US2883589A - Polarized magnetic-operating device - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1959 J. M. JOHNSON POLARIZED MAGNETIC-OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20; 1956 FIG. I

: tures 25 and 26 respectively,

United States Patent Ofiiice 2',ss3,ss9 POLARIZED MAGNETIC-OPERATING DEVICE Leonard M. Johnson, Downers Grove, 111., assignor to International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Application August 20, 1956, Serial No. 604,954 8 Claims. Cl. 317-171) This invention relates to a polarized magnetic-operating device. The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which combines sensitivity and relative load-handling ability with rugged dependability, to thus require a minimum of operating current and preferably requiring no holding current.

In known forms of construction, sensitivity has been enhanced by providing the armature of the polarized electromagnetic structure in the form of a load-carrying permanent magnet, and the ability of the armature to move its load from one position to the other has been enhanced by a lost-motion technique wherein the load is encountered only when the armature is most powerful-is approaching its final position in either direction of movement. One objection to the above form of construction is a rather complex pivoting or journaling arrangement required to provide for both the turning and the lost-motion action of the magnetized load armature.

According to the invention, the construction is simplified by replacing the lost-motion action of the load armature by the idle motion of one or more secondary armatures to adjust the operating gaps of the load armature according to the required direction of movement, thereby permitting the load to be directly coupled without lost motion.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention "and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 4, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively top and front views of the device having certain parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the armatures in their alternative position.

Referring to the drawings, comprising Figs. 1 to 4, the

polarized magnetic-operating device includes a pair of e'lectromagnets 14 and 15, having pivotally secured armaa permanent-magnet airmature assembly 29, a pair of switch assemblies 39 and 40 actuable by armature assembly 29 responsive to energization of electromagnets 14 and 15 and a generally inverted U-shaped bar 5 together with a connecting bar forming a generally open-end box-like magnetic structure having these parts secured thereto.

The open-end box-like structure (members 5 and 10) provides the magnetic return path for the structure and having the permanent-magnet armature assembly 29 mounted therein greatly reduces the efiect of adjacent magnetic fields on the operation of the device.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, inverted U-shaped bar .5 includes a horizontal top portion supporting the switch assemblies 39 and 40, a depending vertical left portion 6 supporting the electromagnet 14, and a depending vertical right portion 7 supporting electromagnet 15. Bar 5 is 2,883,589 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 between horizontal mounting members 1 by mounting brackets 3 which are secured to members 1 by screws 2. Each mounting bracket 3 is provided with an aperture for receiving the threaded end of a core 20 and is rigidly secured thereto by a nut 21. Other similar devices may be supported adajcent to the one illustrated, to form the relay apparatus of a telephone switchboard.

Each of the electromagnets 14 and 15 includes a coil 18 and la cylindrical magnetic core 20 extending therethrough. One end of each core 20 is threaded which is received within an opening within the depending vertical portions 6 or 7 of bar 5 and mounting brackets 3 and rigidly secured thereto by means of a nut 21.

Each coil 18 loosely encircles its core 20, and is provided with generally square spool heads 16 and 17.

Each spool head 17 is provided with terminals 19 for extending a local connection from the coil to terminals 61.

Each inwardly extending end portion of core 20 is provided with an armature 25 or 26 pivotally secured within a slot 22 by means of a rivet 27 (Fig. 4). Each of the cores 20 is provided with a spring 24, rigidly secured thereto as by staking abutting spool head 16. The free ends of adjusting springs 24 are offset and are readily adjustable, as by bending, to provide stop positions for their associated armatures 25 or 26.

As shown in Fig. 2, each depending portion 6 and 7 of bar 5 terminates in a flange portion 8 to which is secured a magnetic supporting bar 10 by screws 11.

As shown in Fig. 3, the permanent-magnet armature assembly 29 is pivotally secured to support bracket 32 between pivot pin 35 and pivot screw 36 for a back and forth movement between stop members 55 (Fig. 4). Pivot pin 35 is secured to the generally Ushaped bracket 32 as by riveting, and pivot screw 36 is threadedly received within an opening in the upright portion of bracket 32 rendering it Iadjustable. A lock nut (not shown) is generally provided to retain the pivot screw in a desired position of adjustment.

Support bracket 32 is secured to bar 10 (Figs. 2 and 3) by screws 34 which are received within openings in bracket 32 and threadedly engage clamping plate 33.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the permanent magnet 30 is secured within the box-like bracket 31 by means of shear-formed tabs 70, two such tabs being shown in Fig. 4. The north pole of magnet 30, for example, is associated with the upper portion of armatures 25 and 26, while its south pole is associated with the lower portion of the armatures. The armature bracket 31 includes a pair of upwardly extending arms 71 terminating in an enlarged portion 72 having an insulating bar 37 extending between the arms for actuating the switch assemblies 39 and 40. The back and forth movement of armature assembly 29 is limited by the engagement of portion 72 with stop members 55, one position being shown in Fig. 2 while its alternate position is shown in Fig. 4.

A non-magnetic plate portions 55 is secured of bar 5 together with screws 56 and nuts 58. spaced relationship with spacers 57.

Insulating plate 60 is provided with terminals 61; the lower portion thereof is used for terminating local conductors extended from terminals 19 of electromagnets 14 and 15, and the spring terminals of stackups 39 and 40, two such conductors are shown in Fig. 2. The upper portion of terminals 61 are used for connecting external conductors (not shown).

For convenience, the switch assemblies (39 and 40) supported horizontally are illustrated as being all alike. Ordinarily, the assemblies may vary according to the different circuit functions.

Each switch assembly 39 and 40 comprises two adjacent stackups (Fig. 1). Considering the switch assemblies as shown in Fig. 2, each such stackup of switch assembly 39 includes two commonly denoted types of contact sets, a make set (fixed blade 43 and traveling springs 42) and a break set (fixed blade 44 and traveling springs 45). Each stackup of switch assembly 40, similarly includes a break set (fixed blade 47 and traveling springs 46), and a make set (fixed blade 48 and traveling springs 49).

Each fixed blade 43, 44, 47, and 48 carries a molded insulated guide member 85 serving as guide means for the relatively flexible traveling springs 42, 45, 46 and 49 which comprise a pair of adjacent wires. The fixed blades and the traveling springs are maintained in assembled relationship by having their outer portion secured in a block of molded insulating material which is secured to nonmagnetic plate 54 by a U-shaped clip member 41. The fixed blades and traveling springs have a portion extending beyond the molded portion serving as a terminal member for local connections therewith.

As shown in Fig. 4, the inwardly extending end portions of traveling springs 42, 45, 46, and 49 are cammed either upwardly or downwardly by insulating bar 37 responsive to the movement of the armature assembly 29.

The armatures 25 and 26 are adapted for a back and forth turning movement with respect to the similar movement of armature assembly 29 between the position shown in Fig. 2 and the position shown in Fig. 4 responsive to control of electromagnets 14 and 15.

With armature assembly 29 together with armatures 25 and 26 in the position shown in Fig. 2, energization of electromagnets 14 and 15 in the proper direction renders armature 25 magnetically south while rendering armature 26 magnetically north thereby causing the freely moving armatures 25 and 26 to be turned from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the postion shown in Fig. 4. Such movement shortens the operating gap (between unlike poles) corresponding to the new position and lengthens the operating gap corresponding to the initial position. The flux passing through the shortened operating gap then quickly turns (snap-like action) armature assembly 29 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the new position shown in Fig. 4. The shortening of the effective operating gap for 29 by the preliminary movement of armatures 25 and 26 reduces the amount of flux necessary to turn armature assembly 29.

The movement of armature assembly 29 to its new position shown in Fig. 4 permits pretcnsioned traveling springs 42 to close a circuit including fixed blade 43 while camming springs 45 downwardly out of engagement with its fixed blade 44. Similarly, traveling springs 46 are cammed upwardly out of engagement with its fixed blade 47 while permitting its traveling springs 49 to close a circuit including fixed contact blade 48. The armature assembly 29 is held against left stop 55 by the local flux of magnet 30 passing through the operating gaps in series and is further retained by springs 42 and 49.

The operate circuit for electromagnets 14 and 15 is generally opened at its own contacts (for example, at 44 and 45 of switch assembly 39) to avoid further current drain.

Energization of the electromagnets 14 and 15 in the opposite direction results in the turning of freely moving armatures 25 and 26 followed by the turning movement of armature 29 thereby returning them to a position as shown in Fig. 2.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention. Y

and pairs of operating I claim:

1. A polarized magnetic-operating device comprising a pair of armatures and means for turnably supporting each for a back and forth turning movement with respect to the other armature and between a first position and a second position, the armatures being separated by first and second operating gaps corresponding respectively to the said positions of either armature, separate and relatively fixed stop means for each armature defining the said positions thereof, movement of either armature from either position'thereof to the other lengthening one operating gap and shortening the other, means including a source of flux external to the armatures for passing operating flux through them in series in a path which eifectively includes the two operating gaps in parallel, and means for magnetically polarizing the operating gaps with respect to the flux direction of the external source, comprising means for passing flux locally through the operating gaps in series, whereby the flux from the external source traverses the operating gaps selectively according to the direction of such flux, to thereby urge the armatures in the corresponding direction.

2. In a device according to claim 1, the said external fiux source including an electromagnet comprising a magnetic core having first and second separated poleends and an encircling winding for magnetizing the core longitudinally to impart opposite magnetic polarities to the pole ends, the said first pole end being associated with one armature while the said second pole end is associated with the other armature for serially passing operating flux through them.

3. In a device according to claim 1, the said meansfor magnetically polarizing the said operating gaps comprising one of the said armatures in the form of a permanent magnet having pole faces at the respective operlating. gaps.

4. In a device according to claim 1, means for coupling an operating load to one armature while leaving the other armature relatively free to turn, whereby tihe freely moving armature turns first to thereby shorten the operiating gap through which the loaded armature is turned.

5. In a device according to claim 1, the said external flux source including a pair of serially related electromagnets associated respectively with the arm'atutres, eachelectromagnet comprising a magnetic core having first and second separated pole ends and an encircling winding for magnetizing the core longitudinally to impart opposite magnetic polarities to the pole ends, one pole end of each electromagnet being physically adjacent to the associated armature, while the remai g pole ends are magnetically associated with each other in a path independent of the armatures.

6. In a device according to claim 1, an additional armature so located relative to the first two armatures as to comprise the third armature in a row of three upright and side-by-side armatures, support and stop means for the third armature providing a mutual turning and stopping action and mutual operating gaps between the second and third armatures as set forth for the first two, the turning movement of the armlatures being within the said row, the said external source for passing operating flux being effective to pass flux through the row of armatures gaps in series, and the said means for polarizing the operating gaps comp-rising means for maintaining a local longitudinal magnetization of the second armature.

7. In a device according to claim 6, means for coupling an operating load to the said locally magnetized second armature while leaving the said first and third armatures relatively free to turn, whereby the freely moving armatures turn first to thereby shorten the operating gaps through which the loaded second armature is turned.

8. In a device according to claim 7, the said external flux source including a pair of serially related electromagnets associated respectively with the said first and third armatures, each electromagnet comprising a magnetic core having first and second separated pole ends and an encircling Winding for magnetizing the core longitudinally to impart opposite magnetic polarities to the pole ends, one pole end of each electromagnet being physical- 1y adjacent to its said associated armature, while the remaining pole ends are magnetically associated With each other in a path independent of the armatures.

References Cited in the file of this patent

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