US3253096A - Miniature electromagnetic relay and mounting bracket arrangement therefor - Google Patents

Description

y 24, 1966 w. J. RICHERT MINIATURE ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND MOUNTING BRACKET ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 50 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 FIG.I.

FIG.4.

FIG.3.

I INVENTOR Walter J. Richert FIG.5.

BY 4 4; 75 /1. .JA m.

ATTORNEYS- y 4, 1966 w. J. RICHERT MTNIATURE ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND MOUNTING BRACKET ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 50

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Walter J. Richert 7 BY MA M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,253,096 MINIATURE ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY AND MOUNTING BRACKET ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Walter J. Richert, Princeton, Ind., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,721 6 Claims. (CL 200-87) This invention relates to electromagnetic relays and, more particularly, to relays of that type in which the relay elements are arranged in a unique manner to maintain the space requirements of the relay at a minimum.

Due to recent developments in missiles, satellites, and other space craft, there has been an increasing need for extremely small reliable relays for such craft. One requirement of components for space vehicles is extremely small size and corresponding light weight. The most significant requirement, however, is reliable operation of the relay at the various temperatures and at the levels of shock and acceleration encountered during launching and travel of the space vehicle. Such problems of reliability for specified conditions have long plagued the relay industry. The problems have been solved, at least in part, by relays of the magnetic latching type such as that disclosed and described in my copending application Serial Number 178,468, filed March 8, 1962, now Patent No. 3,121,149, for Electromagnetic Relays. Although extremely reliable, such magnetic latching relays are difiicult to manufacture, are expensive, and usually require more operating current than required to operate a nonlatching relay having similar operating characteristics. The increased operating current is necessary to overcome the latching effect of the permanent magnets used to hold the armature in the latched and reset positions.

In the present invention, a subminiature nonlatching relay is provided which avoids the manufacturing and operational problems experienced in the past. The various elements of the relay, including contacts, are strategically located to provide an extremely small assembled relay that can be hermetically sealed to protect the relay components from undesirable atmosphere. The armature and the contacts, which are the movable elements of the relay, the remainder being fixed, cooperate in a unique manner to form a substantially balanced relay the operation of which is substantially unaffected by acceleration and shock of relatively large magnitude.

A further unique feature of this invention resides in the unique magnetic circuit which substantially reduces the power required to operate the relay.

In view of the foregoing, a general object of this invention is to provide a relay of the type described which is free from the manufacturing and operational problems heretofore encountered.

Another object is to provide such a relay which is of extremely small size by virtue of the arrangement of the various components of the relay.

A further object is to provide a nonlatching relay which is extremely resistant to shock and vibration.

Yet another object is to devise such a relay in which the extreme small size can be attributed at least in part to the unique arrangement of the magnetic circuit and contacts for the relay.

A still further object is to provide such a relay wherein the armature and contacts cooperate to form an inertially balanced assembly which resists uncontrolled switching at high levels of shock and acceleration.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the coil side of the relay;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the armature side of the relay;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the relay;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the relay;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the contact assembly with the motor structure and brackets of the relay omitted for clary;

FIG. 6 is a view in exploded perspective of the several parts of the relay; and

FIG. 7 is a force diagram showing the principal axes of forces which may act on the relay of FIG. 6.

Turning now to the drawings in detail, the embodiment of the invention there illustrated comprises a base 1, a contact and terminal assembly 2 carried by the base, a motor structure 3 that includes an armature 4, the motor structure being spaced from the base, and brackets 5, 6 and 7 which support various elements of the motor structure. While those skilled in the art will understand that the relay is operative in any position, the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is chosen as a normal position, with the motor structure extending horizontally .at the top and base 1 extending horizontally at the bottom, in order to simplify description of the structure.

Considering FIGS. 5 and 6, base '1 is seen to be a metal header in the form of a plate which has a flat major surface 8 that faces motor structure 3 and a flat major surface 9 on the side of the base opposite from the motor structure. Base 1 is rectangular and has straight edges at sides 10 and 11 of approximately twice the length of straight edges at ends 12 and 13. At side 10 are two spaced apart recesses 14 and 15 which have a bottom wall 16 parallel to major surface 8 and a rear wall 17 parallel to the surface of side 10. Recesses 1'8 and 19, identical to recesses 14 and 15, are also provided at side 11 of the base. A flat tongue 20 is secured to rear wall '17 of each recess, as by welding, so that a portion of the tongue projects beyond major surface 8 generally at right angles thereto. The various recesses and tongues -20 provide mounting supports for securing brackets 5 and 6 to the base, as will subsequently be described.

The side and end edges of the base each have a curved portion 21 and a straight portion 22 that is perpendicular to the plane of major surface 8. These portions 21 and 22 cooperate to form a seat for a cover 23 which is generally box-shaped. Edges 24 adjacent the open portion of the cover are appropriately dimensioned to fit over the straight portion 22, whereupon in the assembled relay the cover is soldered to the base in a well-known manner to provide a sealed enclosure.

Terminal and contact assembly 2 includes a plurality of terminal pins 25-32 that extend through a plurality of openings 33 in base 1. The pins are secured in place by being embedded in masses of suitable insulating material filling openings 33, in the usual manner.

The terminal pins project a suflicient distance beyond major surface 9 of base 1 to permit plugging the terminals to a suitable socket (not shown), the ends of the pins being rounded to facilitate inserting same into the socket. The portions of the pins opposite the rounded ends project above major surface 8 of the base to provide supports for the fixed and movable contacts and connecting pins for the leads for the motor structure 3.

As best seen in FIG. 5, terminal pins 25-28 extend in a straight line parallel with side 11, the pins being offset from the center line of the base toward side .11. Terminal pins 29-32 extend in a row parallel with the row defined by pins 25-28, the pins 29-32 being offset toward the side 10 from the center line of the base the same distance that the pins 2 -28 are offset toward side 11. The pins of each row are equidistantly spaced one from the other and corresponding pins in each row; for example, pins 25 and 29 or 26 and 30 are in alignment so that each pair is disposed in the same plane perpendicular to the side of the base.

Fixed contacts 34 and 35 are supported respectively by pins 25 and 29 adjacent end 12 of the base, whereas fixed contacts 36 and 37 are supported respectively by pins 32 and 28 adjacent end 13 of the base. Each of the fixed contacts 34-37 is formed of spring material having good electrical conducting properties to provide a leaf-type contact with arcuately curved contact ends that are bifurcated. Fixed contacts 34 and 35 have a space between them to accommodate movable contact 38 which extends toward end 12 and is fixed to a support that is secured to pin 27. The curved bifurcated end of contact 35 is closer to end 12 than the curved bifurcated end of contact 34 so that the side of contact 38 which faces side L1 has an exposed face adjacent its end which is engaged by a suitable insulated pusher secured to armature 4 to operate the contacts. Movable contact 39 is supported by terminal pin 30 via asuitable rigid support. 'Fixed contact 37 has its curved bifurcated end closer to side 13 of the base than the curved bifurcated end of fixed contact 36, the bifurcated ends being spaced apart a sufficient distance to accommodate the straight end of movable contact. This arrangement provides, adjacent the end of contact 39, an exposed face on the side that faces toward side for engagement with an insulated push member at the other end of armature 4. Pins 26 and 31 provide leads for the electrical circuit of the motor structure 3.

Thus, it is apparent that the base 1 supports the tenm-inals, and the contact assembly is supported in a plane closely adjacent major surface 8 of the base. Movable contacts 38 and 39 are leaf-type springs so formed and mounted that the spring properties of these contacts normally bias them into engagement with the curved bifurcated ends of fixed contacts 34 and 36, respectively. The resilience of movable contacts 38 and 39 is also such that these contacts, when operated by the pusher members of the armature, are flexed to engage fixed contacts 35 and 37, respectively. Although the straight movable portions of contacts 38 and 29 preferably lie in substantially the same plane, the inertial balance of themovable contacts would not be affected by disposing the movable contacts in parallel planes.

Motor structure 3 includes an electromagnet 40', a pair of pole pieces 41 and 42, and brackets 6 and 7 which pivotally support armature 4. Electromagnet 40 includes an elongated cylindrical core 43 having its axis parallel with base 1 and a coil 44 wound on a suitable bobbin of insulating material disposed on the core. The core has cylindrical tips 45 and 46 that project axially beyond the respective ends of the bobbin, the tips being of smaller diameter than the main portion of the core to form a pair of transverseannular shoulders 47 and 48 at the junction of the tips and the core itself.

Pole structures 41 and 42 are each generally L-shaped as best seen in FIG. 6. Pole structure 41 includes a fiat end 49 and a flat rectangular portion 50 integral with the flat end. Pole structure 41 is formed from suitable magnetic material which is nonretentive and is bent so that rectangular portion 50 projects at an angle of 85 to the plane of fiat end 49. Pole structure 42 is formed of the same material as pole structure 41 and cludes a fiat end 51 and an integral rectangular portion 52 which projects at an angle of 95 to the plane of end portion 51.

Flat ends 49 and 51 each have an enlarged portion that is generally rounded adjacent the ends of coil 44. Centrally of the enlarged portions, ends 49 and 51 'are provided with a bore of compatible diameter with tips t-ures, and the flat surfaces of ends 49 and 51 that face each other then contact annular faces 47 and 48 of the core. The pole structures are aligned axially of the core and are secured to the core by deforming the projecting tips of the core to fix the pole structures to the core.

When so assembled, electromagnet 40 and pole structures 4i1 and 42 define a generally C-shaped magnetic structure. As best seen in FIG. 3, fiat ends 49 and 51 of the pole structures are disposed at right angles to the axis of core 43, whereas rectangular portions 56 and 52 project toward each other beside coil 44 from opposite ends of the core. Rectangular portion 50 has a length axially of the electromagnet which is only slightly less than half the length of the core so that portion 50 extends to a point approximately midway between the ends of the electromagnet. Rectangular portion 51) of pole piece 41 has an arcuately cut out portion 53 on the face directed toward the electromagnet at its unattached end so that this face can be disposed closely adjacent the side of coil 44. Rectangular portion 52, on the other hand, is spaced from coil 44 to provide a space 54 between portion 52 and the electromagnet for one end of armature 4. Rectangular portion 52 is substantially shorter than rectangular portion 50, having a length of approximately one-third the length of the core.

Armature 4 is carried by suitable bearings 55 and 56, respectively, in brackets 6 and 7. Armature 4 is flat and is rectangular as viewed in front elevation. The armature is elongated in a direction axially of the core and is so disposed that one end of the armature is in space 54 between rectangular portion 52 and the coil and the other end is disposed on the side of rectangular portion 50 which faces away from the coil. Projecting from the centers of opposite side edges of the armature are pins 57 and 58, pin 57 projecting toward bracket 6 and pin 58 projecting toward bracket 7 so that the pins are disposed respectively in bearings 55 and 56. The pins 57 and 58 cooperate with bearings 55 and 56 to provide a pivot for armature 4, the axis of the pivot being transverse to the armature and perpendicular to the major surface 8 of base 1.

Armature 4 has armature faces 59 and 60, one at each side of its pivot, that engage with pole faces 61 and 62 of rectangular portions 50 and 52 of the pole structures. Armature face 59 is on that surface of the armature which faces away from the axis of electromagnet 40, whereas armature face 60 is on the surface of the armature that faces toward the axis of electromagnet 40. Pole faces 61 and 62 are fiat and rectangular for engagement with armature faces 60 and 61 when the relay is operated. Pole face 61 is directed toward the axis of the electromagnet, whereas pole face 62 is directed away from the axis of the electromagnet, the pole faces 61 and 62 defining spaced apart generally parallel planes each of which forms an angle of approximately 5 with the axis of the electromagnet.

Thus, the motor structure 3 is comprised of an electromagnet 40 having its axis parallel with the base, the axis being offset from the center line of the base toward side 10 of the base so that one side of coil 44 projects closely adjacent but within the confines of the edge of side 10. The axis of the armature pivot is disposed midway between ends 12 and 13 of the base and is perpendicular to the base. This axis intersects the base on the side of the center line of the base opposite from the side toward which the axis of the electromagnet is offset. Armature 4 and pole faces 61 and 62 are also on the same side of the center line of the base as the axis of the pivot. The elements of motor structure 3, including electromagnet 49, pole pieces 41 and 42, and armature 4, cooperate to define a substantially closed magnetic circuit, the motor structure being in a plane parallel with and spaced from major surface 8 of the base, the ends and sides of the motor structure being disposed within the bounds of sides 10 and 11 and ends 12 and 13 of the base so that cover 23 can be placed over the assembled relay. Since rectangular portion 50 of pole piece 41 is elongated, the pole face 62 is also elongated to extend adjacent the center of the armature at the pivot.

The motor structure 3 is fixed to base 1 by brackets 5 and 6. Bracket 5 is stamped from nonmagnetic sheet material and is composed of two halves that are the mirrow image of each other, each half being flat and being disposed in a plane perpendicular to the base. Each half has a body portion 63 of trapezoidal shape, an elongated rectangular leg 64 that projects from one side of body 63, and a tab 65 that projects from the other side of body 63 in a direction opposite leg 64. The bracket halves are so dimensioned that, when legs 64 are secured respectively to the end edges of the enlarged portions of pole pieces 41 and 42, as by welding, tabs 65 are properly spaced apart to enter notches 14 and 15. The tabs are welded to tongues 20 in the respective notches to secure one side of motor structure 3 to the base, an edge 66 of body 63 abutting major surface 8 of the base to properly space the motor structure from the base.

Bracket 6, which is also formed of nonmagnetic sheet metal, has a' pair of spaced apart legs 67 that project at right angles from the base, the ends of the legs adjacent surface 8 of the base having tabs 68 that are spaced apart to enter notches 18 and 19 adjacent side 11 of the base. Projecting across the base from the ends of the legs opposite the tabs is a flat supporting member 69 that is parallel to major surface 8 of the base. ,This supporting member is suitably fixed to those edges of rectangular portions 50 and 52 of pole pieces 41 and 42 that face toward base 1, as by welding, to rigidly secure the pole structures in their aligned-position and also to support the side of the motor structure adjacent side 11 of the base. Adjacent tabs 68 are edges 68- that abut major surface 8 of the base to properly space the motor structure from the base when tabs 68 are welded to tongues 20. Located centrally of supporting member 69 is a circular opening that defines bearing 55 for pivotally mounting the armature. Bracket 7, which is also formed from nonmagnetic sheet material, has a central portion 70 in the shape of a parallelogram with legs 71 and 72 projecting respectively from opposite ends of the parallelogram. The legs 71 and 72 are coplanar and are spaced apart and so located that they overlie those edges of rectangular portions 50 and 52 of pole pieces 41 and 42 that face away from base 1, the legs 70 and 71 of the bracket being secured to the edges of the pole pieces by welding. Located centrally of the body 70 of the bracket is an opening that defines the bearing 56 for pin 58 that projects from the edge of the armature opposite from the base. The bearings 55 and 56, as previously stated, are in aligned relation relative to the base so that they have a common axis which is perpendicular to surface 8 of the base.

A flat leaf spring 73 is secured at one end to that surface of the armature that is directed away from coil 44. The spring has a width substantially less than the height of the armature measured in a direction perpendicular to the base and has a length only slightly less than the length of the armature so that the end of the spring opposite the end which is secured to the armature projects across the tip of rectangular portion 52 on the side of the tip opposite coil 44. Spring 73 is mounted so that it is offset toward that edge of the armature which faces the base. The purpose of offsetting the spring is to provide space on that side of the armature away from the coil for engagement of the armature with a tab 74 projecting toward the base from leg 72 of bracket 4, the tab 74 acting as a stop to limit the movement of the armature in a direction away from pole faces 61 and 62. Projecting downwardly from bracket 7 on the opposite side of the pivot hearing from tab 74 is a tab 75 that is longer than tab 74 and has a face directed toward the electromagnet against which the unattached end of spring 73 bears to normally urge the armature against the stop member provided by tab 74.

Secured to the opposite end edges of the armature are push members 76 and 77 in the form of stiff wires that project toward the base and terminate at insulating beads 78 and 79 at the respective ends of the wires, the beads 78 and 79 being in the same plane spaced only slightly above major surface 8 of the base. The beads are so located in the plane of the contacts that bead 78 engages the unattached end of movable contact 38 on that side of the movable contact where fixed contact 34 is located, and head '79 engages the unattached end of movable contact 39 on that side of the movable contact where fixed contact 36 is located.

Operation When the various elements of the relay are in the assembled position, as shown in the drawings, energizing electromagnet 40 is effective to move the armature about its pivot until armature faces 59 and 68 engages, respectively, pole faces 61 and 62. Such movement of the armature causes beads 78 and .79 to engage and move movable contacts 38 and 39 out of engagement with fixed contacts 34 and 36 and into engagement with fixed contacts 35 and 37, thereby performing a switching action in the circuit of which the various contacts are a part. Upon deenergization of electromagnet 40, the spring forces of both the movable contacts 38 and 39, and return spring 73, return the armature to its unenergized position in which tab 74 engages the side of the armature opposite the electromagnet.

In the unenergized position, the beads 78 and 79 engage movable contacts 38 and 39 only very lightly but may, if desired, be slightly spaced from these movable contacts. The spring forces of the movable contacts themselves are an important factor in resisting accidental operation of the relay due to the forces of shock and acceleration which may be encountered. Although contacts 34, 35 and 36, 37 are termed fixed, they are in reality leaf spring-like contacts that have a resiliency comparable with that of movable contacts 38 and 39. This resiliency is also an important factor in the reliable operation of the relay at high levels of shock and acceleration.

Consider now the effect of a force acting along any of the three principal axes of the relay, as shown in FIG. 7, when the relay is unenergized. A force acting in the X direction acts toward major surface 9 of the base. Since the various portions of the armature and contacts are, for practical purposes, immovable in the X direction, forces of shock and' acceleration will be effectively resisted without affecting the operation of the relay.

A force acting in the Y direction acts normal to end 12 from a point outside the base. Because of the very short moment arms of both the fixed contacts and movable contacts at right angles to the Y direction, a force acting in the Y direction will have little, if any, effect on the contacts themselves. Since the armature is balanced, having equal mass on each side of its pivot, a force acting in the Y direction will not affect the armature to accidentally operate the contacts.

The principal direction of forces that could affect the operation of the relay in an accidental way due to shock and acceleration is a force acting in the Z direction normal to side 10 or 11. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 6, a shock acting in the Z direction may tend to move movable contact 38 toward side 11 of the relay. However, such movement is effectively resisted by bead 78 which engages the movable contact 38 on the side in which the force Z tends to move the contact. At the same time, resilient fixed contact 39 may tend to move slightly toward movable contact 38, but is sufficiently stiff that such movement into engagement with contact 38 is effectively precluded. Although the force acting on contact 39 may instantaneously move the contact toward and into engagement with contact 37, such accidental engagement is rare indeed since the contact 37 is substantially more flexible than the contact 34 and hence will tend to move at least slightly away from contact 39 in response to shock or acceleration in the Z direction. In the event that the shock is sufiicient to cause movable contact 39 to engage contact 37, such engagement would be only instantaneous, and thereafter the natural spring force of contact 39 will return the contact to engagement with fixed contact 36. A force acting in a negative Z direction, i.e., toward side of the relay, will have an equal but opposite elfect with movable contact 38 being the contact that is liable to engage fixed contact 35.

When the relay is energized, shock or acceleration forces have less effect than when the relay is unenergized. Since forces in the X and Y direction have no effect on the moving parts of the relay, they-Will not be considered again. However, acceleration or shock in the Z direction appears to warrant consideration.

When the relay is energized, armature faces 59 and 60 engage pole faces 61 and 62, and beads 78 and 79 hold I movable contacts 38 and 39 in engagement with fixed contacts 35 and 37, respectively. A shock or acceleration force in the Z direction, toward side 10, does not directly affect the armature because the armature is statically balanced relative to the axis of its pivot. Movable contact 39 will tend to move toward fixed contact 36 to urge the armature toward its unenergized position by virtue of the increased force acting on bead 78. However, simultaneously, movable contact 38 tends to move away from bead 79 into firmer engagement with contact 35, and hence the force due to contact 38 that normally tends to move the armature to its unenergized position is reduced on the side of the armature where bead 79 is. This simultaneous increase in restoring force by contact 39 and decrease in restoring force by contact 38 tend to cancel each other so that the net effect of the force transmitted to the armature is zero for the expected levels of shock and acceleration.

The improved pull-in characteristics of the relay are attributed to pole face 62 Which extends closely adjacent the pivot of the armature. Due to the geometrical relationship of armature and pole faces, the linear distance that each end of the armature travels when the armature pivots into engagement with the pole faces is much greater than the linear distance that the armature travels at a point closer to its pivot. Correspondingly, the distance between armature face 60 and pole face 62, when the relay is unenergized, is substantially greater adjacent the end of the armature than it is adjacent the pivot of the armature. Therefore, by extending the rectangular member 52 of pole piece 41 so that a portion of the pole face 62 projects closely adjacent the axis of the pivot for the armature, the magnetic circuit air gap is maintained very small. By maintaining the air gap at a minimum, the force required to pivot the armature is correspondingly very small and hence the various other elements of the motor structure can be maintained at a relatively minimum size and the relay will operate effectively with a very small current in the coil 44. With such an arrangement, the fences from spring 73 and movable contacts 38 and 39 that tend to retard the movement of the armature are quickly overcome by the gradual-1y increasing pull of the pole pieces on the armature.

Normally, when elongated flat pole faces such as pole faces 61 and 62 engage fiat elongated faces such as armature faces 59 and 60, there is a tendency for the faces to stick due to residual magnetism. However, due to the combined restoring force of return spring 73 and movable contacts 37 and 38, the restoring force is always suflicient to return the armature to its unenergized position in engagement with tab 74 which forms a stop for the armature.

Although a preferred embodiment of the relay of this invention has been described and shown in detail, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto and that numerous changes and ramifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a miniature non-latching relay, the combination a generally fiat rectangular base having side edges and end edges,

an elongated electromagnet including a core of magnetic material and a winding on said core,

bracket means mounting said electromagnet on said base with said electromognet parallel to and spaced from said base, the axis of said electromagnet being otfset toward one side edge of said base from the center of the base;

a first magnetic pole structure magnetically coupled to one end of said core,

said first pole structure including a portion spaced laterally from said electromagnet and extending generally toward the end of said electromagnet opposite from the end of said core to which said first pole structure is coupled, said portion presenting a first pole face directed toward said electromagnet;

a second magnetic pole structure magnetically coupled to the other end of said core,

said second magnetic pole structure presenting a second pole face directed laterally away from said electromagnet;

said bracket means mounting said electromagnet on said base including a first bracket fixed to said base and fixed to each of said pole structures;

a second bracket fixed to each of said pole structures and spaced from said first bracket in a direction away from said base;

an elongated armature having a first pivot element and a second pivot element;

said first and second brackets mounting said armature at said first and second pivot elements respectively for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said base at a location on the other side of the center of the base from said electromagnet, said axis of said armature being transverse to said armature and located at the center thereof,

said armature being disposed beside said electromagnet, a portion of the armature on one side of said armature axis having a first face directed toward the axis of said electromagnet, a portion of said armature on the other side of said armature axis having a second face directed away from the axis of said electromagnet; said armature being so disposed that pivotal movement thereof in one direction about said axis causes said second face of said armature to engage said first pole face, and said first face of said armature to engage said second pole face, when said relay is energized; spring means for biasing said armature in a direction away from said pole structures so said armature faces are spaced from said pole faces when said relay is unenergized; said core, said pole structures and said armature coacting to define a magnetic circuit which extends parallel to said base and is spaced therefrom; contact means carried by said base and disposed between said base and the combination of said electromagnet, pole structures, and armature; and means for operating said contacts in response to pivotal movement of said armature. 2. A miniature relay in accordance with claim 1 in which said spring means for biasing said armature in a direction away from said pole structure is a leaf-type spring fixed to the side of said armature which faces away from said electromagnet;

said spring being elongated and extending generally parallel to the axis of said electromagnet. 3. A miniature relay in accordance with claim 1 in which one of said first and second brackets includes a first integral tab extending adjacent the side of said armature which faces away from said electromagnet, said tab providing stop means to limit the movement of said armature in a direction away from said pole faces. 4. A miniature relay in accordance with claim 3 in which said spring means for biasing said armature in a direction away from said pole structure is a leaf-type spring fixed to the side of said armature which faces away from said electromagnet; said spring being elongated, extending generally parallel to the axis of said electromagnet, and having a free end presenting a surface facing away from said electromagnet; one of said first and second brackets including a second integral tab extending adjacent and engaging said surface of said free end of said spring to stress said spring to correspondingly bias said armature in a direction away from said pole structure.

10 5. A miniature relay in accordance with claim 4 in which said first and second tabs are each integral with said second bracket. 6. A miniature relay in accordance with claim 5 in which said first tab extends parallel with and is oifset toward one side of the pivotal axis of said armature; and said second tab extends parallel with and is ofiset toward the other side of the pivotal axis of said armature.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,455,049 11/1948 Edwards et al. 200-87 3,013,136 12/1961 De Fligue 200-87 3,138,677 6/1964 Adams 200-87 3,154,653 10/ 1964 Rowell 200-87 3,164,697 1/1965 Bridges 317-197 3,168,628 2/1965 Okamoto et al. 200-87 3,178,532 4/1965 Smith 317-197 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

B. DOBECK, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A MINIATURE NON-LATCHING RELAY, THE COMBINATION OF A GENERALLY FLAT RECTANGULAR BASE HAVING SIDE EDGES AND END EDGES, AN ELONGATED ELECTROMAGNET INCLUDING A CORE OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL AND A WINDING ON SAID CORE, BRACKET MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELECTROMAGNET ON SAID BASE WITH SAID ELECTROMAGNET PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID BASE, THE AXIS OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING OFFSET TOWARD ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAID BASE FROM THE CENTER OF THE BASE; A FIRST MAGNETIC POLE STRUCTURE MAGNETICALLY COUPLED TO ONE END OF SAID CORE, SAID FIRST POLE STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PORTION SPACED LATERALLY FROM SAID ELECTROMAGNET AND EXTENDING GENERALLY TOWARD THE END OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET OPPOSITE FROM THE END OF SAID CORE TO WHICH SAID FIRST POLE STRUCTURE IS COUPLED, SAID PORTION PRESENTING A FIRST POLE FACE DIRECTED TOWARD SAID ELECTROMAGNET; A SECOND MAGNETIC POLE STRUCTURE MAGNETICALLY COUPLED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID CORE, SAID SECOND MAGNETIC POLE STRUCTURE PRESENTING A SECOND POLE FACE DIRECTED LATERALLY AWAY FROM SAID ELECTROMAGNET; SAID BRACKET MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELECTROMAGNET ON SAID BASE INCLUDING A FIRST BRACKET FIXED TO SAID BASE AND FIXED TO EACH OF SAID POLE STRUCTURES; A SECOND BRACKET FIXED TO EACH OF SAID POLE STRUCTURES AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST BRACKET IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID BASE; AN ELONGATED ARMATURE HAVING A FIRST PIVOT ELEMENT AND A SECOND PIVOT ELEMENT; SAID FIRST AND SECOND BRACKETS MOUNTING SAID ARMATURE AT SAID FIRST AND SECOND PIVOT ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID BASE AT A LOCATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CENTER OF THE BASE FROM SAID ELECTROMAGNET, SAID AXIS OF SAID ARMATURE BEING TRANSVERSE TO SAID ARMATURE AND LOCATED AT THE CENTER THEREOF, SAID ARMATURE BEING DISPOSED BESIDE SAID ELECTROMAGNET, A PORTION OF THE ARMATURE ON ONE SIDE OF SAID ARMATURE AXIS HAVING A FIRST FACE DIRECTED TOWARD THE AXIS OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET, A PORTION OF SAID ARMATURE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID ARMATURE AXIS HAVING A SECOND FACE DIRECTED AWAY FROM THE AXIS OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET; SAID ARMATURE BEING SO DISPOSED THAT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID AXIS CAUSES SAID SECOND FACE OF SAID ARMATURE TO ENGAGE SAID FIRST POLE FACE, AND SAID FIRST FACE OF SAID ARMATURE TO ENGAGE SAID SECOND POLE FACE, WHEN SAID RELAY IS ENERGIZED; SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING SAID ARMATURE IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID POLE STRUCTURES TO SAID ARMATURE FACES ARE SPACED FROM SAID POLE FACES WHEN SAID RELAY IS UNENERGIZED; SAID CORE, SAID POLE STRUCTURES AND SAID ARMATURE COACTING TO DEFINE A MAGNETIC CIRCUIT WHICH EXTENDS PARALLEL TO SAID BASE AND IS SPACED THEREFROM; CONTACT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID BASE AND THE COMBINATION OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET, POLE STRUCTURES, AND ARMATURE; AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID CONTACTS IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE.

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