US3029325A - Heavy duty vibrator - Google Patents

Description

April 1962 L. D. LAKE ETAL 3,029,325

HEAVY DUTY VIBRATOR Fil ed July 27, 1960 INVENTORS LELYN 0. LAKE ARTHUR J. LITTLE j ww c p A TTORNE Y ent dice 3,029,325 HEAVY DUTY VIiiRATOR Lelyn D. Loire and Arthur 3. Little, Du Quoin, 11L, as-

signers to P. R. Maiiory 8: Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1960, Ser. No. 45,764 12 Claims. (Cl. ace-ea This invention relates generally to electrical translating apparatus and has particular reference to such means and methods including translating apparatus for transferring energy between direct and alternating current circuits.

There is need, particularly in military applications, for vibrators which will stand extremes of shock, vibration and acceleration. In the past, this need had been met by standard types of vibrators that had some of the parts altered to take on heavy loads and had, especially in their moving parts, been miniaturized. Any shock or acceleration, however, which tended to close the sets of contacts on these vibrators was detrimental to them, and there was a definite point where the force due to shock or acceleration would overcome the driving force and cause a failure. Under any significant levels of shock or acceleration, it was impossible to start these mechanisms. Any attempt to have these altered standard type of vibrators handle larger amounts of power would end in a self-defeating cycle of increasing contact means, stiffening the hinge, and increasing the driving power.

In order to meet the requirements calling for high power with resistance of environmental extremes, a completely different and advanced type of vibrator structure is herewith described. Among the features disclosed and de-. veloped in the present invention are: the use of a balanced torsion hinge assembly; the feature of having wires run along the torsion hinge, and the advanced stacking method used.

it isan object of the presentinvention to provide a vibrator having improved features adapting the same for use in environmental extremes of great shock and accelera-tion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a torsion hinge vibrator which gives operational efiiciencies greater than others presently used under conditions of shock and acceleration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibrating interrupter organization which represents a fundamentally novel departure from conventional design in the use of a balanced torsion hinge assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibrating interrupter organization which includes a balanced torsion hinge assembly having good mechanical hinge and electrical conductivity characteristics.

The invention also contemplates a vibrating electromagnetic interrupter which is extremely simple in its structure, is characterized by extreme ruggedness, and which may be readily manufactured and sold on a practical and commercial scale at a low cost.

Generally speaking the present invention discloses an electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises, in combination-a stack assembly on which a driver coil 13 is supported by means of a pair of pins 12 extending from a hemispherical solid stack "clamping member 11. A pole piece 14 consisting of a straight metal rod is connected to a base 15 which can be screwed on to one end of the vibrator casing 42. The pole piece is surrounded by the coil and extends through the center thereof to stop adjacent the reed armature 17 of the vibrator. The stack also includes a plurality of fixed, side, contact supporting arms 20, 21, 22, 23 and a torsion reed assembly 25 including the vibrator armature 17 moveable within a space formed in the stack. On the swinging reed, at the end opposite the armature, two pairs of contact arms 30, 31 are joined to the armature member by face plates 32, 33. The contact arms and the armature pivot about the hinge member 34 of the assembly so that when the armature is activated the contact arms make and break with the contacts on the fixed side arms. These side arms have angulated portions and may be adjusted for contact spacing. Above the contacts on the fixed arms, and to one of the supports of the torsion hinge, there are connected stiff conductor rods or terminal tabs 40 which are adapted to be slipped into the terminals of a base header 41 so as to close oil the other end of the vibrator casing 42. The entire construction obviates soldering techniques and is of an extremely rugged construction impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration while handling large amounts of power.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention wiH become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the units of the vibrator.

FIG. 1a is a side elevational view of the units of the vibrator showing the cooperative arrangement thereof.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vibrator reed assembly of the present invention illustrating the novel constructional balanced feature of the components therein.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the vibrating reed structure as joined to the torsion hinge employed in the preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the stack assembly of the vibrator, said view showing the cooperative arrangement of the separate parts thereof.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention. is described herein, it is contemplated that variation may be made in the method of procedure and the construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the following description and inthe claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar facts as the art will permit.

lnthe preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown the important features of the vibrator assembly. The parts are perfectly balanced about all axes of the torsion hinge. It is to be noted that the one non-symmetrical structure, that of the armature 17, is balanced by correct forming and by making the spacer of aluminum. The moment of inertia about the horizontal axis of the hinge 34 has been kept as much as possibie by conccntra ing the mass due to rivets 5i) close to this axis. Further, the hinge has been constructed in a manner such that its frequency adds frequency stability to the mechanisms. The center line of a torsion hinge theoretically no motion While the hinge is vibrating about it. By running a wire or wires 53 along this center line and as close to it as possible, advantage is taken of both of the properties of spring steel as a hinge and copper as av thermai and electrical conductor.. The reed assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a torsion hinge unit 34, a pair of dual reed arms 39, 31, reed arm stops 6d, 61 placed against the reed arms, and an offset T-shaped armature 17. The torsion hinge has a generally rectangular configuration with portions 76 of scroll-like shape cut out therefrom leaving two side portions connected by a cross bar or hinge as placed at approximately one-third therealong. The center portion of the hinge has face plates 32, 33 for carrying the riveted reed arms, the stops and the oppositely placed dependent T-shaped armature having an oifset configuration. The armature moves in the space cut out between the sides of the torsion hinge and since it is riveted to the reed arms, contactors and stops, it will be enabled to move the contact arms against the means of four screws. .stack for movement of the armature and the swinging reed.

swinging reed arms move.

accuses fixed side contacts of the vibrator upon its activation, as is usual with vibrators. The cross bar 75 is channeled to accommodate on each of its sides, two wires 53 comprising 18 strands of copper wire. Thus the torsion hinge affords mechanical strength as well as good conductivity. The sides of the torsion hinge have three holes cut therein so that they canjbe placed between copper hinge support arms 73 of flaglike configuration having a head portion and a wider body portion. The head portion is grooved to accommodate the ends of the Wire placed along the cross bar portion of the hinge.

The stacking construction employed also allows great efficiency in the utilization of available space. The hinge supports are placed on the reed assembly and fastened to it by rivets. The complete reed assembly, side arms and appropriate insulators are then put in a stack by Space is allowed through this The stack assembly includes the four copper side arms. These arms are adapted to be fixed in the stack and hold the contacts against which the contacts portions of the The stack has a solid semicircular coil supporting member made of copper 11. This coil supporting member has a pair of pins 12 extending from it which fits into the coil assembly casing containing the driver coil 13 wound about the centrally inserted pole pieces. The coil assembly in its casing is thus adapted to be supported by the stack assembly. The

threaded pole piece and surrounding coil are adapted to be screwed into a supporting cylinder with the pole piece of the vibrator extending above the armature of the vibrator.

In the assembly of the vibrator, the 'sidearms and one of the hinge support pieces have rigid terminal connectors V or tabs connected thereto and are extended toward a base header. The header which is slipped over the tabs is then fastened to a supporting vibrator cylinder casing. The spacing between the reed contacts and the fixed contacts is then adjusted by bending the side arms. The tabs are sealed with solder where they come through the pins in the header. The side arms, by this means of construction, are rigidly affixed at each end. This construction protects them from deformation due to shock and vibration and allows them to be made of high conductivity material such as copper and provides the current with a short direct copper path without welded or soldered connections. This construction, of course, reduces heating within the vibrator.

The construction above described provides a vibrator that, for the size of its contacts and the power it can carry, is extremely small and ideally suited to running under extremes of shock vibration and acceleration.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has been described herein as carried out in specific embodiments thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereby, but it is intended to cover the invention broadly with the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an armature moveable within an opening in said stack, said armature being adjacent said pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto on a hinge moveable about an axis, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole pieces, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration, and adapted to handle high power.

2. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, apole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto on a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly in said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members, and said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having connector means for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece base, said construction afiording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and accelera tion.

3. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto on a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly in said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected'to one of said reed assembly supporting members, and said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having means for accepting said tabs, and vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of. said pole piece base, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

4. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construc-' tion which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil said stack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon, a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, and a torsion reed assembly, said reed assembly including an offset formed armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto on a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly in said stack,

said reed contact arms moveable against said fixed contact supporting members when said coil is energized to ,move said armature, terminal tabs connected to a reed assemblysupporting member and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having means for'accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

5. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto on a hinge moveable about a horizontal .axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, electrical conductors placed along said hinge and connected to said hinge supports, said reed contact arms moveable against said fixed contact supporting members when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having means for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction aiiording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleravtion.

driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a balanced torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack,'said assembly including a T-shaped armature having offset portions moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto by a plate riveted to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, strands of wire running along said hinge, said contact reed arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members, said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece base, said construction affording good mechanical strength and thermal conductivity by its hinge construction and giving an extremely rugged vibrator impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

7. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature having rivets connecting the same to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being kept about said axis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

8. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a

driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped armature moveable Within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, sWi iging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature, having rivets connecting the same to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being kept about said axis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixed con tact arms when said coil is energized to move said armatnre, stifl copper wire terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said stifi tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

9. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, a pair of dual finger swinging reed contact arms and backing members oppositely disposed to said armature having rivets connecting the same to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being kept about said axis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, stiif copper wire terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said stifi tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

10. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece con nected to a moveable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members, portions thereof being angu-. lated and adjustable, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped arma-' ture moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, a pair of dual finger swinging reed contact arms and backing members oppositely disposed to said armature having rivets connecting the same to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being kept about said axis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, stiff copper wire terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said stiff tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

11. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means mounted on a solid hemispherical copper piece for supporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact sup porting members, portions thereof being angulated and adjustable, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an oilset T-shaped armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, a pair of dual finger swinging reed contact arms and backing members oppositely disposed to said armature and riveted to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held. by said hinge assembly on said stack, said hinge having wires running therealong, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, the spacing therebetween being adjusted by bending said angulated portions of said fixed contact supporting members, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members, said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

12. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to be a screwable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means mounted on a solid hemispherical copper piece for supporting said driver coil thereon and a pluralitybf fixed contact supporting members, portions thereof being angulated and adjustable, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including an ofiset T-shaped armature moveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, a pair of dual finger swinging reed contact arms and backing members oppositely disposed to said armature and riveted to a hinge face plate moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said hinge having wires running therealong, said contact arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature,

the spacing therebetween being adjusted by bending said angulated portions of said fixed contact supporting members, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members, said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header being soldered thereto and at the other end by said threaded base of said pole piece screwed thereon, said construction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,447,046 Aust Aug. 17, 1948 2,475,820 Coake July 12, 1949 2,600,247 Huetten June 10, 1952 2,732,457 Wise Jan. 24, 1956 2,831,936 Plice Apr. 22, 1958 2,916,581 Barnes Dec. 8, 1959 2,960,585 Russell Nov. 15, 1960

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