US3335376A - Micro-miniature relay - Google Patents

Micro-miniature relay Download PDF

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Publication number
US3335376A
US3335376A US513908A US51390865A US3335376A US 3335376 A US3335376 A US 3335376A US 513908 A US513908 A US 513908A US 51390865 A US51390865 A US 51390865A US 3335376 A US3335376 A US 3335376A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
armature
bar
coil
bore
coil form
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
US513908A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert L Martin
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.)
CHARLES E GUTENTAG P B A PUBLI
Charles E Gutentag Pba Publication Engineers
Original Assignee
CHARLES E GUTENTAG P B A PUBLI
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.)
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Application filed by CHARLES E GUTENTAG P B A PUBLI filed Critical CHARLES E GUTENTAG P B A PUBLI
Priority to US513908A priority Critical patent/US3335376A/en
Priority to FR87115A priority patent/FR1510981A/fr
Priority to NL6617491A priority patent/NL6617491A/xx
Priority to GB55859/66A priority patent/GB1168090A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3335376A publication Critical patent/US3335376A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/02—Non-polarised relays
    • H01H51/04—Non-polarised relays with single armature; with single set of ganged armatures
    • H01H51/06—Armature is movable between two limit positions of rest and is moved in one direction due to energisation of an electromagnet and after the electromagnet is de-energised is returned by energy stored during the movement in the first direction, e.g. by using a spring, by using a permanent magnet, by gravity

Definitions

  • the invention has reference to micro-miniature electrical equipment and is specially concerned with a microminiature relay. Although the size is variable as to different conditions, a typical and frequent embodiment is one contained in a housing about inch in diameter and about of an inch long.
  • micro-miniature equipment has advanced very remarkably in recent years with the calls upon it placed by missile and space vehicle demands.
  • technology has evolved many successful micro-miniature relays and switches with acceptable performance characteristics, there are still additional shortcomings to be overcome.
  • One of these is the high cost of dependable devices, made necessary by the need for extreme care in assembling numerous intricate parts and the waste involved in rejecting completed devices which do not satisfy tests for dependability.
  • micro-miniature devices wherein the operating cycle is extremely high, such devices lack a desirable life span and frequently need removal and replacement in order to keep a piece of equipment operating properly and dependably.
  • the very limited clearances which have to be built into such a device, separating moving operating parts, places considerable dif ficulties in the path of fabrication and assembly of such devices in appreciable quantities.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved micro-miniature relay device wherein the structure and arrangement of parts is such that they can be rapidly and dependably assembled by employment of suitable jigs so that uniformity can be preserved even when such devices are produced in quantity.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved micro-miniature relay device, certain portions of which can be prepared as sub-assemblies for ease of access to critical portions of the device and thereafter quickly and dependably assembled together in a fashion assuring reliable performance.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved micro-miniature relay device wherein the number of separate parts is held to substantially a minimum and wherein by reason of the sub-assembly technique of construction the cost of the finished article is appreciably lower without in any way sacrificing its reliability.
  • Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved micro-miniature switch or relay mechanism capable of being produced in a size appreciably smaller than many comparable devices, while at the same time holding costs to a very nominal figure and increasing the operating life span for dependable operation far beyond most devices currently available.
  • Also included among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved transient voltage suppression micro-miniature relay device which makes use of portions of the customary construction, but wherein material of different magnetic and electrically conducting characteristics is employed.
  • the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
  • FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.
  • FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view revealing certain critical phases of the construction.
  • FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the armature sub-assembly.
  • FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of the device, in which is incorporated transient voltage suppression structure.
  • FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.
  • a housing 10 having a closed end 11 and a side wall 12.
  • the end opposite the closed end is adapted to be closed by employment of a glass seal disc 13 having a rim 14 adapted to be hermetically attached to an edge 15 of the side wall 12.
  • the housing and the glass seal disc enclose a chamber 16 which is adapted to be evacuated through an evacuation and filling tube 17, an end 18 of which can be closed in the customary manner after the chamber 16 has been filled with an appropriate inert gas.
  • the device may be considered as involving three sub-assemblies in addition to the housing 10.
  • One sub-assembly identified as a header assembly, indicated by the reference character 20, consists of the glass seal disc 13 and the parts attached thereto.
  • a sec- 0nd sub-assembly identified as a coil assembly 21 includes the electrical and magnetic portions of the coil and the structure upon which they are mounted.
  • a third subassembly identified as an armature assembly 22 and shown separately in FIGURE 6, consists of an armature and its supporting parts, these being assembled separately prior to insertion within the coil assembly, after which both the coil assembly and the armature assembly are electrically connected to and physically mounted upon the header assembly 20.
  • Those elements included in the header assembly 20, not heretofore specifically referred to, consist of conducting pins for making electric contact with the relay device.
  • the conducting pins 25, 26, and 27 interconnect with the switching portion of the device.
  • Conducting pins 28 and 29 interconnect with the coil assembly. All of the pins 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 are sealed in a fixed position in the glass seal disc 13.
  • the coil assembly is made up of a rear magnetic plate 30, a front magnetic plate 31, and a coil form 32 having one end 33 to which the rear magnetic plate 30 is attached and another end 34 to which the front magnetic plate 31 is attached.
  • the space surrounding the coil form 32 and between the ends 33 and 34 is occupied by a magnetic coil 35.
  • a magnetic sleeve 36 is applied over the magnetic coil 35 and extends between the rear magnetic plate 30 and the front magnetic plate 31.
  • the magnetic plates are substantially identical in form, although oriented in opposite directions.
  • the rear magnetic plate 30 has a horseshoe-like shape including an intermediate connecting portion 37 and opposite legs 38 and 39 forming a space 40 between the ends of the legs.
  • the front magnetic plate 31 has a connecting portion 41 and opposite legs 42 and 43 forming a space 44 therebetween.
  • a bore 45 extends axially through the coil form 32 and connecting portions 37 and 41 of the respective magnetic plates partially overlie opposite ends of the bore.
  • An appropriate adhesive may be employed for fastening the insulator in place.
  • Covering the exterior of the magnetic coil is a layer of insulating tape 47 which extends from one end to the other.
  • the fixed contact insulator 46 In the fixed contact insulator 46 are two fixed contacts, namely a normally closed fixed contact 48 and a normally open fixed contact 49. These fixed contacts are anchored in position in appropriate respective recesses 50 and 51 by a suitable adhesive.
  • a welding tab 52 interconnects the normally closed fixed contact 48 with the pin 25 and a welding tab 53 interconnects the normally open fixed contact 49 with the pin 26.
  • An insulated welding tab 54 is attached to the pin 27 and connected in the insulator 46.
  • the armature assembly 22, illustrated as a separate sub-assembly in FIGURE 6, includes an armature bar 55 which, in the chosen embodiment, is square in cross sectional shape.
  • the armature bar has a movable contact 56 welded on the right hand end, as viewed in FIGURE 6, and coined to give it a precise shape.
  • the movable contact is preferably cylindrical in shape and presents a circular form in cross section.
  • An armature return spring 59 includes coils 60 and 61 on respectively opposite sides encircling opposite ends of the pivot pin 58.
  • At least one leg 63 is made use of in the chosen embodiment and is shown extending toward the left from coil 60 in FIGURE '6.
  • the leg 63 terminates in an outer end 64 which underlies an arm 65 forming part of a retaining tab 66.
  • the retaining tab in turn is fixed to the armature mounting sleeve 57.
  • the armature assembly constituting the parts herein just described and shown in FIGURE 6, is adapted to be inserted in the bore 45 from one end, preferably the end of the bore to which the rear magnetic plate 30 would ultimately be attached. Once in position, the armature assembly is anchored in place by a spot of adhesive applied to the outer end 64 of the spring and the arm 65 fastening these two parts to the end 33 of the coil form.
  • a pigtail 67 forming a loop, has one end welded to the conducting pin 27 and the other end welded to the movable contact 56.
  • the tabs 52, 53, and 54 are located tangent to the edge of the conducting pins 25, 26, and 27, within the header assembly 20.
  • the tabs 52, 53, and 54 form a triangular mechanical support for attaching the switching portion of the device to the header assembly 20.
  • Lead wires 68 and 69 from the magnetic coil 35 are routed through appropriate slots 70 and 71 and welded to respective header conducting pins 28 and 29, thereby electrically connecting the coil 35 to the pins 28 and 29.
  • an assembly jig (not shown) is used to hold the header assembly 20 and the assembled switching components and established close concentricity and perpendicularity relationships so that the housing 10 and the side wall 12 thereof can be installed without interference and welded to the header assembly Zt'hvith hermetic seal integrity.
  • Critical dimensions are controlled by use of specially designed assembly jigs and fixtures.
  • the spacing between the fixed contacts 48 and 49 attached to the fixed contact insulator 46 is held to a maximum variation of .0005 inch.
  • the inside diameter of the coil form, namely the bore 45, is used as a reference for a suitable fixture to locate the front magnetic plate 31 and the normally open fixed contact 49 parallel to the axis of the bore 45. This is indicated by a surface 74, which is the exterior diameter of the movable contact 56.
  • a dimension 75 which is the space between the adjacent edge of the armature bar 55 and the face of the connecting portion 41 of the front magnetic plate 31, is held by proper location of the tangent surface of the movable contact 56 with respect to a flat side of the square armature bar 55, by coining the movable contact 56 in an appropriate die.
  • the forming die thus employed, controls a dimension 76 of the movable contact 56 at the same time the dimension 75 is maintained.
  • the control of critical dimensions in this way, prevents accumulation of dimensional tolerances when assembling the fixed contacts 48 and 49 and the movable contact 56, and minimizes operational dilferences between individual switching devices due to varying contact spacing.
  • the bore 45 of the coil form also serves as a reference for the surface 74 as well as insuring accurate positioning of the armature assembly with respect to the other switch components.
  • the armature bar 55 is held so that the movable contact 56 is forced against the fixed contact 48.
  • the rear magnetic plate 30 is located with an appropriate fixture so that a dimension 77 establishes the minimum air gap at the rear of the armature to prevent the armature from striking the magnetic plate during normal operation of the switch.
  • the retaining tab 66 also serves as a clamp to hold the free end of the armature return spring.
  • the free end of the spring is formed during final assembly to adjust spring load. When proper spring load is obtained, the free ends of the spring and tab are then cemented in place, as has been previously noted.
  • the return spring 59 pivots the armature bar 55 about the pivot pin 58 so that the movable contact 56 is held against the fixed contact 48, thereby completing the electrical connection of the contacts 48 and 56.
  • the coil 35 is then energized with a direct current, creating magnetic poles of opposite polarity at the ends of the armature bar 55.
  • the armature bar is magnetically attracted to both the rear magnetic plate 30 and the front magnetic'plate 31. The magnetic attractions create a moment about the pivot pin 58 so that the movable contact 56 moves against the fixed contact 49, thereby completing the electrical connection between the contacts 56 and 49, and simultaneously opening the electrical conrrection between the contacts 48 and 56.
  • the magnetic sleeve 36 is employed to complete the magnetic path at the exterior of the coil 35.
  • the coil simultaneously opening 35 is subsequently deenergized, the magnetic field collapses, eliminating the magnetic pull of the armature bar 55 to the magnetic plates 30 and 31.
  • the force of the return spring 59 rotates the armature bar 55 about the pivot pin 58, forcing the movable contact 56 to move against the fixed contact 48, thereby completing the electrical connection between the contacts 56 and 48 and the electrical connection between the movable contact 56 and the fixed contact 49. the cycle is thus completed and the apparatus is ready immediately for the next succeeding cycle.
  • a special shielding jacket has been made use of.
  • a portion of the jacket consists of a relatively thin sleeve 78 of non-mag netic and relatively high conductive material. This sleeve is located between a magnetic sleeve 79 and a layer 80 of insulation around the magnetic coil 35.
  • a good material for the sleeve 78 is silver and, for the micro-miniature device here under consideration, the thickness can be approximately .008 inch.
  • This sleeve 78 extends inwardly so as to overlie outer edges of the front and rear magnetic pole plates 31 and 30.
  • suppression washers 81 and 82 Underlying the pole plates, respectively, are positioned suppression washers 81 and 82, likewise of nonmagnetic material and relatively thin, preferably the same material as the sleeve 78 and of about the same thickness. It will be noted that these washers 81 and 82 overlie respective ends 34 and 33 of the coil form.
  • the armature assembly in this instance, makes use of an armature mounting sleeve 83 likewise of non-magnetic material and preferably also of silver.
  • the armature mounting sleeve 83 can be somewhat thicker and should extend for the full length of the bore 45.
  • the balance of the armature assembly is like that already described 1 through 6, inclusive.
  • the currents induced in the shorted turns s-ufficiently oping the magnitude of the transient voltage induced in the coil.
  • the closed magnetic path closely couples the elements just made reference to, through the actuating coil of the relay.
  • a micro-miniature electric relay device comprising a coil form having a bore therethrough, north pole and south pole plates at opposite ends of said coil form and a coil winding around said coil form intermediate said north pole and south pole plates, a pair of electric contacts having a fixed position relative to said coil form, and an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of cross sectional shape smaller than said bore and having a length in excess of the distance between said pole plates, an armature mounting sleeve having an eX- terior circumference substantially the same as the interior circumference of said bore, a retaining tab secured at one end to the mounting sleeve, the other end of said tab having an arm adapted to overlie the coil form, means intermediate opposite ends of said bar pivotally mounting said bar in said mounting sleeve, an armature return spring having a saddle in engagement with said bar at one side of a pivot point and another portion at the end opposite said saddle having a retained position relative to said tab, a movable electric contact on
  • a micro-miniature electric relay device comprising header assembly having electric contact pins extending therethrough, a coil form having a bore therethrough, north pole and south pole plates at opposite ends of said coil form, and a coil winding around said coil form intermediate said north pole and south pole plates, a conductor insulator element having at least three combined mechanical and electrical connections to said header assembly forming-a supporting triangle, said insulator element having a fixed position relative to said housing at a location intermediate one of said pole plates and said header assembly, a pair of fixed electric contacts on said insulator element having a space therebetween and includingrespective electric connections therefrom, and an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of cross sectional shape smaller than said bore and having a length in excess of the distance between said pole plates, an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of cross sectional shape smaller than said bore and having a length in excess of the distance between said pole plates, an armature sub-assembly comprising an arma
  • armature mounting sleeve having an exterior circumference substantially the same as the interior circumference of said bore, a retaining tab secured at one end to the mounting sleeve, the other end of said tab having an arm adapted to overlie the coil'form, a transverse pivot pin on said bar intermediate opposite ends thereof and pivotally mounted in said mounting sleeve, an armature return spring having a saddle in engagement with said bar at a location between said pivot pin and one end of the bar, a leg at the end opposite said saddle having a retained position relative to said tab, a movable electric contact on said bar at a location between said' fixed electric contacts and spaced from one of them, and a flexible connection from said movable contact, said armature mounting sleeve being slideable into said bore from one end thereof whereby to mount said armature sub-assembly in operating position.
  • a micro-miniature electric relay device comprising an hermetically enclosed housing, a magnetic sleeve having a coil form having a bore therethrough, north pole and south pole plates at opposite ends of said coil form and a coil winding around said coil form intermediate said north pole and south pole plates, a pair of fixed electric contacts having fixed positions relative to said coil form, and an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of square cross sectional shape smaller than said bore and having a length in excess of the distance between said pole plates, an armature mounting sleeve having an exterior circumference substantially the same as the interior circumference of said bore, a retaining tab secured at one end to the mounting sleeve, the other end of said tab having an arm adapted to overlie the coil form at one end, a transverse pivot pin on said bar intermediate opposite ends thereof and pivotally mounted in said mounting sleeve, an armature return spring having coils extending around respective ends of said pivot pin, a saddle between said coils in engagement with said bar at
  • a micro-miniature electric relay device comprising an hermetically enclosed housing, a magnetic sleeve having north pole and south pole plates at opposite ends, a coil form having a bore therethrough, and a coil winding around said coil form intermediate said north pole and south pole plates, said north pole plate having laterally spaced legs forming an opening facing in one direction and said south pole plate having laterally spaced legs forming an opening facing in the opposite direction, a conductor insulator element having a fixed position relative to said housing at a location intermediate one of said pole plates and a respective end of said housing, a pair of fixed electric contacts on said insulator element having a space therebetween and electric connections therefrom through said end of said housing, and an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of square cross sectional shape smaller than said bore and having a length in excess of the distance between said pole plates, an armature mounting sleeve having an exterior circumference substantially the same as the interior circumference of said bore, a retaining tab secured at one end to
  • a micro-miniature electric relay device having a transient voltage suppression construction comprising a coil form having a bore therethrough and parallel axially spaced end elements at the ends of said bore, north pole and south pole plates at opposite ends of said coil form and a coil winding around said coil form intermediate said north pole and south pole plates, a pair of electric contacts having a fixed position relative to said coil form, and an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of cross sectional shape smaller than said bore, an armature mounting sleeve of highly conductive material having an exterior circumference substantially the same as the interior circumference of said bore, retaining means secured respectively to the mounting sleeve and the coil form, means intermediate opposite ends of said bar pivotally mounting said bar in said mounting sleeve, an armature return spring in engagement with said bar at one side of a pivot point and another portion having a retained position relative to said retaining means, a movable electric contact on said bar at a location between said pair of electric contacts and spaced from one of
  • a micro-miniature electric relay device comprising a coil form having a bore therethrough, north pole and south pole plates at opposite ends of said coil form, and a coil winding around said coil form intermediate said north pole and south pole plates, a magnetic sleeve extending between said pole plates over the exterior of said coil winding, and an insulating layer between said magnetic sleeve and said coil winding, a pair of electric contacts having a fixed position relative to said coil form and including respective electric connections therefrom, and an armature sub-assembly comprising an armature bar of cross sectional shape smaller than said bore and having a length in excess of the distance between said pole plates, an armature mounting sleeve of non-magnetic relatively highly conductive material having an exterior circumference substantially the same as the interior circumference of said bore, and a length substantially the same as the length of said bore, retaining means secured between said mounting sleeve and the coil form, a transverse pivot pin on said bar intermediate opposite ends thereof and pivotally mounted in said mounting

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
US513908A 1965-12-13 1965-12-13 Micro-miniature relay Expired - Lifetime US3335376A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US513908A US3335376A (en) 1965-12-13 1965-12-13 Micro-miniature relay
FR87115A FR1510981A (fr) 1965-12-13 1966-12-12 Relais perfectionné du type dit microminiaturisé
NL6617491A NL6617491A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-12-13 1966-12-13
GB55859/66A GB1168090A (en) 1965-12-13 1966-12-13 Micro-Miniature Relay

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US513908A US3335376A (en) 1965-12-13 1965-12-13 Micro-miniature relay

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US3335376A true US3335376A (en) 1967-08-08

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US513908A Expired - Lifetime US3335376A (en) 1965-12-13 1965-12-13 Micro-miniature relay

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US (1) US3335376A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1510981A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1168090A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6617491A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456336A (en) * 1967-04-24 1969-07-22 Charles E Gutenlag Method of forming and mounting relay structures
US3573812A (en) * 1967-11-06 1971-04-06 Miniature Elect Components Electromagnetic indicator

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2633734C2 (de) * 1976-07-27 1982-10-28 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Elektromagnetisches Miniaturrelais

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2975252A (en) * 1957-08-09 1961-03-14 Clare & Co C P Relay
US3246211A (en) * 1963-04-26 1966-04-12 Sauer Hans Magnet system having a center pivoted armature

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2975252A (en) * 1957-08-09 1961-03-14 Clare & Co C P Relay
US3246211A (en) * 1963-04-26 1966-04-12 Sauer Hans Magnet system having a center pivoted armature

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456336A (en) * 1967-04-24 1969-07-22 Charles E Gutenlag Method of forming and mounting relay structures
US3573812A (en) * 1967-11-06 1971-04-06 Miniature Elect Components Electromagnetic indicator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1510981A (fr) 1968-01-26
GB1168090A (en) 1969-10-22
NL6617491A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-06-14

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