US3320392A - Electric control device with improved contact structure - Google Patents

Electric control device with improved contact structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3320392A
US3320392A US496355A US49635565A US3320392A US 3320392 A US3320392 A US 3320392A US 496355 A US496355 A US 496355A US 49635565 A US49635565 A US 49635565A US 3320392 A US3320392 A US 3320392A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
contacts
bridging
pair
stationary
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US496355A
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English (en)
Inventor
John H Mullen
Zelko J Kruzic
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.)
CBS Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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 Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US496355A priority Critical patent/US3320392A/en
Priority to DEW38129U priority patent/DE1953264U/de
Priority to AT879666A priority patent/AT263906B/de
Priority to GB41634/66A priority patent/GB1114913A/en
Priority to CH1461766A priority patent/CH451288A/de
Priority to FR80097A priority patent/FR1496657A/fr
Priority to JP1966095942U priority patent/JPS4512994Y1/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3320392A publication Critical patent/US3320392A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/60—Auxiliary means structurally associated with the switch for cleaning or lubricating contact-making surfaces
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/06—Contacts characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
    • H01H50/546—Contact arrangements for contactors having bridging contacts

Definitions

  • FIG.6 a FIG.6.
  • An object of this invention is to provide an electric control device with an improved contact structure constructed in such a manner as to penetrate films that may form on the contact surfaces and to provide a self-cleaning wiping action of the contacts during operation of the control devices.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved control device comprising a bridging contact structure that is moved with a general rectilinear motion into and out of engagement with a pair of stationary contact members, which bridging contact structure is provided with contact surfaces and spring biasing means constructed and arranged to provide a wiping and film-penetrating action during operation of the control device.
  • a more general object of this invention is to provide an electric control device having an improved contact structure.
  • FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a control device constructed in accordance with principles of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale relative to FIG. 1, of the bridging contact member disclosed in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the bridging contact member seen in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is an end View of the bridging contact member seen in FIG. 3;
  • FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are sectional views, on an enlarged scale relative to FIG. 1 of a pair of the moving and stationary contacts seen in FIG. 1, illustrating the relative positions of these contacts during operation of the control device;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a movable contact structure illustrating a different embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating another embodiment of the invention:
  • FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is an end view of the bridging contact member seen in FIG. 8.
  • FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 11 is an end View of the bridging contact member of FIG. 10.
  • control device 7 which in this case is a relay, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.
  • the relay 7 is of the type that is described in more detail in the patent to Gustov Jake], Patent No. 3,088,058, issued Apr. 30, 1963.
  • the relay 7 comprises a housing comprising a base 13 and a cover 15, both of molded insulating material.
  • the housing parts 13 and 15 are firmly held together as a unit by means of suitable bolts (not shown).
  • An E-shaped main magnet or core member 17 is supported with its legs extending upwardly in the housing base 13.
  • An energizing conducting winding, or coil 19, that is disposed on a suitable spool 21 of insulating material, is positioned over the middle leg of the core member 17.
  • An E-shaped armature 25 is provided to cooperate with the core member 17.
  • the armature 25 is connected to an insulating contact carrier 27 by means of a pin 29 that pivotally mounts the armature 25 on the contact carrier 27 for limited rotating movement in the plane of the paper as seen in PEG. 1.
  • the relay 7 is a multi-pole relay with only one pole unit being disclosed in FIG. 1.
  • Each pole unit comprises two stationary contact structures 31, each of which has a solderless terminal connector 33 connected thereto at its outer end and a stationary contact 35 secured thereto at its inner end.
  • a bridging contact member 36 is provided to bridge the stationary contacts 35.
  • the bridging contact member 36 comprises an elongated conducting bridging member 37 having opposite contact surfaces 38 (FIGS. 2-4) thereon for cooperating with the stationary contacts 35.
  • Each of the contact surfaces 38 comprises a generally planar surface 39 and an elongated pointed or sharp ridge 40 extending in the direction of elongation of the contact member 37 on the lower side (as seen in FIG.
  • the bridging contact member 37 is supported on the contact carrier 27 in an opening 43, and the bridging contact member is maintained in position by means of a spring 45.
  • the spring not only positions the bridging contact member 37, but it also acts to permit a motion of the bridging contact member 37 upon contact engagement to thereby provide that the contacts will mate properly when they are closed.
  • the contacts 35, 38 are normally open contacts although they are shown in FIG. 1 in the closed position. It is to be understood that the contacts can be made normally open or normally closed, in a manner well known in the art, depending upon the particular control requirements.
  • the relay is a multi-pole relay and each pole unit comprises a contact structure similar to that disclosed in FIG. 1 with the plurality of bridging contact members all being mounted on the one common contact carrier 27 for simultaneous operation.
  • the relay or contactor 7 is shown in the energized position in FIG. 1 in which position the coil 19 is energized by a suitable power source to attract the armature 25 to the position wherein the two outer legs of the armature 25 engage the two outer legs of the core member 17.
  • the contact carrier 27 When the contact carrier 27 is in the lower position shown in FIG. 1 the bridging contact structure 36 closes a circuit between the associated stationary contacts 35.
  • spring means (not shown) will operate to move the armature 25 and contact carrier 27 upward to move the bridging contact structure 36 (and the other bridging contact structures of the multipole relay) upward to the open-circuit position.
  • bridging contact structures 36 can be readily adapted to provide for a normally closed contacts rather Patented May 16, 1967 than normally open contacts in a manner well known in the art.
  • the operating movement of the bridging contact structure 36 is a generally rectilinear movement normal to the plane of the generally planar contact surface part 39 and generally normal to the planes of the generally planar contact surfaces 46 of the contacts 35.
  • the movement of the bridging contact structure 36 is illustrated in three positions in FIGS. A, 5B and 5C.
  • the pointed ridges 40 of the contact structure 36 first engage the contact generally planar contact surfaces 46 of the spaced stationary contacts 35. This initial engagement is illustrated in FIG. 5B. Since the ridges 40 are pointed ridges the ridges can cut through undesirable film or surface material on the generally planar surfaces 46 of the stationary contact members 35.
  • FIG. 7 a contact structure 47 comprising a contact surface 48 that is generally planar and that is formed with a rounded ridge 49 to illustrate that the ridge 49 need not necessarily be a pointed or sharp ridge as is the case in the preferred embodiment.
  • the contact structure 47 is constructed otherwise in the same manner as the contact structure 36.
  • the contact structure 47 seen in FIG. 7 will function in the same general manner as the contact structure 36 during operation of the relay 7.
  • the ridge 49 will resist breakage better than the ridge 40 although the ridge 49 will not be as effective as the ridge 40 in cutting through films on the contact surfaces.
  • a contact structure 51 having a contact surface 52 and a ridge 53 thereon is disclosed in FIG. 6. This contact is disclosed in order to illustrate the type of contact surface that can be produced by forming the contact with the use of a chisel to gouge a notch 54 in a generally planar contact surface 52 to thereby force material up to form a sharp or pointed edged ridge 53.
  • the bridging contact structure 51 will operate in the same manner as was hereinbefore described with reference to the preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • a bridging contact structure 55 similar to the contact structure 36.
  • the bridging contact structure 55 comprises oppositely disposed generally planar contact surfaces 56 each of which contact surfaces 56 is provided with a projection or nib 57 for cutting through film on the contact surface of the associated stationary structure. With both of the nibs 57 being disposed on the lower side of the center line CL of the elongated contact structure 55 the bridging contact structure 55 will pivot in the same manner disclosed in FIGS. SB-SC to provide a wiping self-cleaning action during operation of the relay.
  • the engagement in the closed position between the bridging contact structure 55 and the associated stationary contacts will comprise point-type contacts between the nibs 57 and the surfaces of the stationary contacts and also line-type contacts between the end parts of the contact surfaces 56 and the surfaces of the stationary contacts in the same general manner as that illustrated in FIG. 5C and hereinbefore described with reference to the contact structure 36.
  • a bridging contact structure 61 similar to the bridging contact structure 55 is disclosed in FIGS. 10 and 11.
  • the bridging contact structure 61 comprises opposite generally planar contact surfaces 63.
  • Two nibs are provided on each of the contact surfaces 63 on the lower side of the center line CL of the contact member 61 to cut through the film on the stationary contact surfaces during closing operations of the bridging contact structure 61.
  • the engagement in the closed position between the bridging contact structure 61 and the associated stationary contacts will comprise point-type contacts between the nibs 65 and the surfaces of the associated stationary contacts and also line-type contacts between the end parts of the contact surfaces 63 and the surfaces of the stationary contacts in the same general manner as that illustrated in FIG. 5C and hereinbefore described with reference to the contact structure 36.
  • an improved electric control device comprising an improved contact structure that is constructed in such a manner as to penetrate films that may form on the contact surfaces and to provide a selfcleaning wiping action during operation of the control device.
  • a control device comprising support means, a pair of stationary contacts mounted on said support means in a spaced relationship, said stationary contacts comprising a pair of spaced first contact surfaces, a contact carrier mounted for generally rectilinear movement relative to said support means, an elongated bridging contact member supported on said contact carrier, said bridging contact member comprising an elongated conducting member having a pair of second contact surfaces each of which second contact surfaces is disposed at a different one of the opposite ends of said conducting member, one of said pairs of first and second contact surfaces comprising a pair of main contact surfaces and a ridge projection extending from each of said main contact surfaces, each of said ridge projections being elongated in the direction of elongation of said conducting member, said contact carrier being movable rectilinearly to move said bridging contact member toward said stationary contacts to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contacts and away from said stationary contacts to an open position spaced from said stationary contacts, one of said pairs of first and second contact surfaces being movable relative to the support thereof
  • a control device comprising support means, a pair of stationary contacts mounted on said support means in a spaced relationship, a contact carrier mounted for movement relative to said support means, an elongated bridging contact member supported on said contact carrier, said bridging contact member comprising an elongated conducting member and a contact surface at each of the two opposite ends of said conducting member, each of said contact surfaces comprising a main contact surface and a projection extending from the main contact surface, said projections being disposed on the same side of a center line that extends through said bridging contact member in the direction of elongation of said bridging contact member, means for moving said contact carrier to move said bridging contact member to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contacts and to an open position spaced from said stationary contacts, during closing operations of said control device said projections first engaging said stationary contacts and thereafter said bridging contact member moving to a fully closed position wherein a part of each of said main contact surfaces engages the associated stationary contact during which movement to the fully closed position said projections wipe against said stationary contacts.
  • a control device comprising support means, a pair of stationary contacts mounted on said support means in a spaced relationship, a contact carrier mounted for generally rectilinearly movement relative to said support means, an elongated bridging contact member mounted on said contact carrier for resilient movement on said contact carrier, said bridging contact member comprising an elongated member having a contact surface at each of the two opposite ends thereof, each of said contact surfaces comprising a main contact surface and a ridge projecting from the main contact surface, each of said ridge projections being elongated in the direction of elongation of said conducting member, said contact carrier being rectilinear- 1y movable to move said bridging contact member to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contacts and to an open position spaced from said stationary contacts, during closing operations of said control device said ridge projections first engaging said stationary contact and thereafter said bridging contact member moving to the fully closed position wherein said ridge projections engage said stationary contacts and wherein another part of each of said contact surfaces engages the associated stationary contact, during
  • a control device comprising support means, a pair of stationary contacts mounted on said support means in a spaced relationship, said stationary contacts comprising a pair of first contact surfaces, a contact carrier mounted for generally rectilinear movement relative to said support means, an elongated bridging contact member mounted on said contact carrier for resilient movement relative to said contact carrier, said bridging contact member comprising an elongated conducting member having a second contact surface at each of the opposite ends thereof, each of said second contact surfaces comprising a main contact surface and a ridge projecting from the main contact surface, each of said ridges comprising an elongated ridge elongated in the direction of elongation of said conducting member, said contact carrier being movable rectilinearly to move said bridging contact member to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contacts and to an open position spaced from said stationary contacts, during closing operations of said control device said ridge projections first engaging said first contact surfaces and thereafter said bridging contact member moving relative to said contact carrier to a fully closed position, during said
  • a control device comprising support means, a pair of stationary contacts mounted on said support means in a spaced relationship, a contact carrier mounted for generally rectilinear movement relative to said support means, an elongated bridging contact member mounted for resilient movement on said contact carrier, said bridging contact member comprising an elongated conducting member having a contact surface at each of the two opposite ends thereof, each of said contact surfaces comprising a generally planar main contact surface and a projection projecting from the main contact surface, said projections being disposed on the same side of a center line thta extends through said elongated conducting member in the direction of elongation of said conducting member, said contact carrier being movable generally rectilinearly to move said bridging contact member into closed and open positions relative to said stationary contacts, during closing operations of said control device said projections first engaging said stationary contacts and thereafter said bridging contact member rocking to the fully closed position wherein said projections and another part of each of said main contacts engage said stationary contacts, and during said rocking movement of said bri
  • each of said projections comprises an elongated ridge elongated in the direction of said center line.
  • each of said projections comprises an elongated ridge elongated in the direction of said center line and generally parallel to said center line which ridges are in alignment.
  • a control device comprising support means, a pair of stationary contacts mounted on said support means in a spaced relationship, a contact carrier mounted for movement relative to said support means, an elongated bridging contact member supported on said contact carrier, a pair of movable contacts on said bridging contact member in a spaced relationship, each contact of a first pair of said pairs of contacts comprising a main surface and a projection extending from the main surface, means for moving said contact carrier to move said bridging contact member generally rectilinearly toward said stationary contacts to a closed position and away from said stationary contacts to an open position, resilient means backing said bridging contact member on said contact carrier such that during closing operations when said movable contacts engage said stationary contacts said contact carrier can move a further distance in the closing direction to a fully closed position during which further movement of said contact carrier said resilient means is charged to provide contact pressure between said movable contacts and said stationary contacts, and said pairs of contacts and the supports thereof being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said projections of said first pair of said pairs of contacts will
  • a control device wherein the contacts of said first pair of contacts are said movable contacts and wherein the contacts of said second pair of contacts are said stationary contacts.
  • a control device according to claim 9 wherein said projections are elongated ridges on said movable References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1965 Waldorf 200-166 12/1965 Juptner 200-166 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
US496355A 1965-10-15 1965-10-15 Electric control device with improved contact structure Expired - Lifetime US3320392A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US496355A US3320392A (en) 1965-10-15 1965-10-15 Electric control device with improved contact structure
DEW38129U DE1953264U (de) 1965-10-15 1966-09-09 Schalteinrichtung mit brueckenkontakten.
AT879666A AT263906B (de) 1965-10-15 1966-09-19 Schalteinrichtung mit Brückenkontakten
GB41634/66A GB1114913A (en) 1965-10-15 1966-09-19 Electric switch device with improved contact structure
CH1461766A CH451288A (de) 1965-10-15 1966-10-07 Schalteinrichtung mit Kontaktbrücken und Verfahren zur Herstellung dieser Schalteinrichtung
FR80097A FR1496657A (fr) 1965-10-15 1966-10-14 Appareil de commande électrique à dispositif de contact perfectionné
JP1966095942U JPS4512994Y1 (fr) 1965-10-15 1966-10-15

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US496355A US3320392A (en) 1965-10-15 1965-10-15 Electric control device with improved contact structure

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3320392A true US3320392A (en) 1967-05-16

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US496355A Expired - Lifetime US3320392A (en) 1965-10-15 1965-10-15 Electric control device with improved contact structure

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US (1) US3320392A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4512994Y1 (fr)
AT (1) AT263906B (fr)
CH (1) CH451288A (fr)
DE (1) DE1953264U (fr)
FR (1) FR1496657A (fr)
GB (1) GB1114913A (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3641287A (en) * 1970-04-16 1972-02-08 Gen Electric Switching device for electromagnetic motor starters
US4006322A (en) * 1975-09-22 1977-02-01 Allis-Chalmers Corporation Auxiliary interlock switch with interchangeable and reversible chisel-shaped contacts and spring biasing mechanism
DE3522090A1 (de) * 1984-06-20 1986-01-02 Mitsubishi Denki K.K., Tokio/Tokyo Bewegliche kontaktanordnung fuer einen schalter
US4620122A (en) * 1985-07-29 1986-10-28 General Electric Company Piezoelectric contact driver for circuit interrupters
US4650935A (en) * 1984-12-25 1987-03-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Switch
FR2610449A1 (fr) * 1987-02-03 1988-08-05 Merlin Gerin Commutateur electrique de structure modulaire

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2525467C3 (de) * 1975-06-07 1983-04-21 Calor-Emag Elektrizitäts-Aktiengesellschaft, 4030 Ratingen Kontaktanordnung
JPS52115843U (fr) * 1976-02-27 1977-09-02
DE3033668C2 (de) * 1980-09-06 1983-12-15 Starkstrom Gummersbach GmbH, 5277 Marienheide Kontaktvorrichtung für Niederspannungsschaltgeräte, insbesondere Schütze
JPS6042214U (ja) * 1983-08-31 1985-03-25 三菱電機株式会社 電気接触子

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3180961A (en) * 1962-06-13 1965-04-27 Cutler Hammer Inc Electrical contact with mating surface area having an integral frusto-conical nib thereon
US3222487A (en) * 1963-05-29 1965-12-07 Babcock Electronics Corp Dual purpose electrical contact element

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3180961A (en) * 1962-06-13 1965-04-27 Cutler Hammer Inc Electrical contact with mating surface area having an integral frusto-conical nib thereon
US3222487A (en) * 1963-05-29 1965-12-07 Babcock Electronics Corp Dual purpose electrical contact element

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3641287A (en) * 1970-04-16 1972-02-08 Gen Electric Switching device for electromagnetic motor starters
US4006322A (en) * 1975-09-22 1977-02-01 Allis-Chalmers Corporation Auxiliary interlock switch with interchangeable and reversible chisel-shaped contacts and spring biasing mechanism
DE3522090A1 (de) * 1984-06-20 1986-01-02 Mitsubishi Denki K.K., Tokio/Tokyo Bewegliche kontaktanordnung fuer einen schalter
US4634819A (en) * 1984-06-20 1987-01-06 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Movable contact assembly for a switch
US4650935A (en) * 1984-12-25 1987-03-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Switch
USRE33457E (en) * 1984-12-25 1990-11-27 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Switch
US4620122A (en) * 1985-07-29 1986-10-28 General Electric Company Piezoelectric contact driver for circuit interrupters
FR2610449A1 (fr) * 1987-02-03 1988-08-05 Merlin Gerin Commutateur electrique de structure modulaire
EP0278850A1 (fr) * 1987-02-03 1988-08-17 Merlin Gerin Commutateur électrique de structure modulaire

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH451288A (de) 1968-05-15
AT263906B (de) 1968-08-12
FR1496657A (fr) 1967-09-29
GB1114913A (en) 1968-05-22
DE1953264U (de) 1967-01-12
JPS4512994Y1 (fr) 1970-06-04

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