US3250886A

US3250886A - High voltage miniature relay

Info

Publication number: US3250886A
Application number: US414329A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lucia Victor E De; Beau Clifford A Le
Original assignee: TORR LAB Inc
Current assignee: TORR LABS Inc; TORR LAB Inc
Priority date: 1964-11-27
Filing date: 1964-11-27
Publication date: 1966-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-10

Description

y 1966 v. E. DE LUCIA ETAL 3,250,886

HIGH VOLTAGE MINIATURE RELAY Filed Nov. 2'7, 1964 fur/7611207 far flaw/7 60 a z z z a Ar 3,250,886 HIGH VOLTAGE MINIATURE RELAY Victor E. De Lucia, Santa Monica, and Clilford A. Le

Beau, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Torr Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 414,329

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-166) The present invention relates to relays in general, and it relates to high voltage relays in particular, for example, of the double-pole, double-throw type, which are United States Patent particularly adapted to high voltage, medical uses and a which are constructed to assure that under no conditions will one contact open without the other.

In heart defribrillator systems, a double-pole, doublethrow relay is used to introduce a high voltage to the heart of the patient under precisely controlled conditions. The relay is required to operate under high Voltage conditions to that vacuum relays are well suited for the purpose. This is because vacuum relays operate in an evacuated envelope, so that contact deterioration is inhibited to a material extent. However, pressurized relays, in which the envelope is filled with a pressurized dielectric gas, such as sulphurhexafiuoride (SP are also suited. This is because the gas reduces ionizing elfects in the envelope and also provides a cooling effect.

In heart defribrillator systems, it is most important that both of the normally-closed contacts of the relay open when the relay is energized and that both of the normally-open contacts open when the relay is de-energized. If in either instance, should one contact open without the other, the results are usually fatal to the patient.

The improved relay of the present invention is particularly constructed to operate over extended intervals of time at extremely high voltages, To this end, the relay is constructed to minimize arcing. In addition, appropriate shielding is provided to shield sensitive components of the relay from ion currents produced by the high voltages involved.

In addition, the improved relay of the invention is constructed so that if one of the normally-closed contacts should stick in a closed condition, neither of the two normally closed contacts will open when the relay is energized.

Conversely, should either of the normally open contacts stick in a closed condition, neither will open when the relay is de-energized. This latter factor is realized by providing fixed contacts which are resilient in one direction so as to prevent contact bounce when they are closed; but which are rigid in the other direction so as to prevent any movement of the movable contact away from either of the fixed contacts, should either of the fixed contacts become welded, or otherwise stuck, to the movable contact.

- This latter feature of the invention assures that when the relay is'energized and tie-energized, in each instance, either both contacts open or neither will open. This obviates any tendency for high voltages to be introduced to the patient under other but controlled conditions.

The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, when the description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating a vacuum relay constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

' FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view essentially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of certain operating components of the relay of the invention, with certain of the components repositioned for purposes of clarity.

The vacuum relay illustrated in the drawing includes an envelope 10 which may be formed of glass, or other suitable vitreous material. The envelope 10 has a generally cylindrical form in the illustrated embodiment, and it has an open portion at its lower end. The envelope may be evacuated, or filled with gas-as mentioned above.

The open portion of the envelope is enclosed by a circular cup-shaped member 12, which is composed of iron or other magnetic material. The cup-shaped member includes an elongated integral cylindrical portion 13, and a plunger 14 (composed of iron or other magnetic material) is supported in the cylindrical portion 13 for reciprocal movement therein. The plunger 14 includes a'flat disc-like top 14a, and it serves as the armature for the relay.

A suitable energizing coil assembly 16 is mounted externally of the envelope 10 in position to surround the cylindrical portion 13 of the cup-shaped member 12. A coil spring 18 is mounted on the plunger 14 between its cup-shaped top portion and the top surface of the cup-like member 12.

The assembly is such that when the energizing coil 16 is energized, the plunger 14, which is composed of magnetic material, is drawn down into the cylindrical portion 13. On the other hand, when the coil is deenergized, the plunger is returned to its upper position, illustrated in FIGURE 1, by the spring 18.

A pair of electrically

conductive contact pins

20 and 22 are mounted on the envelope 10 and extend into the envelope as shown in FIGURES l and 2. A corresponding pair of

movable contacts

24 and 26 are hinged to the

respective contact pins

20 and 22.

As mentioned previously, the relay of the invention is intended to operate on a double-pole, double-throw basis, and in conjunction with extremely high voltages. For that reason, it is most important that arcing be prevented.

In order to prevent arcing, a positive hinge assembly is provided for coupling the

movable contacts

24 and 26 to the

respective contact pins

20 and 22. This hinge assembly, as best shown in FIGURE 3, for example, takes the form of a pair of resilient strips composed, for example, of tungsten, indicated 30 and 32.

The

strips

30 and 32 are welded, or otherwise affixed, to the contact pin 20 in facing, parallel relationship. A pair of channel-forming members composed, for ex ample, of molybdenum, and designated 34 and 36, are respectively aflixed to the remote ends of the

strips

30 and 32. The latter two members define a transverse channel with respect to the

strip

30 and 32, and this channel resiliently receives a transverse rod 38, so as to permit angular movement of the rod between the two channel-forming

members

34 and 36. The rod 36 is welded, or otherwise aflixed to the movable contact 24 in transverse relationship therewith. In assembling the relay, the movable contact 24 has its transverse rod 38 snapped into place between the channel-forming

members

34 and 36.

A similar hinge assembly is used to couple the movable contact 26 to the contact pin 22.

A U-shaped member 4% is mounted on the top surface of the disc-like portion 14a of the armature plunger 14, and the U-shaped member has upwardly extending legs. These legs are coupled to the

movable contacts

24 and 26 through

insulating glass portions

42 and 44 these portions being shielded against ion attack by

respective shields

46 and 48. The glass portions are attached to further elongated members 50 and 52 which are pivoted to the respective

movable contacts

24 and 26, as shown. Alternatively, the movable contacts may be supported on the armature by elongated insulating rods composed, for example, of an insulating material such as sapphire, which is immune to ion attack and does not require shielding.

An L-shaped shield 54 is supported on the movable contact 24, and a similar shield 56 is supported on the movable contact 26. These shields serve to prevent the flow ionizing current to the elongated members 50 and 52, so as to obviate any flow of current through the respective pivot points of the movable contacts, with resulting degradation of the pivoted joints.

-It will be appreciated that when the relay is ,deenergized, the

movable contacts

24 and 26 are moved by the spring 18 to an upper position, as shown in FIGURES l and 3. On the other hand, when the relay is energized, both the movable contacts are pulled to a lower position as the armature 14 is retracted down into the energizing coil 16.

During this actuation of the relay, the

movable contacts

24 and 26 pivot smoothly in the corresponding hinge means, such as the hinge described above, so that positive electric contacts between the movable contacts and the

pins

20 and 22 is assured, and arcing is prevented.

The relay illustrated in the drawing is a double-pole V double-throw relay and is intended primarily to be used for medical purposes. However, it should be evident that the relay of the invention may be single-pole single-throw, single-pole double-throw, double-pole single-throw, or

other type, and that it finds general utility in many applications where high voltage relays are required.

The illustrated relay includes a further pair of

contact pins

60 and 62 which extend through the envelope and which support corresponding fixed contacts. These contacts are the normally-open contacts of the relay, and are engaged by the respective

movable contacts

24 and 26 when the relay is energized. The relay also includes a further pair of

contact pins

64 and 66. These latter contact pins constitute the normally-closed fixed contacts of the relay, and are engaged by the respective movable contacts 24- and Zdwhen the relay is de-energized.

The normally-open contacts may each have the configuration shown in FIGURES l and 3, with respect, for example, to the pin 60. As shown, the fixed contact associated with that pin includes a rigid elongated portion 60a, and a resilient strip portion 60b. The resilient strip portion overlies the rigid portion, and is affixed to the rigid portion at one end, for example, by a weld 60c. The resilient portion extends beyond the end of the rigid portion, and a contact button 60d is afiixed to the extremity of the resilient portion, which is in position to be engaged by a corresponding contact button on the movable contact 24. 7

Likewise, the normally-closed fixed contacts associated with the contact pins 64 and 66 may each have the construction shown, with respect to the fixed contact associated with the pin 64, in FIGURE 3.

The latter contact has an elongated rigid portion 64a, and an overlying resilient strip portion 64. The strip portion is welded at one end to the rigid portion, as by a weld 64c. As before, the resilient portion 641; extends beyond the end of the rigid portion 64a, and it has a contact button 64d which is engaged by acorresponding contact button on the movable contact 2411.

It will be appreciated that when the movable contact 24 closes with the contact button 69d, the resilient strip 6% is caused to move away from the rigid portion 60a, so that the engagement by the movable contact 24 is resiliently absorbed and contact bounce is prevented. However, when the movable contact'breaks with the fixed contact, the rigid portion 60a prevents any follo wing of the movable contact by the contact button 60d. The same vent any tendency for a fixed contact to move with the movable contact.

Therefore, in the event that a fixed contact should become welded with a movable contact, its inherent rigidity prevents the armature from moving so that the corresponding contact on the other side of the relay is also held closed. In this manner, there is no tendency for one half of the relay to operate, without the other.

Also, due to the high voltages with which the relay is to be operated, arcing is a problem. This arcing is prevented by the improved hinge means of the movable contacts 24- and 26, as described above. In addition, the

shields

54 and 56 and 42 and 44 prevent ionizing currents from flowing to the critical parts of the relay.

In addition, adisc-like shield is mounted on the disc-like portion 14a of the armature 14 by means, for example, of a pair of

legs

82 and 84. The disc 80 may be composed, for example, of glass, and the legs 82 and 84- may be fused in the glass and welded on the surface of the disc-like member 14a. The disc 80 is intended to prevent the flow of ionizing current between one half of the double-pole double-throw relay and the other.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved vacuum relay which isparticularly adapted to operate with high eflic-iency in switching high voltages, and to operate for long periods of time without appreciable deterioration of its components.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made. The claims are intended to cover the modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1, A relay including: an envelope; a first electrically conductive contact pin extending into said envelope; a movable contact; a pair of spaced parallel resilient electrically conductive strips atfixed to said first contact pin;

' a pair of transverse channel-forming electrically conductive members respectively afiixed to the ends of said strips in mutually facing relationship; an. electrically conductive transverse rod afiixed to said movable cont-act and resiliently received in the channel formed by said channel forming members for angular movement therein; a second electrically conductive contact pin extending into said envelope; and a fixed contact affixed to said second contact pin in position to be selectively engaged by said movable contact.

2. The relay defined in claim 1 in which said resilient strips are formed of tungsten and in which said transverse channel-forming members and said transverse rod are formed of molybdenum.

3. A double-pole double-throw relay including: an envelope; a first pair of electrically conductive contact pins extending into said envelope; a pair of movable contacts; hinge means for coupling each of said movable contacts to a corresponding one of said pins of said first pair in electrically conductive relationship therewith, each of said hinge means comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient electrically conductive strips affixed to the corresponding one of said contact pins of said first pair, a pair of electrically conductive transverse channel-forming members respectively afiixed to the ends of said strips in mutual facing relationship, and a transverse rod of electrically conductive material aflixed to the corresponding one of said pair of movable contacts and resiliently received in the channel formed by said channel-forming members for angular'movement therein;.a second pair of electrically conductive contact pins extending into said envelope; and a pair of fixed contacts affixed to respective ones of said contact pins of said second pair in position to be selectively engaged by corresponding ones of said movable contacts, each of said fixed contacts having a rigid portion and further having a resilient strip-like portion overlying said rigid portion on the side thereof remote from said movable contact and extending beyond the extremity of said rigid portion to be selectively engaged by said movable contact.

4. A relay including: an envelope; a first electrically conductive contact pin extending into said envelope; a

movable contact; hinge means for coupling said movable contact to said first pin in electrically conductive relationship therewith; said hinge means comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient electrically conductive strips affixed to said first contact pin, a pair of transverse channelforming electrically conductive members respectively affixed to the ends of said strips in mutually facing relationship, and an electrically conductive transverse rod afiixed to said movable contact and resiliently received in the channel formed by said channel-forming members for angular movement therein; a second electrically conductive contact pin extending into said envelope; a fixed contact aflixed to said second contact pin in position to be selectively engaged by said movable contact, said fixed contact having a rigid portion and further having a resilient strip-like portion overlying said rigid portion on the side thereof remote from said movable contact and extending beyond the extremity of said rigid portion to be selectively engaged by said movable contact.

5. A double-pole double-throw relay including: an envelope; a first pair of electrically conductive contact pins extending into said envelope; a pair of movable contacts; hinge means for coupling each of said movable contacts to a corresponding one of said electrically conductive pins of said first pair in respective electrical conductive relationship therewith, each of said hinge means comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient electrically conductive strips afiixed to the corresponding contact pin of the first pair, a pair of transverse channel-forming electrically conductive members respectively afiixed to the ends of said strips, and a transverse rod of electrically conductive material afiixed to such movable contact and resiliently received in the channel formed by such channel-forming members for angular movement therein; a second pair of electrically conductive contact pins extending into said envelope; and a pair of fixed contacts afiixed to respective ones of said contact pins of said second pair in position to be selectively engaged by corresponding ones of said movable contacts, each of said fixed contacts having a rigid portion and further having a resilient strip-like portion overlying said rigid portion on the side thereof remote from the corresponding one of said movable contacts and extending beyond the extremity of said rigid portion to be selectively engaged by such movable contact.

6. A relay including: a first electrically conductive terminal means; means including a pair of spaced parallel resilient electrically conductive strips connected to said terminal means and defining a transverse channel at the end of said strips; means including a movable contact having an electrically conductive transverse rod resiliently received in said transverse channel for angular movement therein; a second electrically conductive means; and a fixed contact electrically connected to said second electrically conductive terminal means and positioned to be selectively engaged by said movable contact.

7. A relay including: an envelopeya first electrically conductive terminal means extending into said envelope; means including a pair of spaced parallel resilient electrically conductive strips connected to said terminal means and defining a transverse channel at the end of said strips; means including a movable contact having an electrically conductive transverse rod resiliently received in said transverse channel for angular movement therein; a second electrically conductive terminal means extending into said envelope; and a fixed contact electrically connected to said second electrically conductive terminal means and positioned in said envelope to be selectively engaged by said movable contact.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,813 9/1931 Nickle 200-l44.2 X 2,794,885 6/1957 Jennings 200144.2 3,161,749 12/1964 Perry et al. .4 ZOO-144.2

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. I. J. BAKER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A RELAY INCLUDING: AN ENVELOPE; A FIRST ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONTACT PIN EXTENDING INTO SAID ENVELOPE; A MOVABLE CONTACT; A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL RESILIENT ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE STRIPS AFFIXED TO SAID FIRST CONTACT PIN; A PAIR OF TRANSVERSE CHANNEL-FORMING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY AFFIXED TO THE ENDS OF SAID STRIPS IN MUTUALL FACING RELATIONSHIP; AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TRANSVERSE ROD AFFIXED TO SAID MOVABLE CONTACT AND RESILIENTLY RECEIVED IN THE CHANNEL FORMED BY SAID CHANNELFORMING MEMBERS FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT THEREIN; A SECOND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONTACT PIN EXTENDING INTO SAID ENVELOPE; AND A FIXED CONTACT AFFIXED TO SAID SECOND CONTACT PIN IN POSITION TO BE SELECTIVELY ENGAGED BY SAID MOVABLE CONTACT.