Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
TITLE: Polarized Relay
TECHNICA1 FIELD
The present invention relates to the so-called
polarized relay wherein a permanent magnet is placed
in a magnetic circuit composed of an armature and a
yoke, the armature being moved by superposing the
magnetomotive force of the coil on the magnetic flux
of said permanent magnet, and particularly to a
polarized relay of the type adapted to move the armature
horizontally back and forth.
BACKGROUND ART
Ordinary polarized relays have such a construction
that the center of the armature is pivotally supported
so that the armature swings into contact with two contact
pole surfaces of the yoke at diametrically opposite
positions.
Polarized relays of such construction have a
problem that unless the three points, i.e., the
diametrically opposite contact pole surfaces of the
armature and the central pivot, are maintained in
dimensionally accurate relationship, one contact pole
surface alone would be contacted, causing variation of
working opening characteristics and lack o~ armature stroke.
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Thus, a solution to this problem has already been
proposed, which emplo~s a construction adapted to move
the armature horizontally back and forth.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 41005/
1980 (hereinafter referred to as the first prior art) has
been proposed.
This will now be described with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the basic
principle for embodying a polarized relay;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an application
of the basic principle in Fig. 1 to a movable contact
block which travels horizontally;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, in section, of the
device of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a plan view, in section, of the device
of Fig O 2;
Fig. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the device
of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded view of another
embodiment wherein first and second yokes and permanent
magnets are in cylindrical form;
Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the basic
principle applied to another embodiment wherein the
contact pole surfaces of the second yokes are enlarged
to design the armature as the unidirectional operation
type;
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Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the basic
principle applied to another embodiment wherein the
armature is divided at the middle into tow halves to
provide the tridirectional operation type;
Figs. 9 and 10 are views showing operations in
directions different from that in Fig . 8;
Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the basic
principle in Fig. 1 applied to an armature and a movable
block which are adapted to travel vertically;
Fig. 12 is a view illustrating the basic principle
of the first prior art; and
Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the basic principle
of the second prior art.
In Fig. 12 of the drawings an upper piece 102, middle piece
103 and lower piece 104 constitute an E type yoke 101, said middle
piece 103 having a coil ins-talled thereon, and said upper, middle
and lower pieces 102, 103 and 104 having a permanent magnet 106,
serving as a common armature, opposed thereto. The direction of the
magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnet 106 is indicated by
X and the direction of the magnetic flux produced by the coil 105 is
indicated by Y.
Therefore, the magnetic flux directions X and Y in the gap bet-
ween the pieces 102, 103, 104 and the permanent magnet 106 are
opposite to each other, resulting in a repulsion force which causes
the permanent magnet 106 serving as the armature to move horizont-
ally in the direction of arrow Z.
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Subsequently, if a coil current flows such that the
magnetic flux of the coil 105 takes the opposite
direction, this ma~netic flux is in the same direction
as the ma~netic flux X of the permanent magnet and
superposed on the latter, so that the permanent magnet
106, which i.s the armature, is attracted~
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In this polarized relay according to the first
prior art, since the magnetomotive flux of the coil
105 passes through the permanent magnet 106, the
following problem arises: The permanent magnet 106
has a magnetic reluctance of about 10,000 times as high
as that of the ordinary yoke (iron) and involves a high
percentage loss of the magnetomotive flux of the coil
105, thus decreasing the sensitivity of the system.
To solve the problem described above, a polarized
relay having a construction shown in French Patent No.
2358006 (hereinafter referred to as the second prior art)
has been proposed.
This utilizes the advantage of high sensitivity
brought about by the fact that the magnetomotive flux
of the coil does not pass through the permanent magnet.
This will now be descrihed with reference to Fig. 13.
Two vertical magnetic pieces 202, 203 and a core 210a
constitute a U-shaped yoke 201, while a permanent magnet
207, a first magnetic piece 205 contacted with one pole
of said permanent magnet, and a second magne-tic piece
206 contacted with the other pole of said permanent
magnet constitute an armature block 204, said first magnetic
piece 205 being U-shaped with its vertical pieces 208 and
209 opposed to the outer surfaces of the vertical pieces
202 and 203 of said U shaped yoke 201. The second magnetic
piece 206 is opposed to the inner surfaces o~ the
vertical pieces 202 and 203 of said U-shaped yoke 201,
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and the permanent magnet 207 is held between said first
and second magnetic pieces 205 and 206. A coil 210 is
installed on the U-shaped yoke 201.
In this case of the second prior art, the magnetic
flux X due to the permanent magnet 207 flows through two
magnetic circuits, each extending from one pole of the
permanent magnet 207 through the first and second
magnetic pieces 205 and 206 of the armature block 204
and back to the other pole of the permanent magnet 207;
it also flows through a magnetic circuit extending from
one pole of the permanent magnet 207 successively through
the second magnetic piece 206 of the armature block 204,
U-shaped yoke 201 and the first magnetic piece 205 of
the armature block 204 and back to the other pole of the
permanent magnet 207. The magnetic flux due to the coil
201 flows through a magnetic circuit extending successively
through the core 210a, the-right hand side vertical
piece 203 of the U-shaped yoke 201 (or the left-hand side
vertical piece 202 in the case of the reverse movement
of the armature block), the first magnetic piece 205
of the armature hlock, the permanent magnet 207, the
second magnetic piece 206 and the left-hand side vertical
piece 202 of the U-shaped yoke 201 (or ~he left-hand
side vertical piece 203 in the case of the reverse
movement of the armature block).
Therefore, if the directions X and Y of the magnetic
1uxes in the gaps between the respective magnetic poles
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of the armature block 204 and U-shaped yoke 201 are
opposite to each other, they repel each other and if the
directions are -the same, they attract each other, so
that the armature block 204 will move horizontally in
either direction depending upon the direction of the
current flowing through the coil 210.
In this second prior art, the magnetic flux Y of
the coil 210 does not flow through the permanent magnet
207; thus, the problem confronting the first prior art
is solved.
However, this second prior art has another problem
owing to the employment of the construction in which
the permanent magnet is included in the armature block.
That is, because of the presence of the permanent
magnet in the armature block, the speed of the armature
block movement is slower by an amount corresponding to
the weight of the permanent magnet 207, while the
increased block weight results in a higher percussive
force, which increases vibration. Further, because of
gravity, the characteristics become unbalanced depending
upon the direction in which it is installed.
Another problem in the second prior art resides in
the fact that the yoke 201 is present only in the upper
region of the armature block 204 and the latter requires
a vertically extendiny allowable space between ît and
the guide for its horizontal back and forth movement, so
that it is pulled toward the yoke by an amount corresponding
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to said space at all times.
Therefore, the direction of the yoke 201 changes
depending upon the direction of installation, and because
of the weight of the armature block 204, the characteristic
become unbalanced, as in the above.
FurthQr, an embodiment of a polari~ed relay charac-
terized by a horizontal back and forth movement of said
armature has not been disclosed and is by no means easy.
As a third prior art, there exists United States
Patent No. 2794882, which discloses the so-called
nonpolarized relay having no permanent magnet installed
therein.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has solved the various problems
in these conventional polarized relays and provides a
polarized relay which is advantageous in the production
and applications of polarized relays. According to the
invention, a permanent magnet is disposed between a
first and a second yoke, said first and second yokes and
said permanent ma~net constituting one block there being
another similar block,these blocks being disposed one
above the other, while two lateral pieces adapted to be
moved into and out of contact with the contact pole
surfaces of said upper and lower first and second yokes,
and a horizontal bar which connects said lateral pieces
and which extends through a coil constitute a horizontal
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travel type armature, the advantage of the horizontal
travel type arma~ure being utilized to provide novel
developments..
Another object of the invention is to reduce the
percentage loss of the magnetomotive flux of the coil
and increase the sensitivity~ by preventing the magnetic
flux of the coil from passing through ~he permanent
magnets.
A further object of the invention is to avoid the
installation of the permanent magnets on the armature
to reduce the mass of the armature and increase the speed
of the armature movement.
An additional object of the invention is to arrange
yokes and permanent magnets above and below an armature
to maintain the balance and prevent variation of the
operating characteristics due to the direction of
installation.
Yet another object of the invention is to embody a
polarized relay of the type in which the armature is
horizontally moved.
In this polarized relay, according to Figs. 1
through 11, a first yoke 1 is composed, in U-shape, of
two lateral pieces 2 and 3 and a horizontal piece 4
connecting said lateral pieces 2 and 3, with the inner
surface of said lateral pieces 2 and 3 forming contact
pole suxfaces 2a and 3a. A second yoke 5 is shorter than
the distance between the lateral pieces 2 and 3 of the
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first yoke and is opposed to the horizontal piece 4.
The outer surfaces of the second yoke 5 provide contact
pole surfaces 5a and 5b. A permanent magnet 6 is
disposed between the first and second yokes and the
direction of its magnetization axis is vertical. The
first and second yokes 1 and 5 and permanent magnet 6
form one block and there is another similar block,
these blocks being disposed one above the other. An
armature 7 is of the horizontal travel type, and is
composed, in H-shape, of two lateral pieces 8 and 9 and
a horizontal bar 10 connecting said lateral pieces 8 and
9, with the inner and outer surfaces of said lateral pieces
8 and 9 providing contact pole surfaces 8a, 8b, 9a~ 9b.
The inner and outer contact pole surfaces 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
of the lateral pieces 8 and 9 are opposed to the inner
and outer contact pole surfaces 2a~ 3a, 5a, 5b of said
first and second yokes 1 and 5, defining air gaps a, b,
c, d, respectively. The horizontal bar 10 of the
armature 7 extends through a coil 11.
Thus, the magnetic circuits of the permanent magnet
6 and coil 11 are as shown in Fig. 1, which illustrates
the basic principle, wherein solid lines X indicate the
flux of the permanent magnet 6 and dotted lines Y the
magnetromotive flux of the coil 11.
In Fig. 1, the magnetic flux X of the permanent
magnet 6 flows as follows.
N pole of permanent magnet 6 -~ second yoke 5 ~ air
---` 1 3 6~ 7
.
gaps ~ and c -~ lateral pieces 8, 9 of armature 7 ~ air
gaps a, d -~ lateral pieces 2, 3 of first yoke 1 ~ horizontal
piece 4 -~ S pole.
The magnetic flux Y of the coil 11 flows as follows.
Coil 11 -~ horizontal bar 10 of armature 7 ~ left-hand
side piece 8 . air gap a left-hand side piece 2 of first
yoke 1 ~ horizontal piece 4 ~ right-hand side piece 3 ~ air
gap d ~ right-hand side piece 9 of arma-ture 7 ~ horizontal
bar 10.
There is another path: Left-hand side piece 8 of
armature 7 ) air gap b ~ second yoke 5 ~ air gap c ~ right-
hand side piece 9 of armature 7 ~ horizontal bar 10.
An observation of the air gaps a, b, c, d will show
that the magnetic fluxes X and Y of the permanent magnet
6 and coil 11 are equal in direction at the air gaps a
and c and are opposite in direction at the air gaps b and d.
Therefore, in the first and second yokes 1, 5 and
armature 7, the magnetic fluxes X and Y, where they are
equal in direction and superposed, give an attraction
force and, where they are opposite in direction and
cancel each other, give a repulsion force, so that,
in Fig. 1, the armature 7 horizontally travels to the
left as indicated by the arrow Z until the outer contact
pole surface 8a of the left-hand side piece 8 of the
armature 7 contacts the inner contact pole surfaces 2a
of the right-hand side pieces 2 of the first yokes 1 and
the inner contact pole surface 9a of the right-hand side
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piece 9 of the armature 7 contacts the outer contact
pole surfaces 5b of the second yokes 5.
This contacted state, even if the current flowing
through the the coil 11 is cut off, is maintained by
the magnetic fluxes of the permanent magnets 6.
When it is desired to cause the armature 7 to
horizontally travel to the ri~ht, which is reverse to
the above, a current opposite in direction to the above
is passed through the coil ll to cause the magnetomotive
flux Y to act in a manner reverse to Fiy. l.
The directions of the magnetic fluxes in the air
gaps a, b, c, d are reversed; they are opposite at the
air gaps a and c and e~ual at the air gaps b and d, so
that the armature 7 horizontally travels to the right
as indicated by the arrow W.
The contacted state is maintained by the magnetic
fluxes of the pexmanent magnets 6, as in the above case.
- Judging from this, the magnetomotive flux Y of the coil
ll will never pass -through the permanent magnets 6, whose
magnetic reluctance is high; thus the sensitivity is hiyh.
The armature 7, which is separate from the coil ll and
permanent magnets 6, travels by itself, and its mass is
as small as can be.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 2 through 5 is based on
the basic principle illustrated in Fig. l.
The upper and lower first yokes l are housed in a
top-opened box 12 of synthetic resin.
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In this case, the upper and lower first yokes 1
are seated on the bottom wall 13 of the box 12 in a state
where they have been turned through 90 degrees from the
Fig. 1 state, with its left-hand side lateral piece 2
and hori~ontal piece 4 contacted with the lateral wall 14
of the box.
The bobbin 15 for the coil 11 is constructed as
follows.
The coil 11 is wound on a drum portion 16 having
a hole.17 through which the armature 7 extends, said
drum portion being integrally formed with lateral
walls 18 and 19 between which the upper and lower second
yokes 2, turned through 90 degrees from the Fig. 1 state,
are fixed in position in parallel with the coil 11. The
lateral walls 18 and 19 are formed with notches 20 to
facilitate the installation of the second yokes 5. trhe
right-hand side wall 19 is formed with grooves 21 to
receive support edge terminals 22.
A cover 23 of synthetic resin is fitted over the
top opening in the box 12. An insulation plate 24 is
interposed between the cover 23 and the box 12.
The cover 23 is constructed as follows~
The cover 23 comprises a top wall 25, lateral walls
26 including low opposite late.ral walls, outer separators
27 connecting said top wall 25 and low lateral walls
26 and dividing them into sections/ inner separators 28
aligned with said outer separators 27~ and a downwardly
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opened cavity 29 crossing said inner separators 28.
Outer terminals 30 are fixed in opposite outer
chambers defined by said opposite lateral walls 26 of
the cover 23 and the outer separators 27. The opposite
terminals 30 at the right-hand extremity have integrally
formed, vertical insert edges 31 adapted to be inserted in
the support edge terminals 22 of the coil bobbin 15 to
complete electric connection to the coil 11 when the cover
23 and box 12 are assembled together. The other terminals
30 are provided with fixed contacts 32 and positioned in
opposite i.nner chambers 33 defined by the inner separators
28,
A movable block 34 of synthetic resin adapted to
move in parallel with the armature 7 is positioned in the
downwardly opened cavity 29 in the cover 23.
The movable block 34 is formed with throughgoing
transverse holes 35 at positions associated with the
inner chambers 33 of said cover 23, where there are
installed contact plates 36 provided with contacts 37
protruding to the opposite sides, and coil springs 38
for contact pressure. The contacts 37 in the movable block
34 and the con-tacts 32 in the cover 23 are opposed to
each other in the inner chambers 33 and move into and out
of engagement with each other as the movable block 34 is
moved.
Connection between the movable block 34 and the armature
7 is effected by a reversing lever 33.
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The reversins lever 39 receives a shaft 40 in the
middle thereof/ said shaft 40 being supported in shaft-
receiving holes 41 in the right-hand side wall 19 of the
coil bobbin 15.
In the relationship between the reversing lever 39
and the armature 7, a shaft 42 is inserted in the lower
end of the reversing lever, said shaft being fitted in
a groove 44 in a connector 43 from above, and the right-
hand end of the armature 7 is inserted in said connector
43 and cripmed to form an anti-slip-off portion 7b.
The left-hand end of the armature 7 is inserted in
a left-hand side piece 8 and likewise crimped to form
an anti-slip-off portion 7a. At the same time as the
formation of this anti-slip-off portion, a nonmagnetic
plate 45 is installed. These plates 45 are provided in
order to cut off the opposite ends of the magnetic
characteristic curve of the permanent magnets 6 so tha-t
the latter may be used in the most stable region of the
curve.
In the relationship between the reversing lever
39 and the movable block 34, the upper end 39a of said
lever is engaged in a downwardly opened notch 46.
Therefore, if the armature 7, in Fig~ 2, horizontally
travels to the right as indicated by the arrow Z, the
reversing lever 39 is turned counterclockwise around
the axis of the central shaft 40, causing the movable block
34 to travel horizontally to the left as indicated by the
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arrow V, which is opposite to the direction of travel of
the armature, effecting engagement between the contacts
32 and 37 in the chambers. This engagement is
maintained by the masnetic fluxes of the permanent magnets
6 on the basis of the principle illustrated in Fig. 1.
The armature 7 is resiliently urged in the direction
of arrow ~ by an angle plate spring 47. The angle plate
spring 47 has its apex 47a abutting against the left-
hand side anti-slip~off portion 7a and its opposite ends
47b abutting against the left-hand side wall 14 of the box.
The movable block 34 is resiliently urged by a coil
~ spring 48 in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow
V. The coil spring 48 is positioned between an indicator
post 49 on the movable block 34 and the left-hand side
wall 26 of the cover 23.
The spring pressures of these two springs ~7 and 48
act in opposite directions relative to -the armature 7
and movable block 34, facilitating separation of -the
armature 7 as the latter is moved away Erom the state of
being attracted by -the magnetic fluxes of the permanent
magnets 6.
The indicator post 49 on the movable block 37
projects upwardly through a small hole 50 in the top
wall 25 of the cover 23 and its position enables the
internal action to be ascertained from outside.
A terminal cover 51 is fitted over the top wall 25
of the cover 23. Screwdriver-operating holes 53
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corresponding in number to the opposite terminals 30
are present in the terminal cover 51.
For attaching purposes, hooked legs 54 are provided
on opposite sides, aaapted to be inserted in small holes
55 in the top wall 25. The terminal cover 51 is
provided on opposite sides thereof with dependent
skirts 56 each positioned between adiacent outer
separators 27 of the cover 23 to minimize the exposure
of the terminals 30.
Fig. 6 will now be described.
This shows another embodiment of the invention, not
departing from the basic principle illustrated in Fig. 1.
In this embodiment, the first and second yokes 1 and 5
and permanent magnets 6, which, in Figs. 2 through 5,
have ~een shown as being in plate form and as being
separately disposed, are in cylindrical form, and the
number of parts is reduced. In this case, a cylindrical
first yoke 57 is divided into a cylindrica1 body 57a and
a cap 57b, which are united together by a thread 58.
With the cap 57b removed, a cylindrical second yoke 59
and a cylindrical permanent magnet 60 are recei~ed.
In Fig. 7, the area of the right-hand side contact
pole surface 5b of the second yoke 5 is made greater
than that of the left-hand side contact pole surface 5a.
This is realized by a lateral piece 6, providing an
increased amount of magnetic flux to intensify thc
magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 6; thus, thc
,
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arrangement provided the so-called unidirectîonal operation
type (also referred to as the monostable type) wherein
if the current through the coil 11 is cut off when the
armature 7 has moved in the direction of arrow W, it is
moved back in the direction of arrow Z by the magnetic
flux of the strong permanent magnet 6.
Figs. 8 through 10 will now be described.
The arrangment shown therein is of the so-called
tridirectional operation type ~also referred to as the
triple stable type) wherein the horizontal bar 10 of
the armature 7 is divided at the middle into two halves
which are symmetrical, with a coil spring 62 interposed
between said halves 7a and 7b to resiliently outwardly
urge the halves away from each other.
Fig. 8 shows a first operation state wherein the
magnetic fluxes of the permanent magnets 6 alone are
in action, with halves 7a and 7b resiliently outwardly
urged away from each other by the coil spring 62, so
that in the air gaps a and d, the lateral pieces 2 and
3 of the first yokes 1 and the lateral pieces 8 and 9
of the armat~re 7 are attracted into contact with each
other while, in the air gaps b and c, the second yokes
5 and the lateral pieces 8 and 9 of the ar~ature 7
are spaced apart.
Fig. ~ shows a second operation state wherein with
a current flowing through the coil in such a direction
as to cause the coil to produce a magnetomotive flux Yl,
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~he magnetomotive flux Yl of the coil 11 and the magnetic
~luxes X of the permanent magnets 6 are opposite in
~irection at the air gaps a and e and are equal in direction
at the air gaps b and d. Therefore, as compared with Fiy.
~, the left-hand side half 7a alone is moved to the right
.lS indieated by the arrow W against the force of the
coil spring 62, so that the second yokes 5 and the left-hand
side piece 8 on the left-hand side half 7a are contacted
~ith eaeh other, while the right-hand side piece 9 of the
~ight-hand side half 7b remains in eontact with the right
hand side pieces 3-oE the first yokes 1. If eurrent through
the eoil 11 is cut off, the state shown in Fig~ 8 is restored.
Fig. 10 shows a third operation state wherein with
a current flowing through the coil 11 in such a direction
as to cause the eoil to produce a magnetomotive flux Y2
~hich is opposite in direction to the one shown in E~ig. 9,
~he magnetomotive flux Y2 of the coil 11 and the magnetic
fluxes X of the permanent magnets 6 are equal in direct.ion
~t the air yaps a and c and opposite in direction at the
._
_ c~ir gaps b and d. Therefore, as compared with Fig. 8
._
only the right-hand side half 7b is moved to the left
_ as indicated by the arrow Z against the force of the
_ coil spring 62, so that the left-hand side pieces 2 of
_ the irst yokes 1 and the left-hand side piece 8 of the
left-hand side half 7a continue to be contacted and the
___
~ S-econd yokes 5 and the right-hand side half 7b are
_ .
contacted. If the current through the coil 11 is cut of,
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the state shown in Fig. 8 is restored.
Fig. 11 shows a further development of the basic
principle illustrated in Fig. 1.
While the armature 7 and movable block 34 in the
embodiment shown in Figs. 2 through 5 are hori70ntal
and parallel with each other, in this embodiment the
armature 7 and movable block 34 are vertically disposed
one above the other on the same line. The basic parts
are shown in section taken in the same direction as in
Fig. 2.
The angle plate spring 47 is seated on the bottom
wall 13 of the box 12, and the left-hand side pieces 2 of
the first yokes 1 are also seated thereon.
Downwardly opposed to the apex 47a of the angle
plate spring 47 is the left-hand side anti-slip-off
portion 7a of the armature 7. The right-hand side anti-
ship-off portion 7b of the armature 7 is upwardly
directed, and a connector 63 which is U-shaped is joined
at its lower piece 64 to said right-hand side anti-slip-
off portion 7b, with small holes 66 in the opposite lateralpieces 65 of said connector receiving a second angle
plate spring 67 whose opposite ends 67b abut against the
opposite support steps 68 in the cover 23. This angle
spring 67 exerts the same action as the coil spring
48 used in the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 through 5
on the armature 7 and on the movable block 34 which is
adapted to travel vertically and coaxially with the
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armature 7. Therefore, the lower angle plate spring 47
upwardly resiliently urges the armature 7 and movable
block 34 while the upper angle plate spring 67 downwardly
resiliently urges them at all times. The connection
between the movable block 34 and the connector 63 is
effected by inserting a shaft 71 in the shaft receiving
holes 69 in the opposite lateral pieces 65 of the
connector 63 and the shaft receiving hole 70 in the
movable block 34. The box 12 and cover 23 are connected
together by connecting screws 72.
The contacts 32, 37, therminal cover 51, etc., are
the same as in the embodiment in Figs. 2 through 5.
