Hybrid relay
AssigneeZonit Structured Solutions, LLC
InventorsSteve Chapel, William Pachoud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A relay (1) includes a motor (20) and a primary electrical switch assembly (132). Primary electrical switching attachment points (113) are switched by a moveable switching link (101) which is moved in and out of the switch on an switched off position axially by the motor (20) in response to electrical signals delivered to the coil (26) via the flexible leads (32, 33). The switching link (101) includes a mercury reservoir (119). A piezoelectric disk bender (105) displaces mercury to close the gaps between the attachment points (113).
Claims17
A switching or relay apparatus, comprising:
- first and second electrical contacts, wherein said first and second electrical contacts are physically separated by a gap having a distance;
- and
- an electrically conductive fluid system, operative independent of movement of said first and second electrical contacts, for disposing a conductive fluid between said first and second electrical contacts to fill said gap and complete an electrical circuit and withdrawing a sufficient volume of said conductive fluid from between said first and second electrical contacts to evacuate said gap and interrupt said electrical circuit.
A method for operating a switching or relay apparatus, comprising:
- completing an electrical circuit by disposing a conductive fluid between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein said first and second electrical contacts are physically separated by a gap having a distance;
- and
- interrupting said electrical circuit by withdrawing a sufficient volume of said conductive fluid from between said first and second electrical contacts;
- wherein at least one of said completing step and said interrupting step is synchronized with a zero voltage crossing in an alternating current cycle in said electrical circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.