Soft start time delay relay

Abstract

An electrically driven device with a soft start includes an electric motor, a motor driven element operatively connected to the motor, and a power switch. A time delay relay is electrically connected to the motor and the power switch. The time delay relay is configured to provide a mechanically controlled time delay to soft start the motor. The time delay relay includes a coil having a longitudinal axis therethrough, and an armature proximate an end of the coil that is movable between energized and de-energized positions. A tube is positioned within the coil and has a longitudinal axis that is substantially coincident with the axis of the coil. A metallic core disposed within the tube is movable along the axis of the tube in response to a magnetic field in the coil to induce movement of the armature to the energized position after a time delay. The time delay is mechanically determined and substantially corresponds to an in-rush current time for the motor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.