US3448418A - Electromagnetic relay - Google Patents

Description

Jun 3, 1969 B. F. lVAKlN ET AL v3,448,413-

ELECTROMAGNET IC RELAY Filed March 6, 1967 Sheet I of 4 June 3, 6 B. F. IVAKIN ET AL ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Sheet Filed March 6, 1967 Filed March 6, 1967 June 3,1969 I s F. lV-AKIN ET AL 3,448,413

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34, F1138 32 T I 7* Julie 3, 1969 a. F. IVAKIN ET AL 3,448,418 I ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY V Sheet Filed March a, 1967 United States Patent US. Cl. 335193 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electromagnetic relay in which due to an electric suspension of the armature and a special attachment of the moving con-tact spring an increased resistance to vibration, linear acceleration and other mechanical overloads is attained. The center of gravity of the armature suspended together with a limiter of vibrations from an elastic element coincides with a point of outlet of the elastic element from the stationary part of the relay with the limiter of vibrations acting closely to the axis of rotation and substantially coinciding with the center of gravity of the armature.

Background of invention The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay having an improved resistance to vibration, linear acceleration and other mechanical effects due to an elastic suspension of the armature and a special attachment of the moving contact spring.

Electromagnetic relays are known in which the balanced armature is suspended by a torsional string enclosed in a special tube. One end of the tube is fixed to the armature together with the string, whereas the opposite end serves for limiting oscillations that are apt to arise. Such a construction is shown in US. Patent No. 3,102,947, Cl. 317176. These relays are capable of operating normally upon being subjected to considerable vibration and impacts, but one of their disadvantages is the inevitable wear of the limiter due to friction.

An electromagnetic relay is also known in which the armature is suspended by a flat spring having a console attachment with the frame of the relay, as illustrated in FIRG Patent No. 943,713, Cl. 21g 401. However, the susceptibility of the console spring to impacts, vibration and acceleration results in a 'very unstable position of the armature, thus considerably worsening the relay characteristics during operation under the above conditions.

A construction is also known in which the oscillations of the moving system in respect to the point of attachment of the elastic spring to the frame of the relay are damped by stops provided near the point of attachment of the spring and the armature (U.S.S.R. authors certificate No. 123,194, Cl. 21a 20/01). The use of stops improves the stability of the system against mechanical effects, but sharply increases the stiifness of the armature suspension, thus coarsening the relay.

Another relay is known (U.S. Patent No. 2,955,174, Cl. 200 -93), in which the changeover contact springs are fixed to the armature and move together with the latter. A disadvantage of the relay described above is the variation of its parameters due to deformation of the insulation spacers at changes in ambient temperature. Furthermore, the operating current is to be supplied through lfiexible buses that increase the overall dimensions, complicate the construction and reduce the performance life of the relay.

Contact system constructions are also known, in which the moving contact springs are mounted on pins fixed to See the base of the relay by means of glass insulators. The operating current is supplied to the springs through the above-mentioned pins (U.S. Patent No. 2,852,639, Cl. 200 104).

Disadvantages of the latter construction is, first, the ditficulty of adjustment of the contact springs and, second, the necessity of overcoming the counteraction of all the restoring and changeover contact springs during the movement of the armature, thereby resulting in a. general deterioration of the relay sensitivity.

Summary of invention A primary object of the present invention is to provide a small-size vibration and impact-proof relay having stable operating characteristics and free of above-mentioned disadvantages.

A favorable solution to the problems involved is attained by providing the electromagnetic relay with stops that come into contact with the elastic element near the point of its attachment to the stationary part of the relay and by positioning the center of gravity of the armature and its elements close to the point of contact of the above-mentioned stops with the elastic element, or near a line passing through the points of contact of the stops with the elastic elements.

Furthermore, the elastic element is housed within tubes, one of which is fixed to the armature, while the second is attached to the stationary part of the relay, with'the tubes being arranged one within the other with a gap therebetween, and the stops being placed between the elastic element and the tubes.

The tube fixed together with the armature to the elastic element carries two contact springs, and the elastic element serves also for supplying current to the springs.

Detailed description of drawings The invention will further :be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the armature and elastic element attachment;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation, partly broken away showing the construction of the relay;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of a constructional version of the armature attachment Within the relay presented in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line IV, V-IV, V of FIG. 3 with a string employed as the elastic element;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line IV, V-IV, V of FIG. 3 with a flat spring employed as the elastic element;

FIG. 6 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of the armature attachment with the contact springs mounted on the armature;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of closed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIL-VIII of FIG. 7;

the assembly dis- FIG. 9 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in relay, in which the armature is attached according to the FIG. 1, and the changeover springs are actuated by stops arranged on the armature;

FIG. 10 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in side elevation of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of the electromagnetic relay.

Detailed description of invention As seen in the schematic view (FIG. 1) of the armature moving system, an elastic element 1 is fixed to a stationary support, e.g., a relay base 2. Armature 3 provided with stops 4 has a console suspension from the free end of the elastic element 1. Stops 4 are intended mainly for preventing an oscillatory motion of the armature moving system due to external mechanical effects (vibration, impacts, etc.).

The point of coaction of the stops 4 and elastic element 1 is near the point of its attachment to the stationary part of the relay and coincides with the center of gravity of armature 3.

Due to such an attachment, the armature 3 is capable of swinging easily on the elastic element 1 and, at the same time, is sufficiently resistant to external mechanical effects.

Further reference is made to FIG. 2 showing the construction of a relay in which the proposed method of attachment of the armature is embodied.

The relay comprises two coils 5 and 6 provided with cores 7. Coils 5 and 6 are fixed to a strip 8, with the latter being secured by a support 9 to a base 10. Armature 11 is fixed together with a tube 12 to the elastic element (not shown in the drawing) which is passed inside the tube 12 and is capable of rotating when the winding of coil 5 or 6 is energized.

A more detailed view of the attachment of armature 11 is shown in FIG. 3 presenting a constructional version of the attachment.

The armature 11 is fixed to an elastic element 13 which may be in the form of string 13' (see FIG. 4) or, alternw tively, fiat spring 13" (see FIG. 5).

The elastic element 13 is enclosed in tubes 12 and 14. Tube 12 is fixed to the body of armature 11 in a conventional manner, for example, by means of a glass insulator 15. Tube 14 is secured to base 10 of the relay by an insulator =16.

The elastic element 13 is held inside the tube 14 by, for example, welding or soldering the element to the outer end of the tube. Tube 12 is attached to the other end of elastic element 13 protruding from the tube 14. The constructional version described above is one of the possible embodiments of the elastic console attachment of the armature 11. The end of the tube 14 is inserted into that of the tube 12, with a gap sufficient for the rotation of the armature 11 being left between the tube ends. The required gap is provided by a correct selection of the inner and outside diameters of the tubes 12 and 14 and their relative arrangement. Elastic element 13 is clamped at the points of its projection from tubes 12 and 14 and centered within the tubes by stops 17 and 18. A clearance sufficient for the bending of the elastic element 13 is provided between the inner Walls of the tubes 12 and 14.

In cases when the string 13 serves as elastic element 13 (see FIG. 4), grooves 19'are provided in the ends of stops 18 for ensuring a proper coaxial alignment of the string 13 within the tubes 12 and 14.

The above-described construction can be employed in different types of relays for providing an elastic attachment of the relay armature and transmitting the motion of the latter to the contact springs.

The armature attachment proposed herein will further be described by Way of example as applied for providing a moving contact system of the relay, with the construction of this system being illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

Contact spring 20 together with a subspring 21 and support plate 22 is secured to the outer surface of the tube 12 which, in turn, is fixed to the armature -11 by means of the insulator 15. Elastic element 13 is fixed inside the tube 12 and also serves for supplying current to the contact spring 20 connected electrically with the tube 14, with the latter being fastened to the base 10 of the relay by means of the insulator 16.

The contact system described above can be usedin neutral and polarized relays. In cases when the relay is provided with two and more groups of contact springs, the latter are arranged on the armature so that the elastic elements are aligned (along, for example, line y-y shown in FIG. 8).

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a polarized relay, in which the contact springs are changed over by the armature fixed to an elastic element. The relay is equipped with coils 5 and 6 mounted on the strip 8 secured by the support 9 to the base 10. Armature 11 is suspended from the base 10 at two points by means of the elastic element I13 held in the tubes 12 and 14 with being secured rigidly to the base 10. When the coils 5 or 6 are energized, armature 11 turns about an axis passing approximately through the points at which the elastic element 13 projects from the tube 14. Armature 11 is provided with pushers 23 that ooact with moving contact springs 24 and make or break the same with fixed contacts 25 and 26 mounted on terminal pins 27. Permanent magnet 28 positioned between the coils 5 and 6 interlocks the armature 11 near the coil cores after the relay has operated.

FIG. 11 illustrates a neutral electromagnetic relay provided with the armature and contact system shown in FIG. 6.

The relay winding being deenergized, the armature 1 1 is pressed against a fixed stop 30 by a restoring spring 2.9. In this case, contacts 31 and 32 are closed, and contacts 33 and 34 are opened. When the relay winding is energized, the armature 11 is attracted to core 35, thus opening the contacts 31 and 32 and simultaneously closing contacts 33 and 34.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a stationary part provided with a base carrying the electromagnetic system; fixed contacts mounted on said base; at least one torsional elastic element having a console attachment with said stationary part; a. moving part incorporating an armature attached to the end of said elastic element; the abovementioned armature having stops that come in contact with the elastic element near the point of its attachment to said stationary part of the relay, the center of gravity of the above-mentioned armature and its components being positioned near the point of contact of said stops with the above-mentioned elastic element.

2. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a stationary part provided with a base carrying the electromagnetic system; fixed contacts mounted on said base; at least one torsional elastic element having a console attachment with said stationary part; a moving part incorporating an armature attached to the end of said elastic element; said armature having stops that come in contact with the elastic element near the point of its attachment to said stationary part of the relay, the center of gravity of said armature and its components being positioned near the point of contact of said stops with the above-mentioned elastic element; tubes housing the aforesaid elastic element and arranged one inside another with a gap therebetween, one of the tubes being secured to said armature, whereas the second tube is fixed to said stationary part of the relay, and said stops being arranged between said elastic element and tubes.

3. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2, wherein the tube attached together with the armature to the elastic element carries contact springs, with said elastic element serving also for supplying current to said contact springs.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,259 8/1952 Huetten 200l66 2,772,327 11/1956 Olsson .335--271 2,955,174 10/1960 Richert 335- 3,284,742 11/1966 Pettit 335-493 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. BROOME, Assistant Examiner.

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