Essex Group, Inc.

Samuel J Brown

Gideon A DuRocher

Gerald L McClure

Jerome L Lorenz

A compact, flexible relay with plunger-type armature is provided. Relay configurations ranging from single-pole, single throw to double-pole, double-throw may be provided on the same base, using standardized components. A plurality of the relay terminals are placed in a stacked arrangement, including intermediate insulators, for minimizing the use of space transverse to the plunger armature. The terminals are integrally formed to include a plate portion for positioning parallel to the base and a depending blade portion extending transversely thereto for external electrical connections. Some of the terminals are included in the electromagnetic circuit. In a particular configuration, a double-pole, double-throw relay suited for dynamic braking of a motor is conveniently provided employing the stacked arrangement of terminals and several standardized components.

Electromagnetic solenoid relay

A relay with plunger-type armature includes a resilient contact support, such as a conductive leaf spring, supported by a terminal in a manner affording substantial attenuation of contact bounce when engaged by an armature-mounted contact. Provision is made for insuring separation of the contacts upon reverse displacement of the armature. Specifically, a leaf spring may be fixed at one end to the base of a channel formed in the surface of a terminal plate. An overlying apertured insulator preflexes the spring and limits its displacement in the reverse direction. In a double-throw relay, the other 'stationary' contact may be mounted on a resilient support, such as another leaf spring, for providing contact bounce suppression there as well.

A relay having a plunger-type armature is provided with a magnetic circuit having two serial air gaps arranged for additively applying a magnetic force to the armature in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of its plunger to provide the requisite endwise motion to the armature. In addition to a relatively conventional air gap between the inner end of the armature and a base terminal included in the magnetic circuit, a second air gap is also provided between an armature flange and the bight of a ferromagnetic U bracket about the coil. The armature flange comprises a relatively large area extending transversely of the outer end of the armature plunger and over the U bracket bight portion. The length of the armature plunger from the underside of the flange is such that the flange comes into contiguous, but not contacting, relation with the U bracket's bight portion upon movement of the armature to its actuated position. A nonmagnetic armature stop is affixed to the U bracket for defining the at-rest position of the armature, and thus defining the air gaps. The armature stop may also serve as a support for a contact.

An electromagnetic solenoid relay in which the plunger armature is biased to its at-rest position by a spring of strip metal having an arcuate portion extending between an anchorage portion and an arm portion in engagement with the armature. The armature and spring are relatively loosely held together in operative relation to permit ready alignment of the armature with the relay electromagnet. A movable contact on the spring at one end of the armature cooperates with a stationary contact on a terminal of ferromagnetic material which forms a portion of the electromagnet magnetic flux path to provide a magnetic blow-out effect. The ferromagnetic bracket of the electromagnet is employed to retain major component parts of the relay in assembled relation.

An electromagnetic solenoid relay assembly in which all the electrical connections are located on one end thereof. The solenoid relay assembly of the invention is attached to a printed circuit board by a spring clip member. The relay assembly of the invention includes a bobbin with an electromagnetic coil wound thereon, a stationary core located in the bore of the bobbin, and a movable core slidably located in the bore which is attracted to the stationary core when the electromagnetic coil is energized. An electrical contact is located on the opposing faces of the stationary and movable core members such that an electrical circuit through the two is completed when the coil is energized. A bias force on the movable core member is provided by a spring which urges the movable core away from the stationary core. A pressure plate member carrying a plurality of electrical contacts thereon makes electrical contact to the spring which, in turn, is electrically connected to the contact on the movable core member. The electrical connection to the contact on the stationary core member is made by a bus bar which is connected to the contact at one end and a contact on the insulative member at the other end.

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South Lyon, MI, United States of America

Samuel J Brown