US3588765A - Electromagnetic relays - Google Patents

Electromagnetic relays Download PDF

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Publication number
US3588765A
US3588765A US786512*A US3588765DA US3588765A US 3588765 A US3588765 A US 3588765A US 3588765D A US3588765D A US 3588765DA US 3588765 A US3588765 A US 3588765A
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United States
Prior art keywords
armature
coil
core
contact
contacts
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Expired - Lifetime
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US786512*A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ralph W Alten
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Lear Corp EEDS and Interiors
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Essex International Inc
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Assigned to UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AUTOMOTIVES, INC., A CORP. OF DE reassignment UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AUTOMOTIVES, INC., A CORP. OF DE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ESSEX GROUP, INC.
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
    • H01H50/60—Contact arrangements moving contact being rigidly combined with movable part of magnetic circuit

Definitions

  • Electromagnetic relays include a base member,
  • a second pair of leaf [56] References cued springs are provided carrying the moveable contacts, the UNITED STATES PATENTS second leaf springs being actuated by a rigid arm attached to 1,858,562 /1932 Schedlbauer 335/187 the armature and its leaf spring.
  • the contacts are located 2,467,653 4/1949 Berthier r 337/1 closely adjacent the magnetic circuit fonned by the core and 2,502,842 4/1950 Hickman 335/202 armature, the magnetic flux at the contacts being substantially 2,839,632 6/1958 Varichon 335/195 increased to effect magnetic blowout at the contacts.
  • Prior electromagnetic relays are constructed of a plurality of elements which are generally not interchangeable between relays having varying operating characteristics. For example, if the relay is designed to be normally open, its base plate and contact construction are generally not interchangeable with a relay which is designed to be normally closed. Also in prior relays, where the magnetic circuit is constructed entirely of flat sheet metal stampings, such relays have to be preadjusted or precalibrated and are not adjustable after their final assembly is completed. Moreover, the construction of the prior relays generally renders it difficult, if not impossible, to rapidly and easily remove the installed coil and replace the coil with another coil.
  • An electromagnetic relay constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention is capable of substantially complete interchangeability of its elements between relays having other operating characteristics. Also, in general, even though the magnetic circuits of my electromagnetic relays are formed of flat sheet metal stampings, they need not be precalibrated but may be calibrated shortly before use and after they have been completely assembled. Moreover, the relays incorporating the principles of my invention may be easily adapted to operate at either a relatively low or a high release voltage. The relays of my invention are constructed to allow easy removal and replacement of the coil with a new coil of either the same capacity or a different capacity.
  • the relay of my invention may be substantially smaller in size than a comparable prior relay of substantially the same load rating and the contacts are located closely spaced from the magnetic circuit affording the realization of magnetic blowout at the contacts without the necessity of providing a separate additional blowout construction.
  • the cost and size of the relay is substantially reduced and the electrical life is substantially increased to the point where it may well exceed the nonnal mechanical life of the relay.
  • Contact means are moveable into and out of engagement in response to the magnetic condition of the core and are positioned sufiiciently close to the magnetic circuit such that the magnetic flux of the circuit produces a magnetic blowout effect at the contact means.
  • FIG. I is an exploded isometric view of one preferred embodiment of electromagnetic relay constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the relay of FIG. I with the cover removed;
  • H6. 3 is a substantially cross sectioned elevation view of the relay taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation view of a relay showing a second arrangement of fixed and moveable contacts
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a relay showing a second arrangement of coil conductor connections
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectioned elevation view of another relay embodiment
  • FIG. 7 is a plan view of a double contact embodiment of electromagnetic relay; and I FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectioned elevation view of the double relay taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 with the coil removed.
  • the relay comprises a generally rectangular base member if) having a pair of elongated recesses 12 and 13 arranged substantially perpendicular to each other in one of the faces 14 of the base member.
  • a flexible leaf spring 16 extends longitudinally along the longer of the recesses 12 and is fixed at one end 18 by pin terminal 20.
  • a bent core 22, formed of a stamped magnetizable metallic material, is also attached at one end 23 in the recess 12 and extends upwardly above the face of the base member terminating in a flat portion 24 extending parallel to the face 14.
  • the raised portion 24 of the core 22 carries coil 26 having a plurality of turns of electrically conductive wire.
  • the coil 26 is inserted over the end of the raised portion 24 and the end leads 27 and 28 of the wire turns are attached to terminal lugs 30 and 31 which are mounted on the face 14 of the base member by rivet pin terminals 33 and 34, respectively.
  • An L- shaped armature 36 having a leg 37 staked to the leaf spring 16 by one or more rivet-type stakes 38, completes the magnetic circuit and extends along the recess l2 beneath the raised portion 24 of the core and the coil 26.
  • the other leg 40 of the armature 36 extends upwardly toward the end of the raised portion 24 of the core and is adapted to be attracted to the core in response to the current flow condition through the coil 26.
  • Both the core 22 and the armature 36 are stamped of a magnetizable material, such as ferrous metal.
  • Recess 13 extends generally perpendicular to the recess 12 and a shallow depth shoulder 42 is provided in the recess 12, the deeper portion 43 of recess 13 being generally aligned with the longer recess 12.
  • a bent rigid arm 44 formed of stamped metal, is riveted at one end to the shoulder 42 by pin terminal 46, and the other end of the arm carries a downward facing stationary contact 48 which is positioned closely adjacent the magnetic circuit formed by the armature and core.
  • the end of the leaf spring 16, opposite its attached end 18, also carries a contact 50 which faces in an upward direction also closely adjacent the magnetic circuit and is adapted to move with the leaf spring to engage the stationary contact 48.
  • a suitable cover 51 is provided to fit over the relay assembly to protect the assembly from dirt and other foreign matter.
  • the electromagnetic relay of FIGS. ll3 is of the single pole normally open-type where only a single stationary contact 48 is disposed above the moveable contact 50. In such relay when no current flows through the coil 26, the core 22 is demagnetized and the armature 36 is not attracted to the core.
  • the resiliency of the leaf spring 16 causes the leaf spring to move downwardly, breaking the engagement of its moveable contact 50 with the stationary contact 48.
  • the electromagnetic flux field produced by the current flow magnetizes the core 22. Since the armature 36 is constructed of a magnetizable material, it will be attracted by the core 22 due to the flux field which bridges the gap between the raised portion 24 of the core and the upwardly extending leg 40 of the armature and will move in an upward direction as viewed in FIG. 3.
  • the leaf spring 16 will also move in an upward direction since the leaf spring is staked at 38 to the armature.
  • the moveable contact 50 will now engage the stationary contact 48 and a circuit will be completed through the pin terminal 20, leaf spring 16,-moveable contact 50, stationary contact 48, rigid contact arm 44 and pin terminal 46.
  • the relay of FIGS. l3 may be adapted to provide a single pole double throw relay, if desired, by providing another pin terminal 47 as shown in FIG. 3.
  • Terminal 47 carries a stationary contact 48' at its end in recess 43 and closely positioned adjacent the magnetic circuit, the stationary contact being arranged to contact a downwardly extending moveable contact 50'.
  • the contacts 48' and 50 will contact each other establishing a circuit through terminal 47 and when the spring 16 is disposed in its uppermost position, the contacts 48 and 50' will be broken and the contacts 43 and 50 will contact each other establishing a circuit through terminal 46.
  • the rigid contact arm 44 need only be inverted, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. Another relay arrangement is shown in FIG. wherein one of the coil leads ends 28, rather than being connected to a separate terminal, as shown in FIGS. l-3, is connected to a terminal lug 52 which is an integral bent portion of the leaf spring 16, as best seen in FIG. 3.
  • the current flow through the coil is controlled merely by opening and closing the circuit through the pin terminal 33, which is connected to other lead end 27 of the coil 26; Therefore, in this arrangement the main current enters pin terminal 2t), and if a circuit is completed through lead end 27 of the coil circuit, a portion of the main current passes through the coil 26, magnetizing its core and attracting the magnetizable armature 36 either engaging the moveable contact 50 and stationary contact 48 if the contacts are arranged as shown in FIG. 3, or disengaging the contacts if the contacts are arranged as shown in FIG. 4.
  • a normally closed latching relay may also be provided if desired.
  • the core 22 is a permanent magnet
  • the moveable contact will normally assume a closed position with the upper fixed contact. Therefore, when no current flows through the coil 26, the permanent magnet core 22 will attract the armature 36, moving the leaf spring 16 and its associated moveable contact 5t) into engagement with the stationary contact 48.
  • current is passed through the coil 26 such that the electromagnetic flux produced by the. flowing current will counteract the the magnetism of the permanent magnet core 22, demagnetizing the core.
  • the armature 36 and leaf spring 16 will no longer be attracted toward the core 22, and the resiliency of the leaf spring 16 will cause the moveable contact 50 to move downwardlyv out of engagement with the stationary contact 58.
  • the magnetic circuit is formed entirely of stamped forms, the arrangement and construction of the relays will allow adjustment of the contacts subsequent to the complete assembly of the relay, thus avoiding the need for preadjustment or precalibration of the relay. Since the leaf spring 16 is relatively flexible as compared to the rigid stamped elements, the contacts may be easily adjusted simply by bending the end of the leaf spring 16 carrying the moveable contact 50 toward or away from the stationary contact 48.
  • a preadjusted electromagnetic relay is shown mounted on base member 53.
  • the leaf spring 54 does not extend beyond the armature 36 as in the previous relays, but terminates short of leg 40 of the armature.
  • the armature 36 and leaf spring 54 extend in a recess 55.
  • the armature 36 itself provides a portion of the main circuit and carries the moveable contact 50 on the upper face of its staked leg 37; the stationary contact 48 being carried by a resilient spring arm 45 extending above the moveable contact 50 and closely adjacent the magnetic circuit.
  • the armature 36 is attracted upwardly toward the core 22, closing the moveable contact 50 and stationary contact 418.
  • the main current then flows through terminal 20 (see FIG. 2), leaf spring 54, armature 36, moveable contact 50, stationary contact 48, resilient spring arm45 and on through the pin terminal 46 (again see FIG. 2).
  • the recess 13 may be dispensed with or may be provided to house the resilient arm 45.
  • a double pole electromagnetic relay is shown.
  • a large recess 56 extends over the face 57 of base member 58.
  • a leaf spring 60, staked to the armature 36 at 38, and the armature are carried in the recess 56, the leaf spring 66) being pinned at one end to the face 57 of the base member 58 by pin terminal 61.
  • Pin terminal 61 also pins the end 23 of the core 22 in the manner described previously.
  • the second terminal lug 30 for completing the circuit through coil 26, 58 is carried at the other end of the base member 58 and is pinned to its face 57 by terminal pin 33 as previously described and the lead ends 27 and 28 of the coil are connected to terminal lugs 52 and 30, respectively.
  • a pair of leaf springs 62 and 63 extend through recess 56 and straddle the armature 36 and are pinned to the base member at one end by pin terminals 65 and 66.
  • the leaf springs 62 and 63 carry the moveable contacts 50 at their other ends and closely adjacent the magnetic circuit.
  • a pair of bent rigid arms 44 also straddle the armature 36 and are attached at one end to the base member 58 by pin terminals 416 and 46', the other ends extending upwardly over the moveable contacts 50 of each of the leaf springs 62 and 63, and each carrying a stationary contact 45 lying in the path of movement of the moveable con tacts.
  • the leaf spring 60 is bent underneath itself at 68 for firmly mounting a rigid nonconductive bar 70 which extends laterally beneath the leaf springs 62 and 63.
  • the armature 36 is staked to the leaf spring 60 at 38 as in the previously described relays, and one of the stakes 38 may also act to stake the bent portion 68.
  • a first circuit is established through pin terminal 65, leaf spring 62, one of the moveable contacts 50, one of the stationary contacts 48, one of the rigid arms 44 and pin terminal 46.
  • a second circuit is established through pin terminal 66, leaf spring 63, the other moveable contact 50, the other stationary contact 48, the other rigid arm 44 and pin terminal 46.
  • the double pole relay shown in those FIGS. may also be rendered double throw by providing additional pin terminals and stationary and moveable contacts as previously described with respect to the terminals 47 and contacts 48' and 50 of FIG. 3.
  • the release voltage of the relays may be increased or decreased by varying the number of rivetlilte stakes 38 which stake the rigid armature 36 to its respective resilient leaf spring. It has been found that if leg 37 of the armature is staked to its leaf spring at only one point, a very low release voltage is sufficient to actuate the relay. Alternatively, if the armature 36 is staked at two or more points to the leaf spring, the release voltage necessary to operate the relay is correspondingly increased.
  • the lead ends 27 and 28 are disconnected from their terminal lugs and the raised portion 24 of the core 22 need only be bent upward by an amount sufficient to slip the coil 26 off the core past the leg 40 of the armature 36.
  • the coil 26 may be readily slipped from the core 22 since the end of the core is straight. A new coil may then be slid onto the core and the raised portion 24 of the core is then bent back to its original position and the lead ends reconnected.
  • the construction and arrangement of the various component elements of the relays enables the miniaturization of the relays, thus enabling the relays to be of substantially smaller size than the prior known relays of substantially the same load rating.
  • such construction enables the location of the contacts sufficiently close to the magnetic circuit formed by the core, coil, annature and the gap therebetween to increase the flux density in the vicinity of the contacts by an amount sufficient to realize a magnetic blowout effect on the. contacts. It has been found that the flux density at the contacts of the above described relays may be increased by as much as six times that of prior relays having the same electrical load.
  • the substantial increase of flux density provides a sufficient flux across the contact surfaces to provide a magnetic blowout effect by purging the space obtaining between the contact surfaces duringopening of arc conducting metal vapors.
  • the increased flux density thus acts to prevent arcing and spurs or spikes from forming on the contact surfaces and substantially increases the electrical life of the relays without requiring the provision of additional separate magnets or coils to produce magnetic blowout. ln fact an increase in life expectancy of more than twelve times that of the prior relays under substantially the same conditions has been realized by the above described relays.
  • the relay constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention may include a plurality of elements which are completely interchangeable with relays having varying operating characteristics.
  • the recessed plate 10 may be used interchangeably for either a normally open or a normally closed relay, for a relay utilizing either the main current or a separate source of current for energizing the coil 26 or for single or double throw relays.
  • This interchangeability also obtains with respect to' the leaf springs 16 or 62 and 63, annature 36, coil 26 and core 22, or the rigid stationary contact carrying arm 44.
  • the entire magnetic circuit may be formed of metal stampings and the relay will still be capable of adjustment even after complete assembly.
  • the'release voltage of the above described relays may be simply determined by the staking arrangement of the armatures 36 to their leaf springs.
  • An electromagnetic relay comprising:
  • a magnetic circuit comprising a magnetizable metallic core having a coil of conductive wire wound thereon for establishing a magnetic flux field which selectively alters the magnetic condition of said core, and a magnetically responsive armature having an end normally spaced from said core, said end being moveable relative to said core in response to energization and deenergization of said core;
  • contact means moveable into and out of engagement in response to the movement of said armature,'said contact means being positionedsufficiently close to said magnetic flux field of the core such that a portion of the magnetic flux field sufficient to produce a magnetic blowout effect at said contact means traverses said contact means when said contact means is moving into and out of engagement;
  • conductive means for conducting electrical current to said contact means and to said coil.
  • a nonconductive base member having at least one face defining a recess therein, said magnetizable metallic core comprising a flat portion upon which said coil of conductive wire is positioned and a portion bent at a substantial angle to said flat portion at one end thereof, said core being attached to said face at said bent portion,.said flat portion being substantially linear between said one end and its other end and being spaced from said face, whereby said coil is suspended above said face;
  • said contact means comprises a moveable contact operatively associated with said armature to move in the direction of movement of said armature;
  • the relay of claim,4 including second and third leaf springs and a second arm carrying a second stationary contact, each of said second and third leaf springs being attached at one of their ends to said face and carrying at their other ends said moveable contact and a second moveable contact, respectively, and rigid means engaging each of said second and third leaf springs to move said moveable contacts in the direction of movement of said armature,
  • said face of said base member includes a second recess extending substantially normal to the first recess, said arm being attached within the first recess and said armature and leaf spring being located in said second recess.
  • An electromagnetic relay comprising:
  • a core formed of magnetizable material and having a substantially planar leg terminating in a free end;

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
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US786512*A 1968-05-13 1968-08-19 Electromagnetic relays Expired - Lifetime US3588765A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72847768A 1968-05-13 1968-05-13
US78651268A 1968-08-19 1968-08-19

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US3588765A true US3588765A (en) 1971-06-28

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US786512*A Expired - Lifetime US3588765A (en) 1968-05-13 1968-08-19 Electromagnetic relays

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US (1) US3588765A (de)
JP (1) JPS4914293B1 (de)
DE (1) DE1908892A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2008341A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1202517A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3781729A (en) * 1972-09-25 1973-12-25 Trw Inc Inverted low loss relay structure
DE2344365A1 (de) * 1973-09-03 1975-03-27 Elmeg Elektromagnetisches relais
US3893194A (en) * 1973-06-08 1975-07-01 Trw Inc Simple relay structure
US3979705A (en) * 1974-05-13 1976-09-07 Trw Inc. Automotive relay of the hold-in type
US4684909A (en) * 1985-03-26 1987-08-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electromagnetic relay
EP1772884A3 (de) * 2005-10-05 2008-07-16 Nec Tokin Corporation Elektromagnetisches Relais

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3781729A (en) * 1972-09-25 1973-12-25 Trw Inc Inverted low loss relay structure
US3893194A (en) * 1973-06-08 1975-07-01 Trw Inc Simple relay structure
DE2344365A1 (de) * 1973-09-03 1975-03-27 Elmeg Elektromagnetisches relais
US3979705A (en) * 1974-05-13 1976-09-07 Trw Inc. Automotive relay of the hold-in type
US4684909A (en) * 1985-03-26 1987-08-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electromagnetic relay
EP1772884A3 (de) * 2005-10-05 2008-07-16 Nec Tokin Corporation Elektromagnetisches Relais

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Publication number Publication date
GB1202517A (en) 1970-08-19
FR2008341A1 (de) 1970-01-23
DE1908892A1 (de) 1969-12-11
JPS4914293B1 (de) 1974-04-06

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Owner name: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AUTOMOTIVES, INC., A CORP. OF

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ESSEX GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004933/0578

Effective date: 19880223