US3203271A - Rocking device for a time-delay relay - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1965 A. G. FAFFART ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 A. G- FAFFART ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY Aug. 31 1965 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 31, 1965' A. G. FAFFART ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY Filed Aug. 12; 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1965 A. G- FAFFART 03,271

ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY Filed Aug. 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Office Claims. (c1. 74-519 The present invention relates to a rocking device for a time-delay relay, constituted by an actuating device such as an electro-magnct and an electric switch which alternatively breaks or makes contacts a certain time after the actuating system begins to operate.

The invention is particularly but not exclusively applied to an apparatus provided with a pneumatic time lag of the type described in the US. patent application 152,224 of November 14, 1961, now Patent No. 3,153,- 706 by the same applicant.-

In known devices of this kind, elforts have been made to obtain, with the same apparatus and without the addition of supplementary parts, two different methods of operation, namely: either the time-lag switch rocks its contacts a certain time a-fiter the excitation of the electromagnet and in consequence the closure of its armature; :or on the other hand, the switch changes over its contacts a certain time atter the de-exci'tat-ion of the electromagnet and therefore of the opening of its armature.

Devices have already been proposed in which this resuit is obtained by turning over end-to-end either the time-lag contact unit or the electromagnet. This conception necessitates a certain dismantling of the apparatus. In addition, it does not lend itself to the arrangement in which the two members are mounted one alongside the other on the same base plate, this latter arrangement being however the most advantageous for apparatus of small overall dimensions intended electric s-witchboards. The invention enables this construction to be efiected; it has furthermore tor its object to provide a device which does not necessitate any dismantling in order to change the method of operation, this being obtained by tightening up or slackening a single screw. Thus, without any specialist staff, a retailer can have available a single stock of relays having two dilferent uses.

The device in accordance with the invention is essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination:

An actuating unit and a time-delay unit mounted side by side so that their push-rods move in parallel directions;

A rocking device constituted by a rocking lever, the two extremities of which are capable of coming respectively into cont-act with the two push-rods above-mentioned;

A pivotal shaft for the said rocking lever, of which one of the extremities forming a pivot pin is adapted to be supported in a fixed bearing, while the other extremity is carried by a rotating support capable of pivoting about a second shaft parallel to the rocking lever of the rocker device;

Means for fixing together or separating the rocking lever and the said rotating support at will;

And elastic means tending to apply the rotating supportmocker unit against the push-rods.

In accordance with other characteristic features of the invention, the pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm of the rocking device comprises a screw head and a threaded portion fitted into a corresponding threaded portion of the rotating support, an abutment member being provided on the said shafit in order to bring the rocker for mounting on 3,203,271 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 arm closer to or to move it away from the rotating support by tightening-up or slackening-off the screw, and in consequence to fix together the two members by means of corresponding recesses and projections with which they are respectively provided or, on the contrary, to separate the said members from each other.

The extremity of the pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm,

which forms a pivot pin, is conical and the hearing which,

is adapted to receive it is cut-out in the form of a V.

The part forming the rotating support is a moulded piece in the torm of a stirrup, the pivot pins of which rest in open hooks.

The elastic means which urges the rotating supportrocking device assembly against the push-rods of the actuating and time-delay units is a compression spring.

Other particular features,.advantages and special characteristics of the present invention will be brought out from the description thereof which is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing diagrammatically and simply by way of example one possible form of embodiment of the said invention.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation with partial cross-section of a device according to the invention permitting the cycle of operation of a time delay relay to be reversed;

FIG. 2 is a rear view with partial crosssection of this device, the rocking device proper being shown in the position in which it is free to pivot on its rotating support;

-FIG. 3 is a transverse section made along the line III-4H of FIG. 2, the rocking device being shown in the position in which it cannot pivot on its rotating support;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section made along the line IVIV of FIG. 2, the rocking device being in this case shown in the position in which it is free to pivot on its rotating support;

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation with partial cross-section, showing the rotating support of the device.

In these drawings, the reference 1 indicates the baseplate which serves for fixing the whole unit, and on which are mounted side by side two units designated by the general references 2 and 3. One of the units, the unit 2 in the drawings, is an actuating unit such for example as an electromagnet of any known type which, by the efle'ct of the operation order which is receives, pushes a push-rod 4 towards the base of the device. The other unit 3 is a time-delay device of any particular known type, such for example as a pneumatic time-lag which is provided with a push-rod 5 arranged parallel to the rod 4 of the actuating unit, and which is capable of returning elastically and slowly to its initial position after having been moved.

The device proper for the operation of the time-delay relay comprises essentially:

(a) A rocking device constituted by a rocker-arm 6 which is adapted to pivot on a shaft 7, and the two extremi-ties 6 6,; can respectively come into contact with the push-rod 4 of the actuating unit 2 and with a small transfer rod 5,, acting on the push-rod 5 of the timedelay unit 3.

(b) A rotating support designated by the general reference 8 (see more particularly lF-IG. 5), in which is mounted the extremity 7 A of the shafit 7 of the rocking device. The support 8 is provide with two conical studs 9 9 which are pivo-tally mounted in bearings 10 10 of a supporting member .10 which is fixed to the base 1 and which will be dealt with in more detail later. It should be noted that the pivotal axis XX of the rotating support 8 is parallel to the rocker-arm 6 of the rocking device;

(c) Means torsecuring together or for separating the rocking device from the rotating support at will, while an elastic means tends .to apply the latter, together with the rocking device, against the push- nods 4 and 5 In the form of embodiment shownby way of example in the drawings, the portion 7,, of the shaft 7 of the rocking device 6 is threaded and canbe screwed into a tapped portion 8,, formed in the support 8, the extremity of the said shaft .7 being provided with a head 7 for that purpose.

The other extremity 7 of the shaft of the rocking device being provided with an abutment 11, it can be seen that by unscrewing the shaft 7 from the support 8, or by screwing it into the latter, the rocker-arm 6 is brought nearer or on the contrary moved farther away from the said support 8.

On the other hand, one of the two above-mentioned members, for example the rocker-arm 6, is provided with two conical studs 12 12 intended to be engaged in corresponding recesses 13 13 formed in the other member, in this case the pivoting support 8.

From the foregoing description and upon examination of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it result that when the portion 7,, of the shaft 7 is unscrewed from its tapped portion 8 as shown in FIG. 3, the rocking device is made rigid with the pivoting support 8 and the rocker-arm 6 cannot pivot on its support 7.

The assembly comprising the support 8 and the rockerarm 6 can only pivot about the axis XX it being noted that a spring 14, respectively supported on the fixed suport and on a shoulder of the pivotal support 8, urges the assembly in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 3) and causes the extremities 6 and 6 of the rockerarm 6 to be applied against the push- rods 4 and 5 On the other hand, if by screwing the portion 7 A of the shaft 7 into the tapped portion 8 the rocking device is moved farther away from the pivotal support 8, the rocker-arm 6, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, is then free to pivot about its shaft 7 in the directions F or F (FIG. 1).

In accordance with an advantageous special feature, the free extremity 7 of the shaft 7 is of conical shape and is located opposite a recess 15 of V-shape, cut-out in a shoulder 10 of the fixed supporting member 10. By virtue of this particular feature, it can be seen that when the rocking device is separated from the pivotal support 8 (FIGS. 2 and 4-), the conical portion 7 comes into contact with the edge of the recess 15 which then forms a bearing for the shaft 7. If on the other hand, the rocking device is rigidly fixed to its pivotal support 8, the conical extremity 7 of the shaft 7, being then brought closer to the support 8, has no longer any contact with the recess 15 (FIG. 3) and the assembly can then turn freely in the direction F The result of the foregoing arrangement is that, without any dismantling but only by screwing down or slackening-off a single screw, it is possible to obtain two methods of operation of the time-delay switch 3, that is to say, in one case the time-delay switch changes over its contacts a certain time after the excitation of the electro-magnet and in consequence after the closure of its armature, or on the other hand the switch changes over its contacts a certain time after the de-excitation of the electro-magnet and thus after the opening of its armature. I

The first method of operation is obtained by fixing the rocking device 6 to its pivotal support 8. In this case, in the period of rest, that is to say of non-excitation of the electro-magnet of the actuating unit 2, the whole assembly occupies the position shown in FIG. 3, that is to say, under the action of the spring 14, the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm 6 acts through the intermediary of the rod 5 to maintain the push-rod 5 of the time-delay unit 3 in the pushed-in position, which means that the latter is ready to operate. The push-rod 4 is also in the depressed position. From the moment when the electro-magnet of the actuating unit 2 is excited by the action of the operating order, the push-rod 4 comes to bear against the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm 6 and pushes it back, the assembly pivoting in the direction of the arrow F about the axis XX This has the effect of freeing the transfer rod 5 and in consequence the time-delay unit 3. The latter than changes over its con tacts at the end of the period of time for which it has been pre-set, after the excitation of the electro-magnet.

The second form of operation referred to above is obtained, on the contrary, by separating the rocking device 6 from its pivotal support 8. In this case, the pushrod 5 of the time-delay unit 2 is held in the depressed position by the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm 6, the other extremity 6 of which has previously been pushed back in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 1) by the push-rod 4 of the actuating unit 2, the electro-magnet of which is then excited.

Under the action of the operation order, when the said electro-magnet is de-excited, the push-rod 4 returns to its depressed position, which has the effect of liberating the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm and in consequence the time-delay unit 3. This latter than changes over its contacts at the end of the period of time for which it has been pre-set, after the de-excitation of the electro-magnet of the actuating unit, the rocker-arm then pivoting in the direction of the arrow F so as to arrive in its final position shown in FIG. 1.

It will of course be understood that the invention has only been described and shown in a purely explanatory manner and without any implied limitation, and that modifications of detail may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the said invention.

Thus, in particular, the member 8 forming the pivotal support is preferably but not necessarily constituted by a part moulded to the shape of a stirrup, the pivot pins 9 9 of which rest in open hooks 10 10 the spring 14 being held in position on the fixed support 10 by a movable arm 16 provided with a boss and two hooked portions which automatically hold it in position, by means of which the assembly of the parts can be taken apart and re-assembled without the use of any tool.

In addition, the extremity 7 of the shaft 7 may be cylindrical and may be applied in a simple round bore. However, the arrangement in the form of a punch in a V-shaped recess is preferable in that when the rocking device is separated from its rotating support, that is to say when there is a reversal of the movements of the two parts, this arrangement permits a slight additional travel. When the electro-magnet drives its actuating rod with force, the punch lifts slightly from its V-shaped seating which prevents any harmful stress on the time-delay system.

On the other hand, it is clear that instead of a pneumatic time-delay unit, which has been referred to by way of example, any other delay means with mechanical action could also be utilized, such as for example a clockwork delay device.

I claim:

1. A device for the operation of a time-delay relay having an operating push-rod actuated by a driving unit having an actuating push-rod, said device comprising in combination:

An actuating unit and a time-delay unit mounted side by side on a base, the operating push-rods of said actuating unit and said time-delay unit working in parallel directions;

A rocking device constituted by a rocker-arm pivotally mounted on a central shaft;

The two extremities of said rocker-arm being adapted to come respectively into contact with the two abovementioned push-rods;

A pivotal support articulated on an axis parallel to. said rocker-arm and on which is fixed the extremity of the pivotal shaft of said rocker-arm;

A fixed bearing intended to serve as a support for the free extremity of said pivotal shaft of the rockerarrn, said free extremity forming a pivot pin;

Means for fixing together or separating at will said rocker-arm and said pivotal support;

and elastic means adapted to urge said rocker-arm toward said push-rods.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm of said rocking device comprises a threaded portion adapted to engage in a corresponding tapped portion of the pivoted support; an abutment member for retaining said rocker-arm on said pivotal shaft; recesses and corresponding projections are provided respectively on said rocker-arm and said pivotal support, whereby the rocker-arm is brought closer to said pivotal support by screwing or unscrewing the threaded portion of the pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm in the tapped portion of the pivotal support, said recesses and projections are operative to fix or release the rocker-arm with respect to said pivotal support.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the extremity of the pivotal shaft of said rocker-arm forming a pivot pin is conical and the fixed bearing which serves as a support for said extremity is cut-out in the shape of a V.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal support is a piece in the form of a stirrup the pivot pins of which rest on open hooks rigidly fixed on the base which receives the time-delay unit and the actuating unit.

5. A device for the operation of a time-delay relay having an operating push-rod actuated by an electro- 6 magnet with a driving push-rod, said device comprising in combination:

An electro-niagnet and a time-delay relay mounted side by side on a base, the operating push-rods of said electro-magnet and said relay being adapted to Work in parallel directions;

A rocking device constituted by a rocker-arm;

The two extremities of said rocker-arm being adapted to come respectively into contact with the two abovementioned push rods;

A pivoted support articulated on a fixed axis parallel to said rocker-arm;

A pivotal shaft for said rocker-arm, said shaft comprising a threaded portion engaging in a corresponding tapped portion of the pivoted support; an abutment bearing against said rocker-arm;

A fixed bearing in the form of a V intended to serve as a support for the free extremity of conical form of said pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm;

Recesses and projections of complementary shapes provided respectively on said rocker-arm and said pivoted support;

Said recesses and projections being adapted to fit one into the other and to fix together said rocker-arm and said pivoted support, or vice-versa;

and an elastic means adapted to push said rocker-arm towards the operating push-rods of said time-delay relay and said electro-magnet.

No references cited.

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE FOR THE OPERATION OF A TIME-DELAY RELAY HAVING AN OPERATING PUSH-ROD BY DRIVING UNIT HAVING AN ACUTATIN PUSH-ROD, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AN ACTUATING UNIT AND TIME-DELAY UNIT MOUNTED SIDE BY SIDE ON A BASE, THE OPERATING PUSH-RODS OF SAID ACTUATINT UNIT AND SAID TIME-DELAY UNIT WORKING IN PARALLEL DIRECTONS; A ROCKING DEVICE CONSTITUTED BY A ROCKER-ARM PITOVALLY MOUNTED ON A CENTRAL SHAFT; THE TWO DEVICE CONSTITUTED BY A ROCKER-ARM PIVOTALLY TO COME RESPECTIVELY INTO CONTACT WITH THE TWO ABOVEMENTIONED PUSH-RODS; A PIVOTAL SUPPORT ARTICULATED ON AN DAXIS PARALLED TO SAID ROCKER-ARM AND ON WHICH IS FIXED THE EXTREMITY OF THE PIVOTAL SHAFT OF SAID ROCKER-ARM A FIXED BEARING INTENDED TO SERT AS A SUPPORT FOR THE FREE EXTREMITY OF SAID PIVOTAL SHAFT OF THE ROCKERARM, SAID FREE EXTREMITY FORMING A PIVOT ARM; MEANS FOR FIXING TOGETHER OR SEPRATING AT WILL SAID ROCKER-ARM AND SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT; AND ELASTIC MEANS ADAPTED TO URGE SAID ROCKER-ARM TOWARD SAID PUSH-RODS.

Images