US2946933A

US2946933A - Relay

Info

Publication number: US2946933A
Application number: US719456A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Cummings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-03-05
Filing date: 1958-03-05
Publication date: 1960-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-26

Description

July 26, 1960 J. J. CUMMINGS 2,946,933

RELAY Filed March 5. 1958 INVENTOR, JAMES J. cummmes ATTOR N E Y.

United States Patent Ofice 2,946,933 Patented July 26, 1960 RELAY James J. Cummings, Monmouth Beach, NLL, assignor to .the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 719,456

5 Claims. (Cl. 317-171)- (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a relay. More particularly the invention is concerned with a quick, fast acting means for actuating a relay and characterized by means whereby the relay contacts are maintained in a locked position to provide a practically vibrationless and shock proof device. This feature is of prime importance in devices such as missile and other rapidly accelerating devices.

The invention can best be understood from the following description to be read in view of the accompanying drawing in which the single figure of drawing shows the improved relay, in perspective and partially cut away in section.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a canister 11 made of a non-ferrous material in which the relay components are confined. The movable members of the relay comprise a pair of magnetic bodies shown at 13 and 15. Each of the

magnetic bodies

13 and 15 are identical in shape and configuration, and for ease and convenience of description, only one of the bodies will be structurally described, it being understood that the description of one will be equally applicable to the other.

The body 13 has a semi-cylindrical configuration and is provided with a flattened face portion 17 that is in substantial abutting relationship with the face portion of the body member 15. The body 13 is provided with a substantially C shaped cutout 19 the spaced ends of which form a part of the face 17. The spaced ends are provided with respective N and S pole pieces such as identified and marked on the drawing. The body 13 is further provided with a longitudinal radial slot 21 extending from the top surface 23 to the bottom surface 25 and extending inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the body but short of the cutout 19. The face portion 17 is also provided with a substantially concave indentation 27 extending from a point above the N pole piece to the top surface 23, and terminating in an angulated diametric lip 29. Formed in the top surface 23 is a hole 31 adapted to receive the actuating pin of an electro-magnetically controlled plunger hereinafter described. From the description above, it is believed apparent that when the two

bodies

13, 15 are juxtaposed, the facial surfaces as Well as corresponding pole pieces of each of said members will be symmetrically arranged relative to each other.

To preclude undue sway and lateral movement of the body 13, there is provided an inwardly extending fin 33 rigidly aflixed to the inner surface of canister 11. The fin 33 is substantially coextensive with the slot 21, and positioned in the slot to serve as a guide for both the longitudinal movement of the body member 13 and also for the slight lateral movement thereof as explained below. From inspection of the drawing, it can be seen that a similar arrangement is provided for member 15. To limit the longitudinal movement of the body member 13,

there are provided a pair of top and bottom stops designated respectively at 35 and 37 which are affixed to wall of the canister and extending perpendicularly therefrom.

For making contact with an electrical device there is provided an insulated disc 39 aflixed to the base of body 15 and which is adapted to engage the free end of a resilient contact arm 41, which in turn is adapted to make or break contact with terminals such as shown at 43.

The actuating means, hereinbefore referred to, includes a spring loaded plunger 45 terminating in a pivotally mounted actuating pusher pin 47. The spring 49 is adapted to normally urge the plunger 45 upwardly, i.e., in a direction away from the

body members

13, 15. The plunger 45 is actuated by a conventional coil 51 to which a source of voltage may be applied by conventional leads as shown. The plunger 45 and its associated pusher pin 47 is so aligned relative to the magnetic bodies 1.3, 15 that when the plunger is urged downwardly, the pin 47 will engage either one of the lips 29 and upon further downward movement the pin will slide into the hole 31 of either one of the

bodies

13, 15 dependent upon the relative displaced position of either of the said magnetic bodies.

In operation it is to be assumed that the relay is in the position shown in the drawing wherein the S pole piece of magnetic body 13 is in abutment with the N pole piece of magnetic body 15. In this arrangement the relay is locked in one predetermined position by the attractive action of the abutting N and S pole pieces of the respective magnetic bodies. When it is desired to change the relay to its other operative position, the coil 51 is energized to actuate the plunger 45 whereby the pin 47 will urge the body member =13 downwardly as hereinbefore described. As this action is being effected, S pole piece of body 13 and the N pole piece of body 15 will become separated and as the like pole pieces of the respective body members are opposite to each other, the

bodies

13, 15 will repel each other in a lateral direction. Such momentary separation of the bodies will allow the bodies to slide past each other despite the protruding lip portions 29. At the same time continued thrust or downward push of the pin 47 in the hole 31 of member 13 will cause the member 13 to be urged to the stop 37 and then still further slightly downwardly due to the inherent resiliency of the stop 37. Such resiliency in the stop 37 is present due to the fact that the stop is secured only at one end to the canister '11. When this occurs the like poles of the

members

13 and 15 are no longer directly opposite to each other, i.e. the N pole of member 13 will be slightly below the N pole of member 15. Momentarily thereafter the S pole of body 15 will be urged into abutment With the N pole of body 13 and the relay will again be locked in a position converse to that shown in the drawing.

What is claimed is:

l. A relay including first and second symmetrical, semicylindrical bodies having discrete top and bottom ends and opposing fiat surfaces, each of said flat surfaces having spaced N and S pole pieces intermediate the respec tive top and bottom ends, means for maintaining the flattened faces of said bodies in substantially intimate contact and for permitting said flattened surfaces to be longitudinally positioned relative to each other, said bodies being normally positioned such that the S pole piece of one body is contiguous to the N pole piece of the other body whereby said bodies are locked in a first prescribed position, discrete angulated lips extending upwardly and outwardly from each of the fiat surfaces at the respective top ends of said bodies, a cavity in each of said bodies intermediate one or" said pole pieces and the diametric lip of each body adapted to receive the diametric lip of the other magnetic body and be disengaged therefrom a hole in each of the top ends of said bodies substantially at the junction of the angulated lip and its associated top end, and means operably engageable with the lip and hole of either of said bodies for reversing the prescribed position of said bodies such that the N pole piece of said one body is contiguous to the S pole of said other body to lock said bodies in said reverse position;

2. A self-locking relay including first and second symmetrical, semi-cylindrical magnetic bodies having discrete top and bottom ends and opposing flattened face portions wherein each of the face portions includes N and S pole pieces formed therein, whereby when the S pole piece of the first magnetic body is contiguous to the N pole piece of the second magnetic body the relay will be locked in a first predetermined position, each of said bodies having on its top portion an angulated diametric lip and a hole spaced therefrom, and a cavity intermediate one of said pole pieces and the diametric lip adapted to receive the diametric lip of the other magnetic body when said bodies are in the first predetermined position and be disengaged therefrom when one of said bodies is moved relative to the other, means operably engageable with said lip and hole for motivating either one of said magnetic bodies whereby said bodies will assume a position inverse to that of the first predetermined position and an actuating means operably associated with at least one of said magnetic bodies.

3. In combination, a canister and a self-locking relay, including first and second symmetrical, semi-cylindrical magnetic bodies having discrete top and bottom ends and opposing flattened face portions wherein each of the face portions includes N and S pole pieces formed therein,

whereby when the S pole of the first magnetic body is contiguous to the N pole piece of the second magnetic body the relay will be locked in a first predetermined position, each of said magnetic bodies having on its top portion an angulated diametric lip and a hole spaced therefrom, a cavity intermediate one of said pole pieces and the diametric lip adapted to receive the diametric lip of the other magnetic body and be disengaged therefrom when one of said bodies is moved relative to the other and an elongated radial peripheral slot, means operably engageable with said lip and hole for motivating either one of said magnetic bodies whereby said magnetic bodies will assume a position inverse to that of said first predetermined position, anactuating means operably associated with at least one of said magnetic bodies, means afiixed to said canister for defining the limit of travel of the magnetic bodies and guide means engageable in said radial slot for preventing any undue lateral movement of said magnetic bodies in their travel.

4. A device of the kind set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide means include a pair of discrete fins aflixed to said canister.

5. A device of the kind set forth in claim 3 wherein the actuating means for motivating the magnetic bodies includes a plunger and associated pin adapted to engage the top and hole of the discrete magnetic bodies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,681 Kanagy June 20, 1911 2,012,153 Bates Aug. 20, 1935 2,830,149 Winans Apr. 8, 1958