US2305450A - Relay - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1942. G. R. sTlslfz RELAY Filed April 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNl ENTOR G. R. 5778/ TZ ATTORNEY 1942- e, R. STlBITZ 5 RELAY Filed April 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR G. R. 5 775/ 7' Z A 7' TORA/EV Patented Dec. 15, 1942 2,305,450 RELAY George R. Stibitz, Boonton, N. 1., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation or New York Application April 19, 1941, Serial No. 389,322

12 Claims.

This invention relates to switching devices and more particularly to relays each capable of performing the functions of a plurality of relays of the usual type.

The relay structure disclosed in the application of C. N. Hickman and E. Lakatos, Serial No. 367,338, filed November 27, 1940, is provided with a plurality of magnetic circuit units each comprising a fixed field lamination and an armature lamination having a reed armature portion attractable into conductive engagement with the associated field lamination. Since the reed armatures of all of the units of the relay are encircled by a single operating coil, the energization of such coil causes the attraction of all of the reed armatures to their associated field lamihations, thus closing a plurality of work circuits. The applicant has discovered that by a rearrangement of the laminations of a relay of this type and by the provision of two energizing coils, the relay may become a radically different device with no equivalent among relays of the wellknown conventional types. It can be made to take the place of two conventional non-polarized relays and by combining the magnetic paths of the relay, 8. single reed armature can be made to take the place of several springs on separate relays. Furthermore, because the functionally independent reed armatures are mounted adjacent to each other in close proximity they may be so intercoupled as to enable still further switching functions to be accomplished by a single relay structure.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a relay structure of the type hereinbefore re :ferred to which in a simple manner is enabled to perform the functions of a plurality of relays of the conventional types with consequent savings in cost, mounting space, Wiring and maintenance.

This object is attained by grouping the field laminations in two groups, associating an energizing coil with each of such groups and arranging the armature laminations in such a manner that the reed armature portions thereof may be attracted into conductive engagement with associated field laminations of either group. The object of the invention is further attained by attaching studs of insulating material to the reed armatures in such a manner that with all of the armatures in their normal positions, the free end of the stud of each armature just engages against the adjacent face of the adjacent armature whereby an interaction between the armatures is secured. As a simple example of the adaptability of the invention, a relay may comprise a single armature lamination and three field laminations, two in one group energizable by one energizing coil and located one above and the other below the armature lamination and the third field lam- Cir ination in a second group and energizable by the second energizing coll. ii the reed or the armature is now normally biased into engagement with the lower held lamination oi the mist group, the reed can be attracted into conductive engagement with both of the upper laminatlons by the energlzatlon oi the coil associated with the second group or held laminatlons and will be held in engagement by the continued enel'glzatlon 01' such can or by the subsequent energlzatlon of the other coil. Thus, as will later be explained, such a relay with three held lamlnatlons, 9. smgle reed and two coils could pel'iol'm all of the Iunctlohs OI three conventional relays equipped with an aggregate or ten contact springs.

As a further example a relay may, by the provision of twenty or such sets or held lamina-Lions and reed armatures, that is with sixty held laminations and twenty reed armatures, with two energizing coils and with the armatures intercoupled by insulating studs perlorm the lunctions of the well-Known counting relay chain having twenty separate relays carrying ten tl'ansier contact sets of three contact springs each and ten pairs or make contact springs or a total or eighty springs and. the same number of soldered connections thereto as contrasted with four soldered connectlons in the proposed relay.

For a more comprehensive unuelstalluing of the invention reiel-ence may be had to the 101- lowlng detailed description talsen in connection with tile accollipanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a relay of the type comprehended by the present invention;

Fig. 2 IS a partially exploded View or the relay of lug. l. more clearly disclosing certain assembly element's thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the relay of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a simplmed circuit diagram embodying the relay structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrative of the association. or conventional relays all or the functions of which are accomplished by the re- I lay structure illustrated in bugs. 1. to 5, inclusive,

and installed in the circuit iiiustratecl in lug. a;

Fig. ii is a circuit diagram embodying a modificatlon of the relay structure;

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrative of the association of conventional relays all of the functions of which are accomplished by the relay illustrated in Fig. 6;

big. 8 shows an armature lamination of the relay equipped with a coupling stud for use in a counting relay structure;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the lamination disclosed in Fig. 8;

r Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram embodying the invention in which two reed armatures of the type disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9 are coupled together;

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating the association of conventional relays all of the functions of which are accomplished by the relay illustrated in Fig. and

Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram illustrating the embodiment of the invention capable of countme a plurality of impulses and closing work circuits in response thereto.

Considering the fundamentals of the invention from a Boolian algebraic standpoint and in the first instance with the assumption that no coupling constraints between armature reeds of the relay are present, there are four possible positions for the field laminations associated with any one reed armature. The laminations may pass through either the right or the left energizing coil and may be positioned either above or below the armature. Furthermore, the armature reed may be arranged with its normal position either midway between the upper and lower laminations or may be allowed to rest on one or the other.

For purposes oi. analysis, the reed armature may be considered to be acted upon by three forces; its own stillness, a magnetic force U tending to move the reed upwardly and a magnetic force D tending to move the reed downwardly. In compliance with the Boolian algebraic notation, I shall call U and D the hindrances in the respective magnetic circuits and express U=0 when there is flux tending to move the reed upwardly and U=l when there is no flux and similarly D=0 when there is flux tending to move the reed downwardly and D=1 when there is no flux.

As has been previously stated a field lamination may be placed either above or below the reed armature or laminations may be placed both above and below the associated reed armature and they may pass through either the left or right coils. These possible field laminations may be designated UR if above the reed and extending through the right coil; UL if above the reed and extending through the left coil; DR if below the reed and extending through the right coil and DL it below the reed and extending through the left coil. The lamination may also be considered as coupling the coils R and L to the magnetic circuits U and D. Writing PUL=0 if the lamination UL is present and Pvr=1 if not, with similar designations for the remaining laminations, the following Boolian expressions for the hindrances U and D may be written where L and R are the hindrances of the left and right energizing coils. A similar pair of equations may be written for each reed armatture of a given relay s that finally a set of equations may be derived where the constants PUL', Pun, etc., are assigned values 0 or 1 which then define the mechanical arrangement of the field laminations.

The physical operation of any group of reed armatures when the magnetic variables L and R are varied is determined by the positions of the reeds when the change in L or R is made and 7 by the values taken on by the quantities U", U" D',D',etc.'

The positions or the reed will be specified by giving the hindrances xi, :2: an or the trout or upper contacts of two position springs. Reeds with three positions require two hindrances .r and y to define their positions where x and y are the hindrances of contacts on the tops and bottoms of the reeds, respectively.

In algebraic terms then, the value of :r (or m, y) is determined by X (or X, Y), the initial value of m, and by the values of U and D. Hence, for each type of construction, a table or an algebraic expression may be constructed, with X (or X, Y), U and D as independent variables and a: (or at, :u) as dependent variables. Consequently, if PUL, etc., are assigned the values which are determined by the arrangement of the field laminations around any actual reed armature and if the equation stating U and D in terms of PUL L, R are substittued in this table or algebraic expression, relations are had which deline a: (or :n, y) in terms of X (or X, Y) and L and R, that is, the complete algebraic solution of the given reed armature is derived.

In the present analysis I have considered individual reed armatures with all possible combinations of values assigned to Put, Pun, PDL and Pan and also all combinations of pairs of such reeds with mechanical coupling such as disclosed in Figs. 10 and 12 It will be understood, however, that any number of such reed armatures with similar or with dissimilar parameters may be combined into one relay structure as required, and also that groups of three, four or more reeds may be coupled mechanically. Many of the pos-- sible combinations are, of course, trivial in their operation. After eliminating these by inspection, some of the more important have been illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 4, 6 and 10 as end views of the reed and field lamination combinations together with the algebraic expression of the resulting hindrances and in the associated Figs. 5, '7 and 11, the equivalent circuits composed of conventional relays have been illustrated.

Before discussing these selected illustrations, typical relay structures therefor will first be described. Reference may first be had to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, which disclose the relay structure diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4. This structure is provided with an upper left field lamination I and an upper right field lamination 3 positioned side by side but out of conductive engagement with each other, a single lower left field lamination 2 and a right spacing lamination 4 positioned side by side but out of conductive engagement with each other and an armature lamination 5 of the shape disclosed most clearly in Fig. 8 having a forwardly extending reed portion 6 interposed between the upper field laminations 1 and 3 and the lower field lamination 2 and spacer 4. The armature lamination 5 is insulated from the field laminations by interposed laminations l of insulating material. Outside of the field laminations l and 3, at one end of the assembly, and insulated therefrom by the lamination 8 of insulating material are positioned side by side but out of engagement with each other, a coil terminal member 9 and a spacing member [0. Outside of the coil terminal member 9 and the spacing member ID, two other coil terminal members II and I2 are positioned side by side but out of engagement with each other and separated from the members 9 and H] by an interposed lamination 13 of insulating material and outside of the members II and I2 and separated therefrom by a. lamination I4 of insulating materlal is a coil supporting and clamping plate I5. Outside of the field lamination 2 and spacing member 4, at the other end of the assembly, and insulated therefrom by the lamination I6 of insulating material are positioned side by side but out of engagement with each other a coil terminal member I! and a spacing member I8. Outside of the members I1 and I 8 and insulated therefrom by the lamination I9 of insulating material are positioned side by side but out of engagement with each other two further coil terminal members 20 and 2I and, outside of the members 20 and 2| and separated therefrom by a lamination 22 of insulating material is a coil supporting and clamping plate 23.

The entire assembly is clamped together by bolts 24 which extend through aligned holes in the assembled members and which may be threaded into the holes in the lower clamping plate 23 or which may have clamping nuts upon their lower ends. The shanks of these bolts may, in the usual manner be surrounded by sleeves of insulating material such as hard rubber to insulate them from the field laminations, armature laminations and coil terminal members or the assembly structure disclosed in the Hickman- Lakatos application hereinbefore referred to may be employed thereby eliminating the insulating sleeves.

The end plates I and 23 are provided with out-turned ears 25 which serve as mounting brackets for the attachment of the relay structure to a suitable relay or apparatus rack and with a forwardly T-shaped portion 26, the arms of which serve as supports for the right and left operating coils R and L.

Each field lamination such as I is stamped from a sheet of suitable magnetic material into a U-shape most clearly disclosed in Fig. 2 and comprises one widened arm 21 which serves as a support therefor in the assembly and which is provided with two holes (not shown) through which the clamping bolts 24 extend, a narrow base portion 28 which, as later described embraces the outside of one of the operating coils and a second narrow arm 29 which serves as a pole-piece and extends through one of the operating coils. The rear end of the arm 21 is provided with a rearwardy extending terminal lug (not shown). The pole-piece arms 29 of the field laminations I and 2 extend through the operating coil L and the pole-piece arm 29 of the field lamination 3 extends through the operating coil R. The pole-piece arm of each field lamination has a contact 30 Welded or otherwise secured to the pole face thereof facing the reed portion 6 of the armature lamination 5.

The armature lamination 5 is also stamped from a sheet of suitable magnetic material into the shape most clearly disclosed in Fig. 8 and comprises a widened base portion 3| which serves as a support therefor in the assembly and which is provided with four holes 32 through which the clamping bolts 24 extend and a tongue or reed portion 6. To give the reed portion greater length and thus greater resiliency, the base portion 3| is slotted as indicated at 33. The free end of the reed portion 6 extends freely between the inner faces of the coils L and R and between the pole-piece arms 29 of the upper field lamina tions I and 3 and the pole-piece arm 29 of the lower field lamination 2 and is provided on both faces thereof with contacts 34 Welded or other- I9 and 22 are rectangular in shape and are stamped from a sheet of suitable insulating material such as hard rubber or fiber and each is provided with four holes through which the clamping bolts 24 extend.

The coil terminal members 9, II, I2, I1, 20 and 2i are stamped out of sheet brass and each has a base portion serving as a support therefor in the assembly and provided with two holes through .which the clamping bolts 24 extend, with a forwardly extending arm and with a rearwardly extending terminal lug. For example the terminal member 9 has an arm 36 extending forwardly and then upwardly at right angles and a terminal lug 31. The coil terminal member I1 is similar to the member 9 except that the forwardly extending arm 36 is bent downwardly. Coil terminal members II, I2, 20 and 2| are also similar to the member 9 except that their arms 38 do not extend as far forwardly as the arm 36 of members 9 and I1 before they are bent at right angles as best disclosed in Fig. 1 and their terminal lugs 39 extend rearwarclly therefrom in positions out of vertical alignment with the terminal lugs 31 of the members 9 and II. The arms 38 of the members II and I2 are bent upwardly and the arms 38 of the members 20 and H are bent downwardly. The rectangular spacing members I0 and I8 may also be stamped from sheet brass of the same thickness as the brass from .which the coil terminal members are stamped and are also each provided with two holes through which clamping bolts 24 extend.

The right coil R is provided with an outer spoolhead 49 of insulating material upon which are mounted four coil terminal lugs M to 44, inclusive. Each of these lugs is provided with a base member having two eyelet portions offset therefrom which extend through holes in the spoolhead Ml and are spun over on the reverse face thereof and With an arm portion which is bent around the arm portion of one of the coil terminal members. For example the arm portion 45 of the terminal lug M is bent around the arm portion 38 of the member Ii and is then soldered thereto. Four terminal lugs are shown secured in spoolhead 40 to connect with the terminals of the two windings of coil R. If only one Winding in the coil R is necessary, two of these terminal lugs, for example, lugs 42 and 43 and the corresponding terminal members 9 and I1, the spacing members III and I8 and the insulating laminations 8 and I6 could be omitted from the relay assembly. The left coil L is provided with an outer spoolhead 46 to which two coil terminal lugs similar to the lugs 45 and 44 are secured for soldered connection with the arms 38 of the coil terminal members I2 and 2|, respectively.

Figs. I to 3, inclusive, just discussed are illustrative of the manner of assembly of the different elements of the relay to secure the contact arrangement disclosed diagrammatically in Fig. 4. In this case the reed portion 6 of the ar-= mature lamination would be present before assembly so that it would normally engage the contacts 34 carried on its lower face with the contacts-30 carried on the pole-piece of the lower left field lamination 3.

Considering Figs. 4 and 5, the spring combination disclosed therein may be expressed by the algebraic equation x=LR+XL'. If the coil L should be energized first, the reed 6 would not be operated, since the reed being normally in engagement with the pole-piece of the lower left field lamination would be held thereto by the flux generated by the coil L and flowing through the reed, through the pole-piece portion 29, base portion 28 and arm 21 of the field lamination. The subsequent energization of the coil R would then be without effect since the previous energization of the coil L would hold the reed against movement in response to the fiux path set up by the coil R. If, however, the coil R should be energized first, the fiux set up; thereby in the upper right field lamination 3 would attract the reed 6 out of engagement with the field lamination 2 thereby opening the normally closed circuit between the terminals a and j and engage the reed 6 with the field lamination 3 thereby closing a circuit between the terminals 1) and f. A simple transfer is thereby effected. If thereafter the coil L is energized, the reed 6 is held thereby in engagement with the field lamination i and would continue to be so held following the subsequent deenergization of the coil R.

The usual relay and circuit arrangement for accomplishing this same circuit transfer and looking, as illustrated in Fig. 5, requires three relays L, R and X, the relay L having three contact springs, the relay R having two contact springs and the relay X having five contact springs or a total of three coils, ten contact springs and ten soldered connections to such springs, as contrasted with the two coils, no contact springs and the five soldered connections disclosed in the structure of Fig. 4.

In the relay structure illustrated in Fig. 6, the coil L surrounds only the pole-piece of a single field lamination l, the lower left field lamination 2 of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, being replaced by a spacer member similar to member i, the right field lamination 3 and the right spacer member 4 being interchanged so that the spacer 4 is positioned beside the field lamination l and the field lamination 3 is positioned beneath the reed portion 6 of the armature lamination 5. The reed 6 is normally biased into contact with the pole-piece of the field lamination 3 thereby establishing the normally closed circuit between terminals (1 and f. The spring combination disclosed may be expressed by the equation x=L+XR'. If now the coil L be first energized, the flux generated thereby in the field lamination I and in the reed will attract the reed out of engagement with the field lamination 3 to open the circuit between terminals a and f and into engagement with the lamination l to establish a circuit between terminals 22 and 1 thus effecting a simple transfer. So long as coil L remains energized, the. subsequent energization of coil R is without effect. Should the coil R be first energized, then the subsequent energiza tion of coil L would be without effect since the coil R would hold the reed 6 magnetically against the field lamination 3.

The circuit of conventional relays for accomplishing the same function is illustrated in Fig. 7 as comprising three coils L, R and X, nine consuch springs as contrasted with two coils, no contact springs and three soldered connections disclosed in the structure of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 illustrates a further relay assembly comprising a unit of three field laminations I, 2 and 3 and an armature reed 6 arranged in the manner disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and a second similar unit comprising three field laminations I, 2' and 3' arranged reversely to the similar laminations of the other unit and an armature reed 8. The left coil L surrounds the pole-pieces of the three field laminations l, 2 and 3' and the right coil R surrounds the polepieces of the field laminations l, 2 and 3. The reed 6 is also provided near its forward end with a stud 41 of insulating material, ring-staked thereto and having its free end normally engaged against the upper face of the reed 5'. Normally the reeds 8 and 5 are both biased to engage with the pole-pieces of field laminations 2 and 2', respectively. The spring combination disclosed therein may be expressed by the algebraic equations If coil L is first energized, no motion of the reed armatures 6 and 6' is produced because the flux generated by the coil L in the field lamination 2 will hold the reed t in engagement with the pole-piece thereof and the flux generated in the field lamination 3 will not be able to attract the reed 6' to its pole-piece because the reed will be prevented from moving by the stud 4?. If the coil R is now energized neither reed 6 nor 6' will be able to move since reed 6 is held magnetically against the field lamination 2 by the prior energization of coil L and the reed 5' Will be held magnetically against the field lami nation 2 by the energization of coil R.

If coil R is first energized, reed 8 will be at tracted into engagement with the field lamina tion 3 thereby moving the stud from the reed 6' but the reed 5 will not be attracted to the field lamination l since it is held magnetically against the field lamination 2' by the fiux generated therein by the coil R. If now, coil L is energized, the operated reed 6 becomes magnetically locked to the field lamination I, but the flux set up in the field lamination 3 will be unable to move reed 6' since it is held magnetically against the lamination 2 by the continued energization of coil R. If coil R now becomes deenergized, reed 6 is held in engagement with the lamination I by the energized coil L and since reed 6 is now no longer held magnetically against the lamination 2' it is now attracted into engagetact springs and nine soldered connections to ment with the lamination 3.

In the analogous group of conventional relays shown in Fig. 11, relays L and R correspond to the coils L and R of Fig. 10 and relays X1 and X2 correspond to the reeds 6 and 6' respectively. If relay R is first operated, with relay L unoperated, it causes the operation of relay X1 which looks over its upper contacts and the front con tacts of relay R independently of relay L. When thereafter relay L operates, it closes a new locking circuit for relay X1 and prepares an operating circuit for relay X2 which is established upon the subsequent release of relay R over the front contacts of relay L, the back contact of relay R and the inner contacts of relay X1. Relay X2 upon operating looks over its own contacts and the front contacts of relay L and remains operated until relay L releases. Thus this circuit requires four relay coils, twelve contact springs and twelve soldered connections thereto whereas the relay structure of Fig. which performs the same functions requires but two coils, no contact springs and no soldered connections.

Fig. 12 illustrates the relay structure of Fig. 10 further expanded for the purpose of counting impulses. The relay structure illustrated is ca pable of counting three impulses. The right coil R is divided into two equal windings R and R wound difierentially with respect to each other. To prepare the circuit for counting impulses, the keys 48 and 50 are operated, key 43 closing an obvious circuit for operating relay 8B and key 56 closing a circuit extending from the negative terminal of battery over the contacts of key 50, through windings R, R and L in series to the other terminal of the battery 49. With relay 86 operated, the left winding L becomes energized to cause a fiow of fiux in the pole-pieces of all of the field laminations associated therewith, but due to the difierential arrangement of the windings R and R no flow of fiux is generated in the pole-pieces of the field laminations associated therewith.

With the winding L energized all of the evennumbered reed armatures l2, I4, 16 and I8 are held magnetically against the lower field laminations 52, 55, 58 and 6|, linked with the winding L and through the studs 41 carried thereby hold the odd-numbered reed armatures 13, and TI against the lower field laminations 64, 61 and 1D, linked with the right windings R and R so that they cannot be attracted to the upper field laminations 53, 56 and 59 linked with the energized winding L. When the dial 19 is rotated by the insertion of a finger in the No. 3 finger-hole thereof until the finger engages the usual fingerstop, and the dial is then released, the circuit of relay 80 is opened and then closed three times during the return of the dial to normal.

Upon the first release of relay 6D, the left winding L and the winding R become short-circuited over the contacts of relay 8!] and the winding R becomes effectively energized in a circuit from battery 49 over the contacts of key 50 and over the contacts of relay 8!]. With winding R now effective, reed 12 is attracted upwardly into engagement with the field lamination 62 thereby moving its stud 41 out of engagement with the next reed 13, but this reed is now held magnetically against the lower field lamination 64 linked with the coil R and through its stud 4'! prevents the next reed 14 from being attracted upwardly toward the magnetized field lamination 65. Reed I5 is also held magnetically against the lower field lamination 61 linked with the coil R and through its stud 41 prevents the next reed 16 from being attracted upwardly toward the magnetized field lamination 68. Similarly reed TI is held magnetically against the lower field lamination I0 linked with the coil R and through its stud 41 prevents the next reed 18 from being attracted upwardly toward the magnetized field lamination I I. Thus with the winding L deenergized and the winding R effectively energized only the upper reed 12 is moved, the odd-numbered reeds I3, 15 and 11 being held down magnetically and the even-numbered reeds 14, I6

and 18 being held down by the engagement of the studs of the odd-numbered reeds therewith.

On the next energization of relay 80 upon the termination of the first impulse transmitted by the dial 19, the shunt around the left winding L and the right winding R is opened and the two windings R and R again become connected differentially in the circuit of winding L. Winding L now becomes energized and the windings R and R become ineffective, but the winding L energizes before current builds up sufficiently in the winding R to oppose the current fiowing through the winding R to render winding R ineffective so that the operated reed 12 is held locked to the upper magnetized field lamination 5i linked with the winding L. Since the stud 4'! of reed I2 is now out of engagement with reed I3 and reed T3 is no longer held magnetically against the field lamination 64, it is now attracted upwardly into engagement with field lamination 53 which is linked with the energized winding L. A circuit is now established from ground over field lamination 53, reed 13 connected with reed M by conductor 8|, field lamination 55 against which reed I4 is held magnetically by the winding L and thence to battery through the lamp 82. The lighting of lamp 82 indicates the counting of one received impulse. Reeds 16 and 18 are also held magnetically against the field laminations 58 and 6|, respectively, which are linked with the energized winding L and reeds I4 and 16 through their studs 41 hold reeds 15 and 11 against attraction toward the magnetized field laminations 5B and 59.

Upon the deenergization of relay 80 in response to the next impulse from the dial 19, the shunt of windings L and R, is reestablished and the winding R again becomes effective. Following the deenergization of winding L, the operated reeds l2 and 13 are held in their operated positions by the magnetization of field laminations 62 and 63 linked with the winding R. Since the left winding L is now deenergized, the reed 14 is no longer held magnetically against the field lamination 55 and since the reed 13 has been operated and moved its stud 41 from engagement with reed l4, this reed now becomes attracted into engagement with the field lamination 65 linked with the winding R, and upon leaving the field lamination 55 opens the circuit of lamp 82. Reeds l5 and T! are now held magnetically against the field laminations 61 and linked with the winding R and through their associated studs 4'! hold the reeds I6 and 18 against attraction towards the field laminations 68 and II linked with the winding R.

Upon the next energlzation of relay 80, upon the termination of the second impulse transmitted by the dial it, the shunt around the left winding L and the right winding R is opened and the two windings R and R again becomes connected difierentially in the circuit of Winding L whereupon winding L energizes and the right windings R and R become ineffective. The three operated reeds l2, l3 and '14 are now held locked magnetically to the field laminations 5!, 53 and 54, respectively, linked with the energized winding L. Since the stud 41 of reed I4 is now out of engagement with reed l5 and reed 15 is no longer held magnetically against the field lamination 61, it is now attracted upwardly into engagement with field lamination 56 linked with the energized winding L. A circuit is now established from ground over field lamination 56, reed 15 connected with reed 76 by conductor 83, field lamination 58 against which reed 16 is held magnetically by the energized winding L and thence to battery through the lamp 84. The lighting of lamp 84 indicates the counting of two received impulses. Reed 18 is also held magnetically against the field lamination 6| linked with the energized winding L and reed "is held by stud 41 of reed I8 against attraction toward the magnetized lamination 9.

Upon the next .deenergization of relay 80, in response to the next impulse from the dial 19, the shunt of windings L and R is reestablished and the winding R again becomes effective. Following the deenergization of windying L, the operated reeds I2 to 15, inclusive, are held in their operated positions by the magnetization of the field laminations 62, 63, 55 and 66 linked with the winding R. Since the left winding L is now deenergized, the reed 18 is no longer held magnetically against the field lamination 58 and becomes attracted into engagement with the field lamination 68 linked with winding R and upon leaving the field lamination 58 opens the circuit of lamp 8!. Reed 11 is now held magnetically against the field lamination l0 linked with winding R and, through its stud 41, holds reed 18 against attraction toward the field lamination H linked with winding R.

On the next energization of relay 80, upon the termination of the third impulse transmitted by the dial 19, the shunt around the left winding L and the right winding R is opened and the reeds 12 to 16, inclusive, are now held locked magnetically to the field laminations 5|, 53, 54, 56 and 51, respectively, linked with the energized winding L. Since the stud 41 of reed 16 is now out of engagement with reed l1 and reed 11 is no longer held magnetically against the field lamination 10, it is now attracted upwardly into engagement with the field lamination 59 linked with the energized winding L. A circuit is now established from ground over field lamination 59, reed 11 connected with reed 18 by conductor 85, field lamination 6| against which reed i8 is held magnetically by the energized winding L and thence to battery through the lamp 86. The lighting of lamp 86 indicates the counting of three received impulses. To restore the operated reeds of the relay structure to their normal positions, the keys 48 and 50,are released.

It will be obvious that any desired number of impulses could be counted in a similar manner by the addition of two reeds and six associated field laminations for each additional impulse to be counted. Thus a relay structure capable of counting ten impulses would require twenty reeds and sixty field laminations.

While the foregoing illustrations have been selected to demonstrate the invention, it is to be understood that other combinations of field laminations and reeds could be arranged to effect any desired contact combination and that the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. In a relay, a first and a second field lamination of magnetic material positioned in parallel layers, a first energ zing coil surrounding said laminations, a third field lamination of magnetic material positioned in the layer of said first lamination and out 01' conductive engagement therewith, a second energizing coil surrounding said latter lamination, a reed of magnetic material attractable into engagement with any one of said laminations, and laminations of insulating material interposed between said laminations and said reed, said reed being normally biased into engagement with said second lamination whereby it may be moved out of engagement therewith and into engagement with said other laminations only by the initial energization of said second coil and may be held in its attracted position by the continued energization of said second coil or the subsequent energization of said first coil.

2. In a relay, two groups of field laminations of magnetic material, reeds oi magnetic material attractable into conductive engagement with laminations of both groups, laminations of insulating material interposed between said laminations and between said laminations and said reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations, respectively, and mechanical coupling means extending between adjacent reeds whereby upon the sequential energization and deencrgization of said coils, said reeds are operated sequentially.

3. In a relay, two groups of field laminations of magnetic material, reeds of magnetic material attractable into conductive engagement with laminations or both groups, laminations of insulating material interposed between said laminations and between said laminations and said reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations respectively, a plurality of work circuits and mechanical coupling means extending between adjacent reeds whereby upon the sequential energization and deenergization 01' said coils said reeds are operated sequentially to successively establish said work circuits.

4. In a relay, two groups of filed laminations of magnetic material, reeds of magnetic material attractable into conductive engagement with laminations of both groups, laminations of insulating material interposed between said laminations and between said laminations and said reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations, respectively, a plurality of work circuits and studs of insulating material secured to certain of said reeds and having their ends engaged against adjacent reeds, whereby upon the sequential energization and deenergization of said coils, said reeds are operated sequentially to successively establish said work circuits.

5. In a relay, two groups of field laminations of magnetic material, reeds of magnetic material attractable into conductive engagement with laminations of both groups laminations of insulating material interposed between said laminations and between said laminations and said reeds, energizing coil surrounding said groups of laminations, respectively, one of said coils comprising two diflerentially wound windings, studs of insulating material secured to certain of said reeds and having their ends engaged against adjacent reeds, and means for sequentially connecting one of said coils and the two windings of said other coil difierentially in series and then establishing a shunt around one of said coils and one winding of said other coil whereby said reeds are operated sequentially.

6. In a relay, a first set of field laminations of magnetic material, the first and second laminations of which are positioned in parallel layers and the third lamination of which is positioned in the layer of the first lamination and out of conductive engagement therewith, a second set of field laminations having its laminations arranged reversely to those of said first set to form two groups of laminations, one comprising the first and second laminations oi. the first set and the third lamination of the second set and the other comprising the first and second laminations of the second set and the third lamination of the first set, a reed of magnetic material associated with each set of laminations normally biased into engagement with the second lamina tion thereof and attractable into engagement with any lamination of the set, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent laminations and between adjacent laminations and reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations respectively, and a stud of insulating material secured to the reed of said first set and engaged against the reed of said second set, whereby upon the sequential energization of said coils in a definite order and the release of the first operated coil, said reeds are operated sequentially.

'7. In a relay, a first set of field laminations of magnetic material, the first and second laminations of which are positioned in parallel layers and the third lamination of which is positioned in the layer of the first and out of conductive.

of its set, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent laminations and between adjacent laminations and reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations, respectively, and a stud of insulating material secured to the reed of said first set and engaged against the reed of said second set, whereby upon the energization of one of said coils, the reed of the first set is moved into engagement with the third lamination thereof and the reed of the second set is magnetically held against the second lamination of its set, whereby upon the subsequent energization of said other coil the reed of the first set is held magnetically against the first lamination thereof and whereby upon the subsequent release of said one coil the reed of the second set is attracted into engagement with the third lamination of its set by the continued energization of said other coil, thus operating said reeds sequentially.

8. In a relay, a plurality of sets of field laminations of magnetic material, the first and second laminations of each set being positioned in parallel layers and the third lamination of each set being positioned in the layer of said first lamination and out of conductive engagement therewith, adjacent sets of said laminations being assembled reversely to form two groups of laminations, one comprising the first and second laminations of the odd-numbered sets and the third laminations of the even-numbered sets, and the other group comprising the first and second laminations of the even-numbered sets and the third laminations of the odd-numbered sets, a reed of magnetic material associated with each set of laminations and attractable into engagement therewith, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent laminations and between adjacent laminations and reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations,

respectively, and studs of insulating materials se- 7 cured to certain of said reeds and having their ends engaged against adjacent reeds, whereby upon the sequential energization and deenergization of said coils, said reeds are operated sequentially.

9. In a relay, a first plurality of sets of field laminations each comprising three laminations of magnetic material, the first and second of which are positioned in parallel layers and the third of which is positioned in the layer of the first and out of conductive engagement therewith, a second plurality of sets of field laminations alternated with the sets of said first plurality and each having its laminations arranged reversely to the laminations of said first sets to form two groups of laminations, one comprising the first and second laminations of the sets of said first plurality and the third laminations of the sets of said second plurality and the other comprising the first and second laminations of the sets of said second plurality and the third laminations of the sets of said first plurality, a reed of magnetic material associated with each set of laminations and normally biased into engagement with the second lamination thereof and attractable into engagement with any lamination of its set, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent laminations and between adjacent laminations and reeds, energizing coils surrounding said groups of laminations, respectively, and studs of insulating material secured to certain of said reeds and having their ends engaged against the adjacent reeds, whereby upon the energization of one of said coils, the reed of the first set of said first plurality of sets is moved into engagement with the first and third laminations thereof, the reeds of the second plurality of sets are held magnetically against the third lamination of their sets and the reeds of the remaining sets of the first plurality are held mechanically by the studs oi the other reeds, whereby upon the subsequent energization of said other coil, the operated reed is held magnetically against the first lamination. of its set and the remaining reeds of the first plurality of sets are held magnetically against the third laminators of their sets and through their studs hold the remaining reeds of the second plurality of sets against the third laminations thereof, and whereby upon the subsequent release of said one coil, the reed of the first set of the second plurality is attracted into engagement with the third lamination of its set, the unoperated reeds of the first plurality of sets are held magnetically against the third laminations thereof, and the urnoperated reeds of the second plurality of sets are held against the third laminations of their sets by the continued energization of said other coil, said sequence of operations being completed by the reenergization of said one coil followed by the release of said other coil and repeated sequences of operations causing the sequential operation of the remaining reeds.

10. In a relay, a first and a second pole-piece positioned in parallel planes, a first energizing coil surrounding said pole-pieces, a third pole-piece positioned in the plane of the first pole-piece and out of conductive engagement therewith, a second energizing coil surrounding said latter polepiece and an armature attractable into engagement with any one of said pole-pieces, said armature being normally biased into engagement with said second pole-piece whereby it may be moved out of engagement therewith and into engagement with said other pole-pieces only by the initial energization of said second coil and may be held in its attracted position by the continued energization of said second coil or by the subsequent ener 'gization of said first coil.

11. In a relay, two groups of pole-pieces, armatures attractable into engagement with pole-pieces of both groups, energizing coils surrounding said groups of pole-pieces respectively, and mechanical coupling means extending between adjacent armatures whereby upon the sequential energize.- tion and deenergization of said coils said armatures are operated sequentially.

12. In a relay, a plurality of sets of pole-pieces, the first and second of each set being positioned in parallel planes and the third of each set being positioned in the plane of the first pole-piece, adjacent sets of said pole-pieces being assembled reversely to form two groups of pole-pieces. one

- comprising the first and second pole-pieces or the odd numbered sets and the third pole-pieces of the even numbered sets, and the other group com prising the first and second pole-pieces of the even numbered sets and the third pole-pieces of the odd numbered sets, an armature associated with each set of pole-pieces and attractable into engagement therewith, energizing coils surrounding said groups of pole-pieces, respectively and studs of insulating material secured to certain 01' said armatures and having their ends engaged against adjacent armatures, whereby upon the sequential energization and deenergization of said coils said armatures are operated sequentially.

GEORGE R, STIBITZ.

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