US2848579A - Polarized relay - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1958 J. L. RUSSELL POLARIZED RELAY Filed May 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 19, 1958 J. L. RUSSELL POLARIZED RELAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1. 1956 FIG United State POLARIZED RELAY Application May 1, 1956, Serial No. 581,984

13 Claims. (Cl. soc-93 This invention relates to electrically actuated contactors, especially contactors of the double-throw, polarized type.

In my copending application, Serial No. 515,373, filed June 14, 1955, assigned to the assignee of the present application, I have described a contactor of the polarized type which in common with relays of this class is characterized by its balanced design by which, in the unenergized condition, there is no greater tendency on the part of the defiectable armature to occupy one position or the other, and commonly the armature remains in the position in which it is left as determined by the direction of the last current pulse to which the operating coil is subjected. In some uses, however, as, for example, for obtaining control functions when applied in electron-tube circuits, a definite position of the armature is required when the operating current is at or near zero. In the above-identified patent application, resilient biasing means were provided to obtain this type of operation, if desired.

I have found, however, that mechanical bias, while highly desirable for some applications, is inherently limited in speed and efiiciency so as to leave much to be desired where enhanced speed and efiiciency are required due to the following considerations:

In obtaining optimum performance from a relay of this class, the ratio of force developed magnetically in the armature to the total Weight of the armature should be very high. This permits high values of acceleration of the moving contact in switching from one position to the other which results in small values of switching time and, concomitantly, improvement in immunity of the moving system to shock and vibration. Actually, the said ratio is limited by (a) the value of magnetic flux which can be induced longitudinally in the armature, limited by the saturation density of the material of which it is made; and (b) the flux density in the air gap, limited by over-all size of the permanent magnet structure, magnetic leakage flux, and other similar considerations. In the case of polarized operation, the operating-coil magneto" motive force is usually made equal to or greater than the value required to give an armature force corresponding to saturation conditions. This force is then reproduced in magnitude in the opposite direction when the coil current is reversed. The force is at or near zero when the coil is de-energized. Now, when relay action is desired using a D.-C. energizing current of on-off impulses instead of a reversing current, the direction of this D.-C. current being of definite polarity determined by the direction of the permanent field, the armature may be biased mechanically as hereinbefore observed. This results in a force avail-able in each direction of one half of the saturation force, or the sum of forcesis equal to the saturation force.

In accordance with my invention by which I provide an unbalancing flux path diverted from the permanent field, the sum of the forces in relay-type operation can be made to exceed the saturation. force and, in fact, approach twice that force. The armature force for zero coil current is derived from the field flux flowing in the armature ice which may approach the saturation value with corresponding value of force. The magnetomotive force developed by the coil when operating current is applied opposes this field flux and when fully developed overcomes this flux to approach a saturation value of flux and force in the opposite direction. Hence, the force-toweight ratio in this case approaches twice that in the spring-biased case, with consequent advantage in speed of operation, design eificiency, and other desirable characteristics.

It is thus a primary object of this invention to provide an electromagnetic relay having reduced armature transit time and improved over-all immunity to shock and vibration.

It is a further object to provide a high-speed doublethrow relay adaptable to miniaturized design.

It is a still further object to provide an electromagnetic relay of unbalanced magnetic field structure such that the deflecting force may approach twice the saturation force.

Further objects as well as advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is an isometric exploded view of the parts of a relay device embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of an assembled device within an enclosure;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but rotated about its longitudinal axis and contained within an enclosure of sealed construction with mounting base;

Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive; and

Figures 6 and 7 are schematic drawings illustrative of other embodiments of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings and to Figures 14 in particular, a supporting member 20 comprises a fiat, cylindrical base portion 21 and an axially disposed stem portion 22, integrally formed from one piece of brass or equivalent non-magnetic material of high thermal conductivity. The member 20 is formed with a central bore 23 extending through the base portion 21 and penetrating the stem portion 22. One side of said stem portion is of cylindrical curvature coaxial with that of the base portion 21, and the other side is flattened to provide a plane surface parallel to said axis. The section of said stem portion is less than a semicircle so that the axis of the structure does not lie within the stem part, but is displaced from the plane surface by a small distance, the purpose of which will hereinafter be set forth. A radial slot 24 (Figure 3), formed in the base portion 21 and extending from the periphery thereof into the central bore 23, breaks the path of eddy currents in the base member and provides access thereto for placing, inspecting, and adjusting small parts presently to be described.

Mounted upon the fiat surface of the stem portion 22, and extending through the opening 23 in the base portion 21, is a member 25 formed of sheet silicon steel or equivalent ferromagnetic material. As indicated in Figure 1, the member 25 is paddle shaped, having a relatively broad base part substantially the Width of the stem portion 22, while the extending part or tongue, forming a cantilever armature, is made narrow, of small inertia, and relatively stiff in construction. The previously mentioned displacement of the plane surface of the stern portion 22 from the cylindrical axis is preferably half the thickness of member 25, so that when assembled the center line of said member 25 will coincide with said axis. As fully set forth in my Patent No. 2,636,094, the material of which the member 25 is formed need not be especially critical in its magnetic characteristics, the general requirement being the member 25 and electrically insulated therefrom is adouble-faced contact member 26 formed preferably of one of the alloys in the platinum group. This part of the assembly may readily be effected by forming the piece of contact metal in a U-shape, inserting the extremity of the member 25 insulated by small barriers of mica or the equivalent, clamping these component parts into an integral assembly, and firmly securing them in place with a suitable cementitious material. Permanent electrical connection to said movable contact member is made by means of a flexible wire 28 having one end soldered or welded to the member 26. Variable magnetization of the member 25 is effected by means of a solenoid or coil member 39 having an internal opening to slip over the semi-cylindrical stem 22 and having a winding 31 adapted to carry the current to which it is desired that the movements of the member 25 be made responsive.

The magnetic structure whereby there is provided a permanent unidirectional field wherein the free tongue portion of the member 25 may operate as an armature comprises a pair of T-shaped soft iron assemblies 35 and 36, preferably of laminated construction, the stems of the Ts constituting polar projections oppositely and inwardly directed to form an air gap 37. The outer arms of the assemblies 35 and 36 are bridged by permanent magnets 39 and 40 so disposed that each T-shaped assembly makes contact with similar poles of the two magnets. Thus, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the north poles of both permanent magnets are in contact with the assembly 36 and the south poles with assembly 35, so that flux in the air gap 37 may be considered as passing from right to left as seen in Figures 3 and -7.

A shunt path for said permanent field flux is provided by L-shaped member 27 which is disposed at one end to make contact with the armature 25 by being secured with it to the stem 22 as by screws. It extends along the outer contour of coil 31 and terminates at or near the permanent magnet assembly 35. As shown, this member is separated slightly from the pole 35 to form a variable reluctance in the magnetic circuit. The shunt member is formed of thin sheet, ferro magnetic material and may be preformed, or bent to conform to requirements after assembly.

When the device is assembled with the members 25 and 27 mounted upon the stem portion 22, the coil 30 surrounding said stem portion is brought into close engagement with the. corresponding face of the base portion 21 of the supporting member 2%). The broad base part of the ferromagnetic member 25 extends substantially along the axis of said coil, providing an optimum path for the flux in that part of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic structure comprising the assemblies 3536 and the magnets 3940 rests against the opposite face of the base 21, being secured in position by means presently to be set forth. The tongue portion of the member 25 extends through the opening 23 and lies within the air gap 37 with its contact-bearing portion projecting therebeyond and adapted for coaction with stationary contact members now to be described.

Positioned against the faces of assemblies 3536 on the sides remote from the base 21 is a massive metal supporting block 41, of U-shape, as indicated, and insulatedly carrying stationary contact members 43 and 44, juxtaposed to opposite faces of the movable contact member 26 and adapted to be alternatively engaged thereby as the latter member is moved back and forth with motion of the movable member 25. Each of the stationary contact members 43-44 takes the form of a thin, fiat strip of resilient contact metal formed basically to an L-shape with one arm extending across the face of the corresponding arm of the U-shaped block 41 and terminating in a loop portion adapted for connection of a conducting wire. The other arms of the L- shaped contact members extend substantially parallel to the axis of the main assembly, one on each side of the movable ferromagnetic member 25, and each has a tip portion angularly bent inward to be juxtaposed to, and engaged by, the movable contact member 26. The tip portions of the contact members 43--44 are preferably bifurcated, as indicated in Figure 1 whereby to reduce the probability of failure to complete the circuit between the stationary and the movable contact members should a particle of non-conducting material find its way onto a contact surface. For reasons to be related hereinafter, in the structure shown and with no operating current applied, the armature 25 is permanently but resiliently defiected toward the north pole formed by the projection of member 36, and the attached contact 26 thus makes contact with fixed contact 44.

Extended screws 45, coacting with suitable clamping and insulating plates positioned opposite either face of the transverse portions of the contact members 4344, pass through openings formed in the block 41, straddling the polar projections of the assemblies 35-36, and engage threaded openings in the base portion 21, whereby, when tightened, to secure and clamp into an integral unit said base portion, magnetic structure, supporting block, and stationary contact members. The conformation of the laminated parts of the magnetic structure is made such as to allow appreciable clearance around the screws, thus facilitating lateral adjustment, and exact centering of the air gap 37, as assembly is effected.

Adjustment of the stationary contact members 43 and 44 toward and from the movable contact member 26 is effected by means of screws 47 and 48 transversely threaded through the respective arms of the U-shaped block 41, on a common axis, and provided with insulating tips adapted to bear upon the outer faces of said movable contact members and force them more or less toward the center line of the structure, according to the adjusted setting of said screws. With a view to eliminating organic material from the assembly, the insulating tips of the screws 47 and 48 may expediently be formed of spherical glass beads spun into recesses formed in the extremities of the screws.

As hereinbefore pointed out, connection between the movable contact 26 and stationary parts of the external circuit is effected by means of a wire 28 having one end attached to said contact. The other extremity of said wire is secured at a terminal lug 52 which is insulatedly supported by means of a screw 51 threaded into the yoke portion of the U-shaped block 41.

The apparatus, as thus far described, is enclosed in a cylindrical shell or casing 55 having a closed end toward which the extremity carrying the coil 30 is inserted and, at the other end, being provided with a scalable closure 56 (Figure 4), carrying insulated terminals, preferably adapted for plugging into a conventional socket such as is used with electronic equipment. One of said terminals is connected to the forked member 52 by means of a wire 58 and, thus, to the movable contact 26. Two of the remaining terminals are connected to the contact members 43 and 44 by means of wires 59 and 60, respectively. Further terminals, not appearing in the drawings, are connected by means of leads 61 and 62 shown in Figure 2) to the winding of the solenoid 30, thus providing complete electrical connection between the switching device and external circuits and permitting hermetic sealing of the assembly if desired.

Hermetic sealing not only serves to exclude moisture and objectionable atmospheric contaminants from the sensitive contacting surfaces of the device, but also renders it possible more or less to evacuate the interior of the casing or to surround the contacts and other electrical parts with an artificial atmosphere of any desired composition or pressure. By the use of suitably selected inorganic insulating media, it is possible to exclude from the enclosure certain undesirable vapors known to emanate from some organic materials.

The shell of casing 55 may be of magnetic or of nonmagnetic material, according to alternative operating principles presently to be set forth. As indicated in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, which represent a practical form of the apparatus, in particular the shell 55 may be considered either ferromagneticor non-ferromagnetic, since its effect on the magnetic circuit, if any, may be readily compensated for by adjustable magnetic means to be described.

In considering the operation of this device as a relay normally biased with one contact closed, attention is directed to Figure 5 which:is a schematic representation of the essential elements and the interrelationships thereof of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in detail in Figures 1 to 4. Herein a single permanent magnet 106 for simplicity is made to' correspond to magnets 39 and 40 of the detailed drawings, Figures 1 to 4; the field pole pieces 104105 correspond to 36 and 35, respectively; stationary contacts 102 and 103 correspond to 44 and 43, respectively; armature and solenoid 101 and 100 represent the corresponding elements 25 and 31; shunt member 110 refers to corresponding member 27; enclosure 111 refers to outer shell 55. Conforming to the description hereinbefore related, the armature is shown fixed at one end in a position which includes the longitudinal axis of the structure. The other, or free, end of the armature 101 is deflected, under the influence of the shunt magnetic member 110, toward the north pole. The movement-of the armature is limited by the fixed contact 102 with which it also makes electrical contact.

The magnetic structure comprising the ferromagnetic assemblies 104 and 105 together with the magnet 106 provides a-permanent field in the gap 112 wherein is disposed the movable tongue of the ferromagnetic member 101. While the main flux of this field will flow transversely ofthe short section of the member101 lying within the gap 112, there will be a diversion of flux through the armature member 101, due to. shuntmember 110, thus causing permanent longitudinal magnetization of the armature. The above-described disposition of elements produces the path of predominant flux indicated in Figure 5 by a broken line. In effect, therefore, a biasing magnetic force is exerted on the armature 101 which, in the absence of other magnetic forces, pulls said resilient armature against contact member 102. The magnitude of said biasing magnetic force is dependent on the actual dimensional values of the air gaps in the magnetic circuit, since such values predominantly determine the overall reluctance of the magnetic path. Practically, these values are kept to a minimum to assure positive and reliable biasing without affecting dynamic operation of. the relay as hereinafter described. The air gap shown between the shunt member 110 and the pole piece 105 is intended to provide practical means for adjustment of the. optimum value of shunted flux to obtain desired operation.

In operation, the winding 100 is energized preferably by on-oif impulses of direct current. The polarity of the applied current must be such as to produce a magnetic field which will pass longitudinally of member 101 and in a direction opposed to the above-described biasing flux of the permanent magnetic field. For any one pulse of operating current, said flux due to the operating coil will increase in magnitude until the biasing. flux due to the permanent magnet is neutralized, whence the tongue of armature 101 is released from contact 102 and, through further increase in magnetomotive force, is urged toward the'S-pole piece 105, thus making contact with contact member 103. Upon interruption of the energizing current, the field flux diminishes until the magnetic force due to: the permanent magnet 106 and the'resilient force of the tongue itself cause its release from contact 102 and movement toward the N-pole of member 104. Because the permanent biasing flux predominates over inherent mechanical forces in the rigidly supported armature member 101, the tongue portion of said member is then caused to deflect further in the direction of the N-pole until contact is made with contact 102. In effect, therefore, the relay operates. as a magnetically reversible device energized by an unidirectional impulse.

It is recognized that the principles of my invention can be extended to other modifications of the structure hereinbefore described. For example, in Figure 6 is shown a structure which is the same as that described in connection with Figure 5 except that here the enclosing shell has been omitted and the shunt path closed at both ends. A fixed arm 109 of ferromagnetic material joins the fixed end portion of the armature to S-pole piece 108. Though this arrangement may be preferred under some practical conditions, the principle differs in no respect from the hereinbefore described embodiment.

In Figure 7 is shown a further modification in which case the fixed end of the armature 101 does not lie in the center line of the structure but is displaced to one side or the other of the axis. In this case, the symmetrically disposed enclosure 107 must be of a ferromagnetic material, since it forms a return path for field flux. The dissymmetry of the armature structure produces the permanent longitudinal magnetization and the flexible part of the armature 101 is attracted toward N-pole 102 and thus causes engagement, under static conditions, with contact 102. The path of predominant flux is shown by the broken lines. In all other respects, the operation is as hereinbefore described;

It is to be noted that the devices shown in Figures 6 and 7 may be constructed as was described in detail in connection with Figures l-S except for those distinguishing features which have been pointed out in connection with Figures 6 and 7.

Theterms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalent of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A polarized relay, comprising means including a polar structure defining a gap and for producing a constant magnetic field in said gap, a movable contact, a pair of stationary contacts each adjacent to and in position to be engaged by said movable contact upon displacement of the latter through an intermediate position, magnetic circuit means independent of said first mentioned means and including a deflectable armature extending in said gap for shifting said movable contact between said stationary contacts, said magnetic circuit means having a portion thereof remote from said gap positioned in close proximity with said polar structure and including said gap in common with said polar structure and being adapted to shunt the flux path across said gap asymmetrically and thereby bias said armature to maintain said movable contact normally in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, and means for producing a magnetic field flux along said armature in a direction opposed to the flux of said constant magnetic field whereby said armature is deflected to shift said movable contact away from said one stationary contact and into engagement with the other of said stationary contacts.

2. A polarized relay, comprising means including a bipolar structure defining a gap and for producing a constant magnetic field insaid gap, a movable contact, a pair of stationary contacts each adjacent to and in position to be engaged by said movable contact upon displacement of the latter through an intermediate position,

magnetic circuit means-independent of said first mentioned means and including a deflectable armature extending in said gap and supporting said movable contact for displacement between said stationary contacts, said stationary contacts each being positioned on a side of said movable contact corresponding to one of the poles of said polar structure, means supporting said armature for deflection in said gap toward the poles of said polar structure in response to the net effect of the magnetic flux traversing said armature, said magnetic circuit means having a portion thereof remote from said gap positioned in close proximity with said polar structure and including said gap in common with said polar structure and being adapted to shunt the flux path across said gap asymmetrically and thereby bias said armature toward one of said poles to maintain said movable contact normally in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, and means for producing electromagnetic field flux along said armature in a direction opposed to the flux of said constant magnetic field whereby said armature is deflected toward the other one of said poles and engages said movable contact with the other one of said stationary contacts.

3. A polarized relay, comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap, support means, magnetic circuit means independent of said first mentioned means and including a ferromagnetic member fixed to said support means and having a resilient armature part extending in said gap free for displacement toward either of said polar structures, a first contact carried by and movable with said armature part, a pair of stationary contacts insulatedly mounted on said support means, each of said stationary contacts being positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, said magnetic circuit means having a portion thereof remote from said gap positioned in close proximity with said polar structure and including said gap in common with said polar structure and providing a substantially lower reluctance flux path in shunt with said gap between one side of said gap and said armature part than between the other side of said gap and said armature part for magnetically biasing said armature part toward said one side of said armature gap and normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, and means for impressing a magnetomotive force on said ferromagnetic member in a direction opposed to said magnetic bias for de flecting said armature toward the other side of said gap and to. engage said first contact with the other one of said stationary contacts.

4. A polarized relay, comprising a gas-tight envelope, :1 non-magnetic electrically conductive support member extending transversely and forming an electrostatic shield in said envelope spaced from opposite ends thereof, said support member having an aperture formed therethrough and a stern portion extending from one side thereof, an elongated ferromagnetic member fixed to said stem portion and having a deflectable armature part extending through said aperture and away from the other side of said support member, means for producing a substantially constant magnetic field and including opposed polar structures on said other side of and supported by said support member, said polar structures defining a gap, said defiectable armature part extending in said gap, a first contact carried by said armature part and deflectable therewith, a massive mounting block on the side of said polar structures away from said support memberand connected to the latter, a pair of stationary contacts each insulatedly connected to said mounting block and juxtaposed to a respective side of said first contact corresponding to one of said polar structures, magnetic circuit means including said ferromagnetic member and said polar structures providing a substantially lower reluctance flux path in shunt with said gap between one side of said gap and said armature part than between the other side of said gap and said armature part for magnetically biasing said armature part toward said one side of said armature gap and normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, means for impressing a magnetomotive force longitudinally along said ferromagnetic member opposed to the flux associated with said magnetic bias and comprising an electrically conductive winding encircling said stem portion and a portion of said ferromagnetic member whereby said armature part is deflected and said first contact is engaged with the other of said stationary contacts, and lead-ins sealed through said envelope and connected to each of said contacts and said winding.

5. A polarized relay, comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap, support means, magnetic circuit means including a ferromagnetic member fixed to said support means and having a resilient armature part extending in said gap free for displacement toward either of said polar structures, a first contact carried by and movable with said armature part, a pair of stationary contacts insulatedly mounted on said support means, each of said stationary contacts being positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, said magnetic circuit means being adapted to magnetically bias said armature part toward one of said polar structures for normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts and including a second ferromagnetic member extending between the fixed portion of said first mentioned ferromagnetic member and the other of said polar structures and forming a low reluctance magnetic coupling therebetween, and means for impressing a magnetomotive force on said ferromagnetic member in a direction opposed to said magnetic bias for deflecting said armature toward the other side of said gap and to engage said first contact with the other one of said stationary contacts.

6. A polarized relay, comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap, support means, magnetic circuit means including a ferromagnetic member fixed to said support means and having a resilient armature part extending in said gap free for displacement toward either of said polar structures, a first contact carried by and movable with said armature part, a pair of stationary contacts insulatedly mounted on said support means, each of said stationary contacts being positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, said magnetic circuit means being adapted to magnetically bias said armature part toward one of said polar structures for normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts and including a second ferromagnetic member having one end portion connected to the fixed portion of said first mentioned ferromagnetic member and its other end portion in close spaced relation with the other of said polar structures and forming a low reluctance magnetic coupling therebetween, and means for impressing a magnetomotive force on said ferromagnetic member in a direction opposed to said magnetic bias for deflecting said armature toward the other side of said gap and to engage said first contact with the other one of said stationary contacts.

7. A polarized relay comprising a gas-tight envelope, a non-magnetic electrically conductive support member extending transversely and forming an electrostatic shield in said envelope spaced from opposite ends thereof, said support member having an aperture formed therethrough and a stem portion extending from one side thereof, an elongated ferromagnetic member fixed to said stem portion amend and having a deflectable armature part extending through said aperture and away from the other side of said support member, means for producing a substantially constant magnetic field and including opposed polar structures on said other side of and supported by said support member, said polar structures defining a gap, said deflectable armature part extending in said gap, a first contact carried by said armature part and deflectable therewith, a massive mounting block on the side of said polar structures away from said support member and connected to the latter, a pair of stationary contacts each insulatedly connected to said mounting block and juxtaposed to a respective side of said first contact corresponding to one of said .polar structures, magnetic circuit means including a second ferromagnetic member connected to the fixed end portion of said elongated ferromagnetic member and extending in close spaced relation to one of said polar structures and providing a low reluctance flux path therebetween for magnetically biasing said armatureapart toward the other one of said polar structures to normally maintain said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, means for impressing a magnetomotive force longitudinally along said ferromagnetic member opposed to the flux associated with said magnetic bias and comprising an electrically conductive winding encircling said stem portion of said ferromagnetic member whereby said armature part is deflected and said first contact is engaged with the other of said stationary contacts, said winding encircling the portion of said second ferromagnetic member connected to the first mentioned ferromagnetic ember with the remainder of said secondferromagnetic member extending externally of said winding, and lead-ins sealed through said envelope and connected to each of said contacts and said winding.

8. A polarized relay comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap, a support member having an aperture formed therethrough and a stem portion extending from one side thereof, magnetic circuit means including an elongated resilient ferromagnetic member having one end portion thereof fixed to said stem portion and its other end portion forming an armature part extending in said gap free for deflection toward either of said polar structures, a first contact carried by and movable with said armature part, a pair of stationary contacts insulatedly mounted on said support means, each of said stationary contacts being positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, said magnetic circuit means being adapted to magnetically bias said armature part toward one of said polar structures for normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of stationary contacts and including a second ferromagnetic member extending between and connected to the fixed end portion of said resilient ferromagnetic member and the other of said polar structures, and means for impressing a ma gnetomotive force longitudinally along said ferromagnetic member opposed to the flux associated with said magnetic bias and comprising an electrically conductive winding encircling said stem portion and a portion of said ferromagnetic member whereby said armature part is deflected and said first contact is engaged with the other of said stationary contacts.

9. A polarized relay comprising a gas-tight envelope, a non-magnetic electrically conductive support member extending transversely and forming an electrostatic shield in said envelope spaced from opposite ends thereof, said support member having an aperture formed therethrough and a stem portion extending from one side thereof, an elongated ferromagnetic member fixed to said stem portion and having a deflectable armature part extending through said aperture and away from the other side of said support member, means for producing a substantially constant magnetic field and including opposed polar structures on said other side of and supported by said support member, said polar structures defining a gap, said deflectable armature part extending in said gap, a first contact carried by said armature part and deflectable therewith, a massive mounting block-on the side of said polar structures away from said support member and connected to the latter, a pair of stationary contacts each insulatedly connected to said mounting block and juxtaposed to a respective side of said first contact corresponding to one of said polar structures, magnetic circuit means including, a second ferromagnetic member connected to the fixed end portion of said elongated ferromagnetic member and to one of said polar structures and providing a low reluctance fiux path therebetween for magnetically biasing said armature part toward the other one of said polar structures to normally maintain said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, means for impressing a magnetomotive force longitudinally along said ferromagnetic memher opposed to the flux associated with said magnetic bias and comprising an electrically conductive winding encircling said stern portion and a portion of said ferromagnetic member whereby said armature part is deflected and said first contact is engaged with the other of said stationary contacts, and lead-ins sealed through said envelope and connected to eachof said contacts, and said winding.

10. A polarized relay, comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap, magnetic circuit means independent of said first mentioned means and including a ferromagnetic member having a deflectable armature part extending in said gap for displacement therein, a firstcontact carried by and deflectable with said armature part, a pairof stationary contacts each positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, said magnetic circuit means having a portion thereof remote from said gappositioned in close proximity with said polar structure and including said gap in common withsaid polar structure andproviding a flux path extending along said ferromagnetic member in shunt with said. gap, means supporting said ferromagnetic member with the armature part thereof substantially more closely spaced with-respect to-one of said polar structures as compared to the other in the absence of any magnetic fiux, whereby said magnetic circuit means shunts the flux path across said gap asymmetrically, said constant magnetic field serving to deflect said armature toward said one polar structure and normally maintain said first contact in engagement with one of said stationarycontacts, and means for producing electromagnetic field flux along said ferromagnetic member in a direction opposed to the flux of said constant magnetic field along said shunt path for deflecting said armature part toward the other one of said polar structures to engage said first contact with the other one of said stationary contacts.

11. A polarized relay, comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap, support means on one side of said polar structures, magnetic circuit means independent of said first mentioned means and including a ferromagnetic member fixed to said support means on the side thereof away from said polar structures and having a resilient armature part extending in said gap free for displacement toward either of said polar structures, a first contact movable with said armature part, a pair of stationary contacts insulatedly mounted on said support means, each of said stationary contacts being positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, said ferromagnetic member being positioned so that in the absence of magnetic flux said armature part is substantially more closely spaced to one of said polar structures as compared to the other, said magnetic circuit means having a portion thereof remote from said gap positioned in close proximity with said polar structure and including said gap in common with said polar structure and providing a flux path including said ferromagnetic member in shunt with said gap with magnetomotive force developed by said constant magnetic field normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, and means for producing electromagnetic field flux along said ferromagnetic member opposed to the flux of said constant magnetic field along said shunt path for deflecting said armature part toward the other one of said polar structures to engage said first contact with the other one of said stationary contacts.

12. A polarized relay, comprising means including opposed polar structures juxtaposed to provide a gap and for producing a substantially constant magnetic field in said gap a support member on one side of said polar structures having an aperture formed therethrough and a stem portion extending from one side thereof away from said polar structures, magnetic circuit means including an elongated resilient ferromagnetic member having one end portion thereof fixed to said stem portion and its other end portion forming an armature part extending in said gap free for deflection toward either of said polar structures, a first contact carried by and movable with said armature part, a pair of stationary con tacts insulatedly mounted on said support means, each of said stationary contacts being positioned adjacent to and on a side of said first contact toward a respective one of said polar structures, the longitudinal axis of the fixed portion of said ferromagnetic member being offset from the corresponding mutual axis of said polar structures, toward one of said polar structures, said magnetic circuit means including a second ferromagnetic member extending between the fixed portion of the residual ferromagnetic member and the other of said polar structures so that said armature part is magnetically biased toward said one of said polar structures for normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, and means for impressing a magnetomotive force longitudinally along said ferromagnetic member opposed to the flux associated with said magnetic bias and comprising an electrically conductive winding encircling said stem portion and a portion of said ferromagnetic member whereby said armature part is deflected and said first contact is engaged with the other of said stationary contacts.

13. A polarized relay, comprising a gas-tight envelope,

a non-magnetic electrically conductive support member extending transversely and forming an electrostatic shield in said envelope spaced from opposite ends thereof, said support member having an aperture formed therethrough and a stern portion extending from one side thereof, an elongated ferromagnetic member fixed to said stem portion and having a deflectable armature part extending through said aperture and away from the other side of said support member, means for producing a substantially constant magnetic field and including opposed polar structures on said other side of and supported by said support member, said polar structures defining a gap, said defiectable armature part extending in said gap, at first contact carried by said armature part and deflectable therewith, a massive mounting block on the side of said polar structures away from said support member and connected to the latter, a pair of stationary contacts each insulatedly connected to said mounting block and juxtaposed to a respective side of said first contact corresponding to one of said polar structures, the longitudinal axis of the fixed portion of said ferromagnetic member being offset from the corresponding mutual axis of said polar structures so that said armature is magnetically biased toward one of said polar structures for normally maintaining said first contact in engagement with one of said stationary contacts, means for impressing a magnetomotive force longitudinally along said ferromagnetic member opposed to the flux associated With said magnetic bias and comprising an electrically conductive winding encircling said stem portion and a portion of said ferromagnetic member whereby said armature part is deflected and said first contact is engaged with the other of said stationary contacts, and a plurality of lead-ins sealed through said envelope with one connected to each of said contacts and to each end of said winding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,056,745 Stalnaker Oct. 6, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,654 Great Britain July 1, 1879 of 1879 491,893 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1938 984,780 France Feb. 28, 1951

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