US3056869A - Sealed contact device - Google Patents

Sealed contact device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3056869A
US3056869A US25437A US2543760A US3056869A US 3056869 A US3056869 A US 3056869A US 25437 A US25437 A US 25437A US 2543760 A US2543760 A US 2543760A US 3056869 A US3056869 A US 3056869A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
armature
vessel
sealed
magnetic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US25437A
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English (en)
Inventor
Bianco Bruno Dal
Scata Mario
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Standard Electric Corp
Original Assignee
International Standard Electric Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Standard Electric Corp filed Critical International Standard Electric Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3056869A publication Critical patent/US3056869A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/28—Relays having both armature and contacts within a sealed casing outside which the operating coil is located, e.g. contact carried by a magnetic leaf spring or reed
    • H01H51/287—Details of the shape of the contact springs
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electromagnetically or magnetically operated make and break electrical contact devices, and particularly to make and break contacts of the type enclosed in a protective vessel in which the mechanical elements, subjected to a magnetic field, are used also as members conveying the current to the contact points.
  • Devices of this kind generally comprise a small glass tube, at the ends of which are sealed magnetic material Wires or small bars.
  • the tube is either air evacuated or filled with an inert gas.
  • the ends of the two magnetic wires inside the glass tube are overlapped with a small air gap therebetween.
  • the tube is generally put inside an electromagnetic coil which, when current flows through its winding, causes the two wires to contact each other, closing an external electric circuit connected thereto.
  • One of the features of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the type described which gives economical advantages and simplicity in fabrication, is easy to put into operation and designed to be used for various purposes depending upon the number of contact elements placed inside the vessel.
  • a further object of the invention is the production of a strong device of very small size, easy to be replaced, and which is based on the principles disclosed in our copending US. patent application No. 722,194, filed March 18, 1958.
  • One of the main objects of the invention is the fabrication of a control device for electrical circuits, which is not integral with the energizing coil and which has, in most cases, the magnetic structure sealed to the container by one end only permitting easy assembly on printed circuits.
  • a further feature of the invention is that, in the manufacture and adjustment of the mechanical structure of the device, all pieces are worked outside the protective vessel, and then sealed thereinto by automatic means requiring no particular arrangement or jig to adjust the contact gap, the latter being adjusted when the structure touches the closed end of the container before the sealing operation.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a switch structure which, by slight variations, can be modified from a simple circuit maker and breaker to a multi contact changeover switch.
  • FIG. 1 shows, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view of the switching unit of the inventive switch structure.
  • FIG. 2 shows a complete switch structure comprising the switching unit of FIG. 1 and an associated flux generating core and winding.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates, a sectional view of the switching unit of FIG. 1, modified to provide a multi-contact changeover relay.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, an alternative of the contact structure in which the armature is formed by a disc free to rotate about its guiding axis.
  • FIG. 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, a section view of the contact device of FIG. 4 in which two electrodes are added to provide a sequence of switching operations.
  • FIG. 6 shows, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view of a further arrangement of the movable armature inside the vessel.
  • FIG. 7 shows an end sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 6, to show the operation of the movable armature of the device.
  • the sealed electric contact device of FIG. 1 comprises a small vessel 1, generally of glass and of cylindrical shape, the size of which could be 5 x 10 mm. At one end of the vessel there are sealed the electrical contact elements, forming a magnetic structure which comprises a U-shaped thick wire 2. On two ends 3 and 4 of the U-shaped wire 2, a third piece of wire 5 of very good magnetic material is bridged across.
  • the bridge piece or armature is electrically connected to one of the arms 3 or 4 of the U-shaped wire 2 by means, for example, of a flat spring 6, welded near the end of arm 3 and to one end of the bridge piece 5. Spring 6 urges armature 5 away from arm 4.
  • bridge piece 5 and its supporting seats could be made with various shapes other than the flat one without thereby affecting the operational conditions of the magnetic structure.
  • the ends of bridge piece 5 in contact with the ends 34 of the U bar could be coated with a suitable metal of good electrical conductivity.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the way in which to insert the sealed contact device into the energizing structure.
  • the magnetic contact carrier structure or switching unit after the U base cutting, will provide two terminal lugs 8 and 9 which, when inserted between pole pieces NS of an open magnetic circuit M, will complete a magnetic circuit through the movable armature 5 enclosed in vessel 1.
  • the main advantage of this arrange ment is that the length of the mean turn of the energizing coil 10 is brought to a minimum depending only upon the diameter of the core forming the magnetic circuit M. This provides advantages from the point of view of the magnetic force obtainable and for the small size of the energizing coil.
  • This arrangement also permits a great number of applications and an easy replacement possibility of the contact structure.
  • FIG. 3 there is illustrated the contact device of FIG. 1 suitable to perform a switching of electrical circuits.
  • bridge piece 5 through the effect of spring 6 is strongly pressed against the stationary contact 11, sealed to the other end of vessel 1.
  • FIG. 4 there is illustrated a constructional alternative of FIG. 1 in which bridge piece 5 is replaced by a disc 12 of magnetic material of good property.
  • the disc 12 is kept by a spindle 13, L-shaped or by other means soldered to one of the arms 3 or 4.
  • the disc 12 is free to rotate on said spindle 13 and is urged upwards by a cylindrical spring 14.
  • a stop 15 prevents the disk from leaving axis 13.
  • FIG. 5 there is illustrated the same arrangement of FIG. 4 modified to obtain a changeover switch.
  • disc 12 has both faces adapted to make a very .good electrical contact when urged against the top of the rods of another U-shaped piece 16 of non-magnetic material, sealed to the other end of vessel 1 and when attracted against the ends of bars 3-4, to make a work contact.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 there is illustrated a further shape which can be given to the sealed contact elements of the relay.
  • an extension 17 of a leaf 18 of very good magnetic material is mechanically and electrically secured to one of the arms 3 or 4.
  • the surfaces which come in contact between arm 4 and one side of the leaf 18 are provided with coatings of metal .of good electrical conductivity. It must be noted that due to the cylindrical form of container 1, leaf 18 will find a natural rest position over the internal wall of the glass tube which will define the rest position of leaf 18.
  • a magnetically operated switch structure comprising a switching unit having first and second spaced parallel bars of magnetic material and a co-operating armature of magnetic material positioned in flux-linking relationship therewith, means for electrically connecting one end of said armature to said first bar and for supporting the other end of said armature for movement to selectively make and break an electrical connection between said armature and said second bar, the said supporting means urging the said armature away from said second bar, an enclosing envelope within which said armature and a portion of said bars are enclosed with the other portion of said bars extending externally out of one end of said envelope and sealed therethrough in a vacuum-tight manner and with the said armature being positioned with respect to the other end of said envelope to abut thereagainst when the switch is in an unoperated state to provide a desired air gap between the said armature and said second bar, and a magnetic flux generating unit comprising an open-ended core having a flux-generating winding thereon with the ends of said core in flux-
  • a magnetically operated switch structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said means for movably supporting said armature includes means for positioning the said armature substantially at'right angles to the longitudinal axis of said pair of bars.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
US25437A 1959-06-17 1960-04-28 Sealed contact device Expired - Lifetime US3056869A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT1008559 1959-06-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3056869A true US3056869A (en) 1962-10-02

Family

ID=11133873

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US25437A Expired - Lifetime US3056869A (en) 1959-06-17 1960-04-28 Sealed contact device

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US3056869A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
BE (1) BE591976A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
CH (1) CH384674A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
DE (1) DE1154869B (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
ES (1) ES258157A1 (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
GB (1) GB907519A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
IT (1) IT611404A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
NL (2) NL131296C (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3150244A (en) * 1961-03-29 1964-09-22 Siemens Ag Electromagnetic relay
US3240897A (en) * 1964-06-19 1966-03-15 Clare & Co C P Sealed magnetic switch and method of manufacture
US3310863A (en) * 1963-04-10 1967-03-28 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Manufacture of reed type devices

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US684378A (en) * 1901-02-14 1901-10-08 George Westinghouse Electric lamp.
US1085810A (en) * 1913-01-11 1914-02-03 American District Telegraph Co Electromagnetic relay.
US2483723A (en) * 1945-04-03 1949-10-04 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electromagnetic circuit maker and breaker
US2732451A (en) * 1946-07-05 1956-01-24 Degler
US2834848A (en) * 1955-09-02 1958-05-13 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electric switch
US2834847A (en) * 1955-05-13 1958-05-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2908780A (en) * 1957-11-01 1959-10-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2912539A (en) * 1958-01-20 1959-11-10 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2916579A (en) * 1954-03-11 1959-12-08 Siemens Ag Electrodynamic circuit breaker

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT144285B (de) * 1933-09-12 1936-01-10 Andreas Marius Haslev Elektrisches Relais.
US2425038A (en) * 1943-09-27 1947-08-05 Lear Inc Safety switch device
US2914634A (en) * 1958-01-23 1959-11-24 Clare & Co C P Contact structure for mercury relays

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US684378A (en) * 1901-02-14 1901-10-08 George Westinghouse Electric lamp.
US1085810A (en) * 1913-01-11 1914-02-03 American District Telegraph Co Electromagnetic relay.
US2483723A (en) * 1945-04-03 1949-10-04 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electromagnetic circuit maker and breaker
US2732451A (en) * 1946-07-05 1956-01-24 Degler
US2916579A (en) * 1954-03-11 1959-12-08 Siemens Ag Electrodynamic circuit breaker
US2834847A (en) * 1955-05-13 1958-05-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2834848A (en) * 1955-09-02 1958-05-13 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electric switch
US2908780A (en) * 1957-11-01 1959-10-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay
US2912539A (en) * 1958-01-20 1959-11-10 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum relay

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3150244A (en) * 1961-03-29 1964-09-22 Siemens Ag Electromagnetic relay
US3310863A (en) * 1963-04-10 1967-03-28 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Manufacture of reed type devices
US3240897A (en) * 1964-06-19 1966-03-15 Clare & Co C P Sealed magnetic switch and method of manufacture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL252736A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
CH384674A (de) 1964-11-30
BE591976A (fr) 1960-12-19
IT611404A (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
ES258157A1 (es) 1960-08-16
GB907519A (en) 1962-10-03
NL131296C (US20100223739A1-20100909-C00025.png)
DE1154869B (de) 1963-09-26

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