Gigavac, LLC

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Kilovac Corporation

Other

Tyco Electronics Corporation India

Tyco Electronics Corporation India Pvt Limited

Bernard Victor Bush

Murray Stephan McTigue

Michael Henry Molyneux

Daniel C Sullivan

Marcus Priest

Brent James Swartzentruber

Eric Glenn Hufstedler

Daniel Sullivan

David P Hatch

G Stephen Perreira

Richard L Kutin

James Clayton Reed

Patrick A Mack

Jeremiah Garcia Reyes

Samuel Naumowicz

Naveen Samuel Jesuraj

Lyhn Phung

Fuse devices and electrical systems using the fuse devices are disclosed, with the fuse devices having internal components to cause a fuse blown event when the pre-determined current level is reached through the contacts. The internal components can comprise a levitation actuator that causes separation between one or more of the contacts as the current level approaches the predetermined level. This causes contact levitation and arcing, which increases the resistance at the contact being separated. This in turn causes the current through the contacts to seek another path that in the embodiments herein is a path to a pyro feature. The current activates the pyro feature, which causes the contacts to separate and puts the fuse device in 'fuse blown' condition where currents can no longer flow through the contacts.

Levitation fuse device

Contact assemblies are described herein having certain components, or portions thereof, that are formed integral to one another to reduce the complexity of manufacturing, improve the operation characteristics, and increase operational reliability of devices using the contact assemblies. New shapes to features and components of the contact assemblies are also disclosed, with the shapes providing the desired operational characteristics. Embodiments of the invention are also directed contactors or fuses (i.e., electrical switching devices) utilizing the contactor assemblies according to the present invention, and to electrical circuits and systems utilizing the electrical switching devices according to the present invention.

Contactor with integrated drive shaft and yoke

Electrical switching device are disclosed having a housing with internal component within the housing. The internal components comprise contacts configured to operate, to change the state of the switching device from a closed state, allowing current flow through the switching device to an open state which interrupts current flow through the switching device. A pyrotechnic feature is included that is configured to interact with the internal components to transition the switching device from the closed state to the open state when the pyrotechnic feature is activated. The pyrotechnic feature is configured to trigger in response to levitation between the contacts at elevated current signal flowing through the switching device.

Contact levitation triggering mechanisms for use with switching devices incorporating pyrotechnic features

Disclosed herein are efficient mechanical fuse devices that are capable of functioning at high current levels. These devices comprise mechanical features configured such that the fuse devices have a non-triggered state, which allows current to flow through the device, and a triggered state, which does not allow current to flow through the device. In some embodiments, the devices are configured such that a certain pre-determined current level flowing through the device will generate a sufficient electromagnetic field to cause the mechanical elements to transition the fuse device into the triggered state and thus interrupt a connected electrical circuit, device or system. In some embodiments, these devices can also comprise hermetically sealed components. In some embodiments, the fuse devices can comprise pyrotechnic features.

Mechanical fuse device

Disclosed herein are efficient mechanical fuse devices that are capable of functioning at high current levels. These devices comprise mechanical features configured such that the fuse devices have a non-triggered state, which allows current to flow through the device, and a triggered state, which does not allow current to flow through the device. In some embodiments, the devices are configured such that a certain pre-determined current level flowing through the device will generate a sufficient electromagnetic field to cause the mechanical elements to transition the fuse device into the triggered state and thus interrupt a connected electrical circuit, device or system. In some embodiments, these devices can also comprise hermetically sealed components.

A contactor assembly is adapted for switching power to a circuit having a power source. The contactor assembly includes a housing, carry contacts, and arc contacts. The housing defines an interior compartment and includes internal chamber walls that laterally extend within the compartment to define a protection chamber. The carry contacts are disposed in the protection chamber of the housing. The carry contacts include conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit. The arc contacts are disposed in the housing outside of the protection chamber. The arc contacts include conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit. The internal chamber walls of the housing prevent material that is expelled from one or more of the arc contacts when an electric arc emanates from one or more of the arc contacts from contaminating one or more of the carry contacts.

Contactor assembly for switching high power to a circuit

A relay assembly is provided that includes an intermediate member to aid in coupling a wire to a housing.

Epoxy sealed relay

A hermetically sealed relay is provided having two circuits therein.

Hermetically sealed relay

An electromechanical relay includes an armature and an inner core at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the armature. The armature is slidably movable relative to the inner core. A coil at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the inner core. The relay also includes a stationary contact held in a ceramic header and a movable contact connected to the armature via a shaft. The movable contact is movable between an open position wherein the movable contact does not engage the stationary contact and a closed position wherein the movable contact engages the stationary contact. The relay also includes a housing having an open end and a chamber. The chamber contains the armature, the inner core, the coil, the movable contact, and at least a portion of the stationary contact. The housing forms a portion of a magnetic circuit of the relay. The ceramic header is circumferentially welded to the housing adjacent the open end such that the chamber of the housing is hermetically sealed.

Hermetically sealed electromechanical relay

A modular, multi-phase electrical relay contactor assembled from a number of electrical relay contactor units. Each unit has a housing, an electromagnetic motor located within the housing, a pair of stationary contacts attached to the housing, a moveable contact, and a moveable contact carrier. The moveable contact carrier is engaged with the moveable contact and has a metallic clapper plunger attached to its upper end. A protrusion extends from one side of the moveable contact carrier and an aperture, sized to receive the protrusion of another electrical relay contactor unit, is formed through another side of the moveable contact carrier. A plurality of units are adapted to be connected together such that when engaged, the protrusion extending from the moveable contact carrier of a forwardly located unit will fit into the aperture formed in the moveable contact carrier of a rearwardly located unit, thereby providing synchronous movement of the plurality of moveable contact carriers and the moveable contacts.

Modular multi-phase contactor

A electrical conductor relay. The relay has a unitary, non-conducting, chassis/bobbin assembly with a base portion, a bobbin portion, and an upper portion with a window and a plunger slide passage. An electromagnetic coil is located around the bobbin portion and a magnetic metal core passes through the bobbin and extends partially into the window. First and second electrodes are attached to the chassis/bobbin assembly. The first electrode has a first electrode contact, and the second electrode has a top end. A plunger slide member is positioned within the plunger slide passage and has a magnetic metal plunger plate affixed to its bottom. The magnetic metal plunger plate is movably located in the window and is spaced above the magnetic metal core extending up into window. An armature with a fulcrum end and a rearwardly extending spring attachment end and a front end with an armature contact is provided. The armature pivotally engaged with the plunger slide member. The fulcrum end pivotally contacts the top end of the second electrode. A spring attaches to spring attachment end and tends to raise the front end of the armature and the armature contact away from the first electrode contact when the electromagnetic coil is not energized.

Electrical relay contactor

Sealed relays intended for high-voltage or high-power switching are enclosed in a herrnetically sealed plastic housing or jacket (,) capable of long-term maintenance of either a high vacuum or a pressurized insulating gas within the relay to suppress contact arcing during switching. The impermeable plastic housing eliminates need for conventional glass or ceramic contact enclosures, and enables use of inexpensive relays (,) in demanding applications.

Hermetically sealed electromagnetic relay

A relay device utilizing an angular 'impact break' method to achieve contact break. A rotatable armature is pivotally mounted to one end of the relay while its other end remains separated from the relay pole center by a spring. A separate rotatable actuator, carrying a moving contact, is movably positioned atop the armature and pivoted at the same point where the armature is pivotally mounted. The armature responds to the electromagnetic effects caused by the excitation of the coil, and rotates downward towards the pole center. The actuator rotates along with the armature, due to a spring receptacle on the armature and an overtravel spring between the receptacle and actuator, until the moving contact connected to the actuator contacts the stationary contacts of the relay. After contact, the armature, continues its rotation while the actuator maintains the contact between the moving and stationary contacts. Upon de-energization, the armature rotates upward and away from the pole center and, before making contact with the actuator, acquires kinetic energy which is imparted upon the actuator upon impact with same. Impact force is sufficient to break the previously closed contacts and any welding which occurs between the contacts. The relay device further provides a number of features serving to reduce arcing, puddling and welding.

DC vacuum relay device with angular impact break mechanism

A relay device utilizing a linear 'impact break' method for contact break. An armature shaft has attached at one end a plunger situated at the base of the relay core. The armature has a terminal end portion at its other end. A spring provides a biasing force to maintain the plunger and armature shaft in open state. Resiliently mounted on the armature shaft adjacent its end opposite the plunger is a movable contact disc rotatable about the armature shaft for coming in contact with two stationary contacts in the closed state. The armature shaft towards its plunger end extends into an armature travel cavity. The armature shaft towards its movable contact end extends into a chamber open to the armature travel cavity. A movably mounted further spring is located about the armature shaft between the contact disc and a stop on the armature shaft. The further spring rotates upon its compression to rotate the contact disc to vary the position of contact during a plurality of closing operations. The terminal end portion extends beyond the contact disc upon closed state, and is accelerated by expansion of the further spring to impact the contact disc to provide the contacts open state. All moving parts of the relay are hermetically sealed from the outside atmosphere.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Bernard Victor Bush