US3320560A - Stepping latch and relay - Google Patents

Description

y 16, 1957 J. FILKO ETAL 3,320,560

STEPPING LATCH AND RELAY Filed Oct. 24, 1965 United States Patent Ofifice 3,320,560 Patented May 16, 1967 3,320,560 STEPPING LATCH AND RELAY John Filko, River Forest, and Carl Fagiano, Chicago, 11]., assignors to F & B Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 115., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,782 11 Claims. (Cl. 335-468) The present invention relates generally to stepping mechanisms and, more specifically, to lock-in stepping relays of the alternate make and break type.

In various remote controlling applications, it is desirable for contacts to be alternately opened and closed responsive to successive electrical impulses. More specifically, it is desirable to provide relays of the type in which each relay is alternately latched in one condition of operation and unlatched for movement to another condition of operation upon successive energizations of the relay responsive to the application thereto of successive electrical impulses so that the contacts thereof are alternately opened and closed. One typical use of such relays is in motor reversing circuits, such as are commonly used in garage door operators. Such relays also find advantageous utilization in machine tool applications, communication applications, photocopy machine applications, and the like.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stepping mechanism. Another primary object is to provide a new and improved stepping relay. More specifically, it is an object to provide a lock-in stepping relay of the alternate make and break type. In this connection, it is an object to provide a relay which is alternately latched in one condition of operation and unlatched for movement to another condition of operation upon successive energizations of the relay.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stepping relay which finds particular advantageous utilization in remote controlling applications wherein contacts are to be alternately opened and closed responsive to successive electrical impulses.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stepping relay which employs a single energizati-on coil.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stepping relay characterized in its simplicity, inexpensiveness, ease of construction, and economical operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description.

In one form of the present invention, a stepping relay is provided which includes an electromagnet adapted to be energized for operation of the relay and an armature mounted for movement between first and second positions relative to the electromagnet. Means are provided for urging the armature toward the first position and the armature is moved to the second position responsive to energization of the electromagnet. Latching means are provided which are operable to latch the armature in a third position intermediate the first and second positions responsive to movement of the armature from the first position to the second position and then back toward the first position and operable to release the armature for movement to the first position by the urging means responsive to movement of the armature from the third position to the second position. Finally, contact members are associated with the armature which are controlled in accordance with the position of the armature relative to the electromagnet.

For the purpose of providing a detailed description of the stepping relay constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, reference will now be made to the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a stepping relay constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left end elevational view of the relay shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 38 illustrate the successive relationships between a latch member and a catch member of the relay of FIGS. 1 and 2 during operation thereof.

While the invention has been shown and will be described in some detail with reference to a particular exemplary embodiment thereof, there is no intention that it be limited to such detail. Quite to the contrary, it is intended here to embrace all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention will be described in the form of a stopping or latching relay. While the invention finds particularly advantageous utilization in this form, it will be apparent that it may take the form of any stepping or latching mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stepping or latching relay 10 is shown which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The stepping relay ineludes an electromagnet 12 having a winding 12a wound thereon which is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical impulses or the like through appropriate terminals 12b. An armature 14 is mounted on a support bracket 16, upon which the electromagnet 12 is stationarily mounted, for pivotal movement about point 16a away from and toward the electromagnet to respective first and second positions relative thereto. The right end of the armature 14, as viewed in FIG. 1, is connected to a tab 16b, extending from the lower portion of the bracket 16, by a spring member '18 which urges the armature 14 to pivot away from the electromagnet toward the first position. The armature 14 is caused to pivot toward and into engagement with the electromagnet 12 to the second position responsive to energization of the coil 12a, the electromagnet developing a sufiicient force of attraction to overcome the force of the spring 18.

For the purpose of alternately opening and closing desired circuitry responsive to successive energizations of the coil 12a, a contact assembly 24 is mounted on the bracket 16 above and adjacent the armature 14. The contact assembly 20 includes a pair of stationary contacts 29a and 20b and a movable contact 200 which is selectively moved into engagement with the stationary contacts 20a and 20b to complete circuits therewith. The contacts 20a-2tlc are adapted to be connected to desired remote circuitry to control the operation thereof. The movable contact 200 has an outwardly extending control arm portion 20d which extends through a slot or aperture 22a provided in an actuating plate 22 carried by the armature 14. When the spring member 18 functions to cause the armature 14 to pivot away from the electromagnet 12 to the first position, the movable contact 20's is driven therewith into engagement with the stationary contact 20a so that a circuit is completed therebetween. Alternatively, when the electromagnet 12 is energized, causing the armature 14 to be pivoted to the second position, the movable contact 200 is moved with the armature into engagement with the stationary contact 20b so that a circuit is completed therebetween.

In keeping with the present invention, new and improved latching means are provided for functioning upon successive energizations of the coil 12a to alternately latch the armature 14 in a third position intermediate the first and second positions, so that the movable contact 200 is maintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20b, and unlatch the armature for movement by the spring 18 to the first position relative to the electromagnet, so that the movable contact 200 is maintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20a. In the exemplary arrangement, the latching means includes a latch member 24, in the form of a latch rod, mounted on the armature 14 and a catch member 26 mounted on and extending upwardly from the bottom of the support bracket 16, either the catch member or the latch member being constructed of a resilient material. The catch member 26 includes a pair of downwardly extending offset lip members 26a and 26b which extend outwardly on opposite sides of the catch member 26 at an intermediate position along the length thereof, the offset lip members 26a and 26b defining a catch for the latch rod 24. The catch member 26 also includes an upwardly extending offset lip member 26c which extends outwardly of the catch member adjacent the lip member 26a. Finally, it will be seen that the catch member 26 is curved or bent at the upper extremity thereof to define an upper camming surface 26d.

For the purpose of providing a better understanding of the stepping relay constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a description of the operation thereof will now be set forth in conjunction with FIGS. 3-8. It will be assumed that, initially, the latch member 24 and the catch member 26 are unlatched, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the stepping relay 10 is in the condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the armature 14 is in the first position relative to the electromagnet 12 so that the movable contact c is in engagement with the stationary contact 20a and a circuit is completed therebetween. Whenan electrical impulse is applied to the coil 12a of the electromagnet 12, the coil is energized so that the armature 14 is pivoted toward and into engagement with the electromagnet 12 against the force of the spring 18 to the second position. As the armature pivots toward the electromagnet, the movable contact 200 is moved into engagement with the stationary contact 20b and the latch rod 24 is moved into engagement initially with the upper side of the cam surface 26d and then with the outer surface of the lip 26a forming a part of the catch member 26. Since either the latch rod 24 or the catch member 26 is constructed of a resilient material, either the latch rod or the catch member yields resiliently, as the rod 24 is moved downwardly along the upper side of the cam surface 26d and the outer surface of the lip 26a, to permit the rod 24 to move past the lip 26a, as shown in FIG. 4, to the extreme position, shown in FIG. 5, where the armature engages the electromagnet and the latch rod engages the outer surface of the lip 260. At this time, the latching means is conditioned to latch the armature in the third position relative to the electromagnet. Upon denergization of the coil 12a at the termination of the electrical impulse, the spring member 18 causes the armature 14 to pivot away from the electromagnet 12 toward the first position so that the latch rod 24 is moved upwardly into the catch defined by the lips 26a and 26b of the catch member 26, as shown in FIG. 6. When the latch rod 24 is contained by lips 26a and 26b of the catch member 26, the armature 14 is maintained in the third position relative to the electromagnet 12 so that the movable contact 29c is maintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20b and the complete circuit is maintained therebetween.

Subsequently, when another electrical impulse is applied to the coil 12a, the coil is again energized so that the armature 14 is again pivoted toward and into engagement with the electromagnet 12 to the second position. As the armature pivots toward the electromagnet the latch rod 24 is moved downwardly out of the catch defined by the lips 26a and 26b and into engagement with the inner surface of the lip 260, see FIG. 7. Again, either the latch rod 24 or the catch member 26 yields resiliently so that the latch rod moves out of latching relationship with the catch member. Upon deenergiz'ation of the coil 12a, the spring member 18 causes the armature to again pivot away from the electromagnet toward the first position. During this latter movement, the latch rod 24 is moved upwardly into engagement with the under side of the cam surface 26d (FIG. 8) and either the latch rod or the catch member resiliently yields so that the latch rod is moved to the first position shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, the movable contact 20c is again maintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20a and the stepping relay 10' is conditioned for another cycle of operation.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the stepping relay 1t), constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, functions to alternately latch its contacts in one position and unlatch its contacts for movement to another position responsive to successive energiza. tions of the relay.

What is claimed is:

1. In a stepping relay, the combination which comprises an electromagnet having a coil adapted to be energized for operation of the relay, an armature mounted for movement away from and toward the electromagnet to respective first and second positions, means for urging the armature away from the electromagnet toward the first position, the armature being moved toward the electromagnet to the second position responsive to the energization of the coil, a latch member and a catch member cooperably operable to latch the armature in a third position intermediate the first and second positions, cam means forming a part of the catch member operable when the armature is moved from the first position to the second position for engaging the latch member and conditioning the latch member to move into latching relationship with the catch member when the armature is thereafter moved toward the first position by the urging means, cam means forming a part of the catch member operable when the armature is moved from the third position to the second position for engaging the latch member and causing the latch member to move out of latching relationship with the catch member, and contact members associated with the armature and controlled in accordance with the position of the armature relative to the electromagnet.

2. In a stepping relay, the combination which comprises an electromagnet having a coil adapted to be energized for operation of the relay, an armature mounted for movement away from and toward the electromagnet to respective first and second positions, resilient means for urging the armature away from the electromagnet toward the first position, the armature being moved toward the electromagnet to the second position responsive to energization of the coil, a rod-like latch member mounted on the armature for movement therewith and a catch member secured to the electromagnet cooperably operable to latch the armature in a third position intermediate the first and second positions, the catch member having a pair of lip members projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof in a direction away from the armature to define a catch, cam means operable when the armature is moved from the first position to the second position for engaging the latch member and conditioning the latch member to move into latching relationship with the catch when the armature is thereafter moved toward the first position by the resilient means, cam means operable when the armature is moved from the third position to the second position for engaging the latch member and causing the latch member to move out of latching relationship with the catch, and contact members associated with the armature and controlled in accordance with the position of the armature relative to the electromagnet.

3. In a stepping relay, the combination which comprises an electromagnet having a coil adapted to be energized for operation of the relay, an armature mounted for movement away from and toward the electromagnet to respective first and second positions, means for urging the armature away from the electromagnet toward the first postions, the armature being moved toward the electromagnet to the second position responsive to energization of the coil, a rod-like latch member associated with the armature for movement therewith and a catch member associated with the electromagnet cooperably operable to latch the armature in a third position intermediate the first and second positions, the catch member having first and second lip members projecting outwardly on opposite sides thereof in a direction away from the armature to define a catch, the catch member having a third lip member projecting outwardly on the same side as the first lip member in a direction toward the armature and having a curved upper edge defining a cam surface, the latch member engaging the cam surface, the first lip member and the third lip member in that order when the armature is moved from the first position to the second position so that the latch member is conditioned to move into latching relationship with the catch when the armaure is moved toward the first position by the urging means, the latch member moving out of latching relationship with the catch and into engagement with the third lip member when the armature is moved from the third position to the second position, the latch member engaging the cam surface when the armature is moved from the second position the first position, and contact members associated with the armature and controlled in acccordance with the position of the armature relative to the electromagnet.

4. The relay as recited in claim 3 wherein the catch member is resilient.

5. The relay as recited in claim 3 member is resilient.

6. A stepping mechanism comprising a support, a member mounted on the support and movable between first and second positions, a latch attached to the movable member and a catch attached to the support, said catch having means for catching said latch to hold the movable member in a third position intermediate said first and second positions when said movable member is urged toward said first position after having moved from said first position to said second position and for not catching said latch when said movable member is urged toward said first position after having moved from said intermediate poistion to said second position.

7. A stepping mechanism comprising an armature, means responsive to an electric current for urging the armature to a first position in the absence of an electric wherein the latch current and to a second position in the presence of an electric current, a latch attached to the armature and a catch attached to said means, said catch having means for catching said latch to hold the armature in a third position intermediate said first and second positions when said armature is urged toward said first position after having moved from said first to said second position and for not catching said latch when said armature is urged toward said first position after having moved from said intermediate position to said second position.

8. The stepping mechanism of claim 7 wherein said first mentioned means comprises an electromagnet mounted on a bracket pivotally supporting said armature and resilient means connected between said bracket and said armature to urge said armature away from said electromagnet.

9. The stepping mechanism of claim 8 further including first and second electrical contacts mounted on said bracket and a third electrical contact mounted on an arm connected to said armature, said third electrical contact engaging said first electrical contact when said armature is in said first position and engaging said second electrical contact when said armature is in said second and intermediate positions.

10. The stepping mechanism of claim 7 wherein said means for catching the latch includes means responsive to the movement of the latch when the armature moves from the first to the second position for conditioning the catch to catch the latch when the armature next rnoves toward said first position.

11. The stepping mechanism of claim 10 wherein said means responsive to movement of the latch includes a first cam means engaging the latch when the armature moves from said first to said second position for moving the catch to a position where it will catch the latch when the'armature next moves toward said first position and a second cam means engaging the latch when the armature moves from the intermediate position to the second position for moving the catch to a position where it will not catch the latch when the armature next moves toward said first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,458,311 1/1949 Staats 20087 X 2,811,601 10/1957 Somers 20087 2,830,236 4/1958 Reynolds 20087 X BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. I. J. BAKER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A STEPPING RELAY, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES AN ELECTROMAGNET HAVING A COIL ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED FOR OPERATION OF THE RELAY, AN ARMATURE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM AND TOWARD THE ELECTROMAGNET TO RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, MEANS FOR URGING THE ARMATURE AWAY FROM THE ELECTROMAGNET TOWARD THE FIRST POSITION, THE ARMATURE BEING MOVED TOWARD THE ELECTROMAGNET TO THE SECOND POSITION RESPONSIVE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF THE COIL, A LATCH MEMBER AND A CATCH MEMBER COOPERABLY OPERABLE TO LATCH THE ARMATURE IN A THIRD POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, CAM MEANS FORMING A PART OF THE CATCH MEMBER OPERABLE WHEN THE ARMATURE IS MOVED FROM THE FIRST POSITION TO THE SECOND POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE LATCH MEMBER AND CONDITIONING THE LATCH MEMBER TO MOVE INTO LATCHING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CATCH MEMBER WHEN THE ARMATURE IS THEREAFTER MOVED TOWARD FIRST POSITION BY THE URGING MEANS, CAM MEANS FORMING A PART OF THE CATCH MEMBER OPERABLE WHEN THE ARMATURE IS MOVED FROM THE THIRD POSITION TO THE SECOND POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE LATCH MEMBER AND CAUSING THE LATCH MEMBER TO MOVE OUT OF LATCHING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CATCH MEMBER, AND CONTACT MEMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARMATURE AND CONTROLLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POSITION OF THE ARMATURE RELATIVE TO THE ELECTROMAGNET.

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