US3249715A - Magnetic multi-pole electric switch - Google Patents

Magnetic multi-pole electric switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3249715A
US3249715A US388851A US38885164A US3249715A US 3249715 A US3249715 A US 3249715A US 388851 A US388851 A US 388851A US 38885164 A US38885164 A US 38885164A US 3249715 A US3249715 A US 3249715A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
terminals
switch
group
reed
terminal
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
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US388851A
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English (en)
Inventor
Warman Bloomfield James
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.)
Associated Electrical Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Associated Electrical Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Associated Electrical Industries Ltd filed Critical Associated Electrical Industries Ltd
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Publication of US3249715A publication Critical patent/US3249715A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • H01H36/0006—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches
    • H01H36/006—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches comprising a plurality of reed switches, e.g. selectors or joystick-operated

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electric switches, and more specifically to. electric switches of the magnetic type.
  • the present invention has in view the provision of an improved form of multi-pole electric switch which is suited for use, in place of a multi-point connecting device of the type referred to, for performing the function of connecting, in a manner permittingready disconnection for testing and fault finding purposes, a circuit or item of equipment to an associated circuit .or item of equipment, and which has a very high degree of reliability, and which can be produced relatively cheaply.
  • a multi-pole electric switch in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of reed-contact units-of the kind comprising two reeds of electrically-conductive magnetic material that extend towards and partly overlap each other within asealed enclosure and that when subjected to an operating magnetic field are attracted towards each other to establish 'electrical contact between them but separate-owing to their inherent tension on the removal of such field.
  • Each one of the reed-contact units has attached thereto three terminals; a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal.
  • the first and third terminals of each reed-contact unit come together and are in permanent electrical connection with the outer end of the same one of the two reeds of the reed contact unit.
  • the second terminal is in electrical connection with the outer end of the other reed-contact of the reed contact unit.
  • the first terminal of all of the reed-contact units will be referred to hereinafter collectively as the first group of terminals.”
  • all of the second terminals and third terminals will be referred to hereinafter collectively as the second group of terminals and third group of terminals respectively.
  • the switch has a connect condition in which the two reeds of all the units are brought together thereby connecting the terminals of the first group to their corresponding terminal of the second group; and a disconnectedv condition in which the reeds are separated so that the first group of terminals and the corresponding terminals of the second group of contacts are not connected.
  • the purpose of the device is to control the connection between the first group and second group of terminals.
  • the third terminal of each reed-contact unit, or the third group of terminals is of an auxiliary nature. These third terminals, which are for purposes of testing and fault finding, are employed when the first and second groups of terminals are in the disconnect condition. These terminals are of such a form, and are so located in the switch, as to be adapted to be engaged by respective correspond- 3,249,715 Patented May 3, 1966 ing members of a multi-point plug or socket, used to obtain access (e.g. for testing purposes), when the switch is in the disconnect condition With the removable magnetic part (explained in more detail below) removed therefrom, to a circuit or item of equipment connected to the terminals of the first group.
  • a removable permanently-magnetized magnetic part serves, as long as it is in position in the switch, to maintain the switch in the connect condition by providing an operating magnetic field for each of the reed-contact units.
  • the removal of this magnetic part from the switch serves to bring the switch to the disconnect condition.
  • the removable magnetic part is in the form of a plate having an edge portion bent to form a mask serving, when the magnetic part is in position in the switch, to prevent a multipoint connector as referred to from being brought into engagement with the terminalsof the third group and to shield these terminals from accidental contact.
  • Reed-contact units of the kind referred to are of course used in so-called reed relays, and, as at the present time the use of such relays is growing rapidly, it is contemplated that manufacture in increasing quantities is likely to cause reed-contact units of the kind concerned to become progressively cheaper, causing an electric switch according to the invention to become progressively cheaper. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such a switch has a very high degree of reliability.
  • An electric switch in accordance with the invention may be employed, for example,'for connecting a circuit or item of equipment to a group of signal and information highways in a manner permitting ready isolation of the circuit or item of equipment from the highways.
  • a plurality of electric multi-pole switches in accordance with the invention each including a plurality of reedcontact units may be provided with a common removable magnetic part capable of serving them one at a time, it being thereby ensured that only one switch of the plurality can be in the connect condition at a time.
  • a pair of similar electric switches in accordance with the invention (which switches may conveniently be arranged Side by side) are provided with a common removable permanently-magnetised magnetic part capable of serving them one at a time, and one switch, when in the connect condition connects a first circuit or item of equipment to a group of signal and information highways, and the other switch, when in the connect condition connects a standby circuit or item of equipment, corresponding to the first circuit or item of equipment, to this group of highways.
  • This embodiment takes the form of an electric switch having a connect condition in which it connects each of nine terminal members constituting a first group of terminals of the switch individually to the corresponding one of nine terminal members constituting a second group of terminals of the switch.
  • the single figure of the drawing is a perspective view showing the switch with certain portions cut away and removed, and with the removable permanently-magnetised magnetic part of the switch withdrawn from the switch to cause the switch to be in the disconnect condition.
  • the switch comprises a moulded main mounting member 1 formed of insulating material.
  • this member is shown with a right-hand (as seen in the drawing) portion cut away and removed, but itscomplete shape will be obvious if it is borne in mind that the member is symmetrical with respectto a vertical plane containing the axis of the central reed contact unit, designated X in the drawing.
  • the nine terminals 5 constitute the third group of terminals of the switch.
  • the first group of terminals consisting of the nine terminals 3, and the second group of terminals consist of the nine terminals 4.
  • the drawing shows the switch with the right-hand reed-contact unit and its three terminals removed.
  • the switch comprises nine reed-contact units 6, of which only eight appear in the drawing.
  • each of these reed-contact units comprises two reeds (which are of course of electrically-conductive magnetic material) that ext-end towards and partly overlap each other within a sealed enclosure but are separated by a gap in the absence of an operating magnetic field.
  • Two slots 9 (of which only the left-hand one appears in the drawing) in the main mounting member I serve to accommodate edge portions of, and locate, the removable permanentlymagnetised magnetic part 2 of the switch when this part is inserted in position in the switch.
  • the magnetic part 2 is provided with a handle 8 to facilitate its insertion into, and removal from, the switch, and is magnetised in the manner indicated by the N and S polarity markings in the drawing.
  • the terminal 3 of the pair has, for connecting purposes within the unit, a relatively long extension 10 which is connected (e.g.'by soldering) to the outer end of one of the reeds (together with the terminal 5 of the third group of terminals of the switch).
  • the terminal 4 of the pair is connected to the outer end of the other reed of the reed-contact unit.
  • this plate Upon the insertion of the removable permanently-magnetised magnetic part 2 in position in the switch so that it has been pushed as far as possible along the slots 9, this plate provides an operating magnetic field for connecting each pair of reeds of the nine reed-contact units, with the consequence that the switch'is brought to the connect condition in which it connects each of the nine terminal members 3 of the first group individually to the corresponding one of the nine terminal members 4 of the second group. The switch remains in the connect condition, of course, as long as the magnetic part 2 is in position in it.
  • the terminals 5 of the third group are terminals adapted to be engaged by respective corresponding members of a multi-point connector, in the form of a multi-point socket or jack, used to obtain access, when the switch is in the disconnect condition with the removable magnetic part removed therefrom, to a circuit or item of equipment connected to the terminals 3 of the first group.
  • the removable part 2 is in the form of a plate havin an edge portion 7 to which the handle 8 is secured, and which is bent to form a mask serving, when the magnetic part is in position in the switch, to prevent a multi-point connector as just referred to from being brought into engagement with the terminals 5 of the third group and to shield these terminals from accidental contact.
  • tent to which the magnetic part 2 can be pushed along the slots 9 is limited by the abutment of the edge 11 of this part with the face 12 of the main mounting member 1, and is such that-the edge or mask portion 7 stands clear of contact with the terminals 5 when the magnetic part has been pushed as far as possible along the slots 9.
  • a magnetic multi-pole electric switch comprising a plurality of magnetically operable reed-contact units, each said unit having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the first terminals'of all the units comprising the first group of terminals, the second terminals of all the units comprising the second group of terminals, and the third terminals of all the units comprising the third group of terminals, the first and third terminals of each unit being in permanent electrical connection with each other and with one reed of the reed contact unit, and the second terminal of each unit being in permanent electrical connection with the other reed of the unit, and a removq able permanently-magnetised magnetic part adapted to be mounted in position on the switch to provide an operating magnetic field for each of the reed-contact units, said magnetic part being in the form of a plate having an edge portion bent to form a mask serving to mask the terminals of the third group when the magnetic part is mounted in position in the switch.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
US388851A 1963-08-12 1964-08-11 Magnetic multi-pole electric switch Expired - Lifetime US3249715A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB31756/63A GB1059582A (en) 1963-08-12 1963-08-12 Improvements relating to electric switches

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3249715A true US3249715A (en) 1966-05-03

Family

ID=10327926

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US388851A Expired - Lifetime US3249715A (en) 1963-08-12 1964-08-11 Magnetic multi-pole electric switch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3249715A (fr)
FR (1) FR1404219A (fr)
GB (1) GB1059582A (fr)
NL (1) NL6409219A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3408448A (en) * 1965-05-24 1968-10-29 Wurlitzer Co Magnetic keying for electronic organs
US3506939A (en) * 1966-02-04 1970-04-14 Bosch Gmbh Robert Magnet operated program device
US3947974A (en) * 1974-05-23 1976-04-06 The University Of Miami Cardiological manikin auscultation and blood pressure systems
US4112401A (en) * 1977-03-14 1978-09-05 Spectron Corporation Electrical switching apparatus and control system for use therewith
US5402106A (en) * 1993-05-06 1995-03-28 Anthony M. DiPaolo Shopping cart theft prevention system

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2954273C2 (de) * 1979-02-20 1986-06-19 Zoller & Fröhlich GmbH & Co KG, 7988 Wangen Magnetischer Näherungs-Schalter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2124156A (en) * 1936-03-04 1938-07-19 Jr John E Torbert Junction box
US3114019A (en) * 1960-10-03 1963-12-10 Clare & Co C P Electromagnetic sealed reed printed circuit switching assembly
US3174009A (en) * 1962-12-14 1965-03-16 Clare & Co C P Mounting means for magnetic memory sealed reed switch unit
US3187125A (en) * 1963-06-05 1965-06-01 Simon A Bergauer Test adapter with plug-in pins electrically connected to conductive elements axially spaced about its exterior periphery

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2124156A (en) * 1936-03-04 1938-07-19 Jr John E Torbert Junction box
US3114019A (en) * 1960-10-03 1963-12-10 Clare & Co C P Electromagnetic sealed reed printed circuit switching assembly
US3174009A (en) * 1962-12-14 1965-03-16 Clare & Co C P Mounting means for magnetic memory sealed reed switch unit
US3187125A (en) * 1963-06-05 1965-06-01 Simon A Bergauer Test adapter with plug-in pins electrically connected to conductive elements axially spaced about its exterior periphery

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3408448A (en) * 1965-05-24 1968-10-29 Wurlitzer Co Magnetic keying for electronic organs
US3506939A (en) * 1966-02-04 1970-04-14 Bosch Gmbh Robert Magnet operated program device
US3947974A (en) * 1974-05-23 1976-04-06 The University Of Miami Cardiological manikin auscultation and blood pressure systems
US4112401A (en) * 1977-03-14 1978-09-05 Spectron Corporation Electrical switching apparatus and control system for use therewith
US5402106A (en) * 1993-05-06 1995-03-28 Anthony M. DiPaolo Shopping cart theft prevention system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1404219A (fr) 1965-06-25
GB1059582A (en) 1967-02-22
NL6409219A (fr) 1965-02-15

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