Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Title of the Invention
H INGE TYPE RELAY
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hinge type relay
wherein when a fixed contact point contacts with a
movable point or separates from it, both contact points
are allowed to wipe.
Brief Description of the Drawings
As i-t now will be necessary to refer to the
drawings, these will firstly be briefly described as
follows:
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a prior art hinge type
relay;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge
type relay constituting a first embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the hinge type relay of
Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows in greater detail certain components
of the hinge type relay of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge
type relay constituting a second embodiment of the
present invention,
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the hinge type relay of
Fig. 5; and
Fig. 7 shows in greater detail certain components
of the hinge type relay of Fig. 5.
Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional hinge relay, since the fulcrum of
the armature is at the upper portion of a yoke and both
contacts do not wipe, an incomplete contact due ~o
abrasion of the contacts occurs.
Fig. l is an example of a conventional hinge type
relay. This relay includes an armature 1 which is
inserted in and supported by the upper bent portion of a
yoke 3 to which an electromagnet 2 is fixed. Armature 1
and the upper bent portion of yoke 3 are constructed and
arranged such that armature 1 is capable of a rocking
movement, armature 1 rocking with its fulcrum located
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where it is inserted through the upper end 3a of the
upper bent portion of yoke 3, the rocking action taking
place as a result of energization and deenergization of
electromagnet 2. In this case, a movable contact 5 of a
movable plate 4 fixed to the armature only moves into
contact with and separates from a fixed contact 6, and
the contacts 5 and 6 do not wipe against each other.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention in one aspect thereof
provides a hinge type relay wherein, when the fixed and
movable contacts perform a contacting or separating
operation, both contacts act to wipe. The generated
magnetic flux of the electromagnet is used efficiently
without increasing the numbers of the constituent parts
of the relay. This invention in one aspect is
characterized by a hinge type relay wherein a downwardly
bent supporting piece having a non-magnetic body is
attached to one end of the armature of the hinge type
relay, this supporting piece having a movable contact
which acts elastically at the other end thereof. A
fulcrum portion pivotably supports the supporting piece
of the non-magnetic body is provided at the lower
portion of the upper bent portion of the yoke which
supports the armature.
In a preferable embodiment of the hinge type of
this invention, a cutaway portion is provided at the
lower portion of the supporting piece of the
non-magnatic body and the fulcrum portion of the yoke is
provided as a projection at the lower side of the upper
bent portion of the yoke so that the cutaway portion of
the supporting piece of the non-magnetic body may be
inserted and pivotably supported.
Further, in another preferable embodiment of the
hinge type relay, a cutaway portion provided at the
lower end portion of the supporting piece of the
non-magnetic body is a semi-circular shape.
Furthermore, the hinge relay of another embodiment
of this invention is characterized in the fact that
another side of the movable contact plate of the
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non-magnetic body attached to the armature and
possessing a movable contact at one side is bent
downward from the armature, and the fulcrum which
pivotably supports another side of the movable contact
plate of the non-magnetic body is provided at the lower
portion of the upper bent portion of the yoke which
supports the armature.
Still further, in a preEerable embodiment of the
hinge type relay, the fulcrum which pivotably supports
the one side of the movable contact plate of the
non-magnetic body is a projection formed at the lower
outer surface of said upper bent portion.
An aspect of this invention is as follows:
A hinge type relay comprising a yoke, an
electromagnet supported by said yoke, said yoke
including an upwardly extending portion adjacent said
electromagnet, an armature capable of being magnetically
attracted by said electromagnet when said electromagnet
is energized and extending over said electromagnet, said
armature having on one side of said electromagnet a
flexibly supported movable contact and on the other side
of said electromagnet a member of non-magnetic material
extending downwardly towards said upwardly extending
portion of said yoke, said member being pivotably
supported on said upwardly extending portion of said
yoke and forming a fulcrum for said armature, and means
for biasing said armature away from said electromagnet
when said electromagnet is deenergized.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4, a
preferred embodiment of this invention now will be
described.
The numeral 11 designates a yoke to which is fixed
an electromagnet, the yoke having an upwardly bent
portion lla and a projection llb to which the lower end
of a spring 20 may be secured. Projecting led~es llc
are formed in upwardly bent portion lla at either side
~hereof.
The numeral 13 designates an armature, the armature
having a projection 13a to which the upper end of spring
20 may be secured.
The numeral 14 designates a movable, flexible
contact plate having an upper contact 15a and a lower
contact 15b on the upper and the lower surfaces
respectively of plate 1~. Contact plate 14 is securely
fastened to armature 13 on the upper surface thereof by
means of rivets 16.
Numeral 17 designates a supporting piece of
non-magnetic material sandwiched between armature 13 a~d
movable contact plate 14. Both ends of supporting piece
17 are bent downwardly and have semi-circular cutaway
portions 17a that are adapted to be supported on ledges
llc, whereby supporting piece 17, armature 13 and
contact plate 14 are able to rock or pivot on upwardly
bent portion lla of yoke 11.
Accordingly, armature 13 is provided with movable
contacts 15a, 15b that are flexibly mounted adjacent one
end of the armature and with a supporting piece 17 of
non-magnetic material extending downwardly adjacent the
other end thereof. Armature 13 is pivotably mounted on
upper bent portion lla of yoke 11 by inserting the
semi-circular cutaway portion 17a of supporting piece 17
over the projecting end llc of yoke 11.
The numeral 18 designates a relay base stand to
which yoke 11 and electromagnet 12 are fixed and which
has upper and lower fixed contacts 13a, l9b
corresponding to the upper and lower movable contacts
15a, 15b of movable eontact plate 1~ and engageable
thereby.
The numeral 20 designates a spring, one end of
whieh is seeured to projeetion llb and the other end of
which is secured to projection 13a, spring 20 thereby
being tensioned between projections llb and 13a.
The operation of the hinge type relay of the above
embodiment aeeording to this invention now will be
deseribed.
When eleetromagnet 12 is not e~cited, armature 13
is, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 3, inclined to
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the right under the tension of spring 20 wi-th the
fulcrum of the armature being at the semi-circular
cutaway portion 17a. The angle of inclination is
limited by the engagement of movable contact 15a with
fixed contact l9a. Further, referring to the inclined
state to the right of armature 13, it will be seen that
projection 13a is positioned in its lower position while
movable contacts 15a, 15b of movable contact plate 14
are positioned in their upper position, lower movable
contact 15b being separated Erom lower fixed contact
19b.
At this time, armature 13 is in a state wherein it
is inclined outwardly from upper bent portion lla of
yoke 11 by the distance A with the fulcrum at the
semi-circular cutaway portion 17a of supporting piece
17.
When electromagnet 12 is excited by current,
armature 13 is attracted to electromagnet 12, whereby
the armature rockq to the left with the fulcrum at the
cutaway ~ortion 17a of supporting piece 17. This
movement to the dotted line position in Figure 3 is
accomplished against the tension of spring 20.
Thus, when armature 13 rocks to the left, as shown
by the dotted line in Fig. 3, upper movable contact 15a
Of movable contact plate 14 separates from upper fixed
contact l9a and lower movable contact 15b of movable
contact plate 14 contacts with lower fixed contact l9b,
whereby an electric circuit (not shown) connected with
both lower contacts 15b, l9b is switched to be closed.
Further, the a~orementioned projected distance A
gradually becomes smallex as a result of the rocking of
armature 13, to the left and when armature 13 comes to a
horizontal state, the projected distance A disappears.
Accordingly, armature 13 moves by the length of said
projected distance A in the left direction in the
figure. The transverse movement together with the
rocking of armature 13 is shown in Fig. 4 in greater
detail.
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~ rmature 13 shown by the solid line in Fig. 4 is in
the position wherein lower movable contact 15b of
movable contact plate 14 contacts with the fixed contact
l9b. At this time armature 13 protrudes outwardly of
upper bent portion lla of yoke 11 by a somewhat shorter
proiected distance "a" than the initial projected
distance A. After that, as the rocking or pivoting of
the armature 13 continues and the armature becomes
horizontal, armature 13 moves to the left as shown by
the dotted line, that is, moves transversely in the
direction of the fixed contacts l9a, 19b, whereby the
projected distance "a" of armature 13 disappears.
Accordingly, lower movable contact lSb wipes in a
direction shown by arrow B by the above projected
distance "a" on the lower fixed contact l9b.
In order to assure adequate contact pressure
between contacts 15b and l9b, movable contact plate 14
is flexible, and, being flexible, bends when contacts
15b and l9b engage. In this case, although lower
movable contact 15b moves in a reverse direction to the
B direction shown by the above arrow when contact plate
14 flexes, the distance of movement of lower movable
contact 15b as a result of flexure of movable contact
plate 14 is very small as compared to the distance of
movement "a" in the B direction shown by arrow.
Accordingly, the former can be ignored.
When electromagnet 12 is deenergized, armature 13
is returned automatically to its initial state (Fig. 3
with the fulcrum at the semi-circular cutaway portion
17a of supporting piece 17. Movable contact 15b
separates from lower fixed contact l9b, whereby the
electric circuit connected with both lower contacts 15b,
l9b is openedO Further, after lower movable contact 15b
wipes contact l9b in the reverse direction against the B
direction shown by the arrow by the movement distance
"a", it is separated from lower fixed contact l9b and
armature 13 returns to the initial inclined state (Fig.
3). Thus, upper movable contact l5a of movable contact
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plate 14 is urged into engagement with upper fixed
contact l9a again.
Further, when upper movable contact 15a is urged
against upper fixed contact l9a, upper movable contact
15a wipes on upper fixed contact l9a. In other words,
upper movable contact 15a contacts with the upper fixed
contact l9a before the projected distance to the outward
of yoke 11 of armature 13 comes to its full distance A,
and upper movable contact 15a wipes on the upper fixed
contact l9a during rocking of the armature 13 from the
position shown in solid outline in Fig. 4 to the
position shown in solid outline in Fig. 3.
Further, when armature 13 rocks due to the
excitation of electromagnet 12, upper movable contact
15a wipes on upper fixed contact l9a in the opposite
direction to the wiping operation in the case where
upper movable contact 15a is pressed against upper fixed
contact l9a due to deenergization of electromagnet 12.
Further, when armature 13 rocks by virtue of
excitation and deenergization of electromagnet 12, the
generated magnetic flux of electromagnet 12 attracts
armature 13 effectively and does not act to obstruct the
rocking of armature 13. In other words, since
supporting piece 17 which supports armature 13 on upper
bent portion lla of yoke 11 is of non-magnetic material,
the generated magnetic flux of electromagnet 12 does not
act on supporting piece 17 and only acts on armature 13.
Another embodiment o~ this invention will be
described referring to Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 as
follows.
The construction of this embodiment is nearly the
same as the first embodiment other than the movable
contact plate, the supporting plate, the armature and
part of the construction at the upper bent portion of
the yoke. In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the numeral 11'
designates a yoke to which is fixed an electromagnet
12', the yoke having an upper bent portion ll'a bent
upwardly and having a projection ll'b for securing one
end of a spring thereto. At the lower outer surface of
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upper bent portion ll'a, there is provided a projection
ll'c, and a projected portion ll'd is formed at the
lower side of upper bent portion ll'a.
The numeral 13' designates an armature which has a
projection 13'a for securing the other end of a spring
thereto.
The numeral 14' designates a flexible, non-magnetic
movable contact plate to which upper and lower movable
contacts 15'a and 15'b are fixedly secured at the upper
and the lower surfaces thereof, movable contact plate
14' being secured to the upper surface of armature 13'.
At the end of movable contact plate 14' remote from
contacts 15'a and 15'b a supporting piece 14'a bent
downwardly is formed. Further, at the left and right
sides of supporting piece 14'a a stopper piece 14'c
having an inserting groove 14'b is provided.
Movable contact plate 14' secured to said armature
13' is provided with movable contact lS'a, 15'b at one
end and has a supporting piece 14'a bent downwardly of
the armature 13' at the other end. The armature 13' is
pivotably supported by placing the lower end portion of
supporting piece 14'a on the upper surface of projection
ll'c. Accordingly, projection ll'c forms a fulcrum
which pivotabiy supports the armature.
Further, the inserting groove 14'b of stopper piece
14'c of movable contact plate 14' is latchingly inserted
into the projected portion ll'd of the yoke 11 so as to
make the movable contact plate 14' pivotable.
The numeral 13 designates a relay base stand to
which are fixed yoke 11' and electromagnet 12', and
upper and lower fixed contacts l9'a, l9'b corresponding
to the upper and lower movable contacts 15'a, 15'b are
arranged thereon.
The numeral 20' designates a spring, one end of
which is secured to projection ll'b for latching the
spring of yoke 11' and the other end of which is secured
to projection 13'a, the spring thereb~ being tensioned
between both projections ll'b and 13'a.
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The operation of the hinge type relay of the above
embodiment according to this invention now will be
described as follows.
When electromagnet 12' is not excited, the armature
13' is, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 6, inclined
under the tension of spring 20' with the fulcrum at the
lower end portion of supporting piece l~'a o~ movable
contact plate 14'. The inclined state of the armature
is limited by the fact that upper movable contact l5'a
is urged against upper fixed contact l9'a. Further,
referring to the inclined state o~ the armature to the
right, it is in a state that projection 13'a securing
one end of the spring is positioned at its lowest level,
and movable contacts 15'a, 15'b of movable contact plate
14' are positioned at their highest level, while lower
movable contact point 15'b is separated from lower fixed
contact l9'b.
Further, at this time armature 13' is in a position
where it is projected a distance A to the outside of
upper bent portion ll'a of yoke 11'.
When electromagnet 12' is excited by current,
armature 13 receives the exciting attractive force of
electromagnet 12' and rocks to the left in Fig. 6 with
the fulcrum at the lower end portion of supporting piece
14'a, this movement being against the elastic tension of
spring 20'.
Thus, when the armature 13' rocks, to the position
shown by the dotted line in Fig. 6, upper movable
contact 15'a of the movable contact plate 14' is
separated from the upper fixed contact l9'a and lower
movable contact 15'b contacts with the lower fixed
contact l9'b, whereby the electric circuit (not shown)
connected with both lower contacts 15'b, 19'b is closed.
Further, the projected distance A of the armature 13' is
gradually narrowed by the rocking of armature 13', and
when armature 13' rocks to the horizontal state, the
projected distance A disappears. Accordingly, armature
13' moves to the left in Fig. 6 by distance A, or the
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armature 13' moves transversely in the inner direction
of upper bent portion ll'a of yoke 11'.
The transverse movement according to the rocking of
armature 13' will be described in detail in connection
with Fig. 7.
Armature 13' shown by the solid line in Fig. 7
represents a rocking state where lower movable contact
15'b of movable contact plate 14' contacts with fixed
contact l9'b. At this time armature 13' is protruded to
the outward of the upper bent portion ll'a of yoke 11'
by a somewhat shorter projective distance "a" than the
initial projective distance A. After that, when the
rocking of armature 13' advances so that armature 13
becomes horizontal, armature 13' moves, as shown by the
dotted line in Fig. 7, to the left, i.e., armature 13'
moves transversely in the direction of fixed contacts
l9'a, l9'b, whereby the projected distance "a" of the
armature 13' disappears.
Accordingly, lower movable contact 15'b wipes on
lower fixed contact l9'b in the B direction shown by the
arrow by an amount equal to the projected distance "a".
Further, in order to assure sufficient contact
pressure, movable contact plate 14' is made flexible so
that at the time of contact of the contacts, it may be
flexed into a curve. As a result of this flexure of
movable contact plate 14', lower movable contact 15'b
moves in an opposite direction opposite to the direction
of the arrow B. However, the movement distance of lower
movable contact lS'b as a result of flexing of movable
contact plate 14' is very small and can be disregarded.
When electromagnet 12' is deenergi~ed, armature 13'
rocks to return to its initial state automatically under
the influence of spring ?O' with the fulcrum at the
lower end portion of supporting piece 14'a of movable
contact plate 14', and lower movable contact 15'b is
separated Erom lower fixed contact l9ib, whereby the
electric circuit connected with both lower contacts
15'b, l9'b is opened. Further, after lower movable
contact 15'b wipes in an opposite direction to the arrow
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direction B on lower fixed contact l9'b by the movement
distance "a", it is separated from the lower fixed
contact l9'b and armature 13' is protruded to the
outward of upper bent portion ll'a of yoke 11' by the
projected distance A. Also upper movable contact 15'a
of movable contact plate 14' is pressed against upper
fixed contact l9'a again.
When upper movable contact 15'a is pressed against
upper fixed contact l9'a, upper movable contact 15'a
wipes on upper fixed contact l9'a. In other words,
upper movable contact 15'a contacts with upper fixed
contact l9'a before armature 13' moves to the solid line
position of Fig. 6, and upper movable contact 15'a wipes
on upper fixed contact l9'a during the rocking of
armature 13' before the projected distance of armature
13' becomes A.
Further, when armature 13' rocks due to excitation
of electromagnet 12', upper movable contact 15'a wipes
on upper fixed contact l9'a in the reverse direction to
the direction of the wiping operation at the time when
upper movable contact point 15'a is pressed against
fixed contact l9'a.
Furthermore, when armature 13' rocks due to the
energization and deenergization o~ electromagnet 12',
the generated magnetic flux of electromagnet 12'
attracts armature 13' effectively and does not act to
obstruct the rocking of armature 13'. In other words,
since supporting piece 14'a of movable contact plate 14'
which supports armature 13' is a non-magnetic body, the
generated magnetic flux of electromagnet 12' does not
exert any action on supporting piece 14'a and rocks
armature 13'.
Still further, stopper piece 14'c formed in movable
contact plate 14' acts to prevent any accidental
displacement of armature 13'. In other words, since
inserting groove 14'b of stopper piece 14'c is inserted
into projected portion ll'd of yoke 11' to permit
pivoting movement, when armature 13' rocXs, the lower
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end of supporting piece 14'a of movable contact plate
14' is prevented from lateral movement.
Further, in movable contact plate 14' a supporting
piece 14'a and a stopper piece 14'c are bent formed, but
the construction is not conflned to this. The main
point is that in order to pivotably support movable
contact plate 14' and armature 13' on the upper bent
portion of the yoke, the bent formed portion is provided
at another side.
The hinge type relay of this invention is thus
composed and operated and the following effect can be
obtained.
In other words, when the movable contact contacts
with the fixed contact or separates from it, it wipes on
the fixed contact at the same time. Accordingly,
various kinds of foreign matter such as oxides,
sulfides, carbides, dust and the like which generate at
the relay contacts can be removed, thereby making it
possible to keep the electric resistance at the relay
contacts low. Therefore, it is possible to provide a
durable relay.
Further, since the supporting piece which supports
the armature to the yoke is a non-magnetic body, the
magnetic force of the electromagnet rocks the armature
efficiently and does not exert any effect which inhibits
the fluctuation of the armature through said supporting
piece. Accordingly, there is no fear of keeping the
magnet between the armature and yoke and is possible to
provide a hinge type relay having a sufficient rocking
mechanism of the armature with a comparatively small
magnet.
Further, this hinge type relay has such effect as
being able to be prepared at low cost with comparatively
simple constitution wherein a non-magnetic movable
con~act plate is only bendingly formed without any
increase of the number of constituted parts.
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