US3372356A - Compact relay with single yoke-core member - Google Patents

Description

M h 9 8 MASAO HIYANE ETAL 3,372,355 COMPA CT RELAY WITH SINGLE YOKE-CORE MEMBER Filed Jan. 18, 1966 FIG.2

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United States Patent Ofiice 3,372,356 COMPACT RELAY WITH SINGLE YOKE-CORE MEMBER Masao Hiyane and Yukihiro Suizu, Suzaka-shi, Japan,

assignors to Fujitsu Limited, Kawasaki, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Jan. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 521,313 6 Claims. (Cl. 335-281) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A relay comprises a yoke-core member of unitary structure and substantially U-shaped configuration having a first core arm, a second yoke arm spaced from and substantially parallel to the first core arm and a center part joining the first and second arms. The first and second arms have substantially coplanar end surfaces. The second yoke arm has an elongated slot formed therethrough. The yoke-core member is of magnetizable material and supports an energizing coil on its first core arm. An armature member of substantially L-shaped configuration is pivotally mounted in operative proximity with the first core arm on the second yoke arm at the end surface thereof. A release spring positioned in the elongated slot formed through the second yoke arm has one end afiixed to a first fastener in the slot and another end aflixed to a second fastener in the anmature.

The present invention relates to a compact relay. More particularly, the invention relates to a compact relay with a single yoke-core member.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved compact relay.

An object of the present invention is to provide a relay which is not only compact and inexpensive in manufac ture, but efficient, effective and reliable in operation.

In accordance with the present invention, a relay comprises a yoke-core member of unitary structure and substantially U-shaped configuration having a first core arm, a second yoke arm spaced from and substantially parallel to the first core arm and a center part joining the first and second arms. The yoke-core member is of magnetizable material. An energizing coil is supported on the first core arm. An armature member of substantially L-sh-aped configuration is pivotally mounted on the second yoke arm in operative proximity with the first core arm. The second yoke arm has an elongated slot formed there through. A release spring is positioned in the elongated slot with one end affixed to fastening means in the elongated slot and with its other end aflixed to fastening means in thearmature.

In .order that the present invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the relay of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG 5 isa view taken along the lines V-V of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the yoke-core member of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the figures, the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.

The relay of the-present invention, an embodiment of which is shown .in the figures, utilizes a small number of 3,372,356 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 parts and components so that it is assembled with facility and the relay is compact due to proper utilization of space d lack of wasted space. The magnetic circuit comprises an iron yoke and core which is shaped as a single member.

The single yoke-core member 1 is of unitary structure and of substantially U-shaped configuration. The yokecore member 1 comprises iron and is shown in perspective in FIG. 6. The yoke-core member 1 is positioned in the relay on its side, so that, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, said member rests on one arm of the U. The U-shaped configuration of the yoke-core member 1 has a first arm 2, upon which it rests, a second arm 3, substantially parallel to and wider than the firs-t arm 2, and a center part 4 joining the first and second arms 2 and 3.

The first arm 2 of the yoke-core member 1 is narrow in width and supports a bobbin 5 which is coaxially mounted thereon and afiixed thereto. The energizing coil 6 of the relay is wound on the bobbin 5. An aperture 7 is formed through the central part 4. A bolt 8 or suitable fastening member is t-hreadedly coupled in the aperture 7 so that the yoke-core member 1 is aflixed in this manner to a terminal block or plate 9. A pair of projections 10a and 10b extend from opposite sides of the second arm 3 of the yoke-core member 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and form an indented end surface 11 between them.

The first arm 2 of the yoke-core member 1 has an end surface 12 which is substantially parallel to, and coplanar with, the end surface 11, but not coplanar with the end surfaces of the projections 10a and 10b of the second arm 3. The end surfaces 11 and 12 are finished after shaping of the yoke-core member 1 and are contacted by the inner surface 13 of an armature 14. The armature 14 is of L-shaped configuration.

The armature 14 has a pair of grooves or notches 15a and 15b formed in opposite sides thereof and corresponding to and fitting over the projections 10a and 10b of the second arm 3 of the yoke-member 1. The notches 15a and 15b cooperate with the projections 10a and 10b to support and position the armature 14 and to direct the movement of said armature. The armature 14 is thus pivot-ally mounted at its notches 15a and 15b for pivotal movement on the projections 10a and 10]). When the relay is energized, by the flow of current through the energizing coil or winding 6, the armature 14 is attracted to the first arm 2 of the yoke-core member 1 and is rotated in a clockwise direction about the projections 10a and 10b as pivot points (FIG. 5). When the relay is deenergized, the armature 14 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the projections 10a and 10b (FIG. 5) by the action of a release spring 16.

The second arm 3 of the yoke-core member 1 has an elongated slot 17 formed therethrough. The elongated slot 17 extends along the length of the second arm 3. An aperture 18 is formed through the second arm 3 of the yoke-core member 1 at a small distance from one end of the elongated slot 17 so that a part 19 of said second arm remains as a bridge portio between said aperture and said elongated slot. Instead of such an arrangement, of course, a bridging pin or member may be inserted in the elongated slot 17 near one end thereof, thereby avoiding the need for the aperture 18. Apertures 21 and 22 are formed through the armature 14 with a part 23 of said armature remaining as a bridge portion between said apertures.

One end of the release, spring 16 is affixed to the bridge portion 23 of the armature 14 and the other end of said release spring is afiixed to the bridge portion 19 so that part of said release spring is positioned in the elongated slot 17. The bridge portion 19 is rounded to facilitate afiixing of the release spring 16 thereto. The release spring 16 is supported and positioned in a manner which enables said release spring to urge the armature 14 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 5) about the projections a and 10b of the second arm 3.

The actual, almost continual, area of contact of the yoke-core member 1 with the armature 14 is along the upper edge of the end surface 11 between said end surface and the outer surface of the second arm 3 of said yoke-core member. The release spring 16 exerts a force F1 on the armature 14, which force urges said armature to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about the projections 10a and 16b and urges said armature into abutment with the upper edge of the end surface 11. The

force F1, exerted on the armature 14 by the release spring 16, may of course be broken into its components F2 and F3.

A sleeve or washer member 24 of insulation material is afiixed to the inner surface 13 of the armature 14 by any suitable means such as, for example, a rivet or bolt 25. A resilient spring-type leaf member 26 is afiixed to or in the washer member 24 at one end and has a contact member 27 at its other end. The leaf member 26 and its contact member 27 are of electrically conductive material and serve as electrical conductors. An electrical terminal 28 is provided on the leaf member 26 at its end afiixed to the washer member 24.

The terminal block or plate 9 comprises electrically insulating material. Electrical terminals 29a, 29b, 31 and 32 are affixed to and supported by the terminal plate 9 by any suitable means.

An aperture 33 is formed through the terminal plate 9 to permit passage of the bolt 8 therethrough so that the yoke-core member 1 and said terminal plate may be fastened to each other by said bolt.

The electrical terminal 28 is electrically connected to the electrical terminal 32 by an electrical conductor 34. The lower surface of the electrical terminal 2% has an electrical contact 35 and the upper surface of the electrical terminal 2% has an electrical contact 36, each of said electrical contacts being adapted to make electrical contact with the contact member 27 of the leaf member 26 to the exlusion of the other when said leaf member is in a corresponding determined position. The energizing coil or winding 6 is connected to the electrical terminal 31. Any suitable number of leaf members 26 may be supported by any suitable number of washer members 24 and any suitable number of electrical terminals 29a, 29b, 31 and 32 may be supported by the terminal plate 9. Thus, for example, as shown in the figures, there may be two washer members 24, each supporting two leaf members 26, and the terminal plate 9 may support four electrical terminals 29a, four electrical terminals 29b, two electrical terminals 31 and four electrical terminals 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

A cover or housing 37 is provided for the relay unit. The cover 37 has a pair of apertures formed therein on opposite sides thereof. A pair of projections 38a and 38b are provided on opposite sides of the terminal plate 9 and fit into the apertures formed in the cover 37. The projections 38a and 38b thus maintain the cover 37 in position and prevent it from falling off.

When the relay is deenergized, the armature 14 is in its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 and the contact member 27 of the leaf member 26 is in electrical contact with the electrical contact 36 of the electrical terminal 2% so that a circuit 2%, 36, 2'7, 26, 28, 34, 32 is closed. When the relay is energized, the armature 14 is in a position in which it is displaced in a clockwise direction from its deenergized position and the contact member 27 of the leaf member 26 is in electrical contact with the electrical contact 35 of the electrical terminal 29a so that a circuit 29a, 35, 27, 26, 28, 34, 32 is closed.

The yoke-core member 1 may be made by stamping an iron plate and then bending it into U-shape. The forming of the yoke-core member 1 from a single plate of iron decreases the number of components usually comprising the yoke and the core to but a single component and avoids the need for connecting such components to each other. The single yoke-core member 1 also provides an efficient magnetic circuit, since magnetic reluctance created by connecting separate components to form the yoke and core is avoided and the reluctance of said single yoke-core member is very low. The end surfaces 11 and 12 of the yoke-coremember 1 are cut and finished at the same time so that the first and second arms 2 and 3 of said yoke-core member are facilely made of the same length and the length of the yoke equals the length of the core; the first arm 2 corresponding to the core and the second arm 3 corresponding to the yoke. The end surfaces 11 and 12 are also facilely made coplanar by polishing and finishing at the same time.

The contact between the inner surface 13 of the armature 14 and the end surfaces 11 and 12 is good, so that the space between said armature and said end surfaces is small and the magnetic reluctance is correspondingly small. The positioning of the release spring 16 in the elongated slot 17 in the second arm 3 of the yoke-core member 1 saves considerable space and enables the relay to be compact and miniaturized. The support of one end of the release spring 16 by the bridge portion 19 of the second arm 3 of the yoke-core member 1 avoids the need for an external fixture and simplifies the structure considerably.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, we do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a relay, a yoke-core member of unitary structure and substantially U-shaped configuration having a first core arm, a second yoke arm spaced from and substantially parallel to said first core arm, said first and second arms having substantially coplanar end surfaces, said second yoke arm having an elongated slot formed therethrough, and a center part joining said first and second arms, said yoke-core member being of magnetizable material; an energizing coil supported on said first core arm; an armature member of substantially L-shaped configuration; mounting means pivotally mounting said armature member in operative proximity with said first core arm, said mounting means being supported by said second yoke arm at the end surface thereof; first spring fastening means in the elongated slot formed through said second yoke arm; second spring fastening means in said armature; and a release spring in said elongated slotformed through said second yoke arm and having one end aflixed to said first spring fastening means and another opposite end afiixed to said second spring fastening means.

2. In a relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said release spring pivotally urges said armature in one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction about said mounting means and energization of said energizing coil pivotally urges said armature in the other of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction about said mounting means.

3'. In a relay as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing covering said yoke-core member, said coil, said armature member, said mounting" means, said first and second spring fastening means and said release spring, and a bolt affixing said center part and therefore said yoke-core member to said housing.

4. In a relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of spaced opposite notches formed in said armaturemember and a pair of spaced opposite projections extending from said second yoke arm beyond the end surface thereof and passing into the notches formed in said armature member.

5. In a relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first spring fastening means comprises a rounded bridge portiOn across said elongated slot formed through said second yoke arm.

6. In a relay as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing has an aperture formed therethrough, and further comprising electrical conducting means in said housing housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Matthias 335276 Bogue et al 335275 Peterson 335276 Ryckman et a1. 335-276 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. and extending to the aperture formed through said 10 GEORGE HARRIS, JR., Examiner.

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