US3628242A - Manufacture of electric switches - Google Patents

Manufacture of electric switches Download PDF

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Publication number
US3628242A
US3628242A US811033A US3628242DA US3628242A US 3628242 A US3628242 A US 3628242A US 811033 A US811033 A US 811033A US 3628242D A US3628242D A US 3628242DA US 3628242 A US3628242 A US 3628242A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact member
contact
enclosure
magnetically
reeds
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
US811033A
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English (en)
Inventor
Peter M Zollman
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.)
Badalex Ltd
Original Assignee
Badalex Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3628242A publication Critical patent/US3628242A/en
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Classifications

    • 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
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49004—Electrical device making including measuring or testing of device or component part
    • 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
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/5313—Means to assemble electrical device
    • Y10T29/53196—Means to apply magnetic force directly to position or hold work part
    • 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
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/5313—Means to assemble electrical device
    • Y10T29/532—Conductor
    • Y10T29/53248—Switch or fuse

Definitions

  • the invention concerns a method for assembling reed contact units. In assembling such units, one reed is positively held and the second is magnetically held from the first and is aligned with it while so held.
  • a fusible element is sealed to both reeds, the sealing being completed, and the reeds held positively, after the reeds have been displaced relatively through a distance corresponding to the desired gap between the reeds in the finished contact unit.
  • a contact unit of this type comprises two elongated contact members, or reeds, of paramagnetic material disposed approximately in alignment, with ends overlapping but slightly separated.
  • the arrangement of reeds is such that when the reeds are subjected to a magnetic field of sufficient field intensity, the magnetic attraction between the ends of the reeds is sufficient to cause them to be attracted to each other and to make contact, thereby establishing electrical connection between the two reeds.
  • the reeds are usually mounted by being sealed within an enclosure, suitably of glass.
  • dry reed contact units are required to operate to a most demanding specification; it may be required that the unit shall continue to operate satisfactorily for a very large number of switching operations, or over a long working life.
  • the present invention is concerned with a method of making a dry reed contact unit which is more convenient to carry out than prior methods at present in use, and which produces an improved contact unit construction.
  • the ultimate characteristics and performance of the reed contact unit is very largely dependent upon the very small spacing between the reeds and this calls for very accurate positioning of the reeds in the holding clamps and very accurate movement and positioning of the clamps themselves.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a method of and means for assembling reed contact units in which more accurate contact positioning and hence improved performance of a contact unit can be obtained, without the need for the increased precision required by the proposals of the prior art.
  • Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the contact holding and positioning means of a reed contact unit assembly machine.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a contact unit which by reason of the accuracy of disposition of the contacts, has a long working life.
  • the two contacts are held magnetically together, one supported by the other, before being held firmly by the holding means.
  • the contacts are in the correct disposition and in particular in intimate surface to surface contact.
  • the contacts can then be separated to the desired extent and sealed to the envelope.
  • the invention consists of a method of making a magnetic reed contact unit of the type comprising a fusible enclosure and at least two magnetic contact members mounted in said enclosure, which comprises supporting the first contact member from a support means, supporting the second contact member magnetically from the first, passing a double openended enclosure member over said two contact members, sealing the second contact member to said enclosure member while said second contact member is still magnetically supported from the first contact member, releasing the magnetic support of the second contact member from the first, leaving the second contact supported by the enclosure member, moving said enclosure member and support means relatively to produce a desired separation of the two contact members, and
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a reed contact unit with its operating coil in position
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the contact unit of FIG. ll;
  • FIGS. 3(a) to 3(g) are diagrams showing the successive stages in the assembly of a reed contact unit such as that shown inFIGS. l and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly broken away, of a semiautomatic assembly machine for assembling reed contact units.
  • the reed contact unit shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises an enclosure 10, consisting of a sleeve of glass, in the ends of which are sealed two elongated reeds 11 and 12. These reeds are made of soft magnetic material.
  • the ends Illa and 12a respectively of the reeds are flattened and are arranged to overlap, as shown.
  • the flattened portions 11a and 12a are slightly separated from one another, but if a magnetic field is produced about the reeds they become magnetically attracted to each other; the reeds are made sufficiently compliant for these portions to come together under the action of the magnetic force, so as to establish electrical connection between reeds Ill and 12.
  • the operating magnetic field can be provided by any suitable means, but frequently the contact unit is surrounded by a coil, such as 13 which when energized will produce the field sufficient to operate the contacts.
  • a reed contact unit of the type described shall operate successively for a very large number of operations, sometimes millions of opera tions, or it may be required that the contact unit shall continue to operate satisfactorily over a number of years, or both.
  • the separation between the blade ends of the reeds may be only a few thousandths of an inch and the gap between them, when the unit is not operated, may be set to an accuracy of a fraction of a thousandth of an inch.
  • the contacts can be positioned to a high degree of accuracy, resulting in a contact unit of improved performance.
  • the nature of the machine adopted for assembling and sealing the reed contact units will depend on whether the machine is fully automatic or semiautomatic.
  • a turret machine can be used, with successive stations at which the turret dwells and at each or some of which one or more of the operations are carried out.
  • a semiautomatic machine described in more detail hereinafter, the loading of the parts and the positioning and sealing is effected at one station.
  • the machine for this purpose may consist conveniently of a turret-type machine, having a series of positions to which the turret is successively indexed.
  • reed 12 is positioned in a holder consisting of jaws M.
  • the reed is disposed with the blade portions IZauppennost and the reed is positioned axially, angularly and longitudinally.
  • FIG. 3(b) The next operation is indicated in FIG. 3(b).
  • a second reed 11 is positioned above the reed 12, with the blade portion Ila downmoszt and overlapping the blade portion 12a of reed 12.
  • FIG. 3(c) indicates the next stage of the process, which may take place at a further station of the turret of the machine, where the two blades are adjusted so that as far as possible the vertical edges of the blade portions are aligned, ensuring that the maximum area of the blades will be in contact with each other.
  • the fingers have lower portions 15a and 16a respectively which are arranged to pat the sides of the blade portions 11a and 12a and to align them; the fingers l and 16 have upper portions 15b and 16b which engage the upper part of the reed 11, so as partly to support it in the adjusting operation and to ensure that it is in substantial alignment with reed 12.
  • a short glass tube 17, held in a transfer means (not shown), is threaded downwardly over the upper end of reed 11, until it surrounds the overlapping portions of the reeds and is gripped there by clamping jaws 18; again, this can be carried out at a succeeding position of the turret.
  • the jaws 18 are shown in broken lines, indicating that in these turret positions the jaws are not functioning.
  • sleeve 17 is sealed to reed 12, at 22.
  • the sealing may have commenced before or during relative movement of reeds 11 and 12, and the relative movement may occur while the enclosure is in a partially fused and plastic condition. After the cooling of the glass seals, the two reeds 11 and 12 are in the desired operating position.
  • the lateral alignment of the reed blades which is effected at the station indicated in FIG. 3(a), proves to be of considerable importance in improving the performance of the contact unit produced on the machine. Because of the exacting requirements of the finished units, there is a certain rate of rejection, and this rate is substantially reduced when the contacts are aligned in the manner described.
  • the mechanical means adopted for this purpose consisting of the fingers l5 and 16, are very simple and efficacious, and by inserting the sleeve 17 over the reeds after they have been aligned in this way the desired result is obtained without complication of the machine motions. Other methods of aligning the contacts can, however, be adopted.
  • FIGS. 3(a) to 3(g) may each indicate one or more than one station of the machine.
  • the enclosure 10 of the unit be filled with an inert gas, or gas at reduced pressure.
  • at least the sealing operations will be carried out in an enclosure filled with the appropriate gas; sealing can be effected either in this arrangement or in the arrangement described, by means of a highly concentrated infrared beam.
  • the infrared source may be located outside the gas enclosure, and directed through a transparent window. The embodiment described is advantageous in this case inasmuch as it requires a minimum of holding devices above the glass sleeve 17, simplifying the construction of the gas enclosure.
  • FIG. 4 A practical form of semiautomatic assembly machine is shown in a diagrammatic perspective view in FIG. 4.
  • This machine comprises a main supporting framework 30 of metal, having a lower table 31 and an upper table 32. Journalled in bearings carried by the two tables is a vertical drive shaft 33, which is rotated at a relatively slow speed by means of an electric motor 34, a reduction gear unit drive 35 and a drive belt 36, passing round a pulley 37 driven by unit 35 and pulley 38 on shaft 33.
  • the drive shaft 33 carries and drives a series of cams including a cam cylinder 39, and disk cams 40, 41 and 42.
  • the cam cylinder 39 has in its surface a multitum cam groove 43.
  • a vertically reciprocable shaft 44 is mounted at its lower end in a bearing bush 45, the shaft passing through the upper table 32.
  • the shaft 44 can be reciprocated vertically by a cam follower pin 46 that passes transversely through the shaft 44, and enters the cam groove 43.
  • the pin can move along its own length, transversely through the shaft so that it can enter the groove 43, but can be withdrawn in the opposite direction sufficiently to free the pin from the groove.
  • shaft 44 is in a position where the pin 46 is adjacent the lowermost part of the groove 43.
  • the pin is caused to enter the groove and, as the cam cylinder 39 rotates, the pin, in engagement with the groove, causes the shaft 44 to be vertically raised through a cycle of movements.
  • the pin 46 When the pin 46 has been lifted to the uppermost turn of groove 43, it is caused to be withdrawn by a supplementary cam 48 on the end of cylinder 39, whereupon the shaft, no longer supported by the engagement of the pin in the cam groove, drops to the lowermost and initial position. In doing so, the rear end of pin 46 engages a fixed cam 49 by which the pin is caused to move along its own length, again to enter the lowermost part of groove 39; the cycle of movement is then repeated.
  • the fall of the shaft 44 under gravity may be checked by a dashpot 50 at the lower end of the shaft.
  • the lever is carried on a pivot block 53 which can slide vertically on guide rods 54 and 55 which are mounted, by means not shown, with respect to table 32.
  • the pivot block is attached to an actuating rod 56 the lower end of which is supported from the shaft 44 by means of a support web 57.
  • lever 52 The pivotal movement of lever 52 is effected by a push plate assembly, under the control of cams 41 and 42.
  • a plate 60 depending from the underside of table 32 carries a bracket 61 in which are fixed two guide sleeves 62 and 63.
  • Push rods 64 and 65 are guided by the sleeves, the push rods carrying at their one ends push plates 66, 67.
  • a pivoted cam follower 68, operating on cam 40, is connected to push rod 65 through a coupling link 69, and a similar cam follower 70, operating on cam 411, is coupled by link 71 to push rod 64.
  • lever 52 operates one of a series of actuating slides forming part of a slide assembly for operating this slide assembly which controls the operation shown in FIG. 3.
  • a method of making a magnetic reed contact unit of the type comprising a fusible enclosure and at least two generally similar magnetic contact members mounted in said enclosure and having end surfaces which engage when the two contact members are magnetically held which includes supporting a first contact member from a support, moving a second contact member into a position wherein one end surface thereof overlaps an end surface of said first contact member, supporting the second contact member magnetically from the first contact member at the overlap, engaging the edges of said contact members and moving said contact members into alignment at the overlap against the friction caused by magnetic attraction, passing an open-ended enclosure member over the aligned and overlapped contact members while said second contact member is magnetically supported from said first contact member, sealing the second contact member to said enclosure member while said second contact member is still magnetically supported from the first contact member, releasing the magnetic support of the second contact member from the first contact member leaving the second contact member supported by the enclosure member, moving said enclosure member and support means relatively to produce a desired separation of the two contact members, and sealing the first contact member to said enclosure member to hold said contact members with the desired
  • a method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustment of the flat contact surfaces of the contact members is a lateral adjustment to bring said fiat surfaces substantially into alignment whereby the central longitudinal axes of said contact members are substantially parallel.
  • a method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second contact member is supported from a second support means and which includes moving said second support means to bring the end portion of said second contact member into overlapping relationship but spaced from the end portion of said first contact member. Said second contact member being positioned above said first contact member, magnetically moving said second contact member into engagement with said first contact member, and releasing said second contact member from said second support means while subsequently magnetically supporting said second contact member from said first contact member.
  • mag netic support of the second contact member from said first contact member is accomplished by establishing a magnetic field from an external source in the vicinity of said overlapping end portions, said magnetic field being of sufficient strength to draw said end portions together and permit said second contact member to be supported solely by said first contact member.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
US811033A 1967-02-10 1969-03-27 Manufacture of electric switches Expired - Lifetime US3628242A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB6584/67A GB1164533A (en) 1967-02-10 1967-02-10 Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Electric Switches
US81103369A 1969-03-27 1969-03-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3628242A true US3628242A (en) 1971-12-21

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US811033A Expired - Lifetime US3628242A (en) 1967-02-10 1969-03-27 Manufacture of electric switches

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US (1) US3628242A (is")
BE (1) BE710581A (is")
DE (1) DE1639197B2 (is")
FR (1) FR1565492A (is")
GB (1) GB1164533A (is")
NL (1) NL6801939A (is")

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3750276A (en) * 1970-06-26 1973-08-07 Plessey Handel Investment Ag Magnetic reed contact unit producing apparatus
US3908266A (en) * 1973-02-20 1975-09-30 Comtelco Uk Ltd Reed switch manufacture
US4004337A (en) * 1973-02-20 1977-01-25 Comtelco (U.K.) Limited Apparatus for reed switch manufacture
US4347658A (en) * 1979-07-31 1982-09-07 International Standard Electric Corporation Method of making magnetic reed contact unit
US4383357A (en) * 1981-04-16 1983-05-17 Western Electric Co., Inc. Methods of aligning paramagnetic articles
US4408753A (en) * 1981-04-16 1983-10-11 Western Electric Company, Inc. Holder for aligning paramagnetic articles
US20110303072A1 (en) * 2010-06-15 2011-12-15 Antaki James F Pitch Altering Mechanism for Reeded Instrument

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1013913A (en) * 1961-09-21 1965-12-22 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Method and apparatus for manufacturing sealed magnetic reed contact devices
US3277558A (en) * 1963-03-14 1966-10-11 Rca Corp Method of making reed switches
US3550268A (en) * 1969-04-24 1970-12-29 Briggs & Stratton Corp Method of assembling dry reed switches

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1013913A (en) * 1961-09-21 1965-12-22 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Method and apparatus for manufacturing sealed magnetic reed contact devices
US3277558A (en) * 1963-03-14 1966-10-11 Rca Corp Method of making reed switches
US3550268A (en) * 1969-04-24 1970-12-29 Briggs & Stratton Corp Method of assembling dry reed switches

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3750276A (en) * 1970-06-26 1973-08-07 Plessey Handel Investment Ag Magnetic reed contact unit producing apparatus
US3908266A (en) * 1973-02-20 1975-09-30 Comtelco Uk Ltd Reed switch manufacture
US4004337A (en) * 1973-02-20 1977-01-25 Comtelco (U.K.) Limited Apparatus for reed switch manufacture
US4347658A (en) * 1979-07-31 1982-09-07 International Standard Electric Corporation Method of making magnetic reed contact unit
US4383357A (en) * 1981-04-16 1983-05-17 Western Electric Co., Inc. Methods of aligning paramagnetic articles
US4408753A (en) * 1981-04-16 1983-10-11 Western Electric Company, Inc. Holder for aligning paramagnetic articles
US20110303072A1 (en) * 2010-06-15 2011-12-15 Antaki James F Pitch Altering Mechanism for Reeded Instrument
US8802949B2 (en) * 2010-06-15 2014-08-12 James F. Antaki Pitch altering mechanism for reeded instrument

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1565492A (is") 1969-05-02
GB1164533A (en) 1969-09-17
NL6801939A (is") 1968-08-12
BE710581A (is") 1968-06-17
DE1639197C3 (is") 1978-05-24
DE1639197B2 (de) 1977-09-22
DE1639197A1 (de) 1971-01-28

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