US2545669A - Impulse current relay - Google Patents
Impulse current relay Download PDFInfo
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- US2545669A US2545669A US648786A US64878646A US2545669A US 2545669 A US2545669 A US 2545669A US 648786 A US648786 A US 648786A US 64878646 A US64878646 A US 64878646A US 2545669 A US2545669 A US 2545669A
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- armature
- relay
- glass vessel
- contact
- contacts
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H29/00—Switches having at least one liquid contact
- H01H29/16—Switches having at least one liquid contact operated by dipping soil contact into stationary contact liquid
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
- H01H50/64—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact
- H01H50/72—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact for mercury contact
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
- H01H51/28—Relays having both armature and contacts within a sealed casing outside which the operating coil is located, e.g. contact carried by a magnetic leaf spring or reed
Definitions
- the present invention refers to an impulse current relay provided with. an electromagnet adapted to be connected into an impulse circuit and with an electromagnet armature adapted to be adjusted into various positions.
- the electromagnet is so arranged that the armature is displaced from one position into another consequent to a current impulse through the electromagnet. This involves rather a great power consumption, inasmuch as the attractive force of the electromagnet will have to be utilized for the displacement of the armature over at least the major portion of its path of movement. For the purpose of reducing the distance between the magnet poles and the two.
- the armature would be made to the shape of a rod while being arranged to be displaced in the axial direction, which would involve the drawback among others that the armature could be hurled through an unintentional shortening of the duration of the current impulse as a projectile against the wall of the glass vessel, without being impeded by the electromagnet. Consequently, there is a rick of fatiguing of the glass wall and shattering of the same.
- the invention obviates the above mentioned drawbacks substantially by the fact that the armature or a portion thereof is constituted by a plate-like body which is adapted to be displaced by the electromagnet through a tipping movement from the position of rest into a position whence it returns by its own weight into the position of rest.
- Fig. 1 shows a relay in elevation.
- Fig. 2 is an endwise View of the same relay.
- Figs. 3 and 4 are endwise views of the glass vessel of the same relay provided with an armature of a modified construction in two different working positions.
- Fig. 5 is an elevation of a further embodiment of the relay.
- Fig. 6 shows the same relay with its armature in another working position.
- Fig. 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.
- Fig. 8 is an elevation and Fig. 9 a plan view of a third embodiment.
- Fig. 10 is an elevation of a relay adapted to be used as an optical signalling device.
- Fig. 11 shows a cross section on line ll-H in Fig. 10.
- Fig. 12 is an elevation of a relay arranged as a glow lamp, the same being likewise intended for signalling purposes.
- Figs. 13-22 show embodiments, wherein the armature is sleeve-shaped and composed of two or more plate-like bodies.
- Fig. 13 is an endwise view of similar relay, which is shown in elevation in Fig. 14.
- Fig. 15 is an endwise view of a modification of the relay shown in Fig. 1.3.
- Fig. 16 is an endwise View of a further embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 17 is an elevational view of the relay of Fig. 16.
- Fig. 18 shows the armature of this relay developedv in a plane.
- Figs. 19-21 illustrate a further form of embodiment in the same manner as Figs. 16-18.
- Fig. 22 is a plan view of the same embodiment.
- the relay is provided with a substantially cylindrical glass vessel closed in a gas tight manner and intended to be mounted with its axis extending horizontally.
- the glass vessel preferably contains an inert or neutral gas to prevent oxidation at the break points of the relay.
- Bottom contacts adapted to be connected into a working circuit are melted into the vessel or into portions of a spherical or otherwise enlarged shape connected to the end portions of the vessel.
- the armature constitutes a connecting member cooperating with said inserted. bottom contacts, which in most of the embodiments are enclosed by mercury drops contacting with the armature or contact members connected thereto in some of the positions of rest of the armature.
- the relay according to Figs. 1 and 2 is pro,- Vided with a cylindrical glass vessel I. Melted into two cup-shaped depressions on the bottom wall of the glass vessel are .two contacts 2 and 3 for a working circuit, said contacts being each enclosed by a mercury drop 4 and 5 respectively, said drops being arranged in the depressions.
- An armature 6 formed to the shape of an oblong plate rests on the two mercury drops serving as contact members, so that the bottom contacts 2 and 3 are electrically connected with each other.
- the upper side of the armature is coated with an electrically insulating layer 7.
- the armature may be rotated about its longitudinal axis or may be turned s deways with the aid of two magnet pole shoes 8 pertaining to an electromagnet 9, which is connected into an impulse current circuit and arranged outside the glass vessel 1, the pole shoes bearing on the glass vessel over a fourth of the circumference thereof, in a manner such that the lowermost portion of each pole shoe will be on a level with the axis of the cylindrical glass vessel, while the upper portion of the pole shoe i located at the highest point of the glass vessel.
- the electromagnet When the electromagnet is energized due to closing of the impulse current circuit, the armature is attracted so as to have stant contact with the mercury ll.
- Fig. 2 shows by chain-dotted lines two positions of the armature during said movement.
- the lower one of these positions illustrates the instant when the edge of the armature adjacent to the pole shoe is raised toward the lower por tion or" the poleshoe.
- the upper position corresponds to the final position of the movement.
- the armature Upon breaking of the impulse current circuit the armature will be released so as to fall from the latter position, with the insulated "side thereof then directed downwardly, into the position of rest shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
- the connection between the contacts 2 and 3 has thus been interrupted.
- the shifting of the armature from the one position to the other may take place by a very short current impulse through the electromagnet.
- Figs. 3 and 4 show the same glass vessel as' Figs. 1 and 2 and provided with an armature Ill according to a modified construction.
- the armature has no insulating layer and is instead formed with longitudinally extending bent edges ll, which are directed upwardly in Fig. 3.
- the plane portion of the armature bears on the mercury drops so as to establish contact between the contacts 2 and 3 of the working circuit.
- the armature H! has been rotated in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, so that the edge portions ii are directed downwardly so as to rest on the wall of the glass vessel, thus causing the plane portion of the armature to be at some distance from the mercury drops.
- This position consequently is that in which the control circuit is broken at the relay.
- the embodiment of the glass vessel shovF-rl in Figs. 5-7 corresponds to the form of embodiment described above by the fact that a cylindrical portion I2 is arranged to cooperate with an electromagnet of the above-mentioned type.
- a bottom contact [3 is in electrical connection with a mercury band M extending along the bottom portion of the glass vessel; said mercury band carry ing a flat armature l5.
- This armature may have a shifting movement imparted thereto in the same manner as the armature 6 according to Figs. 1 and 2.
- the armature i5 is provided with an angularly bent contact arm IS, which in the position of the armature shown in Fig.
- the armature may be provided with widely difiering arrangements of contact arms or contact horns directed in the same direction or. for instance, for pole changing in different directions.
- the position of the contacts on the armature is obviously arbitrary, inasmuch as mercury contacts may be arranged anywhere within the glass vesselby the provision ofpartitions or dished depressions in the glass wall.
- the glass vessel is provided with a cylindrical middle portion 26 and with spherical end portions 25 having bottom contacts 22 melted into the same, said contacts being arranged in conductive connection each with a mercury drop.
- a flat armature 23 is provided at both end portions thereof with angle arms 24 directed in the same direction.
- the angle arms are in contact with the mercury drops in the vessel, whereas the armature 23 bears with its longitudinally extending edges on the wall of the cylindrical portion 25!. Chaindotted lines'indicate the breaking position of the contact arms 2
- the armature 23 is then on the same level as in the current-closing position.
- the glass vessel may be provided with a third contact connection, for instance on the cylindrical portion 20, the angle arms 24 being then directed in opposite directions. These arms consequently establish contact alternately, whereas the middle contact always touches the armature 23 in its position of rest.
- Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a relay intended to be used as an optical signal, the same being comprised, for instance, in an annunciator for the calling of employees.
- the glass vessel proper is constituted by a tube 25 which is closed by head members 25.
- an armature 21 formed as the armature 26 in the form of embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
- the relay has no working contacts and only functions as an optical signal-'- ling device.
- the armature is provided with inscriptions or signs adapted to be read off with the aid of an inclined mirror 28 secured between two -head members 29.
- a plurality or" relays may be included in a calling board or annunciator.
- armature Upon closing of the impulse current circuit the armature is turned sideways so that the inscription is rendered visible in the mirror, as indicated at 3E3. The signal thus remains unchanged until the next current impulse through the electromagnet.
- a modification of the signalling device described is indicated in Fig. 12.
- is formed as a glow lamp with two pole connections 32 and 33.
- a flat armature 34 is arranged and formed in the same manner as the armature 21 in the embodiment above "described, with the difference that the armature is provided at the one end thereof with an insulating strip 35 which, when the armature is turned sideways from the position shown in the figure, will bear on the contact 32 for the purpose of breaking the current through the glow lamp.
- the armature 34 forms one electrode of the glow lamp.
- the contact 33 is connected to the other electrode.
- the armature may thus be causedto glow, while an inscription on the armature may be provided by perforation or coating, so that the inscription stands out dark against a light background.
- the reading ,of the inscription may take place by means of an inclined mirror 36 arranged in a similar manner as the mirror 28 in Figs. 10 and 11.
- the relay is provided with a glass vessel ll
- a bottom contact 32 is in conductive connection with a mercury head 43.
- Another bottom contact 44 is in connection with a mercury bead 45.
- the two mercury beads are kept separated from each'other by means of an inwardly directed fold in the wall of the glass vessel, as will be. seen from Fig. 14.
- a sleeve-shaped armatureAS is suspended on a shaft Al arranged centrally, in the cylindrical glass vessel. The armaturec'onsists of two platelike parts connected along their longitudinally extending edges by means of semi-cylindrical pot.
- the distance between the plate-like parts being somewhat greater than the diameter or the shaft 41, so that the armature may be moved in a direction generally parallel to itself in the trans verse direction of the shaft.
- the upper edge of the armature in Fig. 13 is provided with an insulating layer 48.
- an electromagnet 49 with pole shoes 50 the armature may be raised into the position indicated by chaindotted lines wherein the u per edge of the armature bears on the glass Wall or is in the proximity of the latter according to the relation of the width of the armature to the distance between the shaft 4'? and the Wall.
- the pole shoes 58 of the electrcinagnet to are made from comparatively thin sheet metal and directed against the wall of the glass vessel, one at each end portion of the vessel.
- the pole shoes bear on the glass vessel along a longitudinally extending zone lo cated somewhat laterally of the vertical plane through the shaft 41. Consequently, the armature will have imparted thereto an oscillatory movement about the shaft, so that the upper edge in Fig. 131s moved in a first step, during the attraction movement, upwardly toward the pole shoes 50, said upper edge falling during a se ond step, that is upon de-energization of magnet 49, in a swinging movement down to bear on the mercury contacts 43 and 45.
- said upper edge is coated with an insulating layer 48, the armature thus establishing conductive connection between the bottom contacts and 44 only in the one position, i. e. that shown in Figs. 13 and 14.
- the armature is shown in the breaking position, in which the armature bears on the mercury contacts through the agency of the above-mentioned insulating layer 48.
- the pole shoes of the armature are formed with two tongues 52 and 53, the first one or which bears on the wall of the glass vessel in the same manner as the pole shoes 56, while the other tongue engages a fold 54 in the wall of the vessel.
- this brings about a considerable reduction of the air gap between the pole shoes and the armature, and, on the other hand, the two folds 54 form guide edges for the armature during the movement of attraction.
- the armature is composed of three instead of two plate-like parts forming an equilateral triangle in cross section.
- the glass vessel is designated by 55 and three bottom contacts by 56, 5'! and 58 respectively. The latter may be used, for instance, for pole changing.
- the tri-lateral armature is denoted by 59, and is coated externally on certain portions thereof with an insulating layer, as will appear from Fig. 18.
- the one side 65 is insulated in its entirety, whereas the next side is provided with an insulating layer 6! adapted to insulate the armature from the end contact 58.
- the remaining side is provided with an insulating layer 62 at the end of the armature cooperating with the contact 56.
- the remaining uncoated surface 53 on the intermediate side may thus establish connection between the contacts 56 and 51, the uncoated surface 54 of the third side being adapted to establish connection between the contacts 51 and 58.
- nection is dependent on the position of the'armatore.
- the metallic portion ea bears on the mercury contacts at 56 and 51, while the layer 5! insulates the armature from the contact 58.
- the armature is suspended on a shaft to, about which the same oscillates at the movement of attraction.
- the electromagnet 61 is provided with pole shoes 68 arranged in a manner previously described, that is to say so that the pole shoes embrace about a fourth of the circumference of the cylindrical glass vessel, the highest part of the pole shoes being located at the upper side of the vessel.
- the armature Upon energization of the el'ectromagnet the armature is turned with another side downwardly. After three cur--- rent impulses the armature will have returned into its initial position.
- the armature is composed of four thin plates parts forming a square in cross section.
- the glass vessel which is desig hated by so, is provided with three cup-like'portions is containing mercury, said cups being each provided with a bottom contact H.
- the arma ture is denoted by 12 and provided with certain insulated parts, as will appear from Fig. 21.
- One side is coated in its entirety with an insulating layer 13.
- One of the sides adjacent to this has an end portion 14 thereof insulated, while the remaining portion '15 is unco-ated.
- the other side adjacent to the layer i3 is insulated, as at 16, and uncoated, as at 11.
- an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, said armature having a longitudinai axis parallel to said line, means normally supporting said armature below and to oneslde of the center line of pole pieces, means for energizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to return to its support in a position angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guiding the movement of said armature during at least a portion of its traverse.
- a device characterized in that said armature is provided with differing indicia on the faces thereof whereby said device may be utilized as a changeable sign or annunciator.
- a device characterized in that the faces of said armature are provided with differing indicia and in that said indicia are displayed by utilization of a mirror mounted out of the path of the armature movement and in position to give a view of one of the faces of said armature.
- an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces the center of the faces of which are spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, said armature having a, longitudinal axis parallel to said line and offset vertically from said line, means normally supporting said armature below said pole pieces, means for energizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to return to its support in a position angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guiding said armature during at least a portion of its traverse.
- an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, said armature having a longitudinal axis parallel to said line, means normally supporting said armatur below and to one side of the center line of said pole pieces, insulatingly supported contacts engaging said armature in its rest position, means for energizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to return to its support in a position angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guiding said armature during at least a portion of its traverse, said armature being adapted to complete a circuit between said contacts when in its initial rest position and to break said circuit when in its said angularly displaced position.
- a device characterized in that the armature is laminated one lamination being electrically conductive and the other electrically insulating.
- a device characterized in that the armature is in the form of a plate the lateral edges of which are bent so that in one position the armature is held out of contact with said contacts, said edges resting on said support while in the other position the bent up edges are out of contact with said support and the armature comes into contact with said contacts.
- a device characterized in that one of said contacts is at a lower level than another and said armature is provided with a bent up end which extends toward and into contact with said lower level contact when the armature is in one of its two resting positionsand extends upwardly and away from said lower level contact when the armature is in the other of its resting positions.
- a device characterized in that said support comprises a portion of a cylindrical enclosure extending about said armature with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said armature and said guiding means comprises a portion of the wall of said enclosure.
- the supporting member comprises a portion of the wall of a cylindrical enclosure extending about said armature with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the armature, a portion of th wall of the enclosure serving also for guiding the movement of said armature and in that the said pole pieces extend about substantially a quarter of the entire circumference of the cylindrical enclosure and conform generally to the shape thereof.
- a device characterized in that the armature comprises a multi-sided member, one side of which makes contact with said contacts in any resting position of the armature and in that a guiding member is provided which extends substantially longitudinally of the enclosure and about which said multi-sided armature rotates upon energization and which serves as a guide for the following movement of the armature upon de-energization of said electromagnet.
Description
March 20, 1951 s. F. E. MEYER IMPULSE CURRENT RELAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1946 Inventor 67 07 ITf/JR/K [RH/m0 MEYER y 2 u 7? 9 5 Na 0 w 1 7 Q A- 2 March 20, 1951 s, MEYER 2,545,669
IMPULSE CURRENT RELAY Filed Feb. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 20, 1951 IMPULSE CURRENT RELAY Sven'Fred'rik Erhard Meyer, Stockhohn, Sweden Application February 19, 1946, Serial No. 648,786 In Sweden April 19, 1945 11 Claims.
The present invention refers to an impulse current relay provided with. an electromagnet adapted to be connected into an impulse circuit and with an electromagnet armature adapted to be adjusted into various positions. Ina previously known mercury relay of the type in consideration, the electromagnet is so arranged that the armature is displaced from one position into another consequent to a current impulse through the electromagnet. This involves rather a great power consumption, inasmuch as the attractive force of the electromagnet will have to be utilized for the displacement of the armature over at least the major portion of its path of movement. For the purpose of reducing the distance between the magnet poles and the two. armature positions, the armature would be made to the shape of a rod while being arranged to be displaced in the axial direction, which would involve the drawback among others that the armature could be hurled through an unintentional shortening of the duration of the current impulse as a projectile against the wall of the glass vessel, without being impeded by the electromagnet. Consequently, there is a rick of fatiguing of the glass wall and shattering of the same.
The invention obviates the above mentioned drawbacks substantially by the fact that the armature or a portion thereof is constituted by a plate-like body which is adapted to be displaced by the electromagnet through a tipping movement from the position of rest into a position whence it returns by its own weight into the position of rest.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various forms of embodiment according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a relay in elevation. Fig. 2 is an endwise View of the same relay. Figs. 3 and 4 are endwise views of the glass vessel of the same relay provided with an armature of a modified construction in two different working positions. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a further embodiment of the relay. Fig. 6 shows the same relay with its armature in another working position. Fig. 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an elevation and Fig. 9 a plan view of a third embodiment. Fig. 10 is an elevation of a relay adapted to be used as an optical signalling device. Fig. 11 shows a cross section on line ll-H in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an elevation of a relay arranged as a glow lamp, the same being likewise intended for signalling purposes. Figs. 13-22 show embodiments, wherein the armature is sleeve-shaped and composed of two or more plate-like bodies. Fig. 13 is an endwise view of similar relay, which is shown in elevation in Fig. 14. Fig. 15 is an endwise view of a modification of the relay shown in Fig. 1.3. Fig. 16 is an endwise View of a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 17 is an elevational view of the relay of Fig. 16. Fig. 18 shows the armature of this relay developedv in a plane. Figs. 19-21 illustrate a further form of embodiment in the same manner as Figs. 16-18. Fig. 22 is a plan view of the same embodiment.
In all of the embodiments, the relay is provided with a substantially cylindrical glass vessel closed in a gas tight manner and intended to be mounted with its axis extending horizontally. The glass vessel preferably contains an inert or neutral gas to prevent oxidation at the break points of the relay. Bottom contacts adapted to be connected into a working circuit are melted into the vessel or into portions of a spherical or otherwise enlarged shape connected to the end portions of the vessel. The armature constitutes a connecting member cooperating with said inserted. bottom contacts, which in most of the embodiments are enclosed by mercury drops contacting with the armature or contact members connected thereto in some of the positions of rest of the armature.
The relay according to Figs. 1 and 2 is pro,- Vided with a cylindrical glass vessel I. Melted into two cup-shaped depressions on the bottom wall of the glass vessel are .two contacts 2 and 3 for a working circuit, said contacts being each enclosed by a mercury drop 4 and 5 respectively, said drops being arranged in the depressions. An armature 6 formed to the shape of an oblong plate rests on the two mercury drops serving as contact members, so that the bottom contacts 2 and 3 are electrically connected with each other. The upper side of the armature is coated with an electrically insulating layer 7. The armature may be rotated about its longitudinal axis or may be turned s deways with the aid of two magnet pole shoes 8 pertaining to an electromagnet 9, which is connected into an impulse current circuit and arranged outside the glass vessel 1, the pole shoes bearing on the glass vessel over a fourth of the circumference thereof, in a manner such that the lowermost portion of each pole shoe will be on a level with the axis of the cylindrical glass vessel, while the upper portion of the pole shoe i located at the highest point of the glass vessel. When the electromagnet is energized due to closing of the impulse current circuit, the armature is attracted so as to have stant contact with the mercury ll.
a combined translatory and rotary movement imparted thereto by the pole shoes 8, the movement being along the cylindrical wall of the glass vessel. Fig. 2 shows by chain-dotted lines two positions of the armature during said movement.
The lower one of these positions illustrates the instant when the edge of the armature adjacent to the pole shoe is raised toward the lower por tion or" the poleshoe. The upper position corresponds to the final position of the movement. Upon breaking of the impulse current circuit the armature will be released so as to fall from the latter position, with the insulated "side thereof then directed downwardly, into the position of rest shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The connection between the contacts 2 and 3 has thus been interrupted. The shifting of the armature from the one position to the other may take place by a very short current impulse through the electromagnet.
Figs. 3 and 4 show the same glass vessel as' Figs. 1 and 2 and provided with an armature Ill according to a modified construction. The armature has no insulating layer and is instead formed with longitudinally extending bent edges ll, which are directed upwardly in Fig. 3. Here, the plane portion of the armature bears on the mercury drops so as to establish contact between the contacts 2 and 3 of the working circuit. In Fig. 4, the armature H! has been rotated in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, so that the edge portions ii are directed downwardly so as to rest on the wall of the glass vessel, thus causing the plane portion of the armature to be at some distance from the mercury drops. This position consequently is that in which the control circuit is broken at the relay.
The embodiment of the glass vessel shovF-rl in Figs. 5-7 corresponds to the form of embodiment described above by the fact that a cylindrical portion I2 is arranged to cooperate with an electromagnet of the above-mentioned type. A bottom contact [3 is in electrical connection with a mercury band M extending along the bottom portion of the glass vessel; said mercury band carry ing a flat armature l5. This armature may have a shifting movement imparted thereto in the same manner as the armature 6 according to Figs. 1 and 2. However, the armature i5 is provided with an angularly bent contact arm IS, which in the position of the armature shown in Fig. 5 dips down into mercury l'l in a torus-like portion l8 of the glass vessel arranged coaxially with the portion l2. A bottom contact i9 is in con- By turning the armature sideways, the position shown in Fig. 6 is obtained, wherein the contact arm i6 is directed upwardly and consequently is not .in electrical connection with the contact i 9. This is the breaking position of the relay. Here, too the width of the armature I5 is adapted to the cylindrical portion [2 of the glass vessel, so that the cylindrical wall forms a guiding means for the armature during the shifting movement. By a further development of the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-7, the armature may be provided with widely difiering arrangements of contact arms or contact horns directed in the same direction or. for instance, for pole changing in different directions. Here, the position of the contacts on the armature is obviously arbitrary, inasmuch as mercury contacts may be arranged anywhere within the glass vesselby the provision ofpartitions or dished depressions in the glass wall.
According to Figs. 8 and 9, the glass vessel is provided with a cylindrical middle portion 26 and with spherical end portions 25 having bottom contacts 22 melted into the same, said contacts being arranged in conductive connection each with a mercury drop. Here, a flat armature 23 is provided at both end portions thereof with angle arms 24 directed in the same direction. In Fig. 8, the angle arms are in contact with the mercury drops in the vessel, whereas the armature 23 bears with its longitudinally extending edges on the wall of the cylindrical portion 25!. Chaindotted lines'indicate the breaking position of the contact arms 2 The armature 23 is then on the same level as in the current-closing position. Alternatively, the glass vessel may be provided with a third contact connection, for instance on the cylindrical portion 20, the angle arms 24 being then directed in opposite directions. These arms consequently establish contact alternately, whereas the middle contact always touches the armature 23 in its position of rest.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a relay intended to be used as an optical signal, the same being comprised, for instance, in an annunciator for the calling of employees. The glass vessel proper is constituted by a tube 25 which is closed by head members 25. Resting within the glass vessel is an armature 21 formed as the armature 26 in the form of embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The relay, however, has no working contacts and only functions as an optical signal-'- ling device. For this purpose the armature is provided with inscriptions or signs adapted to be read off with the aid of an inclined mirror 28 secured between two -head members 29. A plurality or" relays may be included in a calling board or annunciator. Upon closing of the impulse current circuit the armature is turned sideways so that the inscription is rendered visible in the mirror, as indicated at 3E3. The signal thus remains unchanged until the next current impulse through the electromagnet. A modification of the signalling device described is indicated in Fig. 12. Here, a cylindrical glass vessel 3| is formed as a glow lamp with two pole connections 32 and 33. A flat armature 34 is arranged and formed in the same manner as the armature 21 in the embodiment above "described, with the difference that the armature is provided at the one end thereof with an insulating strip 35 which, when the armature is turned sideways from the position shown in the figure, will bear on the contact 32 for the purpose of breaking the current through the glow lamp. In the position shown, the armature 34 forms one electrode of the glow lamp. The contact 33 is connected to the other electrode. The armature may thus be causedto glow, while an inscription on the armature may be provided by perforation or coating, so that the inscription stands out dark against a light background. The reading ,of the inscription may take place by means of an inclined mirror 36 arranged in a similar manner as the mirror 28 in Figs. 10 and 11.
According to Figs. 13 14. and 15, the relay is provided with a glass vessel ll A bottom contact 32 is in conductive connection with a mercury head 43. Another bottom contact 44 is in connection with a mercury bead 45. The two mercury beads are kept separated from each'other by means of an inwardly directed fold in the wall of the glass vessel, as will be. seen from Fig. 14. A sleeve-shaped armatureAS is suspended on a shaft Al arranged centrally, in the cylindrical glass vessel. The armaturec'onsists of two platelike parts connected along their longitudinally extending edges by means of semi-cylindrical pot. tions, the distance between the plate-like parts being somewhat greater than the diameter or the shaft 41, so that the armature may be moved in a direction generally parallel to itself in the trans verse direction of the shaft. The upper edge of the armature in Fig. 13 is provided with an insulating layer 48. With the aid of an electromagnet 49 with pole shoes 50 the armature may be raised into the position indicated by chaindotted lines wherein the u per edge of the armature bears on the glass Wall or is in the proximity of the latter according to the relation of the width of the armature to the distance between the shaft 4'? and the Wall. The pole shoes 58 of the electrcinagnet to are made from comparatively thin sheet metal and directed against the wall of the glass vessel, one at each end portion of the vessel. The pole shoes bear on the glass vessel along a longitudinally extending zone lo cated somewhat laterally of the vertical plane through the shaft 41. Consequently, the armature will have imparted thereto an oscillatory movement about the shaft, so that the upper edge in Fig. 131s moved in a first step, during the attraction movement, upwardly toward the pole shoes 50, said upper edge falling during a se ond step, that is upon de-energization of magnet 49, in a swinging movement down to bear on the mercury contacts 43 and 45. As stated above, said upper edge is coated with an insulating layer 48, the armature thus establishing conductive connection between the bottom contacts and 44 only in the one position, i. e. that shown in Figs. 13 and 14.
In Fig. 15, the armature is shown in the breaking position, in which the armature bears on the mercury contacts through the agency of the above-mentioned insulating layer 48. In the modification shown in Fig. 15, the pole shoes of the armature are formed with two tongues 52 and 53, the first one or which bears on the wall of the glass vessel in the same manner as the pole shoes 56, while the other tongue engages a fold 54 in the wall of the vessel. On the one hand, this brings about a considerable reduction of the air gap between the pole shoes and the armature, and, on the other hand, the two folds 54 form guide edges for the armature during the movement of attraction.
The substantial difference between the embodiment described above and that shown in Figs. 16-18 consists in that the armature is composed of three instead of two plate-like parts forming an equilateral triangle in cross section. The glass vessel is designated by 55 and three bottom contacts by 56, 5'! and 58 respectively. The latter may be used, for instance, for pole changing. The tri-lateral armature is denoted by 59, and is coated externally on certain portions thereof with an insulating layer, as will appear from Fig. 18. The one side 65 is insulated in its entirety, whereas the next side is provided with an insulating layer 6! adapted to insulate the armature from the end contact 58. The remaining side is provided with an insulating layer 62 at the end of the armature cooperating with the contact 56. The remaining uncoated surface 53 on the intermediate side may thus establish connection between the contacts 56 and 51, the uncoated surface 54 of the third side being adapted to establish connection between the contacts 51 and 58. Here, the establishment of the cont tacts in connection with one another.
nection is dependent on the position of the'armatore. According to Fig. 17, the metallic portion ea bears on the mercury contacts at 56 and 51, while the layer 5! insulates the armature from the contact 58. The armature is suspended on a shaft to, about which the same oscillates at the movement of attraction. The electromagnet 61 is provided with pole shoes 68 arranged in a manner previously described, that is to say so that the pole shoes embrace about a fourth of the circumference of the cylindrical glass vessel, the highest part of the pole shoes being located at the upper side of the vessel. Upon energization of the el'ectromagnet the armature is turned with another side downwardly. After three cur--- rent impulses the armature will have returned into its initial position.
According to Figs. 19-22, the armature is composed of four thin plates parts forming a square in cross section. The glass vessel, which is desig hated by so, is provided with three cup-like'portions is containing mercury, said cups being each provided with a bottom contact H. The arma ture is denoted by 12 and provided with certain insulated parts, as will appear from Fig. 21. One side is coated in its entirety with an insulating layer 13. One of the sides adjacent to this has an end portion 14 thereof insulated, while the remaining portion '15 is unco-ated. In the same way, the other side adjacent to the layer i3 is insulated, as at 16, and uncoated, as at 11. The remaining side it is uncoated in its entirety, so that the armature, bearing with this side on the mercury contacts, brings all of the three con- The ermatu'ie is suspended on two mutually parallel shafts is, the end portions of which are melted into the head pieces of the glass vessel. This relay operates in principle in the same manner as the relay described with reference to Figs. 16-18.
What I claim is:
1. In an electromagnetic device of the type described, in combination, an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, said armature having a longitudinai axis parallel to said line, means normally supporting said armature below and to oneslde of the center line of pole pieces, means for energizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to return to its support in a position angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guiding the movement of said armature during at least a portion of its traverse.
2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that said armature is provided with differing indicia on the faces thereof whereby said device may be utilized as a changeable sign or annunciator.
3. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the faces of said armature are provided with differing indicia and in that said indicia are displayed by utilization of a mirror mounted out of the path of the armature movement and in position to give a view of one of the faces of said armature.
4. In an electromagnetic device of the type described, in combination, an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces the center of the faces of which are spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, said armature having a, longitudinal axis parallel to said line and offset vertically from said line, means normally supporting said armature below said pole pieces, means for energizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to return to its support in a position angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guiding said armature during at least a portion of its traverse.
5. In an electromagnetic device of the type described, in combination, an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, said armature having a longitudinal axis parallel to said line, means normally supporting said armatur below and to one side of the center line of said pole pieces, insulatingly supported contacts engaging said armature in its rest position, means for energizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to return to its support in a position angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guiding said armature during at least a portion of its traverse, said armature being adapted to complete a circuit between said contacts when in its initial rest position and to break said circuit when in its said angularly displaced position.
6. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the armature is laminated one lamination being electrically conductive and the other electrically insulating.
7. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the armature is in the form of a plate the lateral edges of which are bent so that in one position the armature is held out of contact with said contacts, said edges resting on said support while in the other position the bent up edges are out of contact with said support and the armature comes into contact with said contacts.
8. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that one of said contacts is at a lower level than another and said armature is provided with a bent up end which extends toward and into contact with said lower level contact when the armature is in one of its two resting positionsand extends upwardly and away from said lower level contact when the armature is in the other of its resting positions.
1 9. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that said support comprises a portion of a cylindrical enclosure extending about said armature with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said armature and said guiding means comprises a portion of the wall of said enclosure.
10. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the supporting member comprises a portion of the wall of a cylindrical enclosure extending about said armature with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the armature, a portion of th wall of the enclosure serving also for guiding the movement of said armature and in that the said pole pieces extend about substantially a quarter of the entire circumference of the cylindrical enclosure and conform generally to the shape thereof.
11. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the armature comprises a multi-sided member, one side of which makes contact with said contacts in any resting position of the armature and in that a guiding member is provided which extends substantially longitudinally of the enclosure and about which said multi-sided armature rotates upon energization and which serves as a guide for the following movement of the armature upon de-energization of said electromagnet.
SVEN FREDRIK ERHARD MEYER.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,066,894 Mcllvaine Jan. 5, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,657 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1910 256,328 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1926 350,234 Ital July 8, 1937
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE255825X | 1945-04-19 | ||
SE40545X | 1945-05-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US2545669A true US2545669A (en) | 1951-03-20 |
Family
ID=26654493
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US648786A Expired - Lifetime US2545669A (en) | 1945-04-19 | 1946-02-19 | Impulse current relay |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US2545669A (en) |
BE (1) | BE464630A (en) |
CH (1) | CH255825A (en) |
FR (1) | FR925538A (en) |
NL (1) | NL66527C (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2673265A (en) * | 1951-07-10 | 1954-03-23 | Ernst Carl Andrae | Impulse relay |
US2696537A (en) * | 1951-07-09 | 1954-12-07 | Remimax Aktiebolag | Arrangement for current impulse relays |
US2778900A (en) * | 1954-02-04 | 1957-01-22 | Inreco Ab | Mercury relay of impulse type |
DE1199853B (en) * | 1955-09-13 | 1965-09-02 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Switch with a switch-on winding and an actuation switch |
US3670130A (en) * | 1969-03-07 | 1972-06-13 | Int Standard Electric Corp | Improvements in electrostatic relays |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB191028657A (en) * | 1910-12-09 | 1911-06-08 | Paul Meyer Ag | Improvements in Mercury Contact Electric Switches. |
GB256328A (en) * | 1925-05-07 | 1926-08-09 | Arthur John Martin | Improvements in electromagnetic instruments of the movable iron type |
US2066894A (en) * | 1934-05-28 | 1937-01-05 | Mcilvaine Patent Corp | Relay |
-
0
- BE BE464630D patent/BE464630A/xx unknown
- NL NL66527D patent/NL66527C/xx active
-
1946
- 1946-02-19 US US648786A patent/US2545669A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1946-03-26 CH CH255825D patent/CH255825A/en unknown
- 1946-04-12 FR FR925538D patent/FR925538A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB191028657A (en) * | 1910-12-09 | 1911-06-08 | Paul Meyer Ag | Improvements in Mercury Contact Electric Switches. |
GB256328A (en) * | 1925-05-07 | 1926-08-09 | Arthur John Martin | Improvements in electromagnetic instruments of the movable iron type |
US2066894A (en) * | 1934-05-28 | 1937-01-05 | Mcilvaine Patent Corp | Relay |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2696537A (en) * | 1951-07-09 | 1954-12-07 | Remimax Aktiebolag | Arrangement for current impulse relays |
US2673265A (en) * | 1951-07-10 | 1954-03-23 | Ernst Carl Andrae | Impulse relay |
US2778900A (en) * | 1954-02-04 | 1957-01-22 | Inreco Ab | Mercury relay of impulse type |
DE1044928B (en) * | 1954-02-04 | 1958-11-27 | Inreco Aktiebolag | Electromagnetic mercury switch in the form of a pulse relay |
DE1199853B (en) * | 1955-09-13 | 1965-09-02 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Switch with a switch-on winding and an actuation switch |
US3670130A (en) * | 1969-03-07 | 1972-06-13 | Int Standard Electric Corp | Improvements in electrostatic relays |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CH255825A (en) | 1948-07-15 |
FR925538A (en) | 1947-09-05 |
BE464630A (en) | |
NL66527C (en) |
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