US 4,055,888 AGranted

Process for making reed switches

AssigneeMorex, Inc.

InventorsVaughan Morrill, Jr., Stanley F. Jackes

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Abstract

Reed switches, contact sections of the reed of which bear with a predetermined positive force against inside surfaces of an elongated envelope, are made by forming combs, each including a header web and, integral with the web and projecting therefrom, a plurality of reed elements. The reed elements are parallel with one another and spaced from one another along the web. A plurality of elongated glass envelopes are mounted in a fixture, parallel with one another and spaced the same centerline-to-centerline distance as the reed elements. The reed elements of a first comb are inserted into one end of the envelopes and the reed elements of a second comb into the other end of the envelopes until the inner ends of the opposite reeds are in the desired positions lengthwise with respect to one another. The free inner end of each of the reed elements of the first comb is then forced against the inner wall of an envelope in one direction with a predetermined positive pressure; the free inner end of each of the reed elements of the second comb is similarly forced against the inner wall of the envelope in the opposite direction, and while the pressures are maintained, the reed elements are fused into the envelopes. The envelopes are preferably so made that only a broad outer surface of reed elements of rectangular cross section bears against the envelope at the contact end.

Claims9

Dependent claims

The process of making reed switches comprising forming combs each including a header web and, integral with said web and projecting therefrom, a plurality of reed elements, said reed elements being parallel with one another and spaced from one another along said web;

forming a plurality of elongated glass envelope tubes, each with two, opposite, open ends;
mounting said plurality of glass tubes parallel with one another and spaced the same centerline-to-centerline distance as said reed elements, in a fixture;
inserting reed elements of a first comb into one end of said tubes and inserting reed elements of a second comb into the other end of said tubes, until the inner ends of said opposite reeds are in the desired lengthwise positions with respect to one another and forcing the reed elements of said first comb at their free inner end against the inner wall of said tubes in one direction, so that each said reed element exerts a positive pressure against said tube wall and forcing the reed elements of said second comb at their free inner end against the inner wall of the tubes in the opposite direction from the said reed elements of said first comb, so that each said reed element exerts a positive pressure against said tube wall;
while maintaining said relative positions and positive pressures, heating selected sealing areas of said tubes and fusing said reed elements into said tubes, to form sealed envelopes, in an area outboard of said inner end of said reed elements, and cooling the sealing areas of said envelopes, freezing said reed elements in said relative positions and with said positive pressures, and thereafter separating said reed elements from said webs.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.