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US 4,788,516 AGranted
Enclosed electromagnetic relay
AssigneeBeta Mfg. Co.
InventorJack B. Meister
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Relay comprising an electromagnetic coil wound an an insulating bobbin, the central cavity of which encloses a central spring-biased contact actuated by a magnetic armature in response to energization of the coil, to make or break contact with one or more fixed contacts also enclosed. A U-shaped member and heel plate, both of highly magnetically permeable material, surround the coil and complete the magnetic circuit for flux generated by the coil. In one modification a permanent magnet interposed into the cavity aids or repulses the flux generated by the electromagnet, depending on their respective directions. In accordance with another modification the bobbin and the enclosing coil are elongated to include a plurality of sets of contacts which are being simultaneously actuated.
Claims13
An electromagnetic relay comprising in combination:
- a bobbin of insulating material comprising a hollow spool sandwiched between a pair of end flanges, said spool and said end flanges defining a cavity centered along the principal axis of said spool;
- a coil of electrically conducting wire wound around said spool and forming therewith an electromagnet constructed, upon energization of said coil, to generate a stream of magnetic flux in said cavity directed along said axis;
- at least one fixed electrical contact rigidly attached to an inner wall of said cavity;
- at least one movable contact;
- means for suspending said movable contact in said cavity, adjacent to said fixed contact;
- a magnetically actuable armature connected to said last-named means, and responsive to the flow of flux in said cavity to move said movable contact from a first position in open relation to said fixed contact, to a second position in closed relation with said fixed contact;
- means comprising a magnetically permeable enclosure surrounding opposite sides of said coil externally for completing the magnetic circuit for said flux, wherein said magnetically permeable enclosure is electrically connected to said means for suspending said movable contact, and is magnetically connected to provide a magnetic flux path to said armature;
- and
- said movable contact comprising spring-biasing means anchored to said magnetically permeable enclosure.
6 more elements
An electromagnet relay comprising in combination:
- a bobbin of insulating material comprising a central spool sandwiched between a pair of end flanges, and said bobbin having a cavity closed at one end, being centered along the principal axis of the spool, said spool being wound with an electromagnetic coil;
- at least one pair of contacts, comprising one normally-open contact and one normally-closed contact, are disposed respectively, at diametrically opposite positions in directions substantially parallel to the principal axis of said spool;
- a magnetic flux return path comprising a U-shaped metal strap interposed over the end-flange opposite the closed end of said cavity, and a heel plate secured to the open end of said U-shaped metal strap, said heel plate having a central opening which is constructed to accommodate the closed end of said cavity;
- at least one common contact interposed into said cavity and supported by a leaf-spring arm to remain in engagement with said normally-closed contact under the bias of said leaf-spring;
- an armature of magnetic material attached to said leaf-spring arm above said common contact and responsive to energization of said coil to move said common contact against said bias, to engage said normally-open contact;
- the upper end of said leaf-spring arm of said common contact being secured to the underside of said U-shaped metal strap, being held in contact with the upper one of said end flanges;
- said U-shaped metal strap having an opening centered in its zenith portion for accommodating and contacting the upper end of said armature;
- said electromagnetic coil having a pair of external power terminals connected to its opposite ends;
- each said normally-open and normally-closed contacts being connected to a separate external terminal;
- and
- said common contact being connected electrically to an external terminal depending from the open end of said U-shaped metallic strap.
8 more elements
An electromagnet relay comprising in combination:
- A bobbin of insulating material comprising a central spool elongated in a direction transverse to the principal axis of said spool, said spool sandwiched between a pair of end flanges, and said bobbin having a cavity closed at one end, being centered along the principal axis of the spool and elongated in a direction transverse to the axis of said spool, said spool being wound with an electromagnetic coil;
- a plurality of pairs of normally-open and normally-closed contacts, spaced-apart along the length of said cavity in a direction transverse to the principal axis of said spool, the members of each of said pairs being respectively disposed at diametrically opposite positions on opposite walls of said cavity;
- a magnetic flux return path comprising a U-shaped metal strap interposed over the end-flange opposite the closed end of said cavity, and a heel plate secured to the open end of said U-shaped metal strap, said heel plate having a central opening which is constructed to accommodate the closed end of said cavity;
- a plurality of common contacts interposed into said cavity in spaced-apart relation along the length of said cavity, and each respectively supported by a leaf-spring arm to remain in engagement with a respective one of said normally-closed contacts under the bias of its respective leaf-spring;
- an armature of magnetic material attached to each of said leaf-spring arms above said respective common contact, and responsive to energization of said coil to move each of said common contacts against said bias, to engage a respective one of said normally-open contacts;
- the upper end of each of said leaf-spring arms of said common contacts being secured to the underside of said U-shaped metal strap, being held in contact with the upper one of said end flanges;
- said U-shaped metal strap having an opening centered in its zenith portion for accommodating and contacting the upper end of said of said armatures;
- said electromagnetic coil having a pair of external power terminals connected to its opposite ends;
- each of said normally-open and normally-closed contacts being connected to a separate external terminal;
- and
- said common contacts being connected electrically to an external terminal.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.