the contacts 36 associated with the interrupter circuit C4. The energizing circuit for the coil l is thereupon broken and the coil l5 is deenergized. The circuit 66 no longer exerts any attractive force between the faces 44a of the electromagnetic armature 43 and the poles 21 and the rotor assembly 40 is returned to the control ot the permanent magnet circuit 65. At this time due to the cutout notches 45e of the poles 45d the distances between the poles 45d and the poles 61 just passed will be greater than the distances etween the said poles and next succeeding poles 61. The permanent magnet force exerted between the lastmentioned poles will therefore cause the permanent magnet armature 45 and therefore Vthe rotor assembly 40 to continue the rotation initiated by the operation of the electromagnetic armature 4.3. This reaction Vwill continue until the armature assembly 40 has returned to its normal position whereupon the contacts 36 of the interrupter circuit C4 will again rest upon a pair of Vlobes 50a of the commutator ring 50 and the cycle just described will be repeated. Thus step-by-step the rotor assembly 40 will continue to rotate until the coil l5 energizing circuit is externally broken. ln the preferred embodiment because of the number of the poles 2l and 6l, i. e., twelve, each one of the cycles above ldescribed will accomplish one complete rotary step and, therefore, 1/12 of a revolution, however by increasing or decreasing the number of heelpiece poles 2l and 61 and armature Vpoles 44 and 45d rotation in any number of steps may be accomplished.

The circuit C5 associated by means of contacts 36 with the lobes 50h is closed at the half step rotary position of the armature assembly 4t! when the circuit C4 is open. The circuit C5, the associated lobes 50h which also number twelve and alternate with the lobes 50a is therefore closed -every twelfth half step alternating with the twelve complete steps during which the interrupter circuit C4 is closed. rl'his circuit C5 may therefore be used in any application in which impulses alternating with the relay coil energizing impulses are required. It should be clear that the duration of the impulses is dependent upon two factors: the speed of rotation of the rotor assembly all which in turn is dependent largely upon the effectiveness of the magnetic fields, andthe'angular width of the lobes 50a and 50h. This latter dimension may be most easily adjusted according to the needs of the particular relay application. The use of only a single commutator ring 50 to effect the closing of lboth the circuits C4 and C5 is, of course, made possible by the alternate operation of the circuits. This alternation of operation makes possible with regard to the commutator ring 51 the association therewith of three operating circuits, circuits C1, C2 and C3. The two lobes 51a and the contacts 36 associated with the circuit Clare shown separated by four complete lrotary steps as .may be necessaryas dictated by the position of thepassociated pair of contacting springs 35 of Pig. 7. Since only two lobes Sla are provided the circuit C, will beclosed only once for every complete rotationvof the-rotor assemblyv40, that is, every twelfth complete rotary step of the rotor .40. The lobes Sla are formed as extensions of two of the lobesvlb, threein all of which are provided, each of-which isalso separated, but necessarily, by four Vcornpleterrotary steps of the rotor 40. Since only two contacts 36 are associated with the three lobes e'lb it is evident that the circuit C2 will be closed once for every four complete rotary steps of the rotor 40. The lobes Sic are each separated by twoV complete rotary steps of the rotor 40, and since the lobes 51C, sin in number, are also associated with only two contacts 36 the circuit C3 associated therewith will be closed once every second complete rotary step of therotor 40. The contacts 36 may obviously be angularly positioned in a manner other than as shown in Fig. 3, however to achieve the sequence of operation of the circuits C1, C2 and C3 as above described itis required, assuming the closing of the circuit C1 at theV 07 angular rotation of the rotor assembly 40, that the circuit `C2 be closed at each 60, 180, and 300 angular rotational position and that the circuit C3 be closed at each 30, 90, 150, 210", 270, and 330 angular rotational position of the rotor assembly 40.

It is to be understood that, although the sequence of the contacting springs 35 has been based only on lthe utilization of the twelve complete rotary steps of the rotor d0 as described, other sequences of operation are available. Since every complete rotary step of the rotor 40 involves a partial step trom the normal position and a partial s tep in return to a next succeeding normal position the half steps Yso resulting in actuality make available 24 rotary positions within which additional sequential arrangements may beV developed. ln that case proper and perhaps additional lobes will be required on the commutator ring 5l.

What ,has been described is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention and it is to be further unders'tood that other modifications in addition to those suggested in the preceding paragraph, both in s tiructure and manner of operation, may be made without de parting trom the scope of my invention as delined in the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. v,ln a switching device having more than one normal position, apermanent magnetic armature associated with a first heelpeee and completing a magnetic circuit therewith, anrelectromagnetic'armature associated with a second heelpiece,.switchingmeans associated with said armatures and operated jointly thereby, the flux flowing invsaid magneticcircuit holding said permanent magnetic armature and ,thereby said Vswitching means in a iirst normal position, andan operating coil for said electromagnetic .HQQLQ, Said .coil when energized completing an electromagneticcircuit through said second heelpiece and said electromagnetic armature whereby said electromagnetic armature is operated to `thereby operate said switching means from ,said iirstnormal position, the Yilus flowing in said magnetic circuit moving said permanent-'magnetic armature land thereby (said switching means Vto `a .second nnrmal aasiticn when .Said V@Peruaansmatic -Cifuit is brQkcn 2- In ainasneticswtchins device ,harias met@ than one normal position, a first armature and heelpiece, a permanent magnet .associated with said vkfirst armature to complete :a5-magnetic circuit through `said rst armature and 'heelpieca .a second armature and heelpiece, an electromagnetassociated with said second armature, `s aid electromagnet'when energized completing an electromagneticncircuit'rthrough said second armature and heelpiece, said secOndarmature'cooperating with said lirst armature, switchingmeans associated with said 'first and said second armatures and operated jointly thereby said switching means including a plurality of contacts closed in the difterentsuccessive positions thereof, the ux ilowing in said lmagnetic lcircuit holding `said first armature nand thereby said-switchingmeans in a first normal position, the flu-x produced in said electromagnetic circuit causing operation of said second armatureand thereby moving said Yswitching means from said rst normal position 9 when said electromagnetv is energized to thereby close one of said contacts.

3. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position as claimed in claim 2, in which the operation of said second armature also moves said first armature from said first normal position, and in which the flux fiowing in said magnetic circuit moves said first armature and thereby said switching means to a second normal position when said electromagnet is deenergized.

4. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position, a shaft, a first rotary armature having a plurality of poles rotatably mounted on said shaft, a first fixed heelpiece having a plurality of poles adjacent to said poles of said first armature, a permanent magnet associated with said first armature and arranged to complete a plurality of magnetic circuits through said poles of said first armature and said first heelpiece, a second rotary armature mounted on said shaft and corotatable with said first armature, a second fixed heelpiece having a plurality of poles, said second armature having a plurality of poles adjacent to said poles of said second heelpiece, an electromagnet associated with said second armature, said electromagnet energized at times to complete a plurality of electromagnetic circuits through said poles of said second armature and said second heelpiece, the flux fiowing in said magnetic circuits holding said first armature in a first normal rotary position whereby said poles of said first armature will be aligned with said poles of said first fixed heelpiece and the poles of said second armature will be out of alignment n with said poles of said second fixed heelpiece, the fiux flowing in said electromagnetic circuits when said electromagnetic is energized operative to move said poles of said second armature into alignment with said poles of said second fixed heelpiece thereby rotating said first armature from said first normal rotary position, and switching means associated with said first and said second armatures and operated jointly thereby, said switching means being in a first normal position when said first armature is in a first normal position and operated when said first armature is rotated from said first normal position, the said flux in said magnetic circuits operative to move said first armature to another normal position when said electromagnet is deenergized to thereby move said switching means to another normal position.

5. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position, an operating coil having a core, a rotor assembly rotatably mounted on an extension of said core, said rotor assembly comprising a permanent ring magnet having a plurality of poles on the periphery thereof, and a rotary armature also having a plurality of poles on the periphery thereof, a first fixed heelpiece having a plurality of poles adjacent to the poles of said ring magnet, a second fixed heelpiece having a plurality of poles adjacent to the poles of said rotary armature, said poles of said first heelpiece alternately spaced relative to said poles of said second heelpiece, said permanent magnet completing a plurality of magnetic circuits through said poles of said permanent magnet and said poles of said first heelpiece causing a fiux to flow therein to hold said rotor in a first normal rotary position, said operating coil energized to complete a plurality of electromagnetic circuits through said core, and said poles of said rotary armature and said poles of said second fixed heelpiece causing a fiux to fiow therein to rotate said rotor from said first normal position, deenergization of said coil permitting said permanent magnet to move said rotor to a second normal position, and switching means associated with said rotor and operated thereby, said switching means being in a first normal position when said rotor is in said first normal position and in an operated position when said rotor is rotated from said first normal position, said switching means moved to a second normal position when said rotor is so moved.

6. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position, an operating coil having a core; a".

tary armature, said second heelpiece having a number of poles similar in number to said poles of said rotary armature, said poles of said second heelpiece alternatingl of said rst heel-- piece, said permanent magnet completing a plurality of' in angular disposition with said poles magnetic circuits through said poles of said permanent ring magnet-and said poles of said said first heelpiece poles in alignment to thereby hold said.

rotor in a rst normal rotary position, said poles of said. rotary armature and said second heelpiece poles thereby4 held out of alignment, said operating coil energized tocomplete a plurality of electromagnetic circuits throughl said core and said armature poles and said second heel-- piece poles to cause a fiux to fiow therein to draw saidarmature poles and said second heelpiece poles into alignment and'said permanent magnet poles and said first heel-- piece poles out of alignment to thereby rotate said rotor' from said first normal rotary position, said operating coil'.-

deenergized to permit the said flux in said permanent. magnetic circuit to again draw said permanent magnet poles and said first heelpiece poles into alignment to thereby rotate said rotor into a next succeeding normal rotary position, and switching means associated with said rotor said switching means being in ai first normal position when said rotor is in a first normali and operated thereby,

position and in an operated position when said rotor is.

rotated from said first normal position, said switching:

means rotated to the next succeeding normal position; when said rotor is moved to the next succeeding normah position.

7. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position as claimed in claim 6, said switching means comprising a commutator ring associated with said rotor and corotatable therewith and a plurality of pairs of contact springs associated with said commutator ring, said commutator ring electrically connecting a first pair of said contact springs and electrically disconnecting a second pair of said contact springs as said rotor is rotated from said first normal rotary position and electrically disconnecting said first pair of said contact springs and electrically connecting said second as said rotor is rotated into a said next succeeding normal rotary position.

8. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position as claimed in claim 6, said switching means comprising a plurality of commutator rings, said rings associated with said rotor and corrotatable therewith, each of said rings being provided with a plurality of sets of lobes, each of said sets of lobes being integral with said respective commutator rings, and a plurality of pairs of contact springs, each of said pairs of springs being individually associated with one of said sets of commutator lobes, said lobes electrically connecting and dis` connecting said springs of each of said contact spring pairs through said commutator rings as said rotor and said commutator rings are rotated, said lobes and said contact spring pairs being so related that only one pair of said contact springs on each of said commutator rings will be electrically connected in any rotary position of said rotor.

9. In a magnetic switching device having more than first heelpiece causing a fiux to flow therein to hold said magnet poles andv pair of said contact springs asafasso magnet and; a` rotaryarmature, each off' said-` last-namedelements having apredetermined likenumber of-poles'onthe periphery thereof, sai'dppolesV offeachof said lastnamed elements being in substantial rotary alignment, anda first and a second commutator ring, said-ringsl eachY being .provided with a plurality of sets of lobes thereon,- said setsof lobes of said first ring-alternatingon said ring and said sets of lobes of said second'ring spaced ina predetermined relationship, a'firstcircular heelpiece having a like predetermined number of-poles adjacent to saidpoles ofA said permanent ring magnet, said poles of saidY permanent magnetadapted to rotate opposite said poles of said firstheelpiece as said rotor is rotated on saidshaft, a second circular heelpiece havingga'like predetermined numberrof poles adjacent to said vpoles of Vsaid rotary armature, said poles of'said second-heelpiece alternatingabout said shaft with said'poles of said first heelpiece such that when said poles of said magnet are infrotary alignment with said poles of said first heelpiece the poles of said rotary armature willlbe out of alignment with said poles of said 'second heelpiece, said poles of said armature adapted to rotate opposite said poles of said second heelpiece as said rotor is rotatedon said shaft, a coil, a core for said coil, an energizing circuit for said coil, and a plurality of pairs of contact springs associated respectively with said sets of commutator lobes, said lobes electrically connecting the individual springsrof -each of said contact spring pairs in sequenceY through said commutator rings as said pairs of springs contact' said lobes, the pair of said plurality of pairs of contact springs associated with one of said sets of lobes of said first commutator ring controlling said coil energizing circuit, said permanent magnet completing a plurality of magnetic circuits through said permanent magnet poles and said first heelpiece poles, said magnetic circuitsY effective to bring said poles of said permanent magnetinto alignment with said poles of said first heelpieceto therebybring said rotor to a first normal rotary position, the said pair of said contact springs controlling said coil energizing circuit being electrically connected through the said one of said sets of lobes of said first commutator ring when said rotor is in said first normal position to thereby vclose said coil energizing circuit, said coil therebyV energized to complete a plurality of electromagnetic-circuits through said poles of said rotary armature and said poles of said second heelpiece, said electromagnetic circuits effective to rotate saidarmatureV poles Vinto alignment with'said poles of said seco-nd heelpiece to thereby rotate said rotor from said first normal rotary position whereby the said pair of contact springs controlling said coil energizing circuit is electrically disconnected to open said coil energizing circuit whereby said coil is deenergized, said permanent magnet circuit effective to rotate said poles of said permanent ring magnet intoalignment With the next succeeding polesof said first heelpiece to thereby rotate said rotor intoa next succeeding normal rotary position.

10. in a magnetic switching device having more than onenormalnrposition as claimed in claim9, in which said rotorincludresran insulator element for ymaintaining said permanent ring magnet, said rotary armature, and said first Vand said second commutator ring in a predetermined fixed relationship.

l1. in a magnetic switching deviccrhaving `more than Onenormal position as claimed in claim l0, in which said core for said coil comprises an extension of said shaft, said plurality of electromagnetic circuits completed through said Vcore andsaid shaft, and the rotation of saidgrotor into a next succeeding normal rotary position again electrically connecting the saidrpair4 of said con-V tact springs controlling the said coil energizing circuit through the said one of said sets of lobes of said first commutator ring to thereby againclose said coil energizing circuitv whereby said rotor is againrotated from said next succeeding normalwrotary position, said rotor being thereby caused to rotate continuously about said A tact springs being so arranged and related that said springs of said'pairs of contactsprings Will be electrically connected and disconnected in various sequences as said rotor is continuously rotated.

13. in a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position as claimed -in claim 12, in which an insulator element separates said first andsaid second circular heelpieces, said Vfirst heelpiece enclosing said permanent ring magnet, saidsecond heelpiece enclosing said coil and said rotary armature, said vfirst heelpiece, said last-named insulatorl element 'and said second heelpieceaconstituting an integral envelope for said switching device.

14. AV magnetic switchingrdevice having more than one normal' rotary position comprising commutator means having contacting means cooperative therewith, a plurality of circuits individually operated by said contacting means, said circuits sequentially opened and closed as said commutator is rotated,'and means for rotating said commutator comprising a first rotary armature and heelpiece means, a second rotary armature and heelpiece means, a first magnetic circuit through said first rotary armature and heelpiece means, a first means for energizing said first magnetic circuit, a second magnetic circuit through said second rotary armature and heelpiece means, and a second means for energizing said second magnetic circuit," said first magnetic circuit eective through said first armature and heelpiece' means to move said commutator means to a rst normal rotary position and said second magnetic circuit effective through said second armatureV and heelpiece means to move said commutator means to'a next'succeedingrotary position, said first and said second magnetic circuits effective alternately to continuouslyrotate said commutator means through successive normal rotary positions.

15. A magnetic switching device having more than one normal rotary position as claimed in claim 14, in which said first means for energizing said( first magnetic circuit comprises a permanentY magnet, saidrst magnetic circuit permanently energized thereby, said vsecond means for energizing said second magnetic circuit comprises an relectromagnet energized periodically to periodically energize said second magnetic circuit, and in which said second magnetic circuit exerts a substantially greater inuence than said first magnetic circuit.

16. A magnetic switchingdevice 'having more than one'normal rotary position as claimed in claim 15, a first plurality of magnetic circuits through' said first rotary armature and heelpiece means, said first energizing means energizing said first plurality of magnetic circuits, a second plurality of magnetic circuits: through said second rotary armature and heelpiece means, said' second energizing means energizing' said second plurality of magnetic circuits, said second plurality of magnetic circuits exerting a substantially` greater infiuence than said first plurality of magnetic circuits, said first and said second plurality of magnetic circuits effective alternately to continuously rotate said commutator means'through successive normal rotary positions. t

17. A magnetic switching device comprising a shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coil mounted on s aid shaft, saidshaft constituting a core for said coil,

said rotor comprising a first armature including a permanent magnet, said lfirst armature having a plurality of radial poles, a second armature having a plurality of radial poles, commutator means, and an insulating element maintaining said tirst armature, said second armature and said commutator means in isolated fixed relation, a iirst fixed heelpiece rigidly mounted on one extremity of said shaft and encompassing said rst armature, said first heelpiece having a plurality of poles adjacent to said poles of said iirst armature, a second fixed heelpiece rigidly mounted on the other extremity of said shaft and encompassing said coil and said second armature, said second heelpiece having a plurality of poles adjacent to said poles of said second armature, said poles of said second heelpiece alternating with said poles of said rst heelpiece such that the poles of one only of said armatures are aligned with corresponding heelpieces at one time, 'a second insulating element isolating and maintaining said first and said second heelpieces in a xed relation, said iirst heelpiece, said second insulating element and said second heelpiece forming an integral envelope for said switching device, a plurality of contacting means cooperative with said commutator means, said plurality of contacting means having a plurality of circuits respectively associated therewith, said coil periodically energized to periodically magnetize said second armature, said magnetized rst armature and said periodically magnetized second armature cooperating with said alternating poles of said lirst and said second heelpiece respectively to rotate said rotor on said shaft, said commutator means cooperating with said contacting means to sequentially open and close said circuits as said rotor is rotated.

18. In a magnetic switching device as claimed in claim 17, said contacting means comprising pairs of contact springs mounted within said envelope in connection with said second insulating element and so arranged to sequentially cooperate with said commutator means as said rotor is rotated, said springs having terminals extending outside of said envelope.

19. In a magnetic switching device having more than one normal position, a tirst armature and a heelpiece, a permanent magnet associated with said first armature to complete a plurality of magnetic circuits through said tirst armature and heelpiece, a second armature and a heelpiece, an electromagnet associated with said second armature, said electromagnet when energized completing a plurality of electromagnetic circuits through said second armature and heelpiece, said second armature cooperating with said rst armature, switching means associated with said irst and second armatures and operated jointly thereby, the flux owing in said magnetic circuits holding said first armature and thereby said switching means in a irst normal position, the ux produced in said electromagnetic circuits causing operation of said second armature and thereby moving said switching means from said first normal position when said electromagnet is energized, the flux produced in the rst armature effective to move said switching means to the next successive normal position when said electromagnet is deenergized, the ux produced in the electromagnetic circuits effective to again move said switching means from said successive normal position when the electromagnet is reenergized, said switching means thereby caused to move to successive normal positions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,481 Toewe Feb. 26, 1935 1,399,728 Adams Dec. 13, 1921 1,933,591 Holtz et al. Nov. 7, 1933 2,296,123 Stimson Sept. 15, 1942 2,310,138 Whittaker Feb. 2, 1943

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