US3207872A - Thermal bimetallic relay - Google Patents

Thermal bimetallic relay Download PDF

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Publication number
US3207872A
US3207872A US231931A US23193162A US3207872A US 3207872 A US3207872 A US 3207872A US 231931 A US231931 A US 231931A US 23193162 A US23193162 A US 23193162A US 3207872 A US3207872 A US 3207872A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bimetal
lug
relay
thermal
strips
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
US231931A
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English (en)
Inventor
Nauer Paul
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.)
Landis and Gyr AG
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Landis and Gyr AG
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CH1294261A external-priority patent/CH389097A/de
Application filed by Landis and Gyr AG filed Critical Landis and Gyr AG
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Publication of US3207872A publication Critical patent/US3207872A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H53/00—Relays using the dynamo-electric effect, i.e. relays in which contacts are opened or closed due to relative movement of current-carrying conductor and magnetic field caused by force of interaction between them
    • H01H53/01—Details
    • H01H53/015—Moving coils; Contact-driving arrangements associated therewith
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B11/00—Automatic controllers
    • G05B11/01—Automatic controllers electric
    • G05B11/012—Automatic controllers electric details of the transmission means
    • G05B11/018—Automatic controllers electric details of the transmission means using thermal amplifiers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H53/00—Relays using the dynamo-electric effect, i.e. relays in which contacts are opened or closed due to relative movement of current-carrying conductor and magnetic field caused by force of interaction between them
    • H01H53/06—Magnetodynamic relays, i.e. relays in which the magnetic field is produced by a permanent magnet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H61/00—Electrothermal relays
    • H01H61/02—Electrothermal relays wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively

Definitions

  • a variety .of constructions are known for such amplifiers including, for example, magnetic amplifiers and sensitive non-voltage relays with large switching relays connected thereto.
  • the invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bimetal relay illustratively used with a servo-motor, and having a movably mounted control'element in the form of a heating lug; and
  • FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a bimetal relay having a movably mounted control element in the form of a cooling lug.
  • FIGURE 1 there is illustrated two contacts 1 and 2 and between them two bimetal strips 3 and 4 which act ascontact carriers and are relatively arranged so that their sides with the greater coefiicient of expansion face outwards.
  • the bimetal strips 3 and'4 are mechanically connected by a transverse member 5 in differential arrangement, so that variations in the ambient temperature have no-eifect on the positions of the strips.
  • the strips are provided with respective contacts 6 and 7'which cooperate alternatively and respectively with the contacts 1 and 2, thus forming two bimetal contact devices.
  • the transversememb'er 5 which connects the bimetal strips approximately at the height of the two contacts 6 and 7, acts also as a spacer ensuring that the distance between the contacts 6 and 7 is always the same, independently of the temperature of the bimetal strips 3 and 4.
  • the contacts 1 and 2 aremounted on normal contact springs 1A, 2A, so that there is frictional contact-making.
  • the two switches formed by the-contacts 1 and 6 and 2 and 7 respectively are located, for example, in the circuit 8 of a servo-motor 9.
  • a control element embodied in the form of a heating lug 10, which is mounted for movement relatively to the strips in the direction of the arrows.
  • the lug 10 is equipped with a heating coil 11, which receives voltage through supply leads 12and 13 from the terminals 14 of a current source.
  • the leads 12 and 13 are also used as described more fully hereinafter for mounting the heating lug 10.
  • the movable heating lug 10 is designed and arranged so that'when it is in its central position between the two bimetal strips 3 and 4 it heats both strips to the same temperature. In this position, which is shown in FIGURE 1, the two switches formed by the contacts 1 and 6 and 2 and 8 respectively are open, i.e., the servo-motor 9is deenergized and stationary. However, if the heating lug 10 deviates laterally from its central position to the left or right, such deviation results in unbalanced heating of the bimetal strips 3 and 4 and, depending on the direction in which the heating lug 10 has been moved, the resultant deformation of the bimetal system 3, 4, 5, closes one of the two switches 1, 6 or 2, 7. Thus, the servo-motor 9 is actuated and driven in one or the other direction.
  • the illustrated embodiment also includes electric measuring means 15 comprising a coil 16, designed as a flat coil, which is mounted between the permanent U-magnets 17, 18 for approximately straight-line movement in the direction of the related arrows.
  • the flat coil 16 is mounted to avoid hysteresis by means of resilient bands 19 and 20, also serving as electric supply leads, and by means of the supply leads 12, 13.
  • the coil 16 is connected, for ex ample, in a Wheatstone bridge circuit 21 containing a measuring member 22, such as a temperature-sensitive resistor, for sensing the measured value.
  • the heating lug 10 is rigidly connected to the flat coil 16by the supply leads 12 and 13, so that it follows the approximately linear deviating movements of the coil.
  • the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 operates as follows: The flat coil 16*is acted on by the output voltage of the Wheatstone bridge 21. Thus a force is exerted on the coil 16 which is mounted for linear movement in the magnetic field of the U-magnets 17 and 18. The direction of the force, and thus the direction in which the flat coil 16 moves, depends on the direction of the current output of the bridge. Acting together with the coil 16, the heating lug 10 is moved in one or the other direction between the bimetal strips 3 nd 4. If the lug 10 is moved to the left, for example, towards the bimetal strip 3, this produces a temperature difference between the strips 3 and 4, which causes the bimetal system 3, 4, 5 to deviate to the right towards thecontact 2.
  • the switch 2, 7 is closed and the controlling servo-motor 9 starts running, for example, clockwise. If on the other hand the heating lug 10 moves to the right, an opposite temperature difference is produced in the bimetal system 3, 4, 5 causing the bimetal system 3, 4, 5" to deviate leftwards towards the contact 1. This makes the switch 1, 6 close and consequently reverses the polarity of the controlling servomotor 9, so that it starts running in'the opposite direction.
  • the bimetal strips 3 and 4 may also be relatively arranged with their sides-having the greater coeflicient of expansion inwards, i.e., facing one another.
  • the arrangement previously described, with the sides having the greater coefficient of expansion outermost, i.e., 'awlay fromeach other, is particularly favorable, however since, when heating lug 10 deviates, the bimetal strip heated more intensely by it bends towards the lug 10 and is therefore heated to an even greater extent. This accelerates the bending of the bimetal system 3, 4, 5 thus also accelerating the contact movement whereby positive, trouble-free contact-making is effected.
  • this arrangement also'produces favorably accelerated contactopening since, when the heating lug 10 moves back towards the central position, the bimetal strip previouslyheated more intensely simultaneously bends back to regain its original shape, i.e., bends away from the heating Patented Sept. 21, 1965- 3 lug 10, so that the bimetal system 3, 4, 5 and thus the movable contact, moves out of its closed position with increasing velocity away from the fixed opposite contact.
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates in part another construction of the bimetal relay.
  • a non-heated cooling lug 23 is arranged as a movably mounted control element between two heated bimetal strips 24 and 25 which are mechanical-1y connected for differential action by a transverse member 5.
  • the cooling lug 23 is actuated by a measuring element (not shown) for example, by the arrangement of FIGURE 1, and can be displaced by this element in the directions of the two arrows.
  • the inwardly directed sides 26 and 27 of the bimetal strips 24 and 25 have the greater coeflicient of expansion.
  • the cooling lug 23 moves, for example, to the right towards the bimetal strip 25, the latter is cooled more intensely than the bimetal strip 24. This makes the bimetal system 24, 5, 25, curve to the right towards the contact 31, and the switch formed by the contacts 30, 31 is closed. If on the other hand the cooling lug 23 bends to the left towards the bimetal strip 24, then the bimetal system 24, 5, 25, bends in the opposite direction, and the switch 28, 29 is closed.
  • the bimetal strips 24 and 25 can also be relatively arranged so that their sides 26 and 27 having the greater coefficient of expansion are on the outside, i.e., away from one another.
  • the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, however, with the sides 26 and 27 having the greater coefficient of expansion inside, i.e., facing one another, is particularly favorable in the present case since, when the cooling lug 23 is deflected, the bimetal strip cooled more intensely by it bends towards the lug 23 and is therefore cooled to an even greater extent with the result that the bending-out movement of the bimetal system 24, 5, 25, is accelerated. Hence, the related contact movement is also accelerated, i.e., there is positive trouble-free contact-making effected.
  • this arrangement also produces favorably accelerated contact-opening since, when the cooling lug 23 moves back towards the central position, the bimetal strip previously cooled more intensely simultaneously bends back to regain its original shape, i.e. bends away from the cooling lug 23, so that the bimetal system 24, 5, 25, and thus the movable contact, moves out of its closed position with increasing velocity away from the fixed opposite contact.
  • the closing and opening characteristic of the switches is particularly favorable if the sides of the bimetal strips having the greater coefficient of expansion are arranged facing one another, whereas for the same physical reasons, when the control element is in the form of a heating lug, the switching characteristic is particularly favorable if the sides of the bimetal strips having the greater coefficient of expansion are arranged away from one another.
  • the control element mounted for movement relative to the bimetal strips can be in the form of two heating lugs arranged outside the bimetal system to the left and right of the bimetal strips and mechanically. connected together.
  • the measuring element moves the heating system, one heating lug moving towards one bimetal strip while the other heating lug simultaneously moves away from the other bimetal strip.
  • a movably mounted control element made up of two mechanically connected cooling lugs could similarly be used.
  • two bimetal contact devices several such devices or only one can be provided, and instead of a servo-motor other appliances may be controlled.
  • the bimetal relay describe-d may be affected not only by the measured value but also by a return or follow-up (feedback) mechanism.
  • the bimetal relay of the constructions described can also be advantageously used with other measuring elements.
  • the measuring element may, for example, take the form of a rotary coil instrument, the coil being mounted for rotation against a resilient returning force in the magnetic field of a permanent magnet.
  • the coil of the measuring element may have a plurality of windings for the purpose of adding and subtracting electrical values.
  • a lever transmission may also be providedbetween' the meaasuring element and the control element mounted for movement relative to the bimetal strips, to increase the extent and velocity of the deviating movement of the measuring element as it is transferred to the control element.
  • the lever transmission which can be realized particularly easily when a rotary coil instrument is used as a measuring element by applying the principle of the one-armed lever, increases the sensitivity of the bimetal relay.
  • Any other permanently dynamic system for example with a plunger, can be used as control member, as can electro-dynamic and mechanical systems, such as hygrometers, or thermal systems.
  • the bimetal relay according to the invention has the advantage that with it strong contacts can be simply, cheaply and reliably operated with substantial contact pressure from small measured values. It is distinctive in that the initial value need move only a small, light control element which is mounted almost without friction and has a very low mass moment of inertia, and which thus requires only very small activating forces. The necessary contact pressure is produced by the bimetal strips, so that. the system according to the invention acts to a certain extent like a simple servo-system," where only very small forces need be applied to the control element, for example about 0.1 g, and where a contact force many times larger, for example about 10 g, is nevertheless obtained With frictional contact-making.
  • a thermal relay for providing an output indication related to an applied electrical signal, comprising a set of electrical contacts, temperature responsive means for operating said contacts and thereby provide said output indication; electromechanical means operatively connectable for response to said applied electrical signal; and a thermal control member in proximity with said temperature responsive means and mounted for movement toward and away from said temperature responsive means, said control member being so coupled to said electromecham ical means that the position thereof is a function of said applied electrical signal; said thermal control member being operative to provide a temperature differential so that said contacts are operated in accordance with the position of said control member relative to said temperature responsive means.
  • thermo relay in accordance with claim 1 wherein said temperature responsive means is a bimetallic contact member, and said thermal control member includes a heating element.
  • S d temperature responsive means is a heated bimetal lic contact member and said thermal control member includes a thermally conductive cooling member.
  • a thermal relay for providing an output indication related to an applied electrical signal comprising bimetallic contact means adapted to provide said output indication; means for providing a magnetic field; an electromagnetic moving coil means disposed in said magnetic field and operatively connectable for energization by said applied electrical signal; and thermal control means coupled to said moving coil means and mounted for movement toward and away from said bimetallic contact means, said thermal control means being operative to affect the temperature of said bimetallic contact means in accordance with the position relative thereto to thereby control said output indication.
  • a thermal relay for providing an output indication related to an applied electrical signal comprising contact means including a pair of spaced-apart bimetallic elements; a control member mounted for lateral movement between said bimetallic elements; electromechanical means operatively coupled to control the position of said control member as a function of said applied input signal; and thermal means coupled to said control member and operative to alfect the temperature of said bimetallic elements in accordance with the position of said control member.
  • thermo means is an electrical heating element
  • each of said bimetallic elements includes a pair of metallic members having diiferent coefficients of expansion and wherein said metallic members having the greater coefficients of expansion face outwardly away from said movable heating element.
  • thermo means is a cooling element.
  • each of said bimetallic elements includes a pair of metallic members having difierent coefficients of expansion and wherein said metallic members having the greater coefficients of expansion face inwardly toward said movable cooling element.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
US231931A 1961-11-08 1962-10-22 Thermal bimetallic relay Expired - Lifetime US3207872A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1294261A CH389097A (de) 1961-11-08 1961-11-08 Bimetallrelais
CH865062A CH397087A (de) 1961-11-08 1962-07-18 Bimetallrelais

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3207872A true US3207872A (en) 1965-09-21

Family

ID=25703579

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US231905A Expired - Lifetime US3204064A (en) 1961-11-08 1962-10-22 Thermal relay having movable heat transfer device
US231931A Expired - Lifetime US3207872A (en) 1961-11-08 1962-10-22 Thermal bimetallic relay

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US231905A Expired - Lifetime US3204064A (en) 1961-11-08 1962-10-22 Thermal relay having movable heat transfer device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US3204064A (es)
CH (1) CH397087A (es)
DE (1) DE1170548B (es)
GB (1) GB979180A (es)
NL (2) NL121140C (es)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3765191A (en) * 1972-06-21 1973-10-16 Gen Motors Corp Timer circuit-automotive compressor
US4053137A (en) * 1976-01-16 1977-10-11 De Laval Turbine Inc. Electromechanically operated valve
US4088976A (en) * 1975-10-14 1978-05-09 Technar, Inc. Thermally operated bimetal actuator
DE102004019178A1 (de) * 2004-04-16 2005-11-03 Abb Patent Gmbh Installationsschaltgerät
US20080242707A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2008-10-02 Bayer Healthcare Ag Pharmaceutical Composition for the Treatment of Cancer

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE621639C (de) * 1927-07-02 1935-11-11 Alfred Huster Dipl Ing Strahlungssteuerwerk
US2195947A (en) * 1937-03-31 1940-04-02 Gen Electric Heat control device
US2225975A (en) * 1939-03-30 1940-12-24 Sangamo Electric Co Temperature compensation of thermal devices
CA409605A (en) * 1942-12-29 W. Jones Benjamin Motor control device
DE730547C (de) * 1939-06-24 1943-01-14 Carl Schellhase Kraftschalter fuer selbsttaetige Regler fuer eine beliebige, von einem Fuehler erfasste Zustandsgroesse
CA448355A (en) * 1948-05-04 J. Koci Ludvik Temperature responsive control mechanism
CA485713A (en) * 1952-08-12 N.V. Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken Fluorescent lamp starting apparatus
DE856370C (de) * 1941-02-20 1952-11-20 Carl Schellhase Kraftschalter zur selbsttaetigen Regelung technisch-physikalischer Groessen
FR1109484A (fr) * 1954-07-26 1956-01-30 M & A Delord Soc Ind Perfectionnement aux appareils de mesure utilisés pour le contrôle permanent
US2744178A (en) * 1952-05-24 1956-05-01 Curtis R Eckberg Control apparatus
CA555058A (en) * 1958-03-25 H. F. D. Schmidt Johann Process for treating oils
US2836366A (en) * 1954-02-09 1958-05-27 Curtis R Eckberg Control apparatus
DE1077446B (de) * 1958-02-21 1960-03-10 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Schalter zum Einschalten eines Signalstromkreises bei Messinstrumenten
US3064103A (en) * 1958-05-22 1962-11-13 Controls Co Of America Variable thermostat anticipator

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA551058A (en) * 1957-12-31 Stensholms Fabriks Aktiebolag Power regulators for electric heating apparatus
GB255335A (en) * 1926-01-23 1926-07-22 Frank Willis Sturgess An improved electric two-way intermittent switch
US1974188A (en) * 1932-04-04 1934-09-18 Curtis J Martin Circuit making and breaking device
US2371018A (en) * 1943-04-16 1945-03-06 Union Switch & Signal Co Thermal relay
US2611855A (en) * 1947-05-02 1952-09-23 Proctor Electric Co Electric blanket control
US2803722A (en) * 1955-10-17 1957-08-20 Cutler Hammer Inc Protective switches
US2969917A (en) * 1957-06-24 1961-01-31 Gen Controls Co Space heating control system affected by external temperatures

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA485713A (en) * 1952-08-12 N.V. Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken Fluorescent lamp starting apparatus
CA409605A (en) * 1942-12-29 W. Jones Benjamin Motor control device
CA555058A (en) * 1958-03-25 H. F. D. Schmidt Johann Process for treating oils
CA448355A (en) * 1948-05-04 J. Koci Ludvik Temperature responsive control mechanism
DE621639C (de) * 1927-07-02 1935-11-11 Alfred Huster Dipl Ing Strahlungssteuerwerk
US2195947A (en) * 1937-03-31 1940-04-02 Gen Electric Heat control device
US2225975A (en) * 1939-03-30 1940-12-24 Sangamo Electric Co Temperature compensation of thermal devices
DE730547C (de) * 1939-06-24 1943-01-14 Carl Schellhase Kraftschalter fuer selbsttaetige Regler fuer eine beliebige, von einem Fuehler erfasste Zustandsgroesse
DE856370C (de) * 1941-02-20 1952-11-20 Carl Schellhase Kraftschalter zur selbsttaetigen Regelung technisch-physikalischer Groessen
US2744178A (en) * 1952-05-24 1956-05-01 Curtis R Eckberg Control apparatus
US2836366A (en) * 1954-02-09 1958-05-27 Curtis R Eckberg Control apparatus
FR1109484A (fr) * 1954-07-26 1956-01-30 M & A Delord Soc Ind Perfectionnement aux appareils de mesure utilisés pour le contrôle permanent
DE1077446B (de) * 1958-02-21 1960-03-10 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Schalter zum Einschalten eines Signalstromkreises bei Messinstrumenten
US3064103A (en) * 1958-05-22 1962-11-13 Controls Co Of America Variable thermostat anticipator

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3765191A (en) * 1972-06-21 1973-10-16 Gen Motors Corp Timer circuit-automotive compressor
US4088976A (en) * 1975-10-14 1978-05-09 Technar, Inc. Thermally operated bimetal actuator
US4053137A (en) * 1976-01-16 1977-10-11 De Laval Turbine Inc. Electromechanically operated valve
US4089503A (en) * 1976-01-16 1978-05-16 Delaval Turbine Inc. Electromechanically actuated valve
DE102004019178A1 (de) * 2004-04-16 2005-11-03 Abb Patent Gmbh Installationsschaltgerät
US20080242707A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2008-10-02 Bayer Healthcare Ag Pharmaceutical Composition for the Treatment of Cancer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL282262A (es)
DE1170548B (de) 1964-05-21
GB979180A (en) 1965-01-01
NL121140C (es)
US3204064A (en) 1965-08-31
CH397087A (de) 1965-08-15

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