US3215800A

US3215800A - Electromagnetic relay and contact carrier assembly therefor

Info

Publication number: US3215800A
Application number: US206624A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hurter Max; Erik J Nielsen
Original assignee: Square D Co
Current assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
Priority date: 1962-07-02
Filing date: 1962-07-02
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02
Also published as: GB1021152A; FR1374384A

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 M. HURTER ETAL 3,215,800

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed July 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS MAX HUPTER ERIK d. NIELSEN Nov. 2, 1965 M- HURTER ETAL 3,215,800

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed July 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 45 J07 T J05 Fig MAX HUI? EEIK Lj- N/ELSEN BY Nov. 2, 1965 M. HURTER ETAL 3,215,800

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed July 2:, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VENTORS MAX H U1? TE 1? BYER/K (j NIEL SEN Nov. 2, 1965 M. HURTER ETAL ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 2, 1962 7 )6 JW M a {1i w 5 m M 5 7/ 2) a Illll Wmm m A wflwwhnnf w [a M L lllll I!" H :n x Q w R ummmwmmmn m K 4 Z w fi Nov. 2, 1965 M. HURTER ETAL 3,215,800

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed July 2', 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F I BYEQ/K a. N/ELSEN United States Patent 3,215,800 ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Max Hurter, Riverside, Calif., and Erik J. Nielsen,

Mequon, Wis., assignors to Square D Company, Park Ridge, IlL, a corporation of Michigan Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No. 206,624

25 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) This invention relates generally to electromagnetic devices, and more particularly to electromagnetic control relays of the type adapted to be secured to a control panel and to form part of a control system for an electrically driven machine.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved multipole electromagnetic control relay.

Another object is to provide a smaller, more reliable, durable, and less costly multipole electromagnetic control relay which is also easier to mount, wire, and maintain than former control relays of the same ratings.

A further object is to provide an improved multipole electromagnetic relay comprising various sub-assemblies which can be readily assembled to form a complete relay and the complete relay can be readily disassembled into the various sub-assemblies without the use of special tools and without removing the wiring from a mounted and installed relay.

Still another object is to provide an improved multipole electromagnetic control relay in which enclosed contacts are readily convertible from normally open to normally closed condition and in which the normally open or normally closed condition of each pole is readily ascertainable by exterior inspection of a completely assembled relay.

A still further object is to provide an improved multipole electromagnetic relay in which the contacts of each pole are independently readily convertible from normally closed to normally open condition and vice-versa and any possible combination of normally open and normally closed contacts may be obtained without adjustment or exchange'of the return spring.

Yet another object is to provide an improved multipole electromagnetic relay wherein the contacts of any pole can be readily removed to convert the relay to a relay having fewer poles with increased electrical clearance between the remaining poles.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a four-pole relay constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded View of the relay of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a cover holding bracket for the relay;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the relay of FIGURES 1 and 2 as it might appear when mounted on a vertical mounting panel;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the relay of FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the cover thereof in section and the cover holding bracket in its non-operative position;

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a front view of the relay similar to FIGURE 5 but with the cover and certain other parts removed;

FIGURE 10 is a view showing partly in section the magnet support assembly of the relay of FIGURES l and 2;

and on opposite sides thereof.

3,215,800 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 FIGURE 11 is a view of the magnet support assembly taken in the direction of arrows 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the spring rest for the return spring for the movable contact carrier or yoke bar assembly of the relay of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a spring clip adapted to receive a pin terminal of the coil of the relay of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of an eight-pole relay constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 15 is a side view, partially in section, of the relay of FIGURE 14 taken in the direction of arrows 1515 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 16 is a view, partially in section, taken substantially along line 1616 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary view showing normally open contacts of one pole of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 17, but with the normally open contacts in the closed position thereof assumed upon energization of the coil of the relay;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary view showing the normally closed contacts of one pole of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 19, but with the normally closed contacts in the open position thereof assumed upon energization of the coil of the relay;

FIGURE 21 is an exploded perspective view of the movable contacts and associated parts for one pole of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the movable contact carrier of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a four-pole relay 10, the major parts and sub-assemblies of which are shown in FIGURE 2 and include a housing assembly 12, an armature guide assembly 14, an encapsulated coil 16, a magnet support assembly 18, a yoke bar or movable contact carrier assembly 20, a pair of identical stationary contact block assemblies 22, and a cover 24.

The housing assembly 12 includes a housing 26, a pair of identical cover-holding brackets 28, and a pair of compression springs 30 operatively associated respectively with the brackets 28, one spring 30 being shown in FIG- URES 4 and 7. The housing 26 preferably is molded of a suitable insulating material and has a pair of grooves 32, one of which is shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 7, extending upwardly from the base thereof and adapted to respectively receive the springs 30 and base portions 34 (FIGURE 3) of the brackets 28. The base portion 34 of each bracket 28 and its respective groove 32 are complementarily shaped so that a hooked edge portion 35 of the base portion 34 engages a retaining shoulder (not shown) in the groove 32 and prevents removal of the base portion laterally of the groove. The springs 30 are respectively compressed between the base portions 34 and a pair of shoulders 36, one of which is shown in FIG- URE 7 and each of which closes an end of one of the grooves 32.

Each bracket 28 includes a bent tab 38 (FIGURE 3) adapted to be received in one of a pair of open-ended slots 39 (FIGURES 7 and 9) located respectively at the bottom of a pair of recesses 40 (FIGURES 2 and 7) in the upper edge portions of the housing 26 adjacent corners Further, each tab 38 includes a hook portion 41 adapted to engage an inner surface of the housing 26 and thereby retain the respective bracket 28 in position. Adjacent the slots 39 at the bottom of the recesses 40 are a pair of camming surfaces 43 respectively engageable by the tabs 38.

Each bracket 28 also has a hooked end portion 45 on the end thereof opposite the base portion 34, while the cover 24 is provided on the top thereof with a pair of grooves 48 adapted to receive the hooked end portions 45. The engagement of the tabs 38 in the slots 39 prevents accidental disassembly of the relay by unintended striking of the brackets 28, since the hooked end portions 45 must be raised out of the grooves 48 against the force of the springs 30 before the cover 24 can be removed. In assembling, movement of tabs 38 along the camming surfaces 43 raises the brackets 28 sufiiciently to enable sliding of the hooked end portions 45 into the grooves 48.

The armature guide assembly 14 includes a generally U-shaped armature guide 50 preferably molded of a suitable insulating material and a laminated, generally E-shaped armature 52 of magnetic material secured therein by a flat spring 54 retained in the guide 50 by a pair of stops 53 thereon and extending through a pair of links 55 anchored in the armature 52, asshown most clearly in FIGURE 8. The armature guide 50 includes a pair of channel-shaped leg portions 49 and an apertured bottom portion 51. The opposite ends of the spring 54 engage outer bottom surfaces of the leg portions 49 of the armature guide 50 and the central portion of the spring acts through the links 55 to urge a pair of shouldered portions 57 of the armature 52 into engagement with mating shoulders on the inner sides of leg portions 49 of the armature guide 50.

The housing 26 is generally rectangular and is provided with channel-

shaped portions

59 and 60 formed respectively in a pair of opposed side walls and adapted to receive and reciprocably guide the armature guide 50 and associated. parts, forming the. armature. guide assembly 14. As can be seen in FIGURE 8, a pair of inner shoulder portions or abutments 62 and 61 are provided respectively in the

channel portions

59 and 60 as stops adapted to be engaged respectively by a pair of

outer shoulder portions

64 and 63 on the leg portions 49 of the armature guide 50. For a purpose to be later described, and as shown in FIGURE 9, the inner groove of the channel portion 59 is wider than that of the channel portion 60 and the leg portion 49 of the armature guide 50 received in the channel portion 59 is thicker than the leg portion 49 thereof received in the channel portion 60 by virtue of a built-up or enlarged portion 65 (FIGURE 9) along one edge thereof, the portion 65 preventing reception of the armature guide 50 by the

channel portions

59 and 60 of the housing 26 except in the relative positions shown. That is, the leg portion 49 of the armature guide 50 having the enlarged edge portion 65 thereon is wider than the groove of the channel portion 60 and cannot be received therein, but it can ,be receivedin the groove of channel portion 59.

The encapsulated coil 16 .is provided with a pair of upstanding portions 67 of the encapsulating material for supporting a pair of prong terminals 68. The portions 67 are provided with outer shoulders adapted to be received in and supported by the bottom edges of a pair of recesses 69 in the top portions of the other pair of side walls of the housing 26 (FIGURES 2 and 6).

The magnet support assembly 18 includes a channelshaped magnet support 71 having a pair of extensions 72 projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof and adjacent opposite ends. Each extension 72 has a bracket 73 reciprocally mounted thereon, the brackets 73 respectively having a pair of apertures 73a therein adapted to respectively receive the outer ends of the extensions 72, and the extensions 72 being recessed to receive the inner edge portions of the brackets adjacent the apertures. The apertures 73a also have respectively retained therein a pair of compression springs 74. A generally E-shaped laminated magnet 76 having a pair of shading coils 77 secured to the outer leg portions thereof is retained in the magnet support 71 by a spring clip 78 extending through a slot in the magnet 76 and through holes in opposite sides of the channel-shaped magnet support 71. Sponge rubber cushions 79 and 80 are respectively provided in the magnet support 71 and around the central leg portion of the magnet 76 to act as shock absorbers and permit the magnef 76 to be self-aligning for quieter operation.

The inner surfaces of the opposite side walls of the housing 26 having the recesses 69 therein are each provided on one side of the respective recess 69 with an upper groove 82 and a lower groove 84 respectively terminating in shoulders '83 and 85 (FIGURE 4). The extensions 72 of the magnet support 71 are adapted to fit within the respective grooves 82 and abut the shoulders 83. Further, each bracket 73 has a flanged end portion 73b adapted to fit within an associated one of the grooves 84 and abut one of the shoulders 85 under pressure from one of the compression springs 74.

The yoke bar or movable contact carrier assembly 20 includes a yoke bar or movable contact carrier 86 having a base portion 87, a handle portion 88 extending from one side of the base portion 87 centrally thereof, four supporting posts 90 extending from the base portion 87 parallel to the handle portion 88, and four crossbar portions 92 extending between the posts 90 or between a post 90 and the handle portion 88, respectively. The base portion 87 includes a pair of depending lugs 94 (FIGURE 8) adapted to be respectively received within the channelshaped leg portions 49 of the armature guide 50. For a purpose to be later described, the yoke bar or contact carrier 86 can be properly mounted on the armature guide 50 in only one position relatively thereto. Thus, the outer ends of the channel-shaped leg portions 49 are recessed on one side of the respective channels to receive a depending lip portion 95 provided on only one of the long edges of the base portion 87, as best shown in FIG- URE 4.

The handle portion 88 is apertured to receive a return spring 96 and shaped to slidingly receive a spring rest 97, shown best in FIGURE 12 and having protruding ends 97a adapted to be engaged by the cover 24 as shown in FIG- URE 6. A pair of slots 97b in the spring rest 97 respectively receive a pair of guiding and retaining portions 89 on the handle portion 88.

The four crossbar portions 92 are adapted to support the movable contact assemblies each of which includes a contact finger 98 having a pair of contacts 98a formed thereon respectively adjacent opposite ends thereof, a spring rest 99, a contact support member 100, all shown best in FIGURE 21, and a .contact spring 101 (FIGURES 4, 8, and 17-20). For a purpose to be later described, each crossbar portion 92 of the contact carrier 86 includes a depending lug portion 93.

Each contact support member includes a pair of U-shaped portions 102 (FIGURE 21), and each U-shaped portion 102 includes a bight. portion 103 and a pair of leg portions 104 extending therefrom. The U-shaped portions 102 are joined at the respective ends of their leg portions 104 opposite the bight portions 103 by a pair of transverse connecting portions 105 which are adapted to engage one of the crossbar portions 92 of the contact carrier 86. The contact finger 98 of each movable contact assembly is recessed as at 98b to be slidingly received by the leg portions 104 of a contact support 100 on the opposite side of a crossbar portion 92 from the connecting portions 105. The bight portions 103 of each contact support 100 retain the spring rest 99 of the respective movable contact assembly against the force of the respective contact spring 101 which is held under compression between the contact finger 98 and the spring rest 99 of the movable contact assembly. 7 7

Each stationary contact block assembly 22 includes a contact block 107 molded of insulating materialand recessed for the mounting of four stationary contact connectors 108 (FIGURES 1 and 5) thereon in addition to a central coil terminal connector 109. The central coil terminal connectors 109 of the two contact block assemblies are shown more fully in FIGURE 6 and each includes a conductive strap 111 frictionally held in a slot in the contact block 107, spring clip contacts jaws 112 best shown in FIGURE 13 and riveted on the inner end of the strap 111 and adapted to receive a prong terminal 68 of the encapsulated coil 16, a wire clamp 113, and a clamp ing screw 114 securing the wire clamp 113 to' the outer end of the strap 111. Each spring clip contact jaw 112 is provided with a pair of bent-out tabs 112a which engage the respective contact block 107 to further lock the conductive strap 111 therein.

A stationary contact connector 108 of one pole is shown in FIGURE 4 and includes a conductive strap 116 frictionally held in a slot in the contact block 107 by an interference fit with ribs in the slot which are shaved by the strip during assembly, a wire clamp 117 which may be identical to the wire clamps 113, and a clamping screw 118 securing the wire clamp 117 to the outer end of the strap 116. The inner end of the strap 116 is preferably provided on opposite sides with silver inlays 116a forming stationary contacts. All of the stationary contact connectors 108 are identical.

The cover 24 is apertured to receive the handle portion 88 of the contact carrier 86, and in addition it is provided with four inspection holes 120 (FIGURES 5 and 8) for a purpose to be later described. Depending portions 121 on the inner side of the cover respectively engage the contact support members 100 of movable contact assemblies in the normally closed condition as defined hereinafter, whereby the contact pressure is obtained by the contact springs 101 rather than by the return spring 96.

To assemble the relay from the sub-assemblies, the armature guide assembly 14 is first placed in the housing assembly 12, the leg portion 49 of the armature guide 50 having the enlarged edge portion 65 thereon being received in the groove of the channel portion 59 of the housing 26. The encapsulated coil 16 is then placed in the housing 26, the upstanding portions 67 being aligned with the recesses 69 and the outer shoulders engaging the bottom-s of the recesses (FIGURE 6). Next, the magnet support assembly 18 is placed in the housing with the magnet 76 aligned with the armature 52 and extensions 72 of the magnet support 71 in the grooves 82. The central leg portions of the E-shaped armature 52 and magnet 76 protrude into a central opening in the coil 16 from the bottom and top thereof, respectively, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8. The brackets 73 of the magnet support assembly .are then depressed against the forces of the springs 75 until the flange end portions 73b respectively enter the grooves 84. Upon release of the brackets 73, the springs 74 urge the end portions 73b into engagement with the shoulders 85 and also maintain the extensions 72 in engagement with the shoulders 83. The magnet support assembly 18, the encapsulated coil 16, and the armature guide assembly 14 are thus held within the housing assembly 12, the magnet assembly 18 and encapsulated coil 16 being fixed with respect to the housing 26, and the armature guide assembly 14 being reciprocable in the

channel portions

59 and 60 and limited in one direction of movement by engagement of the armature 52 with the magnet 76 and limited in the other direction of movement by engagement of the

shoulder portions

64 and 63 on the armature guide 50 respectively with the shoulder portions 62 and 61 in the

channel portions

59 and 60 of the housing 26.

Next, the movable contact carrier assembly 20 is placed on the armature guide 50, the lugs 94 being received in the leg portions 49 of the armature guide (FIGURE 8), and

position or a normally closed contact position with respect to the stationary contacts 116a. When the relay 'is in use and the intended normal positions of the movable contacts are unsymmetrical about the axis of the handle portion 88 of the contact carrier 86 (for example, when the intent is that three of the poles should have normally-open contacts and the other pole should have normally-closed contacts), and the relay is disassembled for any reason, it is important that it be reassembled without unintended changing of the normal condition of the contacts of any pole. For this reason, the enlarged portion 65 on the armature guide 50 permits the armature guide assembly 14 to be assembled in the housing 26 in only one relative position out of two relative positions which would be possible if the enlarged portion 65 were omitted. Similarly, the lip portion on the base portion 87 of the contact carrier 86 permits the movable contact carrier assembly 20 to be assembled to the armature guide assembly 14 in only one relative position out of two relative positions which would be possible if the lip portion 95 were omitted. The keying of the armature guide assembly 14 to the housing 26 is not important or necessary in itself, but because the movable contact carrier assembly 20 is keyed to the armature guide assembly 14, the movable contact carrier is thus keyed to the housing and cannot be inadvertently reversed relative thereto.

After the movable contact carrier assembly 20 is in place on the armature guide assembly 14, the stationary contact block assemblies 22 are placed on the top of the housing 26 on opposite sides of the contact carrier 86, the prong terminals 68 of the encapsulated coil 16 being received in the contact jaws 112. Each contact block 107 is provided with a central depending lug 107a (FIG URES 1 and 6) receivable in one of the recesses 69 in the housing 26 above the portion 67 of the coil 16 therein. Further, each contact block 107 is provided with a pair of depending outer end lugs 107b adapted to engage an outer surface of the housing 26 and a :pair of depending inner lugs 1070, one of which can be seen in FIGURE 4, spaced between the end lugs 107b and the central lug 107a and adapted to engage an inner surface of the housing 26. The

lugs

107a, 107b, and 107c on each contact block 107 prevent the block from shifting laterally of the housing 26 once it is placed in assembled relationship therewith. Each contact block 107 is also provided with a recess 107d (FIGUREZ) for receiving an end 97a of the spring rest 97 as shown in FIGURE 6.

The assembly is completed by placing the cover 24 in position over the outer end of the handle portion 88 of the contact carrier 86 and pushing inwardly on the two cover-holding brackets 28 to engage the hooked end portions 45 respectively in the grooves 48. During the movement of the brackets 28, the bent tabs 38 will ride up the respective camming surfaces 43 and then snap down into the slots 39. When the tabs 38 are in the slots 39, the cover 24 is held firmly in position under the influence of the springs 30 by the hooked end portions 45 in the grooves 48.

FIGURES 17-20 show the relative positions of the movable contacts 98a and the stationary contacts 11611 of one pole under four different conditions. FIGURE 17 shows the contacts in a normally open position and FIGURE 19 shows the contact-s in a normally closed position, it being understood that in accordance with the invention the contacts of each pole may be readily converted from normally-open condition to normally-closed condition and vice versa without any effect on the force required to operate the relay, regardless of whether the contacts of the relay are all normally open or all normally closed or some are normally open and the rest normally closed.

To convert from normally open to normally closed contacts or vice versa, after disengaging the brackets 28 and removing the cover 24 and one stationary cont-act block assembly 22, the contact finger 98 of any pole may be pressed to rotate it through a half circle about its crossbar portion 92, the contact finger 98, contact support member 100, spring rest 99, and spring 101 rotating about the cross bar portion 92 as a unit. The leg portions 104 of the contact support 100 are spaced farther apart in the direction of the connecting portions 105 than the width of the cross bar portions 92 toprovide sutficient clearance for this rotation, and the distance between the contact finger 98 and the connecting portions 105 during the rotation increases as necessary by yielding of the spring 101. Thus, it will be seen in FIGURE 19 that the movable contact assembly has been rotated through a 'half circle about the cross bar portion 92 from the relative position thereof in FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 18 shows the closed position of normally open contacts of FIGURE 17, the closed position thereof occurring when the relay is operated either by energization of the coil 16 or by manual operation of the handle portion 88 of the movable contact carrier 86.

FIGURE 20 shows the open position of the normally closed contacts of FIGURE 19, the open position oc curring when the relay is energized or manually operated.

The condition of the contacts of any pole with regard to whether they are normally open or normally closed is ascertained by inspection through the holes 120'in the cover 24. If the contacts of a pole are normally closed, the spring rest 99 for that pole are the cover and is readily visible through the respective hole 120. If the contacts of a hole are normally open, nothing can be seen through the respective hole 120.

For a relay in which normally open contacts close at the same time normally closed contacts open, the force required to operate the relay is the same regardless of whether the contacts of the various poles are normally open or normally closed. To this end, the thickness of the cross bar portion 92 of each pole excluding the depending lug portion 93 is substantially equal to onehalf the stroke of the armature guide assembly 14 and movable contact carrier assembly 20, and the thickness of the depending lug portion 93 is also substantially equal to one-half the stroke. Further, the contact support 100 straddles the lug portion 93 so that the connecting portions 105 directly engage the cross bar portion 92 in the normally closed position of the contacts (FIGURE 19) and the contact finger 98 is spaced from the cross bar portion 92 by a distance equal to one-half of the stroke of the movable contact carrier 86 or equal to the thickness of the depending lug portion 93. In addition, the lug portion 93 spaces the contact finger 98 away from the cross bar portion 92 in the normally open position of the contacts (FIGURE 17) by-a distance equal to one-half the stroke of the contact carrier. By this arrangement, the length of the spring 101 is the same in the normally open condition of the contacts (FIGURE 17) as in the normally closed condition of the contacts (FIGURE 19) when the coil 16 of the relay is not energized.

If a pole has normally open contacts as shown in FIGURE'17 and the coil 16 of the relay is energized, the movable contact carrier 86 will move one-half of its stroke before the movable contacts 98a on the contact finger 98 engage the stationary contacts 116a, and during the last half of the stroke the spring 101 will be compressed one-half the length of the stroke to the length shown in FIGURE 18. Similarly, if a pole has normally closed contacts as shown in FIGURE 19 and the coil 16 of the relay is energized, the movable contact carrier 86 will move one-half of its stroke before the movable contacts 98a on the contact finger 98 become disengaged from the stationary contacts 116a, and during the last half of the stroke the spring 101 will be compressed one-half the length of the stroke to the length shown in FIGURE 20, and the length of the spring 101 is the same in the closed position of the normally open contacts (FIGURE 18) as in the open position of the normally closed contacts (FIGURE 20).

Since the length of the spring 101 when'the coil 16 is deenergized is the same for normally open and normally closed contacts, and since the spring 101 is compressed when the coil 16 is energized to a new length which is the same for closed normally open contacts and open normally closed contacts, it follows that the force required to operate the relay is the same regardless of whether the contacts are all normally open, all normally closed, or some are normally open and'the rest normally closed.

FIGURES 14, 15, and 16 show an eight-pole relay in views similar to FIGURES l, 4, and 8, respectively, of the four-pole relay. The housing 26, the armature guide assembly 14, the magnet support assembly 18, and the cover 24 are identical for both relays and identically numbered and not herein further described.

The coil 216 of the eight-pole relay is substantially identical to the coil 16 of the four-pole relay, the only difference being that the coil 216 has a different number of turns of wire than the coil 16, in order to be able to generate a slightly larger electromagnetic force.

The cover-holding brackets 228 of the eight-pole re lay are similar to the brackets 28 of the four-pole relay, the end portions being identical but the body portions of the brackets 228 being longer and having less angular ity therein, as can be seen in a comparison of FIGURES 4 and 15.

The movable contact carrier assembly 220 of the eight- .pole relay is similar to the movable contact carrier assembly 20 of the four-pole relay, but the handle portion 288 and supporting posts 290 of the eight-pole relay are longer than the handle portion 88 and supporting posts 90 of the four-pole relay, in order to provide supporting structure for two rows of movable contact assemblies, each row having the movable contacts for four poles.

The stationary contact block assemblies 222 of the eight-pole relay are similar to the stationary contact block assemblies 22 of the four-pole relay, but the contact blocks 307 of the eight-pole relay are taller than the contact blocks 107 of the four-pole relay, in order to provide supporting structure for two rows of stationary contact connectors, those of the upper row being identical to the stationary contact connectors 108 previously described, but the stationary contact connectors 308 of the lower row having the conductive straps 316 thereof reversely bent as shown in FIGURE 15 to provide for ease of access to the clamping screws 318 thereof. Each contact block 307 also is provided with a plurality of projecting portions 321 which extend into the movable contact carrier'assembly 220* and are engaged by the contact support members of movable contact assemblies of the lower row which are in normally closed contact position. The projecting portions 321 on the stationary contact blocks 307 thus function with respectto the lower row of movable contact assemblies in the same manner as the depending portions 121 on the cover 24 function with respect to the upper row of movable contact assemblies.

Various modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In an electromagnetic relay,

(a) a linearly reciprocable contact carrier assembly including a crossbar portion,

(b) an elongated contact finger having a pair of contact portions thereon respectively adjacent opposite ends thereof, and

(0) means mounting said contact finger on said crossbar portion for rotary movement thereabout.

2. In an electromagnetic relay,

(a) a movable contact carrier assembly linearly reciprocable through a predetermined length of stroke and including a crossbar portion having a thickness 9 in the direction of said stroke substantially equal to the length of said stroke,

(c) means mounting said contact finger on said crossbar portion for rotary movement thereabout.

3. In an electromagnetic relay,

(a) movable contact carrier assembly linearly reciprocable through a predetermined length of stroke and including a crossbar portion having a pair of opposed outer generally fiat surfaces extending perpendicularly to the direction of said stroke defining a thickness of said crossbar portion substantially equal to the length of said stroke,

() means mounting said contact finger on said crossbar portion for rotary movement thereabout from a position in which it engages one of said flat surfaces to a position in which it engages the other of said flat surfaces.

4. In an electromagnetic relay,

(a) a linearly reciprocable contact carrier assembly including a crossbar portion having a lug portion depending centrally from one side thereof, and

(b) a movable contact assembly mounted on said crossbar portion, said movable contact assembly includ- 111g 1) a contact support member rotatably mounted on said crossbar portion, said contact support member including a pair of generally U-shaped portions spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of said crossbar portion, each U-shaped portion including a bight portion and a pair of leg portions extending therefrom, said U-shaped portions being joined by a pair of transverse connecting portions extending substantially perpendicularly to said crossbar portion, one of said connecting portions joining a free end portion of one of the leg portions of one U-shaped portion with a free end portion of one of the leg portions of the other U-shaped portion and the other of said connecting portions joining a free end portion of the other of the leg portions of said one U-shaped portion with a free end portion of the other of leg portions of said other U-shaped portion, the sides of said connecting portions nearest said bight portions being engageable with said crossbar portion and said connecting portions on the opposite side of said crossbar portion from said bight portions in any position to which said contact support member is rotated on said crossbar portion, said connecting portions and the leg portions of each of said U-shaped portions being spaced apart to straddle said lug portion of said crossbar portion,

(2) an elongated contact finger extending substantially perpendicularly to said crossbar portion through said U shaped portions on the opposite side of said crossbar portion from said con necting portions and being supported by said U-shaped portions for reciprocal movement toward and away from said crossbar portion, said contact finger having a pair of contact portions thereon respectively adjacent opposite ends thereof and on the side thereof facing said crossbar portion,

(3) a spring rest extending through said U-shaped portions and being supported by said bight portions, and

(4) a compression spring having one end seated on said spring rest and the other end seated on said contact finger,

5. In an electromagnetic relay, a linearly reciprocable contact carrier assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lug portion has a thickness in the direction of reciprocal movement of said contact carrier assembly substantially equal to one-half of the length of the stroke of said contact carrier assembly.

6. In an electromagnetic relay, a linearly reciprocable contact carrier assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said crossbar portion exclusive of said lug portion has a thickness in the direction of reciprocal movement of said contact carrier assembly substantially equal to onehalf of the length of the stroke of said contact carrier assembly and said lug portion also has a thickness in said direction substantially equal to one-half of the length of said stroke.

7. In an electromagnetic relay, a contact carrier assembly as claimed in claim 6, including a plurality of said crossbar portions axially aligned in a row and a plurality of said movable contact assemblies respectively mounted on said crossbar portions.

8. In an electromagnetic relay, a contact carrier assembly as claimed in claim 7, including a plurality of said rows of said crossbar portions and a plurality of said movable contact assemblies respectively mounted on said crossbar portions in said rows.

9. In an electromagnetic relay, a contact carrier assembly as claimed in claim 4, including a plurality of said crossbar portions axially aligned in a row and a plurality of said movable contact assemblies respectively mounted on said crossbar portions.

10. In an electromagnetic relay, a contact carrier assembly as claimed in claim 9, including a plurality of said rows of said crossbar portions and a plurality of said movable contact assemblies respectively mounted on said crossbar portions in said rows.

11. An electromagnetically and manually operable relay comprising (a) a housing,

(b) an armature guide reciprocably mounted in said housing and carrying .an armature for movement integrally therewith,

(c) a coil in said housing disposed in electromagnetic relationship with said armature and having a pair of prong terminals extending outwardly from an end of said housing,

(d) a magnet support secured to said housing and retaining said coil and armature guide therein, said magnet support carrying a magnet disposed in electromagnetic relationship With said coil and armature,

(e) a pair of stationary contact block assemblies mounted on said end of said housing in spaced-apart relationship, each of said stationary contact block assemblies including (1) a central coil terminal connector electrically connected to one of said prong terminals, and (2) a plurality of stationary contact connectors generally aligned with said central coil terminal connector, each of said stationary contact connectors including a conductive strap having a pair of stationary contact surfaces respectively on opposite sides of an inner end thereof,

(f) a movable contact carrier assembly interposed between said stationary contact block assemblies and engageable by said armature guide for movement therewith, said contact carrier assembly including ('1) a manually operable central handle portion,

(2) a plurality of crossbar portions movable integrally with said handle portion, and

(3) a plurality of elongated contact fingers respectively rotatably mounted on said crossbar portions, each of said contact fingers having a pair of contact portions thereon respectively adjacent opposite ends of one side thereof and engageable with stationary contact'surfaces of re- (1)a' manually operable central handle portion, spective stationary contact connectors on said (2) a plurality of crossbar portions movable inte stationary contact block assemblies, said congrally wit-h said handle portion and each having tact fingers being rotatably adjustable to a nora lugportion depending centrally from one side mally'open contact position with respect to the 5 thereof, and stationary contact surfaces on one side of re ("3) a plurality of movable contact assemblies respective conductive straps of said stationary con spectively rotatably mounted on said crossbar tact connectors on said stationary contact block port-ions, each of said movable contact assemassemblies and being rotatably adjustable to a bles including normally closed contact position with respect to (a) a contact support member rotatably the stationary contact surfaces on the other side supported on its. respective crossbar porof said respective conductive straps, and tion, I v

(g) a cover clamped to said housing to retain said sta- (b) an elongated contact finger,

- tionary contact block assemblies thereon, said cover (c) a contact springgand I being apertured to receive said handle portion. '(d) a spring rest, each of said contact. sup- 12. A relay as claimed in claim 11, wherein said'cover has a plurality of inspection holes for aifording visual indication of the normally open cont-act position and normally closed contact-position of said contact fingers.

13. A relay as claimed in claim 11, including a spring including a bight portion and a pair of leg rest carried by said movable contact carrier assembly and portions extending therefrom, said U- engaged with an inner side of said cover, and a return shaped portions of. each contact support .spring-seated-on said spring rest for returning said movable member being joined by a pair of transcontact carrier assembly and said armature guide to norverse connecting portions extending submal position upon deenergization of said coil. A stantially perpendicularly to the respec- 14. In an electromagnetic device tive crossbar portion, one of said connect- (a) 'a housing, A 7 ing portions joining a free end portion of .(b)- anar-mature guide reciprocably mounted in said one of the leg portions of one U-shaped housing and limited in one direction of its movement portion with a free end portion of one of by stops adjacent one end of said housing, said arma the leg portions of the other U-shaped porture guide carrying an armature adjacent said one tion and the other of said connecting porend of said housing for movement integrally theretions joining a free end portion of the othwith, er of the leg portions of said one U-shaped (c) a coil in said housing disposed in electromagnetic portion .with 'a free end portion of the relationship with said armature, 7 other of therleg portions of said other U- (d) a magnet support on the opposite side of said coil shaped portion, the sides of said -connectfrom said armature, and ing portions nearest the respective bight (e) a magnet carried by said magnet support and disportions being engageablewith the respecposed in electromagnetic relationship with said coil tive crossbar portion and said connecting and armature, said magnet support being releasably 40 portions being on the opposite side of the secured to said housing adjacent the other end thererespective crossbar portion from the reof by a pair of spring-biased brackets disposed therespective bight portions in any position to in, thereby to retain said coil and armature guide whichtthe respective contact support memtherein, and said armature guide being limited in the her i t t d on it crossbar -ti id other direction of its movement by operative engageconnecting portions and the leg portions of ment of said armature with said magnet. 7 each of said Uashaped portions of each 15. An electromagnetically and manually operable re- I "contact support member being spaced-apart lay comprising to straddle the lug portion of the respec- (a) a housing, tive crossbar portion, each elongated con- (b) an armature guide reciprocably mounted in said tact finger extending substantially perpendi housing and carrying an armature for movement inte- 5O cularly to the respective crossbar portion grally therewith, I through the -U-shaped portions of the re- (c) a coil in said housing disposed in electromagnetic spective contact support member on the oprelationship with said armature and having a pair posite side of the respective crossbar porof terminals extending outwardly from an end of tion from the connecting portion of th said housing, I respective contact support member and be- (d) a magnet support releas-ably secured to said housing supported by the respective U-shaped ing and retaining said coil and armature guide thereortions for reciprocal movement toward in, said magnet support carryinga magnet disposed andaway from the respective crossbar porin electromagnetic relationship with said coil and v tion, each contact finger having a pair of armature contact portions thereon respectively ad- (e) a pair of stationary contact block assemblies jacent o i d th bf On h id mounted on said end of said housing in spaced-apart thereof f i the respective crossbar relationship, each of said stationary contact block tion and respectively engageable with assembhes Including, ti'onary contact surfaces of respective sta- (1) a central coil terminal connector electrically tionary Contact connectors on Said Statiom connected to one of said coil terminals, and ary Contact block assemblies, each Spring (2) a plurality of stationary contact connectors, rest extending through the U shaped Pop each of said stationary contact connectors includd b I rt db th bi ht op ing-a conductive strap having a pair of stationary I tions an emg P e e g p contact surfaces respectively on opposite sides Hons of the respectlvefiqntact f l of aninnel. end thereof ber, each contact sprlng having one end (f) a movable contact carrier assembly interposed bel 011 e p ctive sprlng rest and the tween said stationary contact block assemblies and other end seated on h p Contact engageable by said armature guide for movement finger, each movable contact assembly betherewith, said contact carrier assembly including ing rotatably adjustable (in the respective port members including a pair of generally Uashaped portions spaced-apart from each other on opposite sides of the respective crossbar portion, each U-shaped portion crossbar portion to position the respective contact finger on the side of the crossbar portion having the lug portion there-on and in a normally open contact position with respect to the contact portions thereon and the stationary contact surfaces on one side of respective conductive straps of said stationary contact connectors on said stationary contact block assemblies and being rotatably adjustable to position the respective contact finger on the opposite side of the respective crossbar portion from the lug portion thereon and in .a normally closed contact position with respect to the contact portions thereon and the stationary contact surfaces on the other side of said respective conductive straps, and

(g) a cover clamped to said housing to retain and stationary contact block assemblies thereon, said cover being apertured to receive said handle portion.

16. A relay as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cover has a plurality of inspection holes for aiford-ing a visual indication of the normally open contact position and normally closed contact position of said contact fingers.

17. A relay as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said lug portions has a thickness in the direction of recip rocal movement of said contact carrier assembly substan tially equal to one-half of the length of the stroke of said contact carrier assembly.

18. A relay as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said crossbar portions exclusive of the respective lug portions has a thickness in the direction of reciprocal movement of said contact carrier assembly substantially equal to onehalf of the length of the stroke of said contact carrier assembly and each of said lug portions also has a thickness in said direction substantially equal to one-half of the length of said stroke.

19. A relay as claimed in claim 18, wherein said cover has portions engaging the contact support member of any movable contact assembly which is in a normally closed contact position.

20. A relay as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cover has portions engaging the contact support member of any movable contact assembly which is in a normally closed contact position.

21. An electromagnetically and manually operable relay comprising (a) a housing,

(b) .an armature reciprocably mounted in said housing adjacent one end thereof,

(c) an energizable coil and a magnet in said housing disposed in electromagnetic relationship with said armature,

(d) a pair of individual stationary contact block assemblies separate from said housing and mounted -on the other end thereof in spaced-apart relationship, said block assemblies each having a plurality of terminals which are provided with stationary contacts,

(e) a movable contact carrier assembly between said block assemblies, said movable contact carrier assembly carrying a plurality of movable contacts respectively cooperable with the stationary contacts of said block assemblies and being movable by said armature upon ener-gization of said coil and having a manually operable handle portion movable integrally therewith and projecting outwardly from between said block assemblies,

(f) a cover engaging said block assemblies and having an aperture in which said handle portion is reciprocably received, and

(g) a pair of clamps mounted on said housing and having portions engageable with said cover on the opposite side thereof from said block assemblies and being spring biased to retain the housing, block assemblies, movable contact carrier assembly, and cover in assembled relationship.

22. A relay as claimed in claim 21, wherein said movable contacts are readily convertible from normally open to normally closed condition and vice-versa with respect to said stationary contacts and said cover is provided with a plurality of inspection holes for affording visual indication of the condition of said movable contacts with respect to whether they are normally open or normally closed in relation to said stationary contacts.

23. A relay as claimed in claim 22, wherein said movable contact carrier assembly includes a plurality of contact springs operatively connected respectively to said movable contacts and said cover has portions operatively engaging the contact spring of any movable contact which is in normally closed condition.

24. A relay as claimed in claim 21, including a spring rest carried by said movable contact carrier assembly and engaged with an inner side of said cover, and a return spring seated on said spring rest for returning said movable contact carrier assembly and said armature to normal position upon deenergization of said coil.

25. An electromagnetic relay comprising (a) a housing,

(b) an encapsulated coil in said housing having a pair of prong terminals extending outwardly therefrom toward an end of said housing adjacent opposite sides thereof, and

(c) a pair of stationary contact block assemblies mounted on said end of said housing, each of said =block assemblies including a plurality of substantially aligned electrical connectors a central one of which is provided with a pair of spring clip contact jaws in which one of said prong terminals is received, and the remainder of which are respectively provided with stationary contacts for the relay.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 215 ,800 November 2 1965 Max Hurter et alt It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 1, for "contacts" read contact column 7, line 26, for "are" read abuts line 28, for "hole", second occurrence, read Y pole x column 9, line 13, after "stroke" insert and line 52, before "on" insert H being column 13, line 18, for "and" read M said Signed and sealed this 7th day of June 1966? (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer

Claims

11. AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY AND MANUALLY OPERABLE RELAY COMPRISING (A) A HOUSING, (B) AN ARMATURE GUIDE RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND CARRYING AN ARMATURE FOR MOVEMENT INTEGRALLY THEREWITH, (C) A COIL IN SAID HOUSING DISPOSED IN ELECTROMAGNETIC RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID ARMATURE AND HAVING A PAIR OF PRONG TERMINALS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM AN END OF SAID HOUSING, (D) A MAGNET SUPPORT SECURED TO SAID HOUSING AND RETAINING SAID COIL AND ARMATURE GUIDE THEREIN, SAID MAGNET SUPPORT CARRYING A MAGNET DISPOSED IN ELECTROMAGNET RELATIOHSHIP WITH SAID COIL AND ARMATURE, (E) A PAIR OF STATIONARY CONTACT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID END OF SAID HOUSING IN SPACED-APART RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID STATIONARY CONTACT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING (1) A CENTRAL COIL TERMINAL CONNECTOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID PRONG TERMINALS, AND (2) A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY CONTACT CONNECTORS GENERALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID CENTRAL COIL TERMINAL CONNECTOR, EACH OF SAID STATIONARY CONTACT CONNECTORS IONCLUDING A CONDUCTIVE STRAP HAVING A PAIR OF STATIONARY CONTACT SURFACES RESPECTIVELY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF AN INNER END THEREOF, (F) A MOVABLE CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID STATIONARY CONTACT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES AND ENGAGEABLE BY SAID ARMATURE GUIDE FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, SAID CONTACT CARRIER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING (1) A MANUALLY OPERABLE CENTRAL HANDLE PORTION, (2) A PLURALITY OF CROSSBAR PORTIONS MOVABLE INTEGRALLY WITH SAID HANDLE PORTION, AND (3) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED CONTACT FINGERS RESPECTIVELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CROSSBAR PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID CONTACT FINGERS HAVING A PAIR OF CONTACT PORTIONS THEREON RESPECTIVELY AD JACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF ONE SIDE THEREOF AND ENGAGEABLE WITH STATIONARY CONTACT SURFACES OF RESPECTIVE STATIONARY CONTACT CONNECTORS ON SAID STATIONARY CONTACT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES, SAID CONTACT FINGERS BEING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE TO A NORMALLY OPEN CONTACT POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE STATIONARY CONTACT SURFACES ON ONE SIDE OF RESPECTIVE CONDUCTIVE STRAPS OF SAID STATIONARY CONTACT CONNECTORS ON SAID STATIONARY CONTACT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES AND BEING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE TO A NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACT POSITIONWITH RESPECT TO THE STATIONARY CONTACT SURFACES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID RESPECTIVE CONDUCTIVE STRAPS, AND (G) A COVER CLAMPED TO SAID HOUSIONG TO RETAIN SAID STATIONARY CONTACT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES THEREON, SAID COVER BEIONG APERTURED TO RECEIVE SAID HANDLE PORTION.