US3579158A - Armature structure for reed switches - Google Patents

Armature structure for reed switches Download PDF

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Publication number
US3579158A
US3579158A US845202A US3579158DA US3579158A US 3579158 A US3579158 A US 3579158A US 845202 A US845202 A US 845202A US 3579158D A US3579158D A US 3579158DA US 3579158 A US3579158 A US 3579158A
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United States
Prior art keywords
armature
pole piece
housing
magnetic
sealed
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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
US845202A
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English (en)
Inventor
John Kutyla
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
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IXYS Integrated Circuits Division Inc
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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
    • H01H51/287—Details of the shape of the contact springs

Definitions

  • a sealed switch with an elongated glass housing having pole pieces sealed in both ends includes a uniplanar, rigid annature having a projecting or transversely extending end portion.
  • a flat spring movably mounts said one end on one pole piece with the projection forming a working gap with this pole piece so that the armature has two working gaps and the switch has increased sensitivity.
  • This invention relates to reed or sealed magnetic switches, and more particularly, to an improved armature structure for both mercury wetted and dry switches.
  • Reed or sealed magnetic switches have 'been used in a variety of applications in which a magnetic field is used to close or open the switch. Many are now being used in low gain, low voltage circuits and other applications in which the sensitivity of the switch becomes a more important factor. Previous switch designs usually had a single working gap between a moving armature or reed and a pole piece and did not possess as great a sensitivity as desired.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved reed or sealed magnetic switch.
  • Another object is to provide a new and improved armature and armature mounting structure for a sealed magnetic switch that improves the sensitivity of the switch.
  • an embodiment of the present invention comprises a sealed switch having an elongated glass housing in one end of which a magnetic contact structure is sealed, and in the other end of which a magnetic armature supporting structure is sealed.
  • the magnetic amiature disposed within the housing is movably mounted at one end of the supporting structure and has its other end disposed'adjacent the contact structure to form the first working gap in the magnetic circuit of the switch.
  • a flat spring of small cross section mounts the armature on the supporting structure so that a projecting or transversely extending end portion on the armature closely overlies the end of the supporting structure to provide a short, large area second working gap that enables the sensitivity of the switch to be increased.
  • the spring mounted end of the armature is L-shaped, and in another embodiment the spring mounted end of the armature is .l-shaped.
  • the armature and the armature mounting structure can be used in mercury wetted or dry contact switches and with the free end of the ar mature disposed adjacent to one pole piece or interposed between a pair of contacts on a set of pole pieces.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a mercury switch embodying the present invention
  • the armature 22 includes a generally uniplanar body portion at the lower end of which is formed a J shaped portion projecting from or extending beyond or transversely to the body portion.
  • the J-shaped end of the armature is movably mounted on the top of the pole piece or armature supporting structure 26 by means of flat spring 23 so that a second working gap 28 is established in the magnetic circuit of the switch.
  • forces in gaps 29 or 29A and 28 cause the magnetic armature to move so that it makes contact with pole piece 14 or 16.
  • the addition of the second working gap 28 in the magnetic circuit enables the switch to have the desired increased sensitivity.
  • the inner endsor portions 14A and 16A of the pole pieces 14 and 16, respectively, are sealed within a cavity 18 defined by the housingl2 in positions generally parallel to and spaced from each other.
  • Each of the offset portions 14A and 16A carries a generally spherical contact member 20 that is alternately engaged by the interposed adjacent end of the magnetic armature 22.
  • a pool of mercury 24 is located at the lower end of the cavity 18 so that the armature can be properly wetted.
  • the process of wetting the free contact end of the armature and the end portions of pole pieces 14 and 16 is generally known in the art.
  • the armature 22 and the contacts 20 can provide break-before-make or make-before-break contact action.
  • connection of the spring 23 to pole piece 26 is made on thev plate 27A in the vicinity of-a point 21A. This connection also is normally made by spot welding the flat spring 23 to the plate 27A.
  • the general construction of the armature 22 and its movable or pivotal mounting by f'lat spring 23 near the top of pole piece 26 can be more readily seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
  • the magnetic field that traverses the switch 10 must travel through pole piece 26 and armature 22.
  • the magnetic path between armature 22 and pole piece 26 is partly across the working gap 28 which presents a minimum of reluctance, for the gap is of short length and a rather large area.
  • the magnetic spring 23 magnetically couples armature 22 to pole piece 26.
  • the spring 23 must be of sufficient length to insure proper flexibility for both the biasing and the swinging or pivoting movement of the armature 22. It is therefore connected at a point 21A, a distance away from the end of pole piece 26. Since the spring 23 is of rather small cross-sectional area, it presents a fairly high reluctance to any magnetic flux travelling through its length from point 21A to point 21.
  • a winding (not shown) or other source of a magnetic field is operated to provide a flux field aiding the bias applied between the armature 22 and the pole piece 16, -this field bucking or opposing the bias field applied to the terminal 14.
  • the only field between the armature 22 and the pole piece 16 in the gap therebetween moves the free end of the armature 22 into engagement with the contact 20.
  • the field across the gap 28, which field is short and of large area moves the bight portion of the J-shaped end of the armature 22 somewhat to the right (FIG. l) and downwardly toward the flat top surface of the pole piece 26. This aids the movement of the free end of the armature 22 toward the contact 20 on the pole piece 16.
  • the armature 22 does not engage the fiat end surface of the pole piece 26 in the area of the gap 28 to avoid any problem of sticking.”
  • FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which comprises a form A or make contact reed switch 40 that can be either wetted or dry.
  • the elongated cylindrical housing 42 can again be formed of glass or other insulating material into the opposite ends of which two magnetic terminals or pole pieces 44 and 56 are sealed.
  • a generally uniplanar and rigid magnetic armature 52 is disposed within the housing 42 so that its free end portion is adjacent an end portion 44A of the pole piece 44 so that a working gap 59 is established.
  • the generally uniplanar body of the armature 44 is provided at its other end with an L-shaped portion projecting from or extending transversely to the body portion.
  • a magnetic field traversing the switch 40 substantially travels through the working gap 58 between pole piece 56 and the armature S2.
  • the spring 53 is also of magnetic material so that a second path is established between the armature 52 and the pole piece 56. Since the spring S3 must be of sufficient length to have proper flexibility for biasing and pivotally mounting the armature 52, the reluctance of the path through the spring S3 could be quite high because the spring is of appreciable length and has a small cross-sectional area. However, by having the spring 53 located so that it closely overlies the pole piece S6, a low reluctance path is formed between pole piece 56 and the armature 52 through the spring 53. This low reluctance path and its purpose are described in more detail in conjunction with the switch l0.
  • a stop member 49 is welded to the armature near its uniplanar end portion.
  • the stop 49 is made so that it is not wettable with mercury, normally being stainless steel, and spherical in shape.
  • the addition of the stop 49 on the armature 52 by engagement with the housing 42 on opening of the switch 40 damps the oscillation of the annature or reed. lf it were not for this damping of the oscillation, there would be a possibility that the armature 52 would make a false contact with the pole piece 44 due to flagging.” ln previous designs, the oscillation of reeds was damped by a dimple in the glass housing.
  • the armature could become bound to the dimple or glass projection by the adhesion of the mercury at the dimple-armature interface. Since the stop 49 is not wettable with mercury, a dry contact between the housing and the moving armature structure is provided, and any adhesion is eliminated.
  • a magnetic field of any polarity is applied so that forces working in gap 59 move the armature 52 toward a contact 50 carried on the end portion 44A of pole piece 44.
  • magnetic forces within gap 58 pull the transverse part of the L-shaped end of the armature 22 toward the top of the adjacent flat end of the pole piece 56.
  • FIG. 3 of the drawings when the L-shaped end of armature 52 is pulled toward the top of pole piece 56, it pulls the free contact end of the armature toward contact 50.
  • a sealed switch controlled by a magnetic field comprismg:
  • a magnetic armature disposed within the housing having a first end portion adjacent said first pole piece so that a first working gap is formed, said armature having a body portion with a second end portion projecting or transversely extending from the body portion,
  • the armature is generally uniplanar and said second end of the armature is generally L-shaped
  • the spring means is generally uniplanar with one end connected to the armature immediately adjacent the L- shaped end of the armature.
  • the amature is generally uniplanar and said second end of the armature is generally .l-shaped with a leg extending generally parallel to and spaced from the armature,
  • the spring means is generally uniplanar with one end connected to the leg of the J-shaped portion of the armature.
  • the other end of the spring means is connected to the second pole piece spaced away from said transverse surface.
  • a sealed switch as set forth in claim 1 including:
  • a stop member attached to the magnetic armature near said first end portion and so located on the armature relative to the housing and armature that in movement of the armature away from the first pole piece, the stop member engages the housing to prevent contact between the armature and the housing.
  • the spring means in magnetic, has one end connected to the second end of the armature closely adjacent the second end of the armature, has its other end connected to the second pole piece at a point spaced away from the second working gap, and closely overlies the second magnetic pole piece between its other end and the second working gap so that a spacing of fairly constant minimal length is formed between the second pole piece and the spring.
  • armature disposed within the housing and having a first end portion coated with mercury on both sides and interposed between the first and second pole pieces so that a gap is fonned between the first and second pole pieces and said first end portion of the armature, said armature having a body portion with a structure projecting from the body portion to form a transverse surface at its second end,
  • the body portion of the armature is generally uniplanar and the projecting structure at the second end of the armature forms a J-shaped portion with a legextending generally parallel to and spaced from the armature,
  • the spring means is generally uniplanar with one end connected to the leg of the J-shaped portion of the armature.
  • the spring means is magnetic, is connected to the third pole piece spaced from said working gap, and closely overlies the second magnetic pole piece between the point of connection to the third pole piece and said working gap so that a spacing of fairly constant minimal length is fonned between.
  • a rigid magnetic armature so disposed within the housing that its axis is aligned with or slightly displaced from the axis of the housing and having a first end portion adjacent said first pole piece so that a first working gap is formed, the armature having a body portion from which a structure projects at the second end of the armature to form a transverse surface,
  • the sealed switch set forth in claim 13 including a mercury wetted contact means on the first pole piece and the first end portion of the magnetic armature.
  • a sealed switch as set forth in claim 13 including a stop member attached to the magnetic armature near said first end portion and so locatedon the armature relative to the housing and armature that in movement of the armature away from the first pole piece, the stop member engages the housing to prevent contact between the armature and the housing.
  • the spring'means is magnetic and closely overlies the second magnetic polepiece so that a spacing of fairly constant minimal length is formed between the pole piece and the spring.
  • a magnetic armature disposed within the housing having a free end portion
  • first and second magnetic structures sealed in the housing at points spaced from each other
  • a stop member attached to the armature near said end portion and so located on'the armature relative to the housing and the ⁇ armature that on movement of the armature away from the second magnetic structure, the stop member engages the housing to prevent contact between the armature and the housing, the stop member not being wettable with mercury.
  • first and second magnetic structures sealed in the housing at points spaced from each other, said first magnetic structure including a magnetic pole piece having a generally transverse surface and a magnetic armature disposed within the housing having a free end portion movable into and out of .engagement with the second magnetic structure, the other end of the armature having a projecting transverse surface, f

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
US845202A 1969-07-28 1969-07-28 Armature structure for reed switches Expired - Lifetime US3579158A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84520269A 1969-07-28 1969-07-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3579158A true US3579158A (en) 1971-05-18

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ID=25294640

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US845202A Expired - Lifetime US3579158A (en) 1969-07-28 1969-07-28 Armature structure for reed switches

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3579158A (de)
JP (1) JPS541900B1 (de)
BE (1) BE752407A (de)
CA (1) CA924358A (de)
DE (1) DE2033839B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2049806A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1302255A (de)
SE (1) SE359685B (de)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3811102A (en) * 1971-07-22 1974-05-14 Babcock Electronics Corp Relay
US4063203A (en) * 1975-04-15 1977-12-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki Seisakusho Reed switch
US4134088A (en) * 1977-05-02 1979-01-09 Western Electric Company Miniature magnetic mercury-wetted relay construction
WO1979000532A1 (en) * 1978-01-20 1979-08-09 Gordos Corp Miniature mercury contact reed switch construction
US4179798A (en) * 1978-04-12 1979-12-25 Western Electric Co., Inc. Methods of adjusting sealed contact switches
US4195276A (en) * 1977-01-13 1980-03-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electromagnetic relay and method for its adjustment
US5570072A (en) * 1995-01-03 1996-10-29 Siemens Stromberg-Carlson Method of establishing a relay contact arrangement
US5594400A (en) * 1995-01-03 1997-01-14 Siemens Stromberg-Carlson Reed relay
US20090237188A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2009-09-24 Christenson Todd R Integrated Reed Switch
US20100171577A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2010-07-08 Todd Richard Christenson Integrated Microminiature Relay
US11309140B2 (en) * 2019-01-04 2022-04-19 Littelfuse, Inc. Contact switch coating

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04345590A (ja) * 1991-05-24 1992-12-01 Sajima Mariina Kk 船台

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3054873A (en) * 1959-11-27 1962-09-18 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Liquid-contact switch
US3327262A (en) * 1966-02-17 1967-06-20 Cutler Hammer Inc Sealed switches

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3054873A (en) * 1959-11-27 1962-09-18 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Liquid-contact switch
US3327262A (en) * 1966-02-17 1967-06-20 Cutler Hammer Inc Sealed switches

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3811102A (en) * 1971-07-22 1974-05-14 Babcock Electronics Corp Relay
US4063203A (en) * 1975-04-15 1977-12-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki Seisakusho Reed switch
US4195276A (en) * 1977-01-13 1980-03-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electromagnetic relay and method for its adjustment
US4134088A (en) * 1977-05-02 1979-01-09 Western Electric Company Miniature magnetic mercury-wetted relay construction
WO1979000532A1 (en) * 1978-01-20 1979-08-09 Gordos Corp Miniature mercury contact reed switch construction
US4179798A (en) * 1978-04-12 1979-12-25 Western Electric Co., Inc. Methods of adjusting sealed contact switches
US5570072A (en) * 1995-01-03 1996-10-29 Siemens Stromberg-Carlson Method of establishing a relay contact arrangement
US5594400A (en) * 1995-01-03 1997-01-14 Siemens Stromberg-Carlson Reed relay
US20090237188A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2009-09-24 Christenson Todd R Integrated Reed Switch
US20100171577A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2010-07-08 Todd Richard Christenson Integrated Microminiature Relay
US8327527B2 (en) * 2008-03-20 2012-12-11 Ht Microanalytical, Inc. Integrated reed switch
US20130063233A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2013-03-14 Todd Richard Christenson Integrated Reed Switch
US8665041B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2014-03-04 Ht Microanalytical, Inc. Integrated microminiature relay
US11309140B2 (en) * 2019-01-04 2022-04-19 Littelfuse, Inc. Contact switch coating
US20220122784A1 (en) * 2019-01-04 2022-04-21 Littelfuse, Inc. Contact switch coating

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS541900B1 (de) 1979-01-30
DE2033839A1 (de) 1971-02-18
SE359685B (de) 1973-09-03
CA924358A (en) 1973-04-10
BE752407A (fr) 1970-12-01
DE2033839B2 (de) 1972-03-02
FR2049806A5 (de) 1971-03-26
GB1302255A (de) 1973-01-04

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Owner name: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION

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

Effective date: 19800516