US3388463A - Process of sealed switch manufacture - Google Patents

Process of sealed switch manufacture Download PDF

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Publication number
US3388463A
US3388463A US452725A US45272565A US3388463A US 3388463 A US3388463 A US 3388463A US 452725 A US452725 A US 452725A US 45272565 A US45272565 A US 45272565A US 3388463 A US3388463 A US 3388463A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
armature
housing
contacts
switch
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
US452725A
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English (en)
Inventor
Insley Norman
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.)
IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc
Arris Technology Inc
Original Assignee
IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc
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
Priority to DENDAT1251868D priority Critical patent/DE1251868B/de
Application filed by IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc filed Critical IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc
Priority to US452725A priority patent/US3388463A/en
Priority to GB18482/66A priority patent/GB1147932A/en
Priority to FR59543A priority patent/FR1478006A/fr
Priority to SE06029/66A priority patent/SE333776B/xx
Priority to BE680419D priority patent/BE680419A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3388463A publication Critical patent/US3388463A/en
Assigned to GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION reassignment GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: C.P. CLARE & COMPANY
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
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/28—Relays having both armature and contacts within a sealed casing outside which the operating coil is located, e.g. contact carried by a magnetic leaf spring or reed
    • H01H51/282—Constructional details not covered by H01H51/281
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
    • H01H11/005—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches of reed switches
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S65/00—Glass manufacturing
    • Y10S65/12—Reed switch
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49105—Switch making
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49764—Method of mechanical manufacture with testing or indicating
    • Y10T29/49778—Method of mechanical manufacture with testing or indicating with aligning, guiding, or instruction
    • Y10T29/4978—Assisting assembly or disassembly

Definitions

  • the contact structures are then shifted to an operating position in which the contact areas of the contact structures are aligned with each other by relative movement in a direction that maintains the preset gap setting in the operating position, the gauged portion is not in engagement.
  • the contact structures are sealed in the glass housing in the operating position.
  • This invention relates to a sealed switch construction and, more particularly, to a new and improved sealed switch unit and method of manufacturing this switch unit.
  • One of the problems present in the automatic manufacture of scaled magnetic reed switches is that of maintaining the desired air gap between certain of the switch components within a tolerance range small enough to prevent appreciable changes in the predicted operating characteristics of the switch. This generally can be done with those sealed switch units having only a pair of magnetic elements that are selectively moved into and out of engagement by an applied field, although it does require careful control over manufacturing techniques and the use of precision locating components in the automatic manufacturing equipment which are located externally of the switch housing.
  • This type of sealed switch usually is one in which one magnetic element is sealed in each end of an elongated housing. This permits the relative positions of the overlapped portions of the elements which are disposed within the housing to be accurately controlled by locating apparatus located externally of the housing.
  • This type of switch commonly comprises an elongated housing, in one end of which two contacts are sealed.
  • a flexible magnetic armature is sealed in the other end of the housing and includes an inner end portion disposed within the air gap between and in an overlapped relation with the contacts.
  • This gauge is then removed, the armature is inserted and properly positioned relative to the contacts, and the second seal is formed in the other end of the housing.
  • one object of the present invention is “ice to provide a new and improved method of making sealed switch units.
  • Another object is to provide a method of making transfer contact sealed switches capable of being carried out in automatically operating machines.
  • a further object is to provide a method of making sealed switches in which one of the components of the switch is manipulated to provide a gauge for setting an operating gap in the switch.
  • Another object is to provide a method of making sealed switches of the type including a contact and a magnetic armature in which the armature includes a gauging portion which is manipulated to control the relative location of the armature and contact within the switch housing.
  • a further object is to provide a method of making sealed switches in which the armature of the switch is placed in a first position to properly position one or more contacts during the formation of the contact seal and is then moved to a different position in which the armature provides its normal contacting function, at which time the armature seal is formed.
  • a further object is to provide a method of making transfer contact sealed switches in which the switch armature is used as a gauging means.
  • a further object is to provide a new and improved sealed switch construction.
  • Another object is to provide a sealed switch construction including an armature having both gauging and contacting areas.
  • a further object is to provide a new and improved sealed switch providing transfer contacts in which the armature includes both a contacting area and gauging portion having a pair of gauging surfaces extending generally parallel to the contacts of the switch.
  • an embodiment of the invention comprises a sealed switch construction having an elongated insulating or glass housing in one end of which a pair of make and break contacts or terminals are sealed, the break contact including a non-magnetic portion.
  • a flexible armature is sealed in the other end of the elongated housing and includes a contacting area at its inner free end normally biased into engagement with the break contact and adapted, upon application of an operating field across the operating gap between the contacts, to move out of engagement with the break contact and into engagement with the make contact.
  • the make and break contacts are inserted in one open end of the glass tube in generally parallel and spaced positions.
  • the armature is inserted through the other end of the glass tube and is disposed so that a gauging portion adjacent but spaced inwardly from the contacting areas at the free end of the armature is interposed between and engages the make and break contacts.
  • These contacts are biased into engagement with opposite sides of the interposed gauging portion of the armature to precisely set the desired operating gap in the switch.
  • a seal is then formed in the contact end of the glass tube, as by heating, with the gauging portion of the armature interposed between the contacts so as to positively maintain the desired operating gap.
  • the armature When this seal has been completed, the armature is retracted so that the contacting surfaces are now interposed between the contacts, and a seal is formed in the other end of the glass tube to mount the armature on the housing, preferably with the armature engaging the break contact.
  • the operating gap between the make and break contacts is positively set without requiring the use of a gauging fixture which must be inserted and removed from the housing and permits the formation of the transfer contact sealed switch by the use of automated equipment.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sealed switch embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the components of the sealed switch during the formation of a seal for the switch
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the elements of the switch during the formation of an armature seal
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an end portion of an armature included in the sealed switch.
  • the switch includes an elongated insulating or glass housing 12 in one end of which a pair of contact structures 14 and 16 are sealed in generally spaced and parallel positions with their inner ends disposed within an axial opening or cavity 18 formed by the housing 12.
  • a flexible magnetic armature structure 20 is sealed in the other end of the housing 12 and includes an inner end portion disposed within the cavity 18 with a contacting portion 29a disposed in an operating air gap 22 defined between the inner ends of the contact structures 14 and 16 and engaging the contact structure 16 which provides a break contact.
  • the break contact structure 16 includes a non-magnetic portion so that upon the application of a magnetic field, the armature 20 is deflected to move the contact portion 20a out of engagement with the break contact structure 16 and into engagement with the make contact structure 14. The armature 20 is returned to its normal position engaging the break contact structure 16 when the applied field is removed.
  • the sealed switch unit provides a transfer contact in which the common armature 20 selectively engages the contact structures 14 and 16 under the control of an applied operating field.
  • the break contact structure 16 includes an outer magnetic terminal or pin 16a which is shown as having a circular section, to the inner end of which a contact or contact member 16b is secured.
  • the surface of the contact 16b facing toward the contact portion 20a of the armature 20 can have any suitable configuration, but preferably is uniplanar as shown in the drawings.
  • the contact 16b is formed of non-magnetic material.
  • make contact structure 14 includes an outer terminal or I pin 14a, which is shown as being circular in section, to the inner end of which a contact or contact element 14b of magnetic material is secured.
  • the inner surface of the contact member 14b facing inwardly toward the operating gap 22 can be of any suitable configuration, but preferably is uniplanar as illustrated in the drawings.
  • the gap 22 between the magnetic contact 14b and the non-magnetic contact 16b or, more specifically, between the contact 14b and the contact portion 20a of the magnetic armature 20 determines the operating characteristics of the switch 10 and must be maintained constant to insure the production of the switches 10 of uniform characteristics. Since the thickness of the contact portion 20a of the armature 20 can easily be maintained constant and since the contact portion 20a is normally biased into engagement with the non-magnetic contact 16b the space between the contacts 14b and 16b effectively controls or sets the operating gap 22.
  • the magnetic armature 20 which can be formed in a number of different configurations, is illustrated in the drawings as being formed of a wire, pin, or rod of magnetic material of circular section which has been flattened at its outer end to provide a terminal portion 20b. An intermediate portion of the circular section on the armature 20 is sealed in one end of the glass housing 12.
  • the contact portion 20a at the free end of the armature 20 is provided with a pair of opposed surfaces 24 whose configuration is set in accordance with the configuration of the contacts 14b and 16b.
  • the contact portion includes the pair of generally uniplanar opposed, and parallel surfaces 24 which overlap the uniplanar surfaces on the contacts 14b and 16b and are adapted to be moved into alternate engagement therewith.
  • the thickness of the armature 20 intermediate the two surfaces 24 is substantially less than the transverse dimension of the gap 22 separating the contacts 14b and 16b. If desired, the mating surfaces of the contacts 14b and 16b and the surfaces 24 can be provided with a layer of contact material, such as gold.
  • the armature 20 is provided with a gauging portion 20d including a pair of generally uniplanar and parallel surfaces 26 formed on opposite sides of the free end of the armature 20 spaced immediately inwardly from the contact portion 211a.
  • a gauging portion 20d including a pair of generally uniplanar and parallel surfaces 26 formed on opposite sides of the free end of the armature 20 spaced immediately inwardly from the contact portion 211a.
  • a glass tube forming the housing 12 is inserted into the axial openings in a pair of heating elements or coils 30 and 32 so that the upper end of the tube 12 is encircled by the heating element 39 and the lower end is encircled by the heating element 32.
  • the two contact structures 14 and 16 are then inserted through the open end of the tube 12 and disposed in a position approximating their desired position in the switch ltl.
  • the armature 26 is then inserted through the open upper end of the tube 12 and advanced to an adjusting position in which the gauging portion 20d of the armature is interposed between the contacts 14b and 16b with the surfaces 26 disposed in generally parallel relationship to the uniplanar inner surfaces of the contacts 14b and 16b (FIG. 2).
  • the contact structures 14 and 16 are then adjusted so that the inner uniplanar surfaces of the contacts 14b and 16b are pressed or biased into engagement with the parallel surfaces 26 of the gauging portion 20d of the armature.
  • the heating element 32 is then rendered effective to soften the glass at the lower end of the tube to form the lower seal as shown in dot-and-dash outline in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
  • the armature 20 is retracted or moved longitudinally or axially relative to the tube or housing 12 from the adjusting position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in solid line in FIG. 3.
  • the gauging portion 20d of the armature 20 is displaced from the adjusting position interposed between the contact elements 14b and 16b, and the contact portion 20a is now interposed between these contacts with the surfaces 24 disposed in a generally parallel relationship to the uniplanar inner surfaces of the contact members 14b and 16b.
  • the armature 20 is then displaced to the position shown in dot-and-dash outline in FIG.
  • the upper heating element 30 is then energized or rendered effective so that the glass at the upper end of the tube or housing 12 is softened to form the upper or armature seal which is shown in dot-and-dash outline in FIG. 3.
  • the completed switch is removed from the heating elements 30 and 32.
  • the method embodying the present invention described above is one that is capable of being carried out in auto matic switch making machines of the general type shown, for instance, in the copending application of Harry Chanowitz et al., Ser. No. 309,449, filed Sept. 17, 1963, nOW Patent No. 3,282,670, in which the terminals and glass envelope are automatically supplied to positioning chucks located on expanding and contracting assembling heads mounted on a continuously moving turntable.
  • the method embodying the present invention has been described in relation to the sealed switch 10 in which the armature 20 normally engages the break contact 16b, it can also be used with and in the manufacture of a center stable switch in which the contact portion 20a is equally spaced from the two magnetic contacts 14b and 16b and normally occupies the position shown in solid line in FIG. 3 of the drawings.
  • the armature 20 is operated into engagement with the contacts 14b and 1612 by applying magnetic biases to the gaps between the armature 20 and the contacts 14b and 16b and controlling the polarity of the signal applied to the operating winding.
  • a method of making a switch having a pair of contact making structures, each of the structures having a contact area and at least one of the structures having a gauging portion spaced from its contact area comprises the steps of moving the contact making structures into an adjusting position in which the two contact areas are not adjacent each other,
  • step of displacing the armature and contact structures relative to each other includes moving the armature structure generally axially along the elongated housing from the adjusting position to the operating position.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Motors, Generators (AREA)
US452725A 1965-05-03 1965-05-03 Process of sealed switch manufacture Expired - Lifetime US3388463A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DENDAT1251868D DE1251868B (OSRAM) 1965-05-03
US452725A US3388463A (en) 1965-05-03 1965-05-03 Process of sealed switch manufacture
GB18482/66A GB1147932A (en) 1965-05-03 1966-04-27 Sealed switch construction and method of manufacture
FR59543A FR1478006A (fr) 1965-05-03 1966-04-28 Procédé pour la fabrication d'un interrupteur à scellement étanche et interrupteur conforme à celui obtenu par ledit procédé ou procédé similaire
SE06029/66A SE333776B (OSRAM) 1965-05-03 1966-05-03
BE680419D BE680419A (OSRAM) 1965-05-03 1966-05-03

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US452725A US3388463A (en) 1965-05-03 1965-05-03 Process of sealed switch manufacture

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3388463A true US3388463A (en) 1968-06-18

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ID=23797667

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US452725A Expired - Lifetime US3388463A (en) 1965-05-03 1965-05-03 Process of sealed switch manufacture

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3388463A (OSRAM)
BE (1) BE680419A (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE1251868B (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1147932A (OSRAM)
SE (1) SE333776B (OSRAM)

Cited By (5)

* 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
US3597838A (en) * 1968-10-01 1971-08-10 Sylvania Electric Prod Method of making a hermetically sealed circuit breaker
US3664014A (en) * 1967-10-26 1972-05-23 Navigation Computer Corp Universal modular printed circuit magnetic reed keyboard switch assembly
US3794944A (en) * 1972-09-18 1974-02-26 Morex Inc Reed switches and process for making them
US20170194119A1 (en) * 2014-09-26 2017-07-06 Deqiang Jing Magnetic reed switch

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3647943A (en) * 1969-06-06 1972-03-07 Magnavox Co Transducer system and method

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3242557A (en) * 1962-06-29 1966-03-29 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Method of assembling and magnetically adjusting a reed switch
US3310863A (en) * 1963-04-10 1967-03-28 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Manufacture of reed type devices

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3242557A (en) * 1962-06-29 1966-03-29 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Method of assembling and magnetically adjusting a reed switch
US3310863A (en) * 1963-04-10 1967-03-28 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Manufacture of reed type devices

Cited By (7)

* 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
US3664014A (en) * 1967-10-26 1972-05-23 Navigation Computer Corp Universal modular printed circuit magnetic reed keyboard switch assembly
US3597838A (en) * 1968-10-01 1971-08-10 Sylvania Electric Prod Method of making a hermetically sealed circuit breaker
US3794944A (en) * 1972-09-18 1974-02-26 Morex Inc Reed switches and process for making them
US3866317A (en) * 1972-09-18 1975-02-18 Morex Inc Reed switches and process for making them
US20170194119A1 (en) * 2014-09-26 2017-07-06 Deqiang Jing Magnetic reed switch
US10217584B2 (en) * 2014-09-26 2019-02-26 Deqiang Jing Magnetic reed switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1147932A (en) 1969-04-10
SE333776B (OSRAM) 1971-03-29
DE1251868B (OSRAM)
BE680419A (OSRAM) 1966-10-17

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:C.P. CLARE & COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004035/0457

Effective date: 19800516