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AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsCarmen P. Germano, John M. Davenport
Estimating the term…
An alternating current latching relay is provided which employs a latching-type, mechanically operated snap-action switch mechanism with a set of electric contacts that are selectively latched either in the open or closed condition in a snap-action manner upon successive actuations of the snap-action mechanism by suitable push rod means for initiating its operation. At least one alternating current excited bender-type piezoelectric drive member has one end secured to a common base member with the latching-type snap-action switch mechanism and the remaining free end engaging the push rod means. An alternating current electric excitation signal is directly applied to the piezoelectric plate elements of the bender-type drive member for mechanically vibrating the bender-type drive member in a manner such that its amplitude of vibration quickly builds up to a value where it repeatedly strikes the push rod means with sufficient force to selectively actuate the snap-action switch mechanism to the opposite one of its two operating conditions from that in which it originally was set. A tuning mass in the form of a slug element is secured to the end of the bender-type drive member to reduce the natural resonant frequency of vibration of the bender-type drive member to substantially the frequency of the alternating current excitation signal to thereby increase the amplitude of its vibrations to a maximum. Additionally, the tuning mass increases the impulse delivered by the bender-type drive member to the push rod for actuating the snap-action mechanism.
An alternating current latching relay including in combination at least one electrically actuated piezoelectric drive member, a latching type snap-action switch mechanism having a set of electrical contacts that are selectively latched either in the open or the closed condition in a snap-action manner upon successive actuations of the switch mechanism, operating push rod means for actuating the snap-action switch mechanism and engageable by the free end of the piezoelectric drive member whereby movement of the piezoelectric drive member selectively operates the snap-action switch mechanism, and selectively operable alternating current electric excitation circuit means connected to said piezoelectric drive member for selectively electrically exciting the piezoelectric element thereof with an alternating current electric excitation field whereby the piezoelectric drive member is caused to mechanically resonate and to repeatedly strike the engageable end of the push rod means with sufficient force to selectively actuate the snap-action switch mechanism to the opposite one of its two operating conditions from that in which it had been initially set.
In an alternating current latching relay of the type having a latching-type snap-action switch mechanism with a set of electrical contacts that are selectively latched either in the open or the closed condition in a snap-action manner upon successive actuations of the snap-action switching mechanism by push rod means for initiating actuation of the snap-action switch mechanism;
The method of actuating an alternating current latching relay of the type having a latching-type snap-action switch mechanism including a set of electrical contacts that are selectively latched either in the open or the closed condition in a snap-action manner upon successive actuations of the snap-action switching mechanism by push rod means for initiating actuation of the snap-action switch mechanism, said relay further including at least one electrically actuated piezoelectric drive member having one end secured to a common base member with the latching-type snap-action switch mechanism and the remaining free end engaging the push rod means;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.