US2905784A - Magnetically-actuated switch device - Google Patents

Description

Sept 22, 1959 A. c. DUCATI l 2,905,784

MAGNETICALLY-ACTUATED SWITCH DEVICE Filed July 26, 1955 2 YSheets--Sheet 1 48 IN1/Emol@V ADRIANO C.DUCAT| Cwi'u mom Mim Y ATTORNEYS Sept 22, 1959 l A. c. DUCATI 2,905,784

MAGNETICALLY-ACTUATED SWITCH DEVICE Filed July 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lOd INVENTOR. ADRIANO C. DUCATI Mh monnik E 5o\\onx f ATTORNEYS United States Patent 25205384 -MQNEHCALLYACTUATED SWITCHLQEVIQE Adriano (avalieri D ucat,:Milan, Italy, :assignor -to:G. M.

Giannini 41h60 lne., Pasadena, Califelllllieafion July 26, 19.55,` Serial 151965245333 '1,claims. totana-87) Vr[ibis invention Arelates ato improvements @in magnetic switches, land ipartieularly;l tonnimproved magnetic switch Vof fthe type having magnetizable lcontact :membersin a vsealed Inon-Juiagnetic envelope and actuated from outside .theenvelopelbyimagnetizing thecontacts.

V@ne common type of magnetic 4switch utilizes flat, zbladertypeelectrodes .which are mounted resiliently iin a cylindrical (envelope in oyerlanping relation. A rcoil -is Wound on the envelope toprovidefa:magneticfleld source. PNS/herr.a1 1;-:le ctni c current is Passed throughthecoih'lhe blades :become magnetizedand are drawn tslgelher. illl .suh :a constrnetion, there yis considerable space within the enyelone :that .is net fllled .with magnetic material- This. tesnltsin :azwasteof power in :the .-maghetizng system., las :the field strength must he great enough to fast .through the spaeeihetyyeen -theileld windingiand she releetredes interner tefmasnetiaetheeleetredessite y'i.;itl1e ;snae .ifelnatyniealteesn alle. eleetrerles have. heyeleslleyerlannihssinds ayyhleh Leonie together when the magnetizing eld is established.

zlheinseseat 4inyehrisn :is islirestell -;t e\var d enelestrede @Sandaletten that-estelas nlirhary ladyantanes of. the @realer @sass sessies eleetssdez and that has rthe itusther aflyaslasentheisanartlenleelyresented very highnequcncy switching. Itliaslthg lessseasitiyefts.aeeel lele site@ ,when e nl L fSaeeds--as' te .and thelileetl. serais esta lthegllnnreyesl...wheneeasfellstiesfeltlse @resent inventig furt rsingle-1 le: d f

referred embedimerlt el tiel/enlist, et-hallal msuntesleleelssle elelnerltsseep-elele-witl1ashlee .leyelzle eleelfeee whlellt when mesnelizefl, leleves se hrldseasenbetween,tlle-llllesleleetrntles- Slate thr able'elec'trde is small compared with.; v

exed ee;- -tresles il .is leesilale Ate .'.llll substantially .all .el the e11- Yelepelsnsee h niesaetizahlematerielle minimize the teqlliresl fetiziss fetes. while. .leeepllls the Issy-able e mentaal @ssh tehaye ltresnemlfreetlllyiledell lreesefley `syy eltirlssnelatisn 1.11 seine .intenses elle meyshle .eleetrsele 'may be erlassen fer hiftllreetlesal me-yemen sa e te lessee. the llkellteasl that weren. ist nella fseselslatlns {seeehr-sting Vfosses will Vattest operation of the switch.

A insre sernnlete understanding inf' Ithe invention, Vand lilf lllhlf :Objects and, features .thereof, )can -be had,from aille follwing :description of illustrative .embodiments .thereof, '.whentconsideried in connection with the accom- .'panyingidrawings, `wherein: y'

y:Figui-e 1 yis asectional lplarrview o'f'a switchembodying the invention;

FigureZ -is ia ysectional end view of the'switch otjEignre liftelellestherlinelfel elli-,laurels "Y Patented Sept. 22, 1959 i of the switch shown. infliigu'refs; and

Fglllle 8. show- S another dynamically lbalanced ,relay switch- Egllre, :1 of .the dinawingishows va magnetic switchem- -bodying -thednvention and comprising a lpanof elongated magnetizahle electrodes i111 and 1 2. These Velectrodes are of circular cross section and are formedfofsoft iron .01" Othel'flelldily maghetizable material :andserye both as `magneti ldeendnetersandas contact membersthrcugh whiellgeleetr tenrrentwill llew.

The :elect deszl and l2 aresupported in fixed posillons in Opneste ends fof .a Leylindrieal glass .enyelepe :114 by Vrelatively :short llevar neral leads 16 and 1.8. These leads are secured by soldering, welding or the like :to the ienpnsitefends O f the eleetrodes k10 and l2 and extend through seals ih A.the envelope .end walls. This PrOYlSles .elesffleel eesess fte. the elect-redes `:from outside theenvelepe. and also Supports 4theeleehredes rigidly in end-te-enl selatien in axial alignment with each other, With argan he :een lheifvaelieeeht ends. In this, and the other relay annelies shown herein. Vthe envelope le may be j0f glass hnyfnenmagnetie :materiel such as aluminllm., eetlepel ete In itllerspese between tw@ fllxed electrodes there le preyidesl. .e ird :minable velestrerle all. This eleetrede y20, wlliell is als@ stede of maerletizelsle material, com- Prises flattened, llnsililsefendnortiehs `:2 2 fermedintegral eter eerltlfll avert ef the spr-ins fits loosely about ellellideipih .26 irl this instante sf insulating lmsterlal lallllellslliltneylee veesfllletiye) is setinto the :endlef llle'llllesle eefeedelfierld extends anelli/ from this eleetrsde slightly ythere-lllen Allelf ef the fllstshee tenere .the :ether iflxelieleetlelle l2- flle spring 12.4 -is medeef fniesfletiefaatesieli e e seit rirse The deeetlsh O f this serine is-Slislll and within the .limit :ef ielestielty Of @the seflireh-lwiie- Therelellefl height ef :the eeheeetiessepeins Dertien .214 ,ismssle-slllllelehtly less than thelellsth s .fthesensepsratille Ithe .llxe eleeffsdes se .that the -mOfvable-eleellede 2 9 will always be out of contact with at least one ofthe heed, .eleetfetles whenylheswiteh is het maenetieefl- 0f conre, .th'e-glnrnagnetixzed movableelectrode 2? may be snaedtrom hoth irxed4 electrodes lilancl 1 2. Thus, `when the .swit h is i .magnetized there will always be an i n in between theleadwiresf andl.

e 1hnstetlzlne winding Y2.8 surrounds the -enyelepe 14 .te establish :e leggerle flleld threllsll .the-eeyelsne Iwhen .eleelre ennemi is tPassed 'through `the .Wisllihg- '0b.- vignsly,. at perrnanentmagnet or,anyiother means can be provided 1 0 sllilply the necessary magnetic ux. The spring portion 25ct the movable electrode-20 is made suiliiently resilienttmbe vovercome readily vby .theimagvn eticattracting vforce between the rnovable `electrode end sections 242 and thexed electrodes ,1 0 and 12 when the switch magnetined When .the Iend portions 22 malte Contact 4vyitlfi 'theends of ythe yelectrodes 5.10 and V1 2, the ,circuit is .satellieten 'thfesgh Ythe -Swifeh -fllreugh .the lead Wire 16, the lixed electrode 111, -the `movable electrode 2li, .thefllised eleetrsde la, and .the support lead 1 8- lt canbeseen thaltthe rverysrnall mass of the movable electrode (2 9, itssinall inertia, Amakes it.possible to operate the lswitch at very high switching frequencies. Also, the @Klassement is -slleh that fences and eeeeleration and deceleration forces will have minimum effect on the switch.

It is evident that the movable electrode 20 can be made integrally of a single piece of magnetizable material, such as iron wire, or can be made of two separate discs or rings of similar material fixed to the ends of a spring.

In order to insure making good contact, the contact surfaces at the facing ends of the electrodes and 12 can be coated with suitably conductive contact material, such as silver, tungsten, platinum or the like. Similar'- ly, the contact faces of the end portions 22 preferably will be coated with such contact material. To reduce further the possibility of corrosion of the electrodes as well as arcing at the contacts, the envelope 14 may be evacuated or may be filled with inert gas such as helium or the like.

To facilitate assembly of the parts in proper alignment, as well as to help maintain the fixed electrodes 10 and 12 in proper position, resilient locator rings 29 may be provided which are positioned in grooves 31 in the electrodes 1) and 12 and press against the inner surface of the envelope 14 at spaced points, as shown best in Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows another electrode structure in which the adjacent end portions of the fixed electrodes 10 and 12 are each provided with a recess or notch formed by removing a semi-circular segment from the circular electrode. The notches thus formed are located on opposite sides of the fixed electrode axis so that the semicircular end portion 10a, 12a of each electrode is in longitudinal alignment with the recess of the other electrode. Thus, there is a substantial gap between the semi-circular end portion of each fixed electrode and the main body portion of the other fixed electrode. Also, these end portions 10a and 12a are spaced from each other both laterally and longitudinally.

The movable electrode in this switch comprises a thin, flat, magnetizable disc 32 provided with a central hole 34 to fit loosely on an axial resilient guide wire 36 which extends between insulating mounting jewels 38 set into the fixed electrodes. The disc 32 is held loosely in the gap between the ends of the fixed electrodes by the guide wire, and although it may be constructed to slide back and forth on the wire and contact one or the other fixed electrode, it cannot normally make contact with both of them simultaneously. This is insured by making `the central hole 34 small enough to prevent the disc 32 from tilting sufficiently to bridge the gap between the electrode end portions 10a and 12a unless enough moment is applied to overcome the resilient force of the wire 36.

When the switch is magnetized, Ithe disc 32 will be attracted simultaneously toward the fixed electrode end portion 10a on one side, and toward the other fixed electrode end portion 12a on the other side. This will tilt the disc and apply a bending force to the guide wire 36 at the center, permitting the disc to tilt suiciently to make contact with both fixed electrodes 10 and 12. It will be understood that the recesses cut into the ends of the fixed electrodes serve to channel the magnetizing field so that it will act in opposite directions on opposite halves of the disc to achieve the desired effect.

The contact disc is free to rotate on the wire 34 so that under ordinary conditions of use the entire rim of the disc 32 serves from time to time as the area of contact. The freely rotatably disc 32 presents continually changing contact surfaces for uniformity of wear. As before, it is preferable to coat all of the contact surfaces with suitably conductive material.

Alternatively, the disc 32 can be firmly secured to the wire 36, as by soldering or the like, and the wire permitted to rotate in the mounting jewels 38 to provide a continually changing contact area.

As with the switch shown in Figure 1, the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 has a movable electrode of very Small mass for high frequency switching and also a design that minimizes actuation of the switch by G forces and acceleration and deceleration forces.

In Figure 4, there is shown a double-throw switch. As before, the adjacent end portions of the fixed electrodes are notched to form spaced offset ends 10u and 12a. The movable electrode in this case comprises a magnetizable disc 4t) which is held resiliently against the end of one fixed electrode 12, by a spring 42 which is secured to the electrode 12 and to the disc 40 by welding, soldering or the like. The disc 40 also normally engages a supplementary fixed contact 44 which comprises a copper or other non-magnetic wire. This contact wire 44 extends through an end seal in the envelope and through an insulating sleeve 46 disposed iu a longitudinal channel 48 (see also Figure 5) in the electrode 12, being held in place at spaced points 50 by peening the channel walls over the sleeve 46, or other suitable means.

Thus, when the movable electrode member 40 is in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 (the switch unmagnetized), a first circuit will be completed through the contact wire 44, the disc 40, the fixed electrode 12, and the support lead 18. Accordingly, the `disc 40 and the contact wire 44 constitute a first set of contacts (normally closed) in the switching device.

The fixed electrode 10 and the movable electrode 40 constitute a second set of contacts (normally open) in the switching device of Figure 4. These contacts 10 and 40 will be brought into engagement with each other when current is passed through the magnetizing winding 28 as the magnetic field will cause the movable electrode 40 to be attracted toward the projecting end portion 10a of the electrode 10, and the projecting end portion 12a of the electrode 12. This, of course, will break the circuit through the supplementary contact 44 and the movable contact 40, and establish a new circuit which will include the lead wire 16, the fixed electrode 10, the spring 42, the movable electrode 40, the fixed electrode 12, and the lead wire 18.

As in the yother embodiments of the invention previously described, it can be seen that the relatively small movable electrode in the switching device of Figure 4 is well adapted for high frequency switching operations, and is statically and dynamically balanced.

Figures 6 and 7 show another balanced relay switch in which the movable contact member 54 (shown separately in Figure 7) has a cylindrical central portion 56 and oppositely-extending offset contact portions 58 and 60 of semi-circular cross-section. This movable contact 54, which is formed of magnetic material, is mounted in the envelope 14 by a rubber ring 62, which may be similar to an Owing, positioned in a peripheral groove in the outer surface of the central portion 56. The ring 62 is retained also in a corresponding groove in the inner surface of the envelope 14.

The members 10 and 12 are formed of iron or other magnetic material and preferably are circular in cross section. These members 10 and 12 are provided with contact portions 10a and 12a, respectively, which extend in juxtaposition with the two contact portions 58 and 60 of the movable member 54. The areas of contact between the member 54 and the fixed electrodes 10 and 12 are coated with suitable contact metal as indicated at 64 and 66.

In operation, when a magnetic field is produced, as by energizing the winding 28, the member 54 is caused to tilt so that it makes contact with the members 10 and 12 to complete the electric circuit between the leads 16 and 18. When the magnetic field is removed the contacts are opened by the restoring force of the resilient rubber ring 62.

Alternatively, the movable contact member can be mounted on a transverse pivotal wire. One such arrangement is shown in Figure 8 in which the fixed electrodes .iesteeees `the eenstrtletiee eetl-ilse the lllendfl? naybeitlegteelwth ef `111 this Lillttstrstie the @retable eeateet etettleerf the term e., .estrie ef teegttetleeleterlel `steelt esima This member@ is seetlretlte eetl seprertesibyeterslen sprieg wire72 which extends transverselythroughtheinember y 7,0-aadisseeeret1 te the Wells Q f'ztlle'ellelene 1t The wire een be sealed "tete ereesltefsitlesef thewell Vef the eevelere 1,4 er en 'ieterael streettlte, be'rrevisled 'te support it l .l l

Ween themeseetle Ktiel@ *is .Pretltlelee elle member "10 rotates sheet the wire?? es all and eamnletes'the uit between-.tbe @ted eleetteees est! ,12-` When ,the magliette felezis remev tsplrttlsitersieefieree ef tlte pvet wire. 72 tetttrtts tltettlemter 791e itsnerlttel eren-etreltitrestieltf e To sglplitythe deserintiea, sirtliletrertset elle various views lleve ie-seme'ieststteeslleen es geen eerreseetletag numbers- Certeierertsef tlleee .etieaef eeellilltlstretletl here net beentlesefieesl eil; ,eetl itt 'these scribed in connection ogher YiewsA s ance with structures alreadyknown in the art.

What is claimed is; l. A (magnetically-actuatedl switch device having a quick response ,and which ,tis'crelntively unaffected by `gravitational and 4acceleration and deceleration forces comprisinga relatively long, general-ly cylindrical sealed envelope, 4'first and second generally lcylindrical members of magnetizable materialxedinpsition one in each Vend ,of `said envelope, said members beingin axialfaiignnient with eeeh etherftheedieeetttetttls eflseld meglhetshavs' g first and secondelaterally ofsetfendyortionsbrespecittvely, which are offset 4to opposite sides oftheflongi- Vtudinal axes of said members, ethe outer surfaces of -said end portions being generally cylindrical, a small light weight movable electrode between said first and second end portions and having first and second sides which are shaped to conform to the outer surfaces of said first and second end portions, respectively, resilient mounting means secured to said small electrode between said sides and swingably mounting said electrode for swinging movement about a pivot axis mild-way between said sides and passing between said rst and second end portions and generally perpendicular to the axes of said members, said resilient mounting means normally urging the first and second sides of said small electrode in opposite directions away from said first and second end portions, and magnetic control means outside of said envelope for changing the magnetic condition of said members and their laterally offset end portions, thereby to urge the first and second sides of said small electrode in the respectlve reverse directions toward said rst and second end portions, respectively.

2. A magnetically-actuated switch device having a quick response and which is relatively unaffected by gravitational and acceleration and deceleration forces comprising a relatively long, generally cylindrical sealed envelope, first and second generally cylindrical members of magnetizable material fixed in position one in each end of said envelope, said members being in axial alignment with each other and with the longitudinal axis of the envelope, the adjacent ends of said members having first and second laterally ofset pole portions, respectively, which are offset to opposite sides of the longitudinal axes of said members, the outer surfaces of said pole portions being generally cylindrical, a small 1ightweight movable electrode between said first and second pole portions and having first and second edges which are shaped to conform to the outer longitudinal surfaces of said first and second pole portions, respectively, the inner surface of said envelope being closely adjacent to the edges of said small electrode and the outer longitudinal surfaces of said pole portions, resilient mounting means secured to said small electrode between its edges and swingably mounting said small electrode for swinging movement about a pivot atomes sol ntie-wey betvveet1 ,its edges eedressitlg between. seid first `and second ,pole portions and generally perpendictoithe axis of theA envelope, said resilient mounting means normally erging the 'rst endseeeed etlges. ef seid smell ,eleetrede ltenpesite ldreetiees .ewey trete seid lirstand second pole portions, and control winding means ,outside of said envelope and closely around said lsmall of said members being Ylaterally displaced, 'a small movable element between the adjacent ends of said members,

resilient mounting means secured to ysaid ,small movabie element and swingably mounting said small element for swinging movement about ,a pivot axis r.mid-way between its endsiand generally perpendicular to the axisof theenvelOpe, said"'resilient mounting means normally urging theopposite vends of said small element in opposite directions away Afrom the respective adjacent ends of said members and magnetic control means outside `of said envelope for changing the magnetic condition of ,said members thereby to swing the oppositeends of ssid small element about the Vpivot axis inthe respective reverse directions Atoward the respective ,adjacent ends of said first eed seeeed members-r /4. Foruse in a magnetically operated switch wherein a magnetic field is utilized to control electrical circuits, a switch element comprising a sealed envelope of nonmagnetic material, first and second spaced magnetizable contact members in relatively fixed positions in said envelope and formed at least in part of magnetizable material, each of said fixed members having an extending end contact portion of .smaller cross sectional area than the body of said fixed members, said contact portions being spaced longitudinally and offset laterally, a movable magnetizable contact member formed at least in part of magnetizable material and having first and second end portions, and means secured to and in electrical circuit with the contact portion of the first fixed member for supporting said movable member between said contact portions, with its first and second end portions adjacent to the respective contact portions of said first and second fixed members, said first end portion being movable in a first direction toward the adjacent contact portion of the first fixed member, said second end portion being movable in a second direction opposite to said first direction for engaging the adjacent contact portion of the second fixed member, a third fixed contact member having a third contact portion spaced from the contact portions of the first and second fixed members, said supporting means resiliently biasing the second end portion of said movable member out of engagement with the contact portion of the second fixed member and into engagement with said third contact portion, said first end portion of the movable member being urged in said first direction toward said contact portion of the first fixed member in the presence of a magnetic field and said second end portion of the movable member being urged in the opposite direction out of engagement with said third contact portion and into engagement with the contact portion of the second fixed member in the presence of a magnetic field.

5. A magnetic switch element comprising a generally cylindrical sealed envelope, two generally cylindrical electrodes of magnetizable material fixed in position inside said envelope in spaced end-to-end relationship and having their longitudinal axes substantially in alignment with each other and with the axis of said envelope, the adjacent ends of said fixed electrodes being formed into laterally offset pole portions which are laterally oiset on opposite sides of the axis of said envelope, a third magnetizable electrode of disk-like shape and of relatively small mass mounted movably between said two electrodes and having two opposite edge portions, said movable circular electrode extending generally transversely of said envelope approximately perpendicular to the axis of said envelope, and resilient mounting means for mounting said movable circular electrode for swinging movement about a pivot axis passing mid-way between its opposite edge portions and between the pole portions of said fixed electrodes, said resilient mounting means urging said edge portions away from said pole portions, said opposite edge portions of said third electrode swinging about the pivot axis in opposite directions upon magnetization of said electrodes to make Contact with both of said two pole portions, the cylindrical surfaces of said two electrodes and the edge portions of said third electrode being closely adjacent to the inner surface of said envelope.

6. A magnetic switch device comprising a sealed envelope, first and second electrodes of magnetizable material xed in position in said envelope, said electrodes being spaced apart and having longitudinal axes substantially in alignment with each other, a supplementary contact element ixed in position within said envelope and insulated from said electrodes, a third magnetizable electrode movably mounted within said envelope and having two spaced areas held resiliently in respective positions in contact with said supplementary contact element and one of said two electrodes, said two spaced areas of said third electrode being movable in opposite direc- Vtions to respective second positions out of contact with said supplementary element and contacting both of said two electrodes, i and means outside said envelope for magnetizing said electrodes.

7. A magnetic switch device comprising a relatively long, generally cylindrical sealed envelope, rst and second generally cylindrical electrodes of magnetizable material fixed in position one in each end of said envelope, said electrodes being in axial alignment with each other vand with the axis of said envelope, the adjacent ends References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,378 p Potter Oct. 8, 1901 2,001,579 Lecce et al. May 14, 1935 2,288,451 Harrison June 30, 1942 2,360,941 Eitel et al. Oct. 24, 1944 2,510,700 Lamb June 6, 1950 2,549,323 McMullen et al. Apr. 17, 1951 2,706,756 Brewer Apr. 19, 1955 2,709,728 Tancred May 31, 1955

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