US2914632A - Relay - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1959 A. E. NEUMANN RELAY Filed Nov. 14, 195e A Trae/v5 Ys United States Patent O RELAY Arthur E. Neumann, Winnetka, Ill., assignor of one-half to Frank Scoby, Chicago, lll.

Application November 14, `1958, Serial No. 773,901

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) This invention relates to electrical relays, and particularly to coil-operated relays.

The device of the present invention comprises a coiloperated relay having a swinging armature attracted by a pole of an electromagnet and spring means to swing the armature away from a core pole piece. The amature is provided with a cantilever spring attached to it adjacent its pivotal mounting and normally extending along and in contact with the face of the armature nearest the pole piece. The spring is provided with contacts adapted to alternately engage opposed fixed contacts carried by the relay frame. The arrangement is such that, upon deenergizing the magnet coil, the armature swings away from the pole piece to swing a contact on the spring into engagement with a fixed contact and even after such engagement the armature continues to swing outwardly, thus flexing the contact carrying spring to bias the same rmly against the fixed contact and eiect a wiping of the contacts at the time of engagement. Upon re-energizing the coil, the armature moves a substantial distance toward the pole piece before the contacts are separated and thus a time delay is introduced in the operation of the device.

A further feature of the invention resides in the manner of mounting the lixed contacts whereby each is carried by a cantilever member and is readily accessible for bending to thereby effect adjustment of the position of the fixed contacts.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a relay wherein better contact is provided between the contact members, with less arcing than is usual, and wherein said contacts are wiped across each other during circuit making and breaking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel relay wherein the mechanical features produce a time delay in breaking certain contacts after the coil is energized.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a relay wherein the armature is held very close to a pole piece when the relay is energized.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relay wherein the xed contacts are so mounted that they are readily accessible for adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a relay of the type described which is economical to produce and reliable and eicient in operation.

Additional and further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a relay embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the relay of Fig. 1, taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. -l;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the relay of Fig. 2 as viewed from the left end thereof;

Fig. 4 i-s an end elevational view of the relay of Fig. 2 as viewed from the right end thereof; and

Patented Nov. 24, 1959 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in diierent relative positions.

The relay of the present invention comprises a generally U-shaped metallic frame member 2 having upstanding legs 4 and 6. A magnetic core pole piece 8 is secured to the web of the frame 2 by means of a screw 10 or the like. A coil 12 is wound about the pole piece 8, in the usual manner, whereby pole piece 8 constitutes a core for the coil and the coil is provided with the usual terminals 14 and 16 by which it may be connected in a suitable circuit. The core pole piece 8 extends upwardly above the coil and terminates in an upper pole surface 18.

The upper end of leg 6 of relay frame 2 is provided with an upwardly facing notch 20 in which a reduced neck portion 22 of an armature 24 is seated. The bottom of the notch 20 provides a fulcrum or pivot axis forthe armature 24. A tension spring 26 engages the outer end of the armature 24 and is hooked to a bracket 2-8 riveted or otherwise secured to the leg 6 of the fname 2. Thus, tension spring 26 normally urges the armature 24 to swing, about its xed fulcrum, away from the pole face 18. A contact-carrying cantilever leaf spring 30 is secured to the under face of the armature 24 as by means of rivets 33 at a position Ibetween the pole piece 8 and the frame leg 6. This is the only connection between the cantilever spring and the armature. Spring 30 is of substantial width in the area above the magnet and is provided with an opening 32 therethrough somewhat larger than the pole piece 8 but aligned therewith and generally concentric thereto. The spring 30 extends outwardly beyond the free end of the armature 24 and carries upper and lower contact members 34 and 36. The spring 30 normally lies at against the under face of armature 24.

A contact support plate 38, of electrical insulating material, is mounted on frame leg 4 by means of screws 40 and an intermediate spacer `42. The contact support plate 38 is provided with laterally spaced upstanding arms 44 and 46 (see Fig. 3) separated by a notch or space 48. The arm 44 carries a terminal member 50 having a web portion 52 riveted or otherwise secured to the inner face of arm 44 and a clip portion 54 extending outwardly past the edge of arm 44 land provided with an opening `55 in which a conductor may be soldered or otherwise connected. From the upper edge of the web 52 a ilange 56 extends linwardly to overlie the end of contact spring 30 and extends from arm l44 inwardly into the area opposite the space 48. The ange 56 has a contact member 58 secured to the undersurface thereof in position to be engaged by the upper contact 34 on the spring 30.

A second terminal member 60 is similar in construction and mounting to the terminal member 50 but is provided with a lower ange 62 extending from the lower edge of its web portion to underlie the end of spring 30, and it carries a contact element 64 in position to be engaged by the Contact 36 of spring 30. It will thus be seen that the contact supporting portions of the terminal members 50 and 60 are opposite the space 48 between arms 44 and 46 and are readily accessible whereby a pair of pliers, or other tool, may be employed to engage the llanges 56 or 62 and bend the same the required amounts to adjust the normal position of the xed contacts 58 and 64.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that when the coil 12 is energized the armature 24 is drawn downwardly to the position shown in that figure. The lower contact 36 on the spring 30 is in engagement with the iixed contact 64 rand the lower face of the armature 24 is in abutting relation with the upper surface of spring 30. Therefore, the only free portion of spring 30 capable of any flexure is the portion extending to the left of the free end of the armature. That short length of spring is quite rigid and, therefore, the force of the magnet is substantially completely exerted on the contact 36 to insure tight and rm contact with lixed Contact 64. By providing the spring 30 with the opening 32, previously described, the parts may be so adjusted that the armature 24 approaches the end face 18 of the magnet core 8 very closely to thus employ the maximum force'of the magnet to hold contacts 36 and 64 closed.

When the coil 12 is de-energized spring 26 swings armature 24 to the position shown in Fig. 5. It will be obvious that, as the armature 24 is swinging upwardly away from pole piece 8, the upper contact 34 of spring 30 will initially engage fixed contact 58 while the spring 30 is still in face-abutting relation to the lower surface of the armature 24. However, due to the flexibility of spring 30 and its relatively remote point of attachment to the armature 24, the armature continues to move upwardly to the position of Fig. 5 and the spring 30 is caused to flex as shown. During the exing of the spring 30 the contact 34 thereon is drawn slightly to the right and wipes across the fixed contact 58 to thus insure perfect electrical contact without danger of arcing or welding. When the coil is again energized the armature 24 is drawn downwardly from the position of Fig. 5 but contacts 34 and 58 remain in engagement until the outer end of the armature reaches spring 30. During this time the contact 34 is wiping across contact 58, toward the left, and those contacts are separated when the end of the armature reaches spring 30 and forces the same downwardly. Thus the contacts 34 and 58 are separated while being wiped, obviating the likelihood of arcing thereacross. Furthermore, the interval of time elapsiug between energization of coil 12 and engagement of the outer end ofarmature 24 with spring 30 constitutes a time delay in the operation of the relay. Thus the relay is of particular utility in 4holding circuits wherein it is essential that one circuit be fully completed before another circuit is broken.

A terminal clip 70 is `secured to the armature 24 whereby the armature and spring 30 may be connected in a desired circuit. Alternatively, the lower'ilange 72 of bracket 28 may be used for that purpose.

While a single specic embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be under- 4 stood that the same is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that other forms may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coil-operated relay, a pole piece having a free end, an armature extending over said end of said pole piece and mounted for pivotal movement about an axis at one side of said pole piece for movement toward and from said pole piece, a pair of spaced fixed contacts on the other side of said pole piece, a spring member having one end xed to said armature only at a position between said pole piece and said axis and on the side of said armature nearest said pole piece, the other end of said spring member having contact portions between said contacts, and means for swinging said armature and spring member away from said pole piece when said relay is de-energized, said contacts being so positioned that a contact portion of said spring engages one of said contacts before said armature reaches the outer limit of its movement whereby said spring is exed away from said armature.

2. A relay as dened in claim l wherein the other of said contacts is positioned to engage a contact portion of said spring when said armature is attracted to said pole piece and lies closely adjacent the said end thereof with said spring lying snugly against said armature.

3. A relay as dened in claim 2 wherein said spring is provided with an opening therethrough larger than and aligned with said end of said pole piece whereby said pole piece extends into said opening and into very close proximity to said armature when said relay is energized.

`References Cited in the ijle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 352,342 Miugle et al. Nov. 9, 1886 1,206,699 Harthan Nov. 28, 1916 2,526,455 Bonnano Oct. 17, 1950 2,677,024 Welch Apr. 27, 1954 2,814,690 Zimmer Nov. 26, 1957 2,837,616 Jaidinger .lune 3, 1958

Images