EP1121701B1 - Security relay - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a relay with a base body, the defines a basic level, one arranged on the basic body Magnet system with coil, core and armature, with at least two pairs of contact springs, each pair of contact springs one passive and an active contact spring and each includes Contact spring standing perpendicular to the base plane in the base body is attached and on her removed from the base body End carries a contact piece, also with an actuating slide, which is movable parallel to the base plane and on each active contact spring in the vicinity of the Contact piece attacks.

Such a relay is for example from US 52 89 144 A known. There the magnet system is parallel to the coil axis arranged to the base plane on the base body, wherein the active and passive contacts forming changeover contacts Contact springs in front of one end of the magnet system in the Base bodies are anchored while the anchor is on the opposite Front of the magnet system lies and over one the active slider extending above the coil Contact springs actuated. For this purpose the Slider window-shaped recesses, with which it is attached to the free ends of the active contact springs, i.e. above the Contact pieces, attacks. This is for safety relays however not suitable because, for example, in In the event of a spring break, no precautions against short circuit are hit.

From DE 195 40 739 A1 there is also a relay with positively driven ones Contacts known, in which the individual contact springs are isolated from each other, with special ones constructive precautions against short circuits for the Case are met that contact pieces from the contact springs peel off. In this known relay, the active Contact springs below the contact pieces in open on the side Slitting of the slide led and actuated. lateral however, open operating sections reduce stability of the slide, so that such slide is already in the manufacture tend to delay and not the optimal one even in operation Keep shape accuracy.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a relay of the input mentioned type so that the arrangement of the Contacts and their operation provide the greatest possible security ensure, but at the same time also high dimensional accuracy the contact distances and the actuation is reached.

According to the invention this goal is achieved in that all Contact springs in the mounting channels of the base body Insert perpendicular to the base plane that the Slide at least every active contact spring all around in the form of a frame, being inside each Frame a window for the implementation of the contact spring in the area between their attachment and their contact piece is recessed and wherein the cross section of the contact spring end portion including the contact piece is larger than the cross-section of the window.

A way has been found through the design according to the invention been, the slider below the contact pieces, i.e. between the respective contact piece and the attachment of the Contact spring, to be arranged and still each contact spring frame-shaped to enclose and in the area of a closed all around Window to operate. In contrast to conventional ones Safety relay requires that the individual Contact springs through the windows of the previously assembled Slider inserted into the base body from above and be attached there. In this way the slider receives overall and in the area of each active contact spring good stability and high dimensional accuracy for operation. In addition, due to the larger cross-sectional dimensioning of the contact spring end with contact piece ensures that the contact piece even if the spring breaks Slide through or past this and down there may be an undesirable conductive connection can manufacture. The one enclosing the single active contact spring Frame preferably has partitions, which surround the end portion carrying the contact piece all around. A partition of the frame preferably has one Cutout in which the contact piece of the respective active contact spring guided in its direction of actuation is, the contour of the partition wall each a locking portion has a relative movement of the active contact spring opposite the slide in the direction of the associated passive contact spring locks. In a preferred embodiment the invention are actuating lugs on the slide molded for each active contact spring, such that each active contact spring between a locking section the partition and an operating lug with little Game is led.

Further details, refinements and developments of the Invention are contained in the subclaims.

Figur 1 ein erfindungsgemäß gestaltetes Relais in Eplosionsdarstellung,

Figur 2 das Relais von Figur 1 in zusammengebautem Zustand, mit teilweise ausgeschnittenem Schieber und ohne Kappe, in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Figur 3 das Relais von Figur 2 in einer gedrehten perspektivischen Darstellung,

Figur 4 das Relais von Figur 1 bis 3 in Seitenansicht, teilweise längsgeschnitten,

Figur 5 und 6 den Schieber des Relais von Figur 1 bis 4 in zwei perspektivischen Ansichten und

Figur 7 ein Diagramm zur Darstellung des grundsätzlichen Verlaufs der Kraft-Weg-Kennlinien des Magnetsystems und der Federn des Relais.

The invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows

FIG. 1 shows a relay designed according to the invention in an exploded view,

FIG. 2 shows the relay from FIG. 1 in the assembled state, with a partially cut-out slide and without a cap, in a perspective view,

FIG. 3 shows the relay from FIG. 2 in a rotated perspective illustration,

FIG. 4 shows the relay from FIGS. 1 to 3 in a side view, partly in longitudinal section,

Figures 5 and 6, the slide of the relay of Figure 1 to 4 in two perspective views

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the basic course of the force-displacement characteristics of the magnet system and the springs of the relay.

The relay shown in Figures 1 to 6 has one Base body 1 made of insulating material, which is designed essentially flat is defined and a bottom side 10 and with a Cap 2 forms a closed housing. The basic body 1 has a flat, trough-shaped recess 11 for receiving a magnet system, while the rest of the system is drawn up Side walls 12, a longitudinal partition 13 and transverse walls 14 forms two rows of contact carrier chambers 15. This Contact carrier chambers 15 are slit-shaped towards the bottom Plug channels 16 narrowed (see Figure 4), each from above, perpendicular to the base plane 10, insertable fixed contact carrier 21 or contact spring support 22. The fixed contact carrier 21 form passive (or fixed) contact springs 23 with fixed contact pieces attached 24, while on the contact spring supports 22 each active (or movable) contact springs 25 with at their free Ends attached movable contact pieces 26 attached are.

The magnet system used to operate the relay a U-shaped core yoke 31 with a core leg 32 and one Yoke leg 33. A coil former 34 carries an excitation coil 35 and takes in an axial through hole Core leg 32 on. Because of the limited spool width has a smaller width than the yoke leg 33, is an additional flow guide part 36 together with the Core leg 32 inserted into the coil interior. To this The iron cross-section inside the coil becomes the same enlarged like the pole surface 32a or 36a with which an armature 37 cooperates. This anchor is with the help of an anchor spring 38 mounted and forms at the free end of the yoke leg 33 with the pole faces 32a, 36a in the usual way a working air gap. Generate two return legs 39 of the armature spring 38 the rest position of the contacts when not excited of the magnet system.

The movement of the armature 37 is controlled by an armature extension 37a on a slide 40 and above this on the active contact springs 25 transferred. Since the contact springs on the Anchor opposite side of the magnet system are, the slide has an extending above the coil Connection section 41, to which a downward stepped towards the ground level Actuating section 42 connects. This operating section forms with a central longitudinal wall 43 and side walls 44 and cross walls 45 and 46 each have frames for each single contact spring that these contact springs, with the exception the respective first passive contact springs 24R and each last passive contact springs 23R and 23A2, which are in the end areas of the actuating section 42 of the slide 40 and therefore no shielding to one side an adjacent contact spring noted here that the active and passive contact springs 25 and 23 in FIG. 4 for designating the type of contact with additional designations are provided, i.e. 23A1, 23A2 for passive normally open contact springs (NO contact springs), 23R for passive Normally open contact springs (NC contact springs), 25A1 and 25A2 for active make contact springs (NO contact springs) and 25R for active normally closed contact springs (normally closed contact springs). Within of the frame formed by partitions 43, 44, 45 and 46 of the Slider 40 are windows 47 for the active contact springs as well as window 48 for the passive contact springs. The respective passive contact springs 23 and active Contact springs 25 protrude through these windows 46 and 47, so that the contact pieces 24 and 26 bearing ends in each case above the actuating section 42 of the slide and essentially within that by partitions 43,44,45 and 46 formed frames are located.

Those transverse walls or barrier walls 46, which each interact separate active and passive contact springs each an approximately semicircular section 49 in line with the round contour of the contact pieces. In this cutout 49 is a movable contact piece 26 of the active contact springs 25 out. This allows the active Contact spring itself close to the barrier wall 46 or one locking rib 50 protruding from the barrier wall. Moreover the slider forms from the side walls 44 inwardly protruding actuating lugs 52 which are in different Height of the active working contact springs or activate the active normally closed contact springs. The active ones Contact springs are each within the window 47 arranged and between the respective locking rib 50 and the associated actuating nose 51 or 52 performed with tight play. This will also when welding a contact all other active contact springs against another switching operation blocked.

When assembling the relay, the assembled is first Magnet system inserted into the recess 11 of the base body 1, the armature spring 38 between the yoke leg 33 and is attached to the base body. On the magnet system the slider 40 with its connecting section 41 is attached, the return leg 39 of the armature spring 38 in the openings 41a of the slide are hooked in. The anchor itself is stored on the yoke leg 33 and with its extension 37a in the opening 41b of the slide 40 hooked.

After installing the slide 40, the one with the longitudinal partition 43 on the longitudinal wall 13 and with the longitudinal walls 44 on the Side walls 12 of the base body 1 sits, the contact springs assembled. All contact springs are thereby corresponding windows 47 and 48 of the slide through in the chambers 15 of the base body inserted and in the slots 16 attached. All fixed contact carrier 21 with the passive contact springs 23 are constructed identically and straight, so that it is inserted into the base body perpendicular to the base plane can be. Also all active contact springs 25 with their contact spring carriers 22 are constructed identically and straight, so that regardless of their function as work contact springs 25A1, 25A2 or normally closed contact springs 25R vertical to the base level through the associated window 47 of the slide can be used. The slider 40 becomes this Purpose against the bias of the armature spring 38 in one Held middle position.

With this construction, all contact springs must come from above through the already assembled slide 40 in the base body be inserted because the end sections of the contact springs, at least that of the active contact springs 25 with the contact pieces 26 have a larger cross section than the windows 47, so that the slide is not subsequently from above the contact springs can be inserted. Because of these proportions on the one hand, the slide gets its stability due to the closed frame around the contact springs, on the other hand, a broken contact cannot pass through a window 47 fall down into a spring chamber and there cause a short circuit if necessary.

In the de-energized state of the magnet system, the slide is by the restoring force of the armature spring 38 in the rest position pulled, that is to the right in Figure 4. In doing so the normally closed contact springs 25R in the relaxed state pulled right into the position shown in Figure 4 so that it makes contact with the passive normally closed contact spring 23R.

When the magnet system is excited, the slide is shown in FIG. 4 moved to the left, the active normally closed contact spring 25R is from the passive normally closed contact spring 23R and lifted by the Locking rib 50R is moved into its open working position. at the same time grips the slide with the actuating lugs 51 laterally on the active make contact springs 25A1 and 25A2 on and moves this towards the passive work contact springs 23A1 and 23A2 until the appropriate make contacts are closed. When the excitation is switched off, the Armature spring 38 restores the idle state, the slide 40 on the actuating lugs 52 on the side of the contact pieces 26R attacks and closes the normally closed contacts. Welded one of contacts, so is the close management of the active contact springs 25 ensured that a further movement of the Slider 40 and thus a further actuation of the rest Contacts is blocked. For example, welds a break contact, so is the locking rib 50R that immediately next to the contact piece attacks, the slide against others Movement blocked. The working contacts cannot conclude. If, on the other hand, a work contact is welded, then also via the next to the welded contact on the associated Contact spring engaging locking rib 50A a provision the slide and actuation of the normally closed contacts prevented.

Since all active contact springs are also currently being formed they are self-opening. For example, breaks one Actuating nose 51 or 52 on the slide, opens the relevant one active contact spring (opener) or it is not closed (at the closer). Breaks the armature spring 38, so all normally open contacts (normally closed contacts) open, and all NO contacts are no longer closed.

As can be seen from the description and in particular from the figures 4, 5 and 6 results, the actuating lugs 52 are for the active normally closed contact springs 25R much higher with respect to the Base plane as the actuating lugs 51 for the active working contact springs 25A1 and 25A2. This is the force-displacement translation in the work contacts and the rest contacts differently. Since the magnet system is in a closed position Condition, that is, when the anchor is tightened or almost tightened, is strongest while when the anchor has dropped out the force of the large air gap increases slowly, normally ensured by the dimensioning of the magnet system be that the magnet system also at the beginning of Anchor suit movement applies enough force to make the normally closed contacts to actuate in the direction of the opening and the restoring force to overcome the anchor spring. By the staggered Arrangement of the actuation points or actuation lugs 51 and 52 with respect to the basic level it is now achieved that the active NC contact springs with less force and over one longer travel while the active normally open contact springs due to the shorter lever ratio on the short one Ways to be closed. At that moment the magnet system already has more power since the anchor is already largely approximated the pole face. By this measure can be used in particular when designing a safety relay, where no changeover contacts, but separate actuable openers and closers are used, the Increase the efficiency of the magnet system so that it is smaller can be dimensioned as usual.

In the diagram of Figure 7 is the adjustment of the force-displacement curves shown. Here f denotes the characteristic curve of the total Spring forces and m the characteristic of the magnet system. Over the path s, the anchor movement or the movement of the Slider 40 between the rest position (on the right in Figure 4 open anchor) and the working position (left in Figure 4 when the anchor is closed), they are against each other effective forces F plotted. Is at rest the slide, for example, at point s1 or to the right of it, depending on the contact burn. When tightening the anchor the slide moves to the left, the force m of the magnet system initially only rises slowly. In this Range up to s2 is also the opening force to be overcome (on the active normally closed contact spring or the one adapted to it Anchor spring) due to the large leverage ratio still relative low. From s2 to s3 results from the active work contact springs a more increasing spring force that through a magnetic force m also rising more strongly in this area is overcome. From s3 to the stop both rise Spring force f as well as the magnetic force strongly. this is the Overlap range up to point s4.

Claims (7)

1. A relay having a base (1) which establishes a base plane (10), a magnet system arranged on the base and provided with a coil (35), a core (31) and an armature (37), having at least two pairs of spring contacts (23, 25), with each pair of spring contacts including a passive spring contact (23) and an active spring contact (25) and each spring contact being secured in the base such that it stands perpendicularly with respect to the base plane (10) and carries on its end remote from the base a contact piece (24, 26), and furthermore having an actuating slide element (40) which is movable parallel to the base plane (10) and acts on each active spring contact (25), in each case in the vicinity of the contact piece (26),
      characterised in that all the spring contacts (23, 25) are secured in securing channels (15) in the base as a result of being pushed in perpendicular to the base plane (10), in that the slide element (40) surrounds at least each active spring contact (25) individually on all sides in the form of a frame (43, 44, 45, 46), with a respective window (47) being made within each frame for the spring contact (25) to be guided through in the region between the securing thereof and the contact piece thereof, and the cross-section of the spring contact end portion, including the contact piece (26), being in each case larger than the cross-section of the window (47).
2. A relay according to Claim 1, characterised in that the slide element (40) surrounds at least that end portion of each active spring contact (25) carrying the contact piece (26) by means of partition walls (43, 44, 45, 46) running around all sides.
3. A relay according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the contact piece (26) of each active spring contact (25) is guided in a cutout (49) in a blocking wall (46) of the slide element, with a blocking portion (50) of the blocking wall (46) in each case forming a block on relative movement between the active spring contact (25) and the slide element (40) in the direction of the associated passive spring contact (23).
4. A relay according to Claim 3, characterised in that in each case actuating lugs (51, 52) are made on the slide element and act on the active spring contacts (25) in the edge region.
5. A relay according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that each active spring contact is guided in each case between a blocking portion (50) of the partition wall (46) and an actuating lug (51,52) with a small amount of play.
6. A relay according to one of Claims 4 or 5, characterised in that actuating lugs (51, 52) for active rest spring contacts (25R) and for active operational spring contacts (25A1, 25A2) are provided on the slide element (40) at different heights with respect to the base plane (10).
7. A relay according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the magnet system is arranged on the base (1) with its coil axis parallel to the base plane (10), in that the pairs of spring contacts (23, 25) on the one hand and the armature (37) on the other hand are arranged at opposing end sides of the coil (35), and in that the slide element (40) extends above the coil (35) by means of a connection portion (41), while by means of an actuating portion (42) lying closer to the base plane (10) it surrounds the active spring contacts (25) in the manner of a frame.

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