US3206577A

US3206577A - Multipole magnetic relays

Info

Publication number: US3206577A
Application number: US101089A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vradenburgh Robert; Jr John Scheib
Original assignee: Ward Leonard Electric Co
Current assignee: Ward Leonard Electric Co
Priority date: 1961-04-06
Filing date: 1961-04-06
Publication date: 1965-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-14

Description

Sept, 14, 1965 R. VRADENBURGH ETAL 3,206,577

MULTIPOLE MAGNETIC RELAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6. 1961 CUHAXNN QN s. uw

A rmp/vfy Sept. 14, 1965 R. VRADENBURGH ETAL 3,206,577

MULTIPOLE MAGNETIC RELAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6. 1961 IN VEN TORS /oeer- Mesos/farms# Y JOHN Saus/e, d?. WMM/pf ,q frog/Vey Sept 14, 1965 R. vRADl-:NBURGH ETAL 3,206,577

MULTIPOLE MAGNETIC RELAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6. 1961 INVENTORS @136er Mesos/Yeager; JOHN SCHC/8, d?.

M im- ATT'OPNEX SePt- 14, 1965 R. VRADENBURGH ETAL MULTIPOLE MAGNETIC RELAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6. 1961 T 2m. 1, .m A... .Llla

Arroe/vey United States Patent O.

3,206,577 MULTIILE MAGNETIC RELAYS Robert Vradenburgh, Yonkers, and .lohn Scheib, Jr., Elmsford, N.Y., assignors to Ward Leonard Electric C0., Mount Vernon, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 101,089 Claims. (Cl. 20G- 104) This invention relates to niultipole electromagnetic relays.

An object of this invention is to simplify the structure and to reduce the number of parts while improving the quality and performance of electromagnetic relays.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the structure of electromagnetic relays and still have the former relay and the improved relay interchangeable.

Another object of the invention is to interfit the parts of the relay in order to reduce the number of fastening means and increase the speed of assembling the relays.

Gther and further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a top View of the improved two pole electromagnetic relay;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the relay of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an end View of the relay of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the relay of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the armature and movable support taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View of the armature and movable contact support taken along lines 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fixed contact and mounting taken along lines 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective View of the armature and movable contact mounting of the two pole electromagnetic relay;

FIG. 9 is a separated View of the parts of the movable contact mounting of the two pole electromagnetic relay;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fixed contacts of the two pole electromagnetic relay;

FIG, l1 is a perspective View of the end of the coil with the core and the armature without the movable contact mounting;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view `of the base and fixed contact mounting of the two pole electromagnetic relay; l

FIG. 13 is a side view of a three pole electromagnetic relay;

FIG. 14 is a top ViewV of the three pole electromagnetic relay of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the three pole electromagnetic relay taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the other form of the fixed contact;

FIG. 18 is a separated perspective view of the parts of the movable contact mounting of the three pole electromagnetic relay; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the under surface of the armature and contact mounting means for a six pole electromagnetic relay.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings the relay 20 has a base 21 molded as a single piece. On the base are mounted

fixed contacts

22, 23, 24 and 25 engaged by

movable contacts

26, 27. The movable contacts are mounted on the contact mounting means 80 fastened to the armature 28 of the electromagnet 29. The electromagnet comprises a coil assembly 30 with a core 31 and an Ifshaped magnetic member 32 providing an outside metallic flux path with the pivotally mounted armature 28 biased in the spaced position by the spring 70. In

3,206,577 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 the resiliently spaced position the contact-s 26, 27 engage the

fixed contacts

22, 25 and in the energized position the

contacts

26, 27 engage the

fixed contacts

23, 24.

The generally planar base 21 comprises a base plate 35 having a rectangular shape. Mounting holes 36 are provided at each corner for securing the relay to a supporting board or the like. Bosses or lands 37 around each hole provide pressure areas to bear against the board and concentrate the pressure of the mounting .bolt-s at the corners of the base, so as not to place undue strain on the base plate. On the other side of the panel extending longitudinally along opposite edges of the base plate are terminal mounting strips 38, 39 (FIG. l). The fixed contact mounting strip 40 extends laterally across the panel adjacent one end thereof and acros-s the ends of the

terminal mounting strips

38, 39 forming a recess 41. On the side opposite to the recess 41 the mounting strip 40 has a fixed contact block 42 for supporting the fixed contacts 23, 24 (FIG. 2). The

fixed contacts

22 and 25 are mounted on the top of the strip 40 to extend laterally inward toward one another and the

fixed contacts

23, 24 are mounted on the block 42 extending parallel and transverse to the

contacts

22, 25. The contact buttons 23a, 24u are spaced below the contact buttons 22a, 25a respectively. A thin arc barrier 44 extends upwardly from and normal to the mounting strip 40 between the fixed contact-s 22, 23 and 24, 25 to separate the pairs of contacts and prevent arcing therebetween. For the purpose of molding the projection or stop 124 on the barrier an opening 34 is formed through the base plate adjacent to the terminal mounting strip 40.

The fixed contacts 22 to 25 are identical except for the contact buttons. The corresponding parts will have the same reference numerals. In FIG. 7 the terminal foot 45 is flat with a hole 53 for the bolt 46. The nut 47 fastens the contact on the base. The terminal foot sets on top of the land 48 and has a projection 50 which snugly fits in the hole 51 in the land. The hole may be round or may be a slot formation. In either form the hole is positioned adjacent to the passage 54 for the bolt 46. The combination of the projection and hole 51 forms .an anti-turn means to prevent the fixed or stationary contacts from pivoting about the bolt 46 and disengaging from the movable contact or engaging another electrically conductive element. The hole 51 is molded in the land and the projection 50 punched in the terminal portion at the time the contact is stamped.

The contact buttons are supported by an L-shaped member 55 extending normal to the foot 45. The button supporting portion 55a extends parallel to and in the opposite direction to the foot.

The relay may be connected to other components by leads attached to terminals and contacts on the terminal strip side of the base or by plugs on the other side. In the plug-in type of relay pins 58 have hexagonal heads 57 fitting in wells 56 and resilient pin contacts 58a. The pins 58 are attached to the terminals or contacts by bolts 46 and nuts 47.

The passages 54 extend through the base plate and the terminal strip or contact block to communicate with hexagonal shaped wells 56. The hexagonal shaped wells and head form an anti-turning or twisting means. The pins 58 are used when the plug-in type of relay is used. The wells recess the heads of the bolts from the supporting board to provide the desired voltage spacing when the leads are connected to the terminals on the upper side of the base.

The terminal strip and block have raised portions or lands 48 on which the fixed contacts are mounted. The terminal mounting strips 3S, 39 also have raised lands 59 with grooves 60 on each side. The passages 54 (FIG. l2) extend through the terminal strips 38, 39 to communicate with the hexagonal wells S5. A spade type terminal 61 having a flat fastening portion 62 with iianges 63 may be used with these lands (FIGS. l and 2). The anges overlap the sides of the lands into the grooves 60. This overlapping forms an anti-turn means so that the clamping or plug-in portion 61a projecting from the fastening portion 62 is not twisted to engage one of the adjacent terminals.

The electromagnet 29 is mounted on the base 21 in the recess 41. The coil assembly 30 with the core 31 and the L-shaped mounting member 32 is fastened to the base 21 by a bolt 64 extending through the hole 641e and threaded in the core 31. The mounting member has round projections o5 fitting in circular holes 66 to position the electromagnet and the movable contacts.

The armature 28 is pivotally mounted on the L-shaped member 32. Referring to FIG. 11, the pivotal mounting means comprise slots 67 formed in opposite edges of the armature and spaced projections 63 extending from the end of the member 32 fitting into the slots 67. The

armature is resiliently spaced or pivoted from the end of the core by a spring biasing means 69 (FIG. 2). The biasing means 69 comprises a helical spring 7() fastened to the ear 71 and tab 72. rI`he ear 71 is stamped from the L-shaped member and projects therefrom at the base end opposite to the pivotal mounting means. The tab 72 projects from the end of the armature 2S., The spring pivots the armature away from the core to engage the stop 124.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 the armature has contact mounting means 8G fastened thereto for supporting the

movable contacts

26, 27. The contact mounting means is formed in two parts, a lower contact supporting member 81 and an upper Contact retaining member S2. The contact supporting member 81 has a main panel S3 setting on the upper surface of the armature and having edge anges 84, 85 and 86 extending normal to the panel and overlapping the edges of the armature to hold the supporting member in alignment. At the end adjacent to the pivotal mounting the main panel has a slot S7 in the center of the edge with two iianges or webs extending along the sides of the slot. The T-shaped key projects from the end of the L-shaped member 32 through the opening 91 in the armature (FIG. 1l). The slot is fitted around the key with the head 92 of the key overlapping with the anges S8 (FIG. 8) to lock the armature on the L-shaped member.

On the other side of the main panel are two pairs of spaced

projections

93, 94 longitudinally aligned. The

contacts

26, 27 have circular holes 96, 97 respectively. The

contacts

26, 27 snap on said projections and seat on the upper surface of the panel. The projections position the contacts in spaced parallel relation and serve to intitially retain the contacts in place during assembly of the mounting means. A partition 93 extends longitudinally down the center of the panel to provide barrier between the contacts and to stifen the supporting member.

The contact retaining member 82 has an outer main panel 160 having side edge anges 101 fitting in side grooves 102 on lower main panel 83. The flanges 101 have slots 103 to receive the fingers 11M of the contact supporting means. The fingers are biased inwardly and have tangs 105 to grip the contact retaining member for holding the members S1, 82 together during the mounting of the members on the armature. The tangs 105 snap into recesses 106 in the top of the main panel 11MB (FIG. 8). The

members

81, 82 are preferably made of nylon. This imparts a resiliency to the fingers permitting an outward flexure as the retaining member is snapped in place.

Pressure applying posts

107 and 198 on the inside of panel 100 have holes 109, 11@ that mate with the

projections

93, 94. The posts press against the contacts 266, 27 to firmly grip the contacts between the retaining and supporting members and restrict the flexure of the contacts. The post 108 extends across the width of the panel 1% to stiffen the retaining member and walls 111 extend around the opening to provide support and stitfening to the member. The walls 111 also engage the contacts and transmit the pressure of the bolt 112 fastening the two members to the armature 28. The passage 123 is narrowed at the armature side of the main panel 83 by a nylon bead 99. The diameter of the hole formed by the bead is approximately equal to the pitch diameter of the bolt. The bolt is threaded into the armature and cuts a thread in the bead to embed the bead in the thread of the bolt. The nylon liows around the threads of the bolt and the resiliency of the nylon bead locks the bolt against transient rotational forces. The bead remains under stress.

The panel 83 of the Contact supporting member has a cylindrical boss 129 telescoping inside of the wall 111 and engaging the panel 11i@ of the retaining member. Slots 113 are provided in the front edge ange 114 for passing the

contacts

26, 27 and slots 115 are provided in the rear edge iange 116 to pass the leads 117, 11S. A center slot 119 is provided to pass the head 92 of the key 90 (FIGS. 4 and ll). The side flanges 191 and the panel 83 are provided with

steps

129, 121 to longitudinally position the two members prior to assembly on the armature. The anges 841-36 form anti-turning means so that the mounting means remains in place.

The straight and

fiat contacts

26, 27 extend in a 4single plane and are made of resilient copper alloy material to flex on engaging the buttons. As previously described the

contacts

26, 27 are assembled on the contact supporting member 81. The leads 117, 11S are fastened to the contacts by resistance brazing prior to the mounting of the contacts on the projections. The projections grip the contacts to hold the contacts on the lower contact supporting member during assembling of the relay.

As previously described the

posts

107 and 108 bear against the contacts and firmly press them against the panel 83. The rear posts 101i grip the contacts adjacent to th-e connection of the leads to the contacts. This firmly holds the connection against iiexure. The rear frange 116 has openings 115. The leads are preferably silver plated wire with silicone insulation. The slots have a width so that the edge of the slots holds the

leads

117, 118 against the main panel 83. The leads are thus held at two places. The gripping of the leads by the contact mounting member and contact retaining member prevents excessive iiexing of the leads at the attaching juncture to the contacts. The openings 115 are adjacent to the pivotal mounting so that there is very little movement of the leads when the armature is actuated.

The posts 107 restrict the iiexture of the contacts to the portion between the forward projections and the contact buttons. Thus the movement of the contacts is limited to the forward portion thereof. The connection of the leads to the contacts is protected against undue iiexure and the life of the connection is thereby extended.

In order to limit the engaging movement and pressure of the

contacts

26, 27 and the pressure of the

contacts

26, 27 on the

xed contacts

22, 25 the are barrier 44 extends to form a stop 124. A finger 125 extends from the main panel S3 in a plane generally parallel to the contacts to engage the stop 124. Thus the arc of travel of the armature is limited by the stop 124 and the core 31. The leads 117, 11S are fastened to terminals on the mounting strips 38, 39 by lugs 126, 127 and held in place by round head screw nuts. The bolts 46 extend beyond the nut 47 and a hexagonal nut 128 is threaded thereon to receive the cables connecting the relay to other components.

The core 31 is cylindrical in shape and is made of soft magnetizable iron. The bottom surface of the core is flat. and a thin copper spacer is positioned between the end of the core and the magnet frame 32. The end of .5 the core at the armature has a beveled peripheral edge 33a (FIG. 11) forming a chamfer and has aslot intersecting the chamfer. A shading coil 131 comprising a loop of copper fits in the slot. The coil or loop 131 imparts the necessary flux for holding the armature in engagement'vvith the top face of the core during the portion of the cycle when the main flux is going through zero. This loop minimizes alternating current hum and is convntional in most alternating current actuated re lays. r4:As illustrated in FIG. 1l the loop has a straight portion 132 which lits in an off center slot 133 in the endaof the core. The loop is secured in place by a small prtion of the pole face of the core being staked over at each end of the' slot with a round punch leaving semicircular punch marks 134, 135 at each end of the slot embracing the core material on both sides of the slot in the region of the chamfer around the top edge of the core. The chamfers formed at each end by a round punch minimize pole face distortion with its resulting A.C. hum. This materially reduces extra filing and grinding operations.

The shading coil also holds the main magnetizing coil of the coil assembly 30 on the core. The coil assembly is fastened to the base by a single bolt and may be used for two and three pole relays. The contact mounting means 80 extends to vcover the pivotal mounting of the armature on the magnetic frame and prevent entry of grit imparing the operation of the relay.

The base 141 (FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16),

terminal mounting strips

142, 143 and contact blocks 144, 145 are formed as a single molded piece. The base has a rectangular shape. A mounting plate is riveted on one side for securing the relay to a'panel o'r the like. Th contact blocks 144, 145 are located at one end of the base and the terminal strips extend from the blocks along opposite edges to form with the blocks a recess 157. The terminal strips 142, 143 extend to the opposite end of the base from the blocks and have lands 163, 164 respectively for supporting fastening means on the relay. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15, the lands 163, 164 project above the surface of the mounting strip and have intervening grooves 163a, 164a therebetween. The surfaces 163e, 164e forming the walls of the groo'veextend laterally downward from the terminal surfaces of the land and provide anti-turn means with the flanges 63 (FIG. 2) of the terminal. In the grooves between the lands are raised portions 163b, 164b to provide a barrier between the fastening means or terminals 61 (FIG. 2). The fastening means may be similar to those described in connection with the two pole relay. j

The contact blocks 144, 145, are different from the corresponding members of the two pole relay. The inner block 144 supports the lower fixed contacts, 149, 150, 151 and the outer block supports the upper fixed

contacts

146, 147, 148. Considering in detail the two fixed center to the terminal 55 shown in FIG. 7.' The L-shaped portion 165 is at right angles to the foot 165a. The foot -has -a projection 166 fitting in a slot 167. The terminal 147 has a contact button 147a which is spaced above the contact 150a of the lower terminal 150. The L-shaped portion 165 extends perpendicular tothe foot portion 165a and is turned so that the button supporting portion extends in the same direction asthe foot portion. The center terminal 147 is mounted so that the L-shaped portion is spaced from the L-shaped portion 165. This prevents arcing or contacting of the two terminals. The

blocks

144, 145, have lands 160a, b, c and 162a, b, c respectively. The lands 162a, b, c are positioned above lands 160a, b, c since the block 145 is thicker than block 144. Since the L-shaped members are of the same height the buttons are correspondingly spaced.

The terminals are held in place in the same manner as the terminals of the rtwo pole relay. Threaded

members

206, 207 extending through passages 208, 209 are threaded into the foot portions to secure the termin.` in place. The projections 166 in slots 167 prevent t terminals from twisting from the desired position.

A terminal nut 211 is threaded on the shaft 207 for cc necting a lead to contact 147. The threaded meint 206 connects the contact on the underside of t block 144. The

upper contacts

146 and 148 are simil: ly mounted on Vlands 162a and 162e. These lands 2 slightly lower than the land 1621'1. p The lands 160a a e are also slightly lower than land 160]). Thus t buttons 149a and 151a are slightly lower than the spective buttons 146a and 148a. Between each pair upper and lower contacts are

arc barriers

168, 169. The barriers are similar to arc barrier 44 of the two pole rel and are coextensive with the contacts to completely i: late one pair from the other. On the electromagnet si the barriers have stops 16841, 169a for limiting the moi ment of the armature of the relay. These stops are si; ilar to and function in the same manner as stop 124 the two pole relay.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the outside lower fixed

cc tacts

149, 151 have the respective L-shaped portions z jacent to a respective arc barrier. The

contacts

149, 1 and contacts 146, 14S are fastened on the respecti lands by threaded members extending through the bloc in a manner similar to the attachment of contacts 1 150. Projections 166 nt in holes or slots 167 to prevc twisting of the contacts. The base has wells 213 for cessing the heads of the threaded members extendi through the

blocks

144, 145 and strips 163, 164 to spa the heads or ends from the metal mounting plate attach to the base. A square hole 214 in the space permits t molding of the stops 168a, 169a. The molded meml is completely formed in a single piece with all of t openings, passages, recesses, mounting surfaces, spacir and the like to properly position the contacts and t minals. f

The electromagnet 153 is identical to the electromagi of the two pole relay except that the armature 159 l two threaded holes 15911. The movable contact mou; ing 170 has three

contacts

154, 155, 156. The moval contact mounting comprises a contact supporting me ber 171 and a contact retaining member 172. The c( tact supporting member 171 (FIG. 18) has a center pai with a U-shaped flange 173 on the armature side l fitting over the edges of the armature to hold the moval i terminals illustrated in FIG. 15 the terminal 147 is similar contact mounting in place and prevent twisting. At t back end of the panel, a notch 174 is provided simil in structure and function to the notch 87 of member 1 On the contact side of the supporting member the c: ter panel 175 has a raised portion or land 176 for si portingthe center contact in a plane spaced from t plane containing the other two contacts. The cen pair of fixed contacts, as previously described, are a` offset. Thus the center contacts are in proper relati to the center movable contact 155. The contacts or f gers have two small openings longitudinally aligned. 'I projections 179 snugly fit in the openings to hold 1 contacts on during assembly of the unit and provide positive alignment of the contacts. The contacts r on the panel and are firmly held by the retaining me ber. Partitions 177 are provided between the conta and extend as part ofthe fingers 178.

The retaining member 172 is similar to the retaini member 82 and cooperates with the contact supporti member 171 to grip the

contacts

154, 155, 156 in a si ilar manner to the cooperation of retaining member and the contact supporting member 81. At the front the flange 196 there are slots 182 for passing the c(

tacts

154, 155, 156. At the rear of the flange there 1 slots 183 for passing the leads to the contacts. The cc tact supporting member also has posts 184, 185 w holes 186, 187 and

posts

188, 189 with holes 188a, 18 The

posts

184, 185 press against the

contacts

154, 1 to grip the contacts against the center panel of the mou ing member. The projections 179 snugly fit in a holding relation in the

holes

186, 187. The

posts

188, 189 are shorter than the

posts

184, 185 to accomodate the land 176 supporting the spaced center contact 155. The projections 179 snugly fit in'a holding relation in the holes 188:1, 189a. The

posts

185, 189 have curved cx- ?ensions 193 around the holes 190 for transmitting thc pressure ofthe bolt 191 (FIG. 14) to the mounting member. telcscopically fitting in the posts and extensions ofthe retaining member to distribute the pressure of the fastening means. The bosses have a reduced section (not shown) in the holes 194a similar to the bead 99,in the contact supporting member of the two pole relay. These reduced sections frictionally lock the bolts 191 against rotation. The inner ends of the contacts 154-156 are gripped between the posts of the retaining member and the panel and land of the contact supporting member. The outer or free ends of the contacts flex under pressure in relation to the gripped portion. This gripping of the contacts positively determines the length of the flexing portion of the contact and is not altered since the contact supporting and retaining members do not warp. The contacts 1544156 are straight and easily mounted on the contact supporting member. The supporting mcmber has fingers 197 which fit in grooves 198 in the side of flange 196 of the retaining member. The fingers have ribs 199 to snap over the top of the center panel to intcrlock the two parts together until the bolts 191 are fastened in place.

The upward or de-cnergizedV movement is limited by the fingers 178 extending from the contact supporting member. The

contacts

154, 155, 156 are spaced by partitions 177 extending from the bosses 194 and normal to the panel and terminating approximately at half the length of the fingers 178. Short partitions 176 extend on the other side, flaring away from one another. The short partitions space the leads and the terminal portion of the contacts. The contacts have butons on both sides and fit between the upper and lower fixed contacts.

The ciectromagnet 153 is identical to the electromagnet of the two pole embodiment and functions in the identical manner so the` description will not be repeated.

The basic features of the two and three pole relays may be incorporated in relays having four or more poles. The base and contact mounting means are enlarged to accommodate the increase in the conductive elements. The elcctromagnet is also increased in size. VThe contact mounting means of the four pole relay is similar to the contact mounting means of the two pole relay except that two mounting means are used to provide four movable contacts. The contact mounting means are identical to the contact mounting means of the two pole relay, but are fastened on a larger armature in a side by side relationship. Each contact mounting means has a separate member extending to engagevthe stop on the respective arc barriers. The base is larger with the terminal strip portions extending along three of the edges. The terminal block for the fixed terminals is similar to the terminal f block of the three pole relay.

-f The six pole relay also has a larger base incorporating all the design features of the two, three and four pole relays. The electromagnct of the six pole relay may be the same as thc four pole relay except there is an additional metal bar 221 mounted on top of the armature 220 to extend the armature on each side thereof (FIG. 19). Two separate contact mounting means 222, cach similar to a three pole contact mounting means, are fastened to the bar. The edge flanges 223 of the contact mounting means have solts 224. The bar fits into the slots to position the contact mounting means and prevent turning of the contacts. A five pole relay may bc formed by using a three pole and a two pole contact mounting means. The base of the six pole contact mounting means has the terminal strips extending along three of the edges. The

On the contact supporting member are bosses 192 Y terminal block for the fixed contacts is similar in construction to that of the three pole relay. Each of the bases is molded in a similar manner with similar molding techniques using a phenolic resin or the like. The are barriers and lands and the recessed wells are used to tsoiate the contacts and terminals to provide the desired voltage clearances. The bases of the relays having three or more poles have openings similar to the openings in the bases of the two and three pole relays.

It is seen from the foregoing description that a new and simplified type of electromagnetic relay has been provided in which the number of parts of the relay have been materially reduced over previous relays of a similar type and the number of means for fastening the parts together has also been reduced. A single bolt or other suitable fastening means is used to hold the contacts and terminals in place. A simple anti-turn means is provided on the fixed contacts Vso that once positioned and fastened in place the contacts do not move. The contact mounting means also permits the use of straight movable contact members which greatly reduces the cost and simplifies the manufacture of the relay. The contact mounting means is also formed from two molded pieces which permits the initial mounting of the contacts without the use of any additional fastening means and the contact mounting means is-held together so that the assembled unit may be fastened to the armature of the electromagnet by a single screw. The contact mounting means also provides a protective cover to the pivotal single connection of the armature to the magnetic frame and also provides a lock preventing the armature from disengaging from the magnetic frame.

Other features more specifically described in the detailed description provide for the simplicity and ease of manufacture of the relay while retaining all of the high quality performance of prior relays.

We claim:

l. An electromagnetic relay comprising a generally first fixed contact mounting means formed as part of said base and separately extending from the contact bearing side of said base forming one set of first fixed contact supporting surfaces at one level for supporting one set of fixed contacts, a second fixed contact mounting means formed as part of said base and separately extending from the contact bearing side ofsald base forming ttY second set of fixed contact supporting surfaces at a second level and extending crosswise to said first fixed contact supporting surfaces for supporting a second and lower let of fixed contacts erosswise to said other set of fixed Vcontacts and spacing the current transfer portions of said fixed contacts into pairs of upper and lower spaced contacts, barrier means formed as part of said base extending normal to said supporting surfaces and isolating said fixed contacts into pairs of upper and lower contacts, an elcctromagnet having an armature with resilient linger contacts mounted thereon, said electromagnet mounted on the contact bearing side of said base to position said finger contacts between the fixed contacts of a respectivo pair to resiliently engage the current transfer portions of one set of contacts on deenergization of said magnet and engage the current transfer portions of the other set of contacts on energization of said electromagnet.

2. In an electromagnetic relay having a base, a coil assembly, fixed contacts, a frame mounted on said base, and an armature for supporting movable contacts engaging the fixed contacts hingedly mounted on the frame for actuation on cncrgization of the coil assembly; a plurality of resilient movable contacts and a mounting means for holding said movable contacts on said armature, said movable contacts formed of thin resilient metal having an elongated shape with contact engaging means at one end and spaced holes through the contacts at the other end, said mounting means comprising a contact supporting member and a contact retaining member each made of resilient plastic material, said contact supporting member having a panel mounted on said armature and flange means overlapping the armature to position the contact supporting member thereon, means on said panel to hold said contacts and fitting in said spaced holes to position said contacts parallel to one another, said contact retaining member having posts engaging said contacts to rmly fasten the mounted end of said contacts to said armature in order to resiliently press said contact engaging means against the tixed contacts on energization lof the coil assembly.

3. A supporting block with electrical elements including contact elements comprising a single piece substantially flat rectangular base, terminal supporting means on one side of said base, xed contact supporting means only on the same side, said terminal supporting means and said fixed contact supporting means each separately extending from said side for supporting electrical elements including contact elements on said fixed contact supporting means, said fixed contact supporting means formed into a plurality of pairs with the support means of a given pair at different levels and positioned crosswise to one another, contact elements of substantially the same size and configuration mounted on said iixed contact supporting means and having Contact transfer portions in aligned spaced relation and barrier means extending normal to said base to isolate said contact elements supported on said xed contact supporting means.

4. In an electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said supporting member has resilient fingers overlapping with said retaining member, said lingers being formed to fit over said retaining member to initially hold said members together.

5. In an electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 2 leads are provided and said contact retaining member has a flange spaced from the terminal end of said contacts, said flange having notch means for passing leads and gripping said leads to prevent excessive exing at the point of juncture between leads and the contacts.

6. In an electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said contact mounting means has two resilient fingers extending in overlapping relation with said contact retaining member, each having a tang at one end and said retaining member having a recess receiving said tangs to interlock said members in a joined relationship independent of other fastening means.

7. In an electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said members each has at least one passage extending laterally therethrough and one of said members has a bead restricting said passage, a threaded member extending through said passages and fastening in said armature to secure said mounting means on said armature, said threaded member deforming the bead to rmly hold the threaded member against transient rotational forces.

8. In an electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein pivotal mounting means are provided to pivotally connect said armature on said frame and are located within said contact mounting means so that said contact mounting means covers said pivotal means.

9. In an electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining member and said contact supporting member have resilient interlocking means overlapping one member with another to hold said members in a detachable joined relationship independent of any other fastening means.

10. In an electromagnetic relay having a ferromagnetic core with a magnetizing winding and having a ferromagnetic mounting frame forming an external flux path, said ferromagnetic mounting member having an armature pivotally mounted to reduce the length of the ux path on energization of said winding, armature locking means comprising an aperture in said armature and a member on said frame extending through said aperture, said member having a projection spaced from said armature, contact carrying means mounted on and fastened to said armature, said contact carrying means having an interlocking portion extending between said projection and said armature to lock said armature on said ferromagnetic mounting frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,700,890 2/ 29 Hodgkins et al 200-91 2,275,924 3/42 Seeley 200-104 2,424,308 7/47 Ellis et al. 200-87 2,561,450 7/51 Russell 200-144 2,658,961 11/53 Fisher 200-104 2,839,631 6/58 Rice 200-87 2,892,053 6/59 Lambert et al. 200-87 2,896,045 7 59 Brunicardi 200-87 2,899,519 8/59 Kramer 200--104 2,907,847 10/ 59 Grenier et al 20G-104 3,014,103 12/61 Moran et al 200--87 3,032,631 5/ 62 Edmunds 200-114 FOREIGN PATENTS 911,443 3/46 France.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. MAX L. LEVY, ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiners.

Claims

2. IN AN ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY HAVING A BASE, A COIL ASSEMBLY, FIXED CONTACTS, A FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, AND AN ARMATURE FOR SUPPORTING MOVABLE CONTACTS ENGAGING THE FIXED CONTACTS HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR ACTUATION ON ENERGIZATION OF THE COIL ASSEMBLY; A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT MOVABLE CONTACTS AND A MOUNTING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID MOVABLE CONTACTS ON SAID ARMATURE, SAID MOVABLE CONTACTS FORMED OF THIN RESILIENT METAL HAVING AN ELONGATED SHAPE WITH CONTACT ENGAGING MEANS AT ONE END AND SPACED HOLES THROUGH THE CONTACTS AT THE OTHER END, SAID MOUNTING MEANS COMPRISING A CONTACT SUPPORTING MEMBER AND A CONTACT RETAINING MEMBER EACH MADE OF RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID CONTACT SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING A PANEL MOPUNTED ON SAID ARMATURE AND FLANGE MEANS OVERLAPPING THE ARMATURE TO POSITION THE CONTACT SUPPORTING MEMBER THEREON, MEANS ON SAID PANEL TO HOLD SAID CONTACTS AND FITTING IN SAID SPACED HOLES TO POSITION SAID CONTACTS PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID CONTACT RETRAINING MEMBER HAVING POSTS ENGAGING SAID CONTACTS TO FIRMLY FASTEN THE MOUNTED END OF SAID CONTACTS TO SAID ARMATURE IN ORDER TO RESILIENT PRESS SAID CONTACT ENGAGING MEANS AGAINST THE FIXED CONTACTS ON ENERGIZATION OF THE COIL ASSEMBLY.