US2957961A

US2957961A - Switching device

Info

Publication number: US2957961A
Application number: US678178A
Authority: US
Inventors: Juptner Wilhelm
Original assignee: IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc
Current assignee: IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc; Arris Technology Inc
Priority date: 1957-08-14
Filing date: 1957-08-14
Publication date: 1960-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1977-10-25

Description

Oct. 25, 1960 w. JUPTNER swITcHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1957 FIGJ Oct. 25, 1960 w. JUPTNER 2,957,961

SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #from/eye,

United States Patent SWITCHING DEVICE Wilhelm Juptner Elgin, Ill., assignor to C. P. Clare & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 678,178

12 Claims. (Cl. 20G-87) The present invention relates to switching devices and more particularly to magnetically operated relays in which the switching contacts are provided within a separate enclosure or cartridge for facilitating the maintenance of a suitable atmosphere for the contacts so that the disturbing effects of other relay components `and of the ambient conditions do not adversely aiect the switching action of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved relay of the type including a separate switching unit or cartridge which is simple and sturdy in construction, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relay which includes new and improved means for mounting the principal parts thereof in a housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relay having a magnetic circuit which includes resilient means for mounting the principal components of the relay within a housing.

Very briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a relay which includes one or more hermetically sealed switching units `or cartridges mounted within a coil. The relay further includes a generally tubular housing having an open and a closed end and the control winding and a portion of the cartridge are resiliently urged toward the closed end of the housing to mount the cartridge and the winding within the housing.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, partially in section, of a relay embodying certain aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the switching unit of the relay illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a switching unit embodying the present invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary side `elevational views of switching units embodying other aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of a relay embodying certain aspects of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a relay switching unit embodying certain aspects of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a complete relay 1t) which comprises as its principal elements a generally cylindrical housing or can 12 in which is mounted a control winding or coil 13 and a hermetically sealed switching unit or cartridge 14. In the unit 14, a ferromagnetic electrically conductive terminal and heel piece 15 protrudes from the top of a hermetically sealed glass housing 16 from the bottom of which extend two terminal members 17 and 18. The terminal 17 is ferromagnetic so that it also functions as a heel piece. The members 15 and 17 thus cooperate with the can 12 and a tubular ferromagnetic sleeve 21 to provide a stator having an air gap in which a balanced ferromagnetic and electrically conductive armature 22 is pivotally mounted for selectively connecting the terminal member 15 to either the terminal member 17 or the terminal member 18.

The terminals 17 and 18 are respectively connected through conductors 23 and 24, to two

terminal pins

25 and 26. These terminal pins are conventionally mounted in a disk-shaped header 27 which is formed of insulating material and is secured in place, as shown, to close the bottom opening in the can 12. A third terminal pin 28 extends through the header 27 and is electrically connected to the upper terminal member 15 by means of a resilient wave shaped connector 31 of rectangular crosssection, which also functions to bias the switching unit 14 against the opposite side of the inner wall `of the coil 13, thereby to eliminate any radial play between the switching unit 14 and the coil 13.

Radial play between the coil 13 and the housing 12 is prevented by means of a plurality of elongated resilient and folded inserts 32 which are positioned between the coil 13 and the inner wall of the housing 12. Axial movement of the coil 13 with respect to the housing 12 is prevented by means of a washer 33 which is interposed between the sleeve 21 and the lower end of the coil 13 and has one or more resilient pretensioned crimps therein for resiliently biasing the coil 13 upward against the bottom surface of the oE-turned portion of the terminal 15. The terminal 15 is thus resiliently urged against an insulating disk 34 positioned at the top of the housing 12. The ianged sleeve 21 is supported within the housing 12 by means of a tubular sleeve 35 which is interposed between the sleeve 21 and the header 27. The pretensioned washer 33 thus not only acts to force the terminal member 15 to the top of the can 12 but also acts to bias the sleeve 21 and the sleeve 35 toward the header 27, thereby to prevent relative movement of the switching unit 14 either with respect to the winding 13 yor with respect to the can 12. The winding 13 is provided With a pair of input leads 36 which extend through a suitable slot 37 in the sleeve 21 and are respectively connected to terminal pins (not shown) which extend through and are supported by the header 27.

Considering the operation of the relay of Fig. 1, let it be assumed that the armature 22 is normally biased by means not visible in the drawing into engagement with a nonmagnetic Contact member 38 which is welded to the terminal member 18 so that when no current is supplied to the coil 13 the armature is positioned in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 and electrically connects the terminal 15 to the terminal 18. Accordingly, the

terminal pins

26 and 28 are interconnected within the relay 10.

When a current of suliicient value is supplied to the winding 13 `to operate the relay 10, a magnetic ield is established which causes flux traversal of the magnetic circuit. This circuit extends from the top portion of the winding 13 through the bent-over portion 15a of the terminal member 15, through the terminal member 15 to the armature 22 across the air gap between the lower portion of the armature 22 and the upper portion of the terminal member 17, through the terminal member 17, across the relatively short gap to the sleeve 21, through the sleeve 21 and the Walls of the can 12 back to the bentover portion 15a of the terminal member 15. The magnetic ux which is thus caused to traverse the gap between the armature 22 and the terminal 17 causes the armature 22 to pivot clockwise so that the armature 22 engages the terminal 17. When this occurs, the

terminal pins

25 and 28 are interconnectedA and the terminal pin 26 is disconnected from the terminal pin 28. Upon termination of the supply of current to the winding 13, the armature 22 pivots counterclockwise under the iniluence of the biasing force exerted thereon to itsV normal position in` which the terminalpins 26 andZS arefconnected.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the details ofI a sealed switching unit or cartridge 4d of the side stable type are there illustrated. Briefly, thisLA unit comprises a hermetically sealed housing 4l, preferably formed Of glass, which may either be evacuated or filled.

with a suitable are suppressing gaseous medium at a desired pressure through a. tube 42 which opens into the housing and ispinched offVV at its upper end- 43-after the desired atmosphere` has been established inthe housing 41. A set of. ferromagnetic, electrically

conductive terminals

44, 45 andl 48respectively extend` through the upper and lower endsof the housing 4l and facilitate connection of the unit. 4tlin the electrical and magnetic circuits of the relay. A balancedarmature 46-is pivotally mounted on the terminal 44. and selectively connects it to either of the

terminals

45 and 48.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the armature 46 is pivotally mounted on `a ferromagnetic and electrically conductive supporting structure 47 which is attached to the lowery end-of the terminal 44. The support 47 comprisesY a pair of side members 50 which are received in suitable recesses at the sides of the terminal member 44 and .between the ends of which extends a cylindrical pivot bar 5,1. Thearmature 46 is attached to the support 47 by means ofVv a cantileverl type of spring 52l which has its lower end secured, as by welding or the like, to the armature 46 and may be provided with a semi-cylindrical upper end portion 53 .which is adapted to engage the bar 51 and which is positioned opposite a semi-cylindrical recess 49 in the armature'46. In initially mounting the armature 46 upon the support 47, which has previously been attached to the terminal 44, the left-hand surface of the armature 46, as viewed in- Fig. 2, is slid along the right-hand edge of the pivot bar 51 so that as the olf-turned upper endV 54 of the spring 52 engages the bar 5lk the upper end ofthe spning52 moves toward the left away from the body of the armature 46 to cause the spring to ride over the bar 51 until the depression 53 and the recess 49 are aligned with the bar, at which time the spring 52 snaps toward the right, thereby pivotally to attach the armature 46- to the-support 47'.` Since the supporting posts Sil and the bar 51` are formedV of ferromagnetic material, they are magnetically connected to the terminal 44. Therefore, when a magnetic eld is established between the terminals 44 and 4S, the armature 46 pivots clockwise into engagement with the upper portion of the terminal 45 thereby to establish a conductive path between the terminals 44 and45.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. `2 and 3, the armature 46 is biased'into engagement with the terminal 48 by means of'a small cylindrically shaped permanent magnet 57 which is mounted in a recess 58 in the rear surface of a nonmagnetic contact 56 supported upon the terminal 48. In order to maximize the ratio of the flux path reluctance of the terminal 48 to that of the terminal 45, the nonmagnetic contact 56, such, for example, as silver, is welded to the upper end of terminal 48. The spacing between the contact portions of the

terminals

45 and 43 is established by means of a nonmagnetic insulating spacer sleeve 60 which partially surrounds a cylindrical boss on the front side of the nonmagnetic contact member 56.

The length of the spacer 6i) thus determines the length ofl the air gap between the armature 46 and the terminal 45 and thus the air gap iiux density required to operate the re7lay against the attractive force of the permanent magnet 5 It may thus be seen that the magnet 57 biases the armature 46 in its limiting counterclockwise position as shown in Fig. 2. lf an increased biasingforce is desired, a magnetic yoke 62 may be attached to the back of the magnet 57 so that the upper portion of the yoke 62 is in proximity to the lower end of the terminal 44 thereby to provide a low reluctance magnetic circuit for the biasing magnet 57 which extends through the yoke 62 across the gap to the terminal 44, through the support 47 and back to the opposite pole of the magnet 57 through the lower half of the armature.

Bounce suppression during snap return of the armature to its biased position is obtained by the magnetic attraction of the armature 46 to the permanent magnet 57. When the relay operates and the armature rotates clockwise to strike the terminal 45, bounce is prevented by the strong magnetic field which exists between the armature 46 and the contact 45 to which it is directly connected.

In assembling the parts of the switching unit 4t), the terminal 44 with the support 47 mounted thereon and the tube 42 are rstpsealed into the upper end of the tubular glass housing 41. This assembly operation is performed with the lower end of the housing fully open. The armature 46 is next inserted into the housing through the open lower end thereof and pivotally mounted upon thev pivot bar 51 of the support 47 in the'manner described above. The terminal 48 with the

parts

56, 57 and 62 mounted thereon, and the terminal 45 are nextV inserted into'the open lower end of the housing 41 until they are brought into thedesired positionsrelative to the terminal 44 and the armature 46. During this positioning operation, the

terminals

45 and 48 are xedly held in their desired relative positions with the spacer-60 positioned therebetween. When the

parts

41, 44, 45, 46 and 48 are thus correctly positioned relative to` each 'other and,` while beingk held in their correct relative positions, the lower end of the tubular housing 41 is sealed offto complete theA assembly. Finally, thek interior of thehousingl isevacuated or filled with a suitable arc suppressing gas through the tube 42 after which this tube is pinched oif and sealed.

Referring now to Fig. 4, an alternative embodiment of a portion of the switching unit is there shown, wherein a spring 64 is used to bias the armature into Vengagement with the non-.magnetic contact member 56. Since this embodiment is a modiiication of' theswitching unit 40, similar parts are designatedby like reference numbers. As shown, the armature 46 is magnetically and electrically mounted on the common terminal 44 by means of the support 47 and the spring 52. The armature 46' is shown in its normal position in engagement with the forward face of the nonmagnetic contact member 56 which is spaced from the magnetic terminal member 45 by meansv of the spacer sleeve 60. A preformed spring 64 having a pretensioned resilientoif-turned endfportion 65 is secured at its lower end, as by spot welding or the like, to the armature 46 and the upper end thereof bears against the forward face of the terminal 44'to bias the armature 46 in a counterclockwise direction into ,engagement with the contact member 56.' It should be noted that as the armature 46'is released and pivots counterclockwise, the off-turned portion 65V of the spring 64 slides downwardly against the face of the terminal 44 as the armature 46 moves into contact with contact 56 on terminal 48.

Referring to Fig. 5 an alternative embodiment of the invention is'there shown whichconstitutes a modification of the spring biased armature arrangement shown in Fig. 4. The -unit of Fig. 5 `is particularly suitable for use in handling heavy switching currents and thus includes a relatively large area contact 67 which is attached as by spot welding to the lower end of the principal body portion of an armature 68. The armature 68 is pivotally supported` on the terminal 44 by means ofthe support 47 and the spring 52 and the contactr 67is biased against the nonmagnetic contactr member 56 by means of a. biasingspring 70v whichAis .attached at its lower end, to, the armature 68... As, shown, the. armature 68' is pivotedata point approximatelyatits centerv of gravity,

thus providing a balanced armature `which requires a minimum of current in the control winding to effect operation of the relay. Also, a large area contact button 71 is mounted on the terminal member 45 for electrical engagement with the contact member 67 of the armature 68 when the relay is operated. The thickness of the contact member 71 exceeds that of the armature 68 so that a residual gap is provided between the armature 68 and the terminal 45 when the relay is operated.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown the upper portion of a -relay embodying an alternative aspect of the invention and which includes a permanent magnet 73 disposed in the upper portion of a ferromagnetic housing or can 74 to provide a permanent magnetic ield across the air gap in the associated switching um't (not shown). The magnet 73 is wedged between an upper terminal 75 and the top of the can 74 and since the terminal member 75 is both a part of the magnetic circuit and an electrical connector connected in the external switching circuit, an insulating disk 76 is positioned between the magnet 73 and the terminal member 75 to maintain the can 74 isolated from the electrical circuits. Therefore, by using the cartridge 40 in the embodiment of Fig. 6, the relay may be biased toward an operate or release position depending upon the polarity of the magnet 73. More specifically, with the magnet 73 polarized in one direction, more current of a particular polarity must ow through the winding 13 to effect operation of the armature from its released position to its operated position, Whereas if the magnet 73 is polarized in the opposite direction, a lesser current flow of the same polarity through the winding 13 is required to overcome the normal armature bias and eiect operation of the armature to its operated position.

Referring now to Fig. 7, a bistable, polar switching unit 80 is there shown. This unit comprises a set of ferromagnetic

terminal members

81 and 82 which extend through and are sealed to the bottom of the housing 83 and are spaced apart by a nonconductive spacer sleeve 84 located within the housing. The unit 80` also includes an armature 85 pivotally mounted on a support 86 which is attached to a common terminal member and heel piece 87. The terminal 87 is electrically and magnetically connected to a ferromagnetic and conductive tube 90 which extends from the upper end of the hous- -ing 83 and which is pinched off and bent over at its upper end 91 to seal the housing and to provide the off-turned upper end of the terminal for use in conjunction with the coil and associated structure as shown, for example in Fig. l. A permanent magnet 93 is disposed outside the housing 83 between the lower portions of the

terminals

81 and 82 and is insulated from the terminal 82 by means of a nonmagnetic insulating spacer 94. The magnet is polarized in a direction from right-to-left and serves to bias the armature 85 in either of its limiting positions in contact with either of the

terminals

81 or 82..

The unit 80 may be used lin a side stable relay by using it in conjunction With the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 which includes the permanent magnet 73. Depending upon the polarities of the

magnets

73 and 93, the flux densities produced by each across the air gaps between the armature 85 and the

terminals

81 and 82 will be in opposition in one instance and in aiding relationship in the other. Consequently, the armature 85 is biased so as to close the latter air gap. In such a side stable relay, properly polarized current in the relay winding overcomes the magnetic field of the

magnets

73 and 93, thereby causing the relay to operate. There is thus provided a side stable polar relay from which the biasing spring has been eliminated.

While the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A relay comprising a can, a coil mounted within said can, a switching unit mounted within said coil and having a portion interposed between said coil and a wall of said can, and resilient means for urging said coil and said portion of said switching unit toward said wall of said can, thereby to mount said coil and said switching unit in said can.

2. A relay comprising a ferromagnetic can having an open end and a closed end, an operating winding disposed within said can, a switching unit mounted within said winding and having a magnetic heel piece extending therefrom between one end of said winding and the closed end of said can, a header secured to said can and covering over said open end thereof, and resilient means including a ferromagnetic member compressed between said header and the other end of said winding.

3. A relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said resilient means includes an annular member having at least one offset pretensioned portion and electrical connections to said switching unit are made through the central opening in said annular member.

4. A relay comprising a can, a coil mounted in said can, a switching unit mounted along the axis of said coil, a terminal member extending from said unit and having a portion off-turned over the outside of said coil, and resilient means for pressing said coil toward said can to compress the olf-turned portion of said terminal between said coil and said can.

5. A relay as set forth in claim 4 wherein the off-turned portion of said terminal member is electrically connected to an external circuit by means of a transversely resilient conductive member interposed between said unit and said coil.

6. A relay comprising a housing, a winding in said housing, a switching unit disposed within said winding and having at least one terminal member extending therefrom, said switching -unit being mounted within said winding, and resilient, conductive means interposed between said unit and said winding and electrically connected to said terminal member and to means extending outside of said housing.

7. The relay set forth in claim 6 wherein said conductive means comprises an undulating, elongated member having an end portion embracing an end portion of said terminal member.

8. A relay as set forth in claim l wherein a permanent magnet is disposed between said portion of said switching unit and said can.

9. A relay comprising a tubular ferromagnetic housing having an open end and a closed end, a winding coaxially disposed in said housing, a header secured to said housing near the open end thereof for closing said open end, and resilient means interconnected between said header and the adjacent end of said winding for urging the other end of said winding toward the closed end of said housing, said resilient means including a tubular ferromagnetic member having a portion extending within said winding and a flanged portion substantially conforming at its periphery to the internal cross-sectional area of said housing, and a resilient member interposed between said flange and said adjacent end of said windlng.

l0. A relay comprising an elongated ferromagnetic housing having a closed end, a coil mounted within said housing, a sealed switching unit mounted within said coil and having a ferromagnetic terminal element provided with a portion clamped between said coil and the closed end of said housing, said relay having a magnetic circuit which serially includes said portion of said terminal element and the Walls of said housing, and means electrically insulating said terminal element from the closed end of said housing.

l1. A relay comprising an elongated ferromagnetic housing having a closed end, a coil mounted Within said housing, a sealed switching unit mounted within said coily and having a ferromagnetic terminal, elementy provided with an end portion which projects fromy said switching unit and is` interposed' between the closed end of said housingand the adjacenty end of saidwinding, meansielectrically insulating said terminal element from said housing, andk means resiliently urging said coil toward the closed end of said housing to` hold said switching unit, coil and4 housing in assembled'` relationship, said relayV havinga magnetic circuit whieliserially includes said terminal element, the walls of said housing, and said resilient urging means.

12. A relay comprising an elongated ferromagnetic housing having. a closed end; a coil mounted, within said,

housing; a sealed switching unit mounted within said coil, said switching including a iirst ferromagnetic terminal element and asecond ferromagnetic terminal element spaced longitudinally from said first terminal element and provided with an end portion which is interposed between the closed end of said housing and the adjacent end of said winding; and ferromagnetic biasing means resiliently urging said coil toward the closed end of saidvhousing 8il to hold said switching unit, coil, and housing in an assembledV relationship, said biasing means defining an opening into which said iirst terminal Velement extends so that Asaid relay provides a magnetic, circuit'which serially includes said. first' and second terminal elements, said biasingmeans, and said housing.

References Cited in the. le'ofthis patent UNITED STATES BATENTS 900,320 Snell Oct; 6, 1908 2,053,102 Palmer Sept. l, 1936 2,245,391 Diekten June. 10, 1941 2,449,438' Wisegarver Sept; 14, 1948 2,459,306V Burton-, Jan. 18, 1949 2,491,907 Riefel et al.. y Dec. 2-0, 1949. 2,539,547 Mossman et .al1 lan. 30,` 1951 2,547,026` Winkler ,Apr. 3', 1951 2,570,315v Brewer Oct. 9, 195,1 2,609,464 Brown et all Sept. 2, 1952 2,675,440 Riefel Apr. 13, 1954 2,698,159V Crum Dec. 28, 1954