Amf Gmbh

Michael W Knight

Paul G Feil

An improved power-switching relay especially designed for mounting on printed circuit boards together with a method for manufacturing such a relay. The relay includes a number of features designed to properly position the various relay components relative to one another and to help ensure that they remain in the proper position at all times. To this end, the relay includes a unitary bobbin (22) and stationary contact support header (33) together with means (64) for firmly retaining the stationary contacts (34, 36) and their terminals (63, 73) in place in the header. The relay also provides means to prevent rotation of the armature relative to the movable contact assembly (53, 54) and to prevent rotation of the coil assembly relative to the frame (35). According to a further aspect of the invention, the core and coil assembly is attached to the relay frame by extending the core through the coil assembly and press-fitting the core into an extruded hole (14) in the frame. This procedure not only provides a very strong, rigid attachment, but permits the core to be accurately positioned relative to the movable contact arm assembly by simply pressing the core into the extruded aperture by the required amount. This capability, for the most part, eliminates the need for any final adjustments after the relay has been assembled and, thus, helps reduce manufacturing costs. The bobbin is additionally provided with deformable members (38) to take up any space between the core head and bobbin, ensuring a tight assembly.

Method of manufacturing miniature power switching relays

An improved power-switching relay especially designed for mounting on printed circuit boards together with a method for manufacturing such a relay. The relay includes a number of features designed to properly position the various relay components relative to one another and to help ensure that they remain in the proper position at all times. To this end, the relay includes a unitary bobbin (22) and stationary contact support header (33) together with means (64) for firmly retaining the stationary contacts (34, 36) and their terminals (63, 73) in place in the header. The relay also provides means to prevent rotation of the armature relative to the movable contact assembly (53, 54) and to prevent rotation of the coil assembly relative to the frame (35). According to a further aspect of the invention, the core and coil assembly is attached to the relay frame by extending the core through the coil assembly and press-fitting the core into an extruded hole (14) in the frame. This procedure not only provides a very strong, rigid attachment, but permits the core to be accurately positioned relative to the movable contact arm assembly by simply pressing the core into the extruded aperture by the required amount. This capability, for the most part, eliminates the need for any final adjustments after the relay has been assembled and, thus, helps reduce manufacturing costs.

Miniature power switching relays

A relay adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board, and a method for mounting such relays. The relay includes the usual terminals (23, 24, 26 27, 28, 29) extending therefrom and adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board (30) and electrically coupled to conducting paths on the board. In addition, however, the relay is provided with additional load terminals (56, 59, 62, 82, 92) which function as external connection junctions to connect the relay directly to the load being controlled via a circuit that completely bypasses the printed circuit board. According to a preferred embodiment, the relay includes stationary contact members formed to have not only board-mounted terminal portions extending therefrom but also external terminal portions for direct attachment to the load. By retaining the original load terminals on the relay and mounting them to the printed circuit board, added support is provided to help prevent dislocation of the relay from the board when the relay is connected to or disconnected from the load. These board-mounted load terminals can also be used for logic-sensing purposes or the like. Preferably, at least the stationary contact members are formed with an additonal pin portion (63, 64) also adapted to be attached to the board for additional support. The invention permits the use of less costly board material, more efficient utilization of board space, and, in general, a more reliably operating switching circuit.

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Fort Branch, IN, United States of America

Michael W Knight