US3166662A

US3166662A - Relay contact assembly

Info

Publication number: US3166662A
Application number: US132819A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willard A Roberts
Original assignee: Joseph Pollak Corp
Current assignee: Joseph Pollak Corp
Priority date: 1961-08-21
Filing date: 1961-08-21
Publication date: 1965-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1965 RELAY CONTACT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 21. 1961 I5 Shams-Sheet 1 so 6' 0 A INVENTOR.

WILLARD A.ROBERTS FIG. |5b

ATTO RN EYS w. A. ROBERTS 3,166,662,

Jan. 19, 1965 w. A. ROBERTS 3,165,662

RELAY CONTACT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 21. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

FIGS

INVENTOR.

WILLARD A. ROBERTS ATTORN EYS 1965 w. A. ROBERTS 3,166,662-

RELAY CONTACT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGH 5O FIG.|2

FIGIE FIG.I4

IN VEN TOR.

WILLARD A. ROBERTS BY ATTOR N EYS United States Patent "ice 3,166,662 RELAY CQNTACT ASSEMBLY Willard A. Roberts, Hanover, Mass., assiguor to Joseph Pollah Corp., Dorchester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 132,819 Claims. (Cl. 200-466) The present invention relates to a relay and in particular to a relay adapted for use with circuits carrying radio frequency and direct current loads.

Relays for use in circuits carrying radio frequency and direct current loads should be designed to minimize capacitive ettects between the relay components. In addition it is usually desirable that the relay be rugged in construction, capable of millions of operations without failure, and also relatively compact. Further, limitations of power introduce additional problems into relay designs, particularly those for radio frequency circuitry. Limited power and space problems are further complicated when multiple terminal relays are desired.

The present invention is designed to overcome such problems by providing a relay in which capacitive effects are minimized by widely spacing the contacts and by reducing their size. In addition power requirements are minimized by utilizing a unique movable contact for electrical interengagement of a plurality of fixed contacts with equal simultaneously applied forces from selected angular directions.

In the arrangement of the present invention, designed particularly for circuits carrying radio frequency and direct current loads, a pair of fixed contacts are secured with areas lying in a common plane. A movable contact is formed with a pair of electrically conductive portions lying respectively in planes defining an angle of 120 therebetween. These portions are arranged symmetrically and equidistant from a common center with the portions and common center lying substantially normal to the plane in which the fixed contacts lie. These conductive portions are supported by an elongated member extending preferably from the common center.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the movable contact is formed of an elongated wire having a portion of its length extending in one direction and terminating in a ring with the aforementioned portion of wire extending normally from the ring. The radius of the ring is equal to equal radii from a common center to the pair of fixed terminals which radii include an angle of 120. The movable contact is adapted to be moved so that it moves in a plane symmetrical with respect to the fixed contacts. Thus the electrically conductive portions of the movable contact simultaneously engage the fixed contacts with equal force applied in two directions 120 apart.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a relay embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the relay illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the relay illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the relay illustrated in FIG. 1;

Each of FIGS. 5a to 14a inclusive; 5b to 14b inclusive; and 50 to 140 inclusive; are respectively; top plan fragmentary views of modifications of the contacts; front elevations of the correspondingly bracketed top plan views; and schematics of the correspondingly bracket modifications;

3,156,662 Patented .Ian. 19, 1965 FIG. 15a is a front elevation of a further modification, and 15b is a schematic circuit of the modification illustrated in 15a.

A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. In this arrangement a bobbin Wound coil 1 is supported on an L-shaped supporting bracket 2 having a base 3 and rear leg 4-. The coil is suitably insulated from the bracket at its lower end by dielectric sheet 5' and at its upper end is secured to a dielectric sheet 6 with the core 7 projecting slightly upwardly through the sheet 6.

Terminals

9 and 16 are secured by suitable means to the lower surface of the dielectric sheet 6 and project forwardly from it preferably with a stepped section. These terminals are connected to the relay coil 1 for purposes of supplying power to it. A ground contact 11 is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the base 3.

The relay armature comprises a conductive flat plate 14 positioned with a portion directly above the core 7. The rear portion 15 of this plate is formed with six bosses 16 on its lower surface. These bosses are symmetrically and triangularly arranged in two groups of three with a group at each side edge of the rear leg 4 of the L-shaped bracket. These bosses form means for loosely and pivotally interengaging the armature 14 with the rear leg 4 while limiting relative lateral movement. One boss at each end engages the forward surface of the rear leg in an area which projects just above the dielectric sheet 6, a second boss at each end engages the rear surface, and a third boss engages the side edges at the upper end of the rear leg 4.

A helical spring 17 is formed with engaging hooks 1S and 19 at either end. Hook 19 is secured to a tab 20, in turn screwed to the rear surface of the rear leg 4 by screw 21. The tab may be rotated and tightened into a selected position about this screw for purposes of adjusting the tension on the spring 17. The upper hook 18 engages a hole in the rear portion of the armature 14 thereby tensioning the armature to move in a direction away from the core 7. The armature is restrained against the tension of spring 17 by interengagement of the movable contacts 25 and the fixed contacts generally illustrated at 26. The movable contacts 25 which may, for example, comprise three in number, are each formed with an elongated wire portion 27 secured at one end to the rear portion of the flat plate 14 by means of dielectric plates 29 and 30 which have sandwiched between them the ends of the wire portion 27. The ends of portions 27 may also be molded into dielectric material to form the assembly. These dielectric plates 29 and 30 are in turn secured to the rear portion of the armature by rivets 31 which project through the ing dielectric bar 36 which is integrally formed with the sheet 6. These fixed contacts 26 may be varied in configuration and number but in the modification illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprise three sets of four terminals.

The four terminals in each set are arranged in pairs with one pair illustrated at 37 and the other at 38 (FIG. 3). Each terminal is formed as a hook member having a shank 39 projecting through the bar 36 with the forward portion formed as a hook 40. The hooks 40 of the terminal pairs 37 project upwardly while the hooks 40 of the terminal pairs 38 project downwardly. The rear ends 41 of the pairs 37 are positioned above the ring or disc 33, while the rear ends 4-2 of the terminal pairs 33 are positioned below the ring or discs 33, so that the ring or discs 33 are limited in movement between the rear ends 41, 42.

of upper and lower terminal pairs 37 and 38 respectively.

The specific arrangement of the movable contact and fixed

terminals

37 and 38 of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is shown in greater detail which define an angle of 120 and terminate at their ends at the ends 41 of terminals 37. Terminal ends 42 are spaced apart the same distance as terminal ends 41. The elongated portion 27 is adapted to be moved on movement of the armature 14 in a plane normal to the aforementioned common plane so that simultaneous contact is made between the periphery of the rings 33 and each of the terminal ends 41 on de-energization of the coil, and upon energization of the coil simultaneous engagement is made with each of the terminal ends 42 to actuate an electrical circuit as illustrated in FIG. 5c. The arrangement illustrated provides contact pressures at the terminal ends 41 eachequal to the total force delivered by the movable contacts 25. With 30 grams force exerted vertieally at the center of the ring and contact terminal ends 41 arranged to contact points on the ring 120 apart, a force of 30 grams is thereby impressed upon each of the terminal ends 41. If the angle were increased from 120 the force applied to the terminal ends 41 would also increase but the rate of opening between the terminal ends and rings and the contact gap for a given ring movement would decrease. The converse would happen if the angle was decreased. A similar action takes place at terminal ends 42. Such arrangement eliminates critical adjustments and reduces the force required to complete the circuit. Such arrangement also permits selective contact arrangements for specific applications. The configuration illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5c is a double make or double break type of circuit.

The configuration illustrated in FIGS. 6a, 6b, 60 to 14a, 14b, 14c illustrate corresponding modifications of the terminalarrangement illustrated in FIGS. 5a, 5b, 50. In FIG. 6 there is illustrated a double contact in which terminal 41 is formed to provide two common points for engagement with 33 and terminalends 42 are common; The movable contact 25 is flexible wired to terminal A to provide a fixed terminal for the movable contact 25. Further, the elongated portion 27 is aligned with the radial center of the ring 33. FIG. 7 illustrates a double break contact in which a solid disc 46 is substituted for the ring 33 illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. FIG. 8 illustrates a double make double break arrangement in which a solid disc 46 is secured to a fiat blade 47 by welding or other suitable means, with the flat blade terminating at its end remote from the disc 46 in a support similar to the support for movable contact 25. FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration similar to that of FIG. 6 except for the substitution of a movable contact assembly 25 of the type illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 illustrates a modification similar to FIG. 6 but having a movable contact assembly similar to that of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 illustrates an arrangement in which the upper terminal ends 41 are common as are the lower terminal ends 42. The movable contact assembly 25 having ring 33 is connected to an auxiliary terminal 50 by wire 51. FIG. 12 illustrates an arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIG. 11 except that upper terminal ends 41 and lower terminal ends 42 are not common but are each independent of the other. FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment in which one upper terminal end 41 and one lower terminal end 42 are common. FIG. 14 illustrates an arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5 except that the ring 33 is formed with a plurality of convolutions 55. This arrange- 4 ment assures a more certain contact. FIG. 15 illustrates a modification in which three sets of movable contacts 25 are provided with rings 33 adapted to move into and out of contact with terminals 60, d1, 62 and 63, with terminals 6t? and 61 connected and 62 and 63 connected when the relay is de-encrgized and

terminals

61 and 62 connected with the relay is energized.

. What is claimed is:

1. In a relay construction for use in radio frequency circuits, a pair of fixed contacts, means mounting said contacts in a common plane, means forming a movable contact adapted to electrically interconnect said fixed contacts including an arcuate surface means having a radius equal in length to each of a pair of lines of equal length defining an angle of with the lines of equal length extending from a common center and terminating at the ends of said fixed contacts, and means mounting said movable contact for movement of said surface means in a direction normal to said common plane and symmetrical with respect to said fixed contacts whereby said surface means will simultaneously contact said fixed contacts with equal force.

2. A relay as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable contact and surface means are formed by a length of wire with one end of the wire formed substantially as a ring in a plane normal to said direction.

3. A relay as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable contact and surface means are formed by a length of wire extending in one direction with one end of the wire coiled substantially into a ring having at least one convolution lying in planes normal to said one direction.

4. A relay as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable contact and surface means are formed by a length of wire extending in one direction, a conductive disc having a radius equal to said equal radii secured at its center in a plane normal to and to one end of said wire.

5. In a relay construction for use in radio frequency circuits, a pair of fixed contacts having portions lying in a common plane, means for electrically interengaging said contacts comprising electrically conductive means having a pair of areas that pass through a pair of planes defining an angle of 120 therebetween, said areas arranged symmetricaily and equidistant from a common center in the line of intersection of said planes, means for moving said areas in a plane substantially normal to said common plane and symmetrical with respect to said portions, whereby said areas may simultaneously make and break contacts with said portions.

6. In a relay construction for use in electrical circuits, a pair of fixed contacts having portions lying in a common plane, means for electrically interengaging said contacts comprising electrically conductive means having a length of wire extending in one direction with one end of the wire coiled substantially into a ring with said ring lying in a plane normal to said one direction, means for applying a selected force to said electrically conductive means with said ring adapted to engage each of said fixed contacts with a force equal to said selected force.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said end of said wire is coiled into a ring having a plurality of convolutions each having areas adapted to simultaneously engage said fixed contacts.

ductive means having a length of wire extending in one direction, a conductive disc lying in a plane normal to sa1d one direction aligned with said common center; said disc having peripheral surface areas adapted to be simultaneously engaged with said fixed contact portions.

9. In a relay construction fixed contact means having upper and lower pairs of terminals, means fixedly supporting said terminal pairs in parallel planes, a movable contact means adapted to be moved between and thereby References fited by the Examiner alternately interengage the terminals of said upper and UNITED STATES PATENTS then said lower pairs, said movable contact means comprising means having arcuate sectors at its periphery each 1068945 7/13 Taylor 200-82 n 2,251,648 8/41 Wayman 20O 82 adapted to mterengage the terminals of 831d pairs, 831d 5 66 arcuate sectors each having a radius equal in length to 2,541,398 2/51 Wood 200 1 7 equal each of a pair of lines of equal length emanating 2677024 4/54 Welch ZOO-8 from a common center that define an angle of 120 and 2,931,877 4/60 200-166 2,932,704 4/60 Dennlson et a1. 200-87 terminate at ad acent termlnals of a pair. 2 965 739 12/60 Al d 200 1 10. A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said arcuate 10 exan ersson 1 sectors are portions of a ring, BERNARD A. 'GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

MAX L. LEVY, Examiner.

Claims

5. IN A RELAY CONSTRUCTION FOR USE IN RADIO FREQUENCY CIRCUITS, A PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS HAVING PORTIONS LYING IN A COMMON PLANE, MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL INTERENGAGING SAID CONTACTS COMPRISING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF AREAS THAT PASS THROUGH A PAIR OF PLANES DEFINING AN ANGLE OF 120* THEREBETWEEN, SAID AREAS ARRANGED SYMMETRICALLY AND EQUIDISTANT FROM A COMMON CENTER IN THE LINE OF INTERSECTION OF SAID PLANES, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID AREAS IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID COMMON PLANE AND SYMMETRICAL WITH RESPECT TO SAID PORTIONS, WHEREBY SAID AREA MAY SIMULTANEOUSLY MAKE AND BREAK CONTACTS WITH SAID PORTIONS.