US3688230A

US3688230A - Relay

Info

Publication number: US3688230A
Application number: US91005A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvyn R Tichy
Original assignee: Deutsch Co Electronic Components Division
Current assignee: Deutsch Co Electronic Components Division
Priority date: 1970-11-19
Filing date: 1970-11-19
Publication date: 1972-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-29

Abstract

A relay including an armature moving in a gap between pole pieces in which the grain of the material of the pole piece and armature extends to the surfaces at the gap to reduce reluctance, a contact carrier being secured to the armature by tabs twisted to overlap the flanges on the contact carrier, the armature being mounted on journals formed from brackets at the ends of the armature, with the journals being produced by reducing the material in thickness locally and deforming it outwardly into a die complementary to the contour of the journal. An insulator is retained at one end of the armature assembly by a wedge-shaped projection on the contact carrier that is received in an opening in the insulator. An arc barrier for the stationary contacts has slots that receive the contact shanks and a transverse wall having an opening between the contacts so that flow of gas in induced to suppress an arc between the contacts as the armature is actuated.

Description

[451 Aug.29, 1972 United States Patent Tichy Primary Examiner-Harold Broome Attorney-Gausewitz, Carr & Rothenberg [54] RELAY ['72] Inventor:

Melvyn R. Tichy, Brea, Calif.

[73] Assignee: The Deutsch Company Electronic ABSTRACT 3,451019 6/1969 Aueretal..................33S/201 14 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 29, 1972 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOI. Z0=

r INVENTOR. M62 V//V E. 77634) Arrow/5m' Patented Aug. 29, 1972 l 3,688,230

- v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bffmg 4 r mmf/5.

Patented Aug. 29; 1.972

4 Sheets- Sheet 5 I NVENTOR. P. 7767-0 N m M RELAY BACKGROUND oFTHE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to relays.

2. Description of Prior Art Relays and contactors intended for aerospace and aircraft use increasingly are meeting with requirements for compact size and minimum weight, while conforming to stringent performance specifications. Gravitational, vibrational and other loads imposed on the relays aggravate the design problems. At the same time, there is a need for simplicity of construction to minimize cost, improve reliability and facilitate servicmg.

Serious difficulties have been encountered in reconciling all these requirements with existing relay designs. Various portions of these relays have been of relatively complex construction, which has added to their overall size. For example, the pivotal mounting for the armature normally involves a number of separate parts, such as pins, balls or extra fasteners, to be secured to the armature and supporting members in producing a suitable rotational mounting for the armature, all of these parts contributing to the size and weight of the finished relay. The assembled parts introduce an accumulation of tolerances which can cause problems in assembly and operation. Separate fasteners also are needed in securing the contact carrier to the armature. Where there are adjacent pairs of stationary contacts, an arc barrier is required to prevent an arc from being produced across these contacts. Conventionally, this is accomplished by means of a wall of dielectric material positioned between the adjacent contacts. Again, this must be at a sacrifice of weight and volume.

A common type of relay includes a pair of pole pieces which have overlapping spaced, angularly bent,

generally parallel end portions. The sidewalls of these pole piece ends define the gap within which the armature moves. There is a relatively high reluctance at the gap where the flux must move transversely to the grain of the metal of the pole piece in entering the gap. This is because the reluctance is greater transverse to the grain than it is longitudinally with respect to the grain. The resulting lack of efficiency at the gap may mean that the permanent magnet and coil must be of greater size in order to produce the necessary force on the armature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the above-enumerated diiculties, producing a relay that is compact, light in weight and of simple construction. The armature of the relay is pivotally mounted without the use of any extra fasteners or parts. This is accomplished by means of sheet metal brackets which are welded to the opposite edges of the armature, each bracket being provided with an integral journal that tits within an opening in the frame of the relay to pivotally support the armature. A relatively thin-gauge material is used, yet the journal extends outwardly from each bracket a distance greater than the thickness of the material. This is accomplished by a process by which, first, there is an opening formed in the sheet metal bracket, after which the material is coined to reduce its wall thickness around the opening. Then it is progressively bent out- `plate that is brazed to the top of the armature. This plate along its opposite edges includes a plurality of upwardly projecting, substantially L-shaped tabs. These tabs are twisted inwardly to position their lateral legs over opposite flanges on the base of the contact carrier. The twisting of the upstanding legs of the tabs as this is accomplished causes them to be foreshortened so that the lateral portions of the tabs then exert a compressive force on the flanges of the contact carrier, securely and firmly holding the contact carrier against the armature. The tabs may be bent back away from the flanges to permit removal of the contact carrier, and the contact carrier subsequently may be secured again by retwisting of the tabs. Several cycle are possible without experiencing any fatigue failure.

At one end of the contact carrier is an insulating disk which fits between the contactcarrier and the armature bracket to block current flow in that direction. This insulator takes a minimal amount of room, and is permanently installed without the use of separate fasteners. This is accomplished by the use of a wedgeshaped projection on the end of the contact carrier adjacent the armature bracket, while the insulator has a rectangular opening in its wall that is adapted to receive the wedge-shaped projection. The insulator is installed by pushing it downwardly into the space between the contact carrier and the bracket, with the projection deflecting the insulator until the opening is reached, at which point it snaps inwardly beneath the shoulder of the wedge-shaped projection and is e`ectively secured in place.

The arc barrier for the stationary contacts of the relay includes a transverse wall which is provided with l parallel slots that receive the shanks of the stationary contacts, which are positioned beneath the header. A sidewall extends around-three sides of the transverse wall, and projects upwardly beyond it to engage the undersurface of the header. Tapered extensions project downwardly from the transverse wall to facilitate the entry of the contact Shanks into the slots. A press fit is provided between these projections and the sidewalls with respect to the contacts and the header, so that there is a frictional force to retain the contact barrier in place. Also, there are protrusions on the sides of the slots which fit around the Shanks of the contacts to assist in holding the contact barrier in place.

Between the contacts, the transverse wall of the arc barrier includes an opening. When the movable contacts are actuated by the armature, the contact support induces a flow of gas through the opening, which forces the arc out away from the space between the contacts and prevents an arc from bridging across between the contacts. This gas is pulled from the vicinity of the header and is relatively cool because the header acts as a heat sink. Thus, no dielectric barrier wall is necessary i provide a low-reluctance flux path to increase the effrciency of the relay. This is accomplished by producing the pole piece from a flat part of magnetic metal which is arranged with the grain of the metal extending from vone edge to the opposite edge. The part then is bent intermediate these edges to define the shape of the angled pole piece end. After this, theangled end part is cut at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis between the edges so that the grain of the material runs out to the edge of the pole piece where the cut has been made. Therefore, the flux readily flows in the direction ofthe grain of the metal to the end of the pole piece and into the gap, with the reluctance being minimized at the location. High-reluctance flux movement across the grain of the metal is avoided. One edge of the armature similarly is cut to provide a surface offering a low-reluctance path to an adjacent pole piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective exterior view, partially broken away, of the relay of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a exploded perspective view of the relay;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are side elevational views illustrating the way in which a pole piece is formed;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 1 1 are sectional views showing how the journals for the armature are produced;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the attachment of the contact carrier to the armature;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of one end of the contact carrier and rits insulator;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the arc barrier;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16--16 of FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The relay or contactor of this invention is contained within a housing or can 8 which is hermetically sealed. After the components have been assembled within the can 8, preferably the air is removed from within, and it is back-filled with gas, such as dry nitrogen, which tends to suppress arcing.

The overall arrangement of the motor of the relay is conventional, including in the embodiment illustrated a pair of coils 9, the ends of the cores 10 of which connect to pole pieces ll and 12 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

Y, The pole piece 11 is generally L-shaped, having an Engaging the outer surface of the 'bottom part ofthe pole piece 11 is a permanent magnet 18 which on its opposite side is engaged by another L-shaped pole piece 19. The latter pole piece has an upper end portion 20 which is inclined inwardly in a spaced relationship over the upper portion 13 of the pole piece l1. This defines a gap 21 between the

ends

13 and 20 of the pole pieces 11 and 19, respectively.

The armature 22 is pivotal about its midportion, as

explained more fully below, and in the de-energized position the beveled edge surface 23 of the armature 22 engages the lower surface 24 of the end portion 20 of the pole piece 19. When the relay is energized,the ar mature 22 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2, so that its undersurface 25 engages the upper surface 14 of the end portion 13 of the pole piece 11.

In the de-energized position of the relay, the flux from the permanent magnet 18 flows as indicated by the solid-line arrows in FIG. 2, holding the armature in the position shown. Thus, the circuit from the permarient magnet 18 includes the pole piece 19,`from the upper portion 20 of which the flux is conducted into the armature 22 and then into the upper portion 16 of the pole piece 12. The cores 10 of the coils 9 conduct the flux back to the opposite pole of the permanent magnet 18.

When the coils are energized, they create a flux indicated by the phantom-line arrows (see FIG. 2) which opposes the flux of the permanent magnet. Ultimately, sufficient force is created across thegap 2 1 to cause the armature 22 to pivot away from the surface 24 of the pole piece 19 into engagement with the surface 14 of the pole piece 11.

The pole pieces are constructed in a way which minimizes reluctance, thereby resulting in increased forces on the armature. In producing the pole piece 1 1,

for example, the procedure shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is followed. First, a flat strip of magnetic material 11a is given a thickness and a width corresponding to that of the pole piece 11. In preparing the workpiece 11a, it is arranged so that the grain of the metalextends between the opposite edges 26 and 27. In other words, as the metal piece 11a is shown in FIG. 5, the grain runs vertically and is perpendicular to the upper and lower edges 26 and 27 Next, the piece 1 1a is bent to the position of FIG. 6 so that its end portion is at the angle of the surface 15 of the completed pole piece. When this bend is made, the grain of the metal extends around the corner that is formed. After this, the upper bent portion is cut on the outside, removing enough material to complete the formation of the pole piece and define the surface 14. This cut is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis between the edges 26 and 27, so that the grain of the metal runs out to the surface 14, which forms one side f of the gap 21 within which the armature operates.

The reluctance of the metal is less in the direction of its grain than in any other direction through the pole piece. Therefore, in the present instance, the magnetic flux can flow through the pole piece 11 with minimum reluctance from the attachment of the cores 10 tothe end surface 14. There, the flux can enter the gap 21 by continuing to flow in the path with the grain of the metal. It is not necessary for the flux to flow in a direction transverse to the grain when leaving the pole piece 12. Therefore, by bending the metal piece and then making a cut in the bent portion in forming the pole piece, reluctance is minimized and the efficiency of the relay is improved.

The pole pieces 12 and 19 are formed similarly. For the pole piece 12, the cutis made in the bent portion 16 along the top surface 17 so that there is a lowreluctance path for flux between the overhanging portion of the armature and the pole piece. The cut is made on the lower part of the bent end portion 20 of the pole piece 19, so that its surface 24 crosses the grain of the material and reduces the reluctance at the gap 21.

In the armature 22, the grain of the metal runs across from the beveled edge 23 to the opposite edge 27a. At the gap 21, therefore, the reluctance is minimized where the flux enters and leaves the armature at the edge 23.

The armature 22 includes

central extensions

28 and 29 at its opposite ends to which are spot-welded upstanding brackets 30 and 31 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

Tubulai journals

32 and 33 extend outwardly from the upper portions of the

brackets

30 and 31 and are received within

openings

34 and 35 in

supports

36 and 37 that extend upwardly from

side plates

38 and 39 of the relay frame. Insulating washers 40 and 41 are interposed between the

brackets

30 and 31 and the

supports

36 and 37 of the

frame members

38 and 39.

The

journals

32 and 33 are integral with the

brackets

30 and 31, yet each extends outwardly in the axial direction a distance greater than the thickness of the material from which the brackets are made. This is made possible through the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. First, an opening 42 is formed in the sheet metal piece of the bracket, the diameter of the opening being at a 1:1 ratio with respect to the thickness of the material. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a flat-ended tool 43 is forced against the workpiece around the opening 42 on one side of the workpiece, while a flat die 44 backs up the material on the other side. As a result, the material of the workpiece is coined and reduced in thickness. The diameter of the opening 42 becomes smaller as the material is displaced and the wall thickness is decreased. Following this, as shown in FIG. 10, a punch 45 is driven against the workpiece adjacent the opening 42, this tool having a generally conical end part 46. At the same time, on the opposite side of the workpiece a stationary die 47 backs up the material. The die 47 includes a frustoconi cal recess 48 of controlled shape corresponding to the protrusion 46 on the punch 45. After this, as indicated in FIG. 11, the journal is completed by driving a cylindrical punch 49 through the opening 42, spreading the material outwardly and enlarging the opening. Again, the backside of the material is supported, this time by a die 50 having an opening 51 generally complementary to the punch 49, as well as a counterbore 52 that corresponds in diameter to the desired outside diameter of the journal.

Thus, by gradually reducing the thickness of the material as it is deflected outwardly in producing the journal, it is possible to obtain the relatively long projection for the journal as well as producing a journal of precise dimension. lt is important in accomplishing this that the backside of the material be supported at all times as the forming takes place, the outside dimension being controlled rather than the inside dimension. It may be desirable to produce the journal in more steps than illustrated to more gradually deflect the material to its final configuration. The general procedure, however, will be the same as illustrated.

The resulting construction provides a simplified and very compact mounting arrangement for the armature. The conventional assembly of parts for mounting the annature is replaced with a single element at either end of the armature. By eliminating parts, tolerances also.

are eliminated and greater precision of fit can be obtained. In other words, there can be no accumulation of tolerances to create an error. The construction is of minimum size in providing an armature pivot resulting in a maximum dimension on the armature for supporting and holding the contact carrier.

A thin plate 54 is spot-welded and then brazed to the upper surface of the armature 22, extending from one end to the other at the central portion of the armature. A series of openings 55 through the plate 54 provides locations for the brazing and pennits visual inspection of the attachment. A plurality of L-shaped tabs 56 extends upwardly from either side of the plate 54. Positioned on the plate 54 is a contact carrier 58 of dielectric material. 'Ihis member has an elongated flange 59 along either side edge, extending for the full length of the contact carrier. The attachment of the contact carrier 58 to the armature is accomplished by twisting the tabs 56 inwardly so that their upper legs 61 overlie the flanges 59 (see FIG. 12). As this is'done, the vertical legs 62 of the tabs become foreshortened because of the twisting, and the upper legs 61 press inwardly on the flanges 59. The result is a secure attachment of the carrier 58 to the armature 22 without the use of rivets or other fasteners. The attachment is releasable by returning the tabs 56 to their original positions. There may be several cycles of removal and installation of the contact carrier 58 without encountering fatigue of the tabs 56.

Near one end of the contact carrier 58 is a raised portion 63, upon which is a reed 64 having transverse supports 65 at its outer ends which carry pairs lof

contacts

66 and 67. A bu'er plate 68 is on top of the reed 64, and rivets 69 are used in attaching the reed to the carrier 58.

In the embodiment shown, additional contacts 71 and 72 are carried by reeds 73 which are secured to the carrier 58 near its opposite end. This end of the contact carrier 58 is very near the bracket 31 because of the compact nature of the relay. With the bracket 31 being at ground potential, the contacts 71 and 72 on the reeds 73 must be insulated from the bracket 31. This is accomplished by a flat sheet 74 of dielectric material having a rounded upper edge and a square opening 75 extending through it. On the end of the carrier 58 is a wedge-shaped projection 76 having its tapered surface upwardly and a right-angled shoulder 77 along its lower edge (see FIGS. 3 and 13). The insulator 74 is installed simply by pushing it downwardly along the end of the carrier 58, which causes its bottom edge to be pried outwardly by the wedge-shaped projection 76. As soon as the opening 75 is reached, however, the projection enters the opening 75, and the shoulderl 77 becomes positioned at the bottom edge of the opening. This locks the insulator 74 in position, preventing its removal. The result is a simple means of holding the insulator 74 in place, occupying a minimum amount of space and contributing to the overall compactness of the relay.

Positioned above the carrier 58 is a header 78, which is held to the relay frame by brackets 79 and 80. The bracket 79 is attached to the side of the plate 38 of the relay frarne by means of screws extending through openings 82 in the bracket 79 and received in tapped v holes 83 in the plate 38, as seen in FIG. 1. A screw 81 is extended through the opening 84 in the bracket 80 to similarly secure it to the side plate 39 of the frame.

Depending from the header 78 are pairs of

contacts

85 and 86 which are adapted to be engaged by the

contacts

66 and 67 that move with the armature. The contacts 85 include enlarged lower end portions 87 at the ends of cylindrical shank portions 88 that extend downwardly through the header 78. Similarly, the contacts 86 have enlarged lower end portions 89 and cylindrical Shanks 90. This positions the

enlarged contact portions

87 and 89 at a location below and parallel to the header 78. In the de-energized position of the relay, as shown in FIG. 2, the contacts 66 engage the ends of the contacts 85, while

contacts

67 and 86 are separated. Rotation of the armature 22 to the energized position breaks the circuit between the

contacts

66 and 85, while bringing the

contacts

67 and 86 into engagement.

Associated with the

contacts

85 and 86 beneath the header 78 are arc barriers 91 of dielectric material, best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, and 16. Each of the arc barriers 91 includes a U-shaped sidewall 93, adjacent but below the upper edge 94 of which is a transverse wall 95. Two parallel slots 96 extend inwardly from the outer edge 97 of the wall 95 and terminate at semicircular inner ends 98. Adjacent the inner ends are semicylindrical protrusions 99, which extend perpendicularly to the wall 95. An opening 100 extends through the wall 95 between the slots 96. Outwardly of the opening 100, at the forward edge 97 of the wall 95 and between the slots 96, is an upward projection 101. The upper edge of the projection 101 is in the same plane as the upper edge 94 of the U-shaped sidewall 93. The wall 95 is provided with downward extensions 102 around the peripheries of the slots 96. The extensions 102 incline away from the surface of the Wall 95 from the outer edge 97 to the semicircular inner peripheries 98 of the slots. In other words, the extensions 102 are tapered, increasing in dimension from the edge 97 to the slot ends 98.

When the arc barriers 91 are installed, the

shanks

88 and 90 of the

contacts

85 and 86 fit within the slots 96 at their inner ends 98 with which they are substantially complementary. This positions the

Shanks

88 and 90 just inwardly of the projections 99, which thereby hold the shanks in the inner ends of the slots. The material of the arc barriers 91 is deflected as the

Shanks

88 and 90

ofthe contacts

85 and 86 are moved into the inner portions of the slots.

In addition, the

enlargements

87 and 89 at the bottom ends of the

Shanks

88 and 90 fit beneath the downward extensions 102 of the arc barriers. An interference fit is provided so that the arc barriers exert a resilient force against the

contact enlargements

87 and 89 and the undersurface of the header 78. The arc barriers are deflected slightly as the enlargements 87 land 89 of the

contacts

85 and 86 move along the tapered outer portions of the extensions 102 ofthe slots 96. The tapered configuration of the extensions facilitates movement of the arc barriers into position so that the resilient force can be exerted.

This, together with the protrusion 101 on the upper surface of the wall 95, causes thearc barriers 91 to beV frictionally retained to the header 78 and the contacts, and to be firmly locked into position against movement. At the same time, the arc barriers are readily removable when needed. Both the attachment and removal of the arc barriers 91 are facilitated by the facts that no fasteners are required and that the device automatically locks in place when slid onto the contacts at the base of the header.

The arc barriers 91 accomplish their function of preventing arcing between the adjacent pairs of lstationary contacts and 86 by inducing a flow of gas between the contacts of each pair as the moving contacts are separated from them. Thus, when the relay is moved from the de-energized position of FIG. 2 to the energized position, the movement of the reed 64 and the support 65 for the contacts 66 causes the gas within the can 8 to flow through the opening 100 in the ad jacent arc barrier 91. This pulls a column of the gas between the two stationary contacts 85, preventing an arc from bridging between them. The movement of the gas will blow out any arc that tends to occur, forcing the arc outwardly rather than inwardly between the adjacent contacts. The gas is drawn from the vicinity of the header 78, which functions as a heat sink so that the gas is relatively cool and more effectively accomplishes the arc suppression. The arc barriers operate, therefore, by creating a flow of gas, rather than utilizing a dielectric barrier as in conventional designs.l This permits the contact pairs to be positioned closer'together than where a dielectric barrier is employed, which, in turn, allows the relay to be made more compact.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of' this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A relay comprising an armature,

magnetic means for causing said armature to move contacts upon movement of `saidarmature to,

said second position,

and arc-prevention means for preventing an arc from bridging between said second stationary contacts,

said arc-prevention means including a second transverse wall spaced from said first transverse -wall and positioned intermediate said first transverse wall and said second stationary contacts, said second transverse wall having an opening therethrough aligned with the space between said second stationary contacts for causing said support member to induce a flow of gas through said opening and between said second stationary contacts upon said movement of said armature from said first position to said second position. 2. A device as recited in claim 1 including in addition a housing,

said first transverse wall, said first contact means, said second stationary contacts, said armature and said arc-prevention means being within said housing, and including an arc-suppressing gas within said housing for flowing between said second stationary contacts upon said movement of said armature.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said arcprevention means includes sidewall means extending around said first and second contacts and connecting to said second transverse wall.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 in which said means positioning said stationary contacts includes a shank extending outwardly from said first transverse wall for each of said stationary contacts,

said second transverse wall having a duality of slots, one of said shanks being received in each of said slots.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said sidewall means is open on one side of said second transverse wall, said slots extending inwardly from said open side.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which each of said slots includes a protuberance on the wall thereof outwardly of the shank received therein for interferingly holding said Shanks in said slots.

7. A device as recited in claim 4 including an element projecting from said second transverse wall around each of said slots, and away from said first transverse wall, said elements engaging said stationary contacts.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said elements taper in dimension outwardly toward the outerv edges of said slots for facilitating the entry of said shanks into said slots.

9. A device as recited in claim 8 in which said sidewall means engages said first transverse wall, said elements around said slots and said sidewall means providing an interference fit between said stationary contacts and said first transverse wall for providing a -force for retaining said arc-prevention means to said stationary contacts.

l0. An electric motor device for a relay or the like comprising an armature, means pivotally mounting said armature for movement between first and second positions, magnetic means for causing such movement of said armature, a contact carrier carried by said armature for movement therewith, and means attaching said contact carrier to said armature,

said attaching means including a plurality of tabs, l and means attaching said tabs to said armature,

each of said tabs having an upstanding portion and a laterally extending portion at the outer end of said upstanding portion, said contact carrier having ledge means,

said tabs being bent to position said laterally exl tending portions thereof over said ledge means for thereby holding said contact carrier to said armature.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 in which said upstanding'portionsl of said tabs are twisted to cause a foreshortening thereof so that said laterally extending portions of said tabs 'exert a compressive force on said ledge means.

12. A device as recited in claim 11 in which said contact carrier has ari elongated flange extending along either side thereof defining said ledge means, and in which said means attaching said tabs to said armature is a plate secured to said armature beneath said contact carrier, said tabs being positioned along either side edge of said plate.

13. In combination with a relay device including an armature, a bracket at either end of said armature for pivotally mounting the same, a contact carrier on said armature, and movable contact means carried by said contact carrier, a device for insulating said movable contact means from said bracket at one end of said contact carrier comprising a wall of dielectric material interposed between one end of said contact carrier and the bracket adjacent thereto,

said wall extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said contact carrier,

said wall having an opening therethrough,

said opening having an edge adjacent said armature,

said contact carrier having a projection at said one end thereof,

said projection including an inclined surface tapering outwardly away from said end of said contact carrier and toward said amature, said projection defining a shoulder adjacent said armature, said projection being positioned in said opening with said shoulder adjacent said lower edge of said opening for thereby holding said wall to said contact carrier. 14. A relay comprising a housing, a gas in said housing, an amature, magnetic means for moving said armature between a first position and a second position, first contact means carried by said armature,

said first contact means including a support member, and a duality of spaced first contacts carried by said support member, second stationary contact means,

said second contact means including a duality of spaced second contacts, said support member and said duality of first contacts being movable by said armature toward said second contact means for causing said first spaced contacts to interengage said second spaced contacts on one side of said second l l l2 spaced contacts, and away from said second said wall means having means defining a path for contact means for causing said first and said the flow of said gas intermediate said duality second spaced contacts to become disengaged, of spaced second contacts for causing said gas and means for preventing an arc from bridging t flOW between Said duality 0f SeCOrld spaced between said duality of spaced second contacts, 5 Contacts as a result 0f Said movement 0f SUP' said last-mentioned means including a wall means P0rt member away from Sald Second Contact adjacent said duality of spaced second contacts means on the opposite side thereof,

Claims

1. A relay comprising an armature, magnetic means for causing said armature to move between a first position and a second position, first contact means, said first contact means including a support member carried by said armature, and a duality of first contacts on said support member, a first transverse wall, a duality of second spaced stationary contacts, means positioning said stationary contacts in spaced adjacency with said first transverse wall, said duality of first contacts being in engagement with said duality of second stationary contacts in said first position of said armature, and being separated from said duality of second sTationary contacts upon movement of said armature to said second position, and arc-prevention means for preventing an arc from bridging between said second stationary contacts, said arc-prevention means including a second transverse wall spaced from said first transverse wall and positioned intermediate said first transverse wall and said second stationary contacts, said second transverse wall having an opening therethrough aligned with the space between said second stationary contacts for causing said support member to induce a flow of gas through said opening and between said second stationary contacts upon said movement of said armature from said first position to said second position.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 including in addition a housing, said first transverse wall, said first contact means, said second stationary contacts, said armature and said arc-prevention means being within said housing, and including an arc-suppressing gas within said housing for flowing between said second stationary contacts upon said movement of said armature.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said arc-prevention means includes sidewall means extending around said first and second contacts and connecting to said second transverse wall.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 in which said means positioning said stationary contacts includes a shank extending outwardly from said first transverse wall for each of said stationary contacts, said second transverse wall having a duality of slots, one of said shanks being received in each of said slots.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said elements taper in dimension outwardly toward the outer edges of said slots for facilitating the entry of said shanks into said slots.

9. A device as recited in claim 8 in which said sidewall means engages said first transverse wall, said elements around said slots and said sidewall means providing an interference fit between said stationary contacts and said first transverse wall for providing a force for retaining said arc-prevention means to said stationary contacts.

10. An electric motor device for a relay or the like comprising an armature, means pivotally mounting said armature for movement between first and second positions, magnetic means for causing such movement of said armature, a contact carrier carried by said armature for movement therewith, and means attaching said contact carrier to said armature, said attaching means including a plurality of tabs, and means attaching said tabs to said armature, each of said tabs having an upstanding portion and a laterally extending portion at the outer end of said upstanding portion, said contact carrier having ledge means, said tabs being bent to position said laterally extending portions thereof over said ledge means for thereby holding said contact carrier to said armature.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 in which said upstanding portions of said tabs are twisted to cause a foreshortening thereof so that said laterally extending portions of said tabs exert a compressive force on said ledge means.

12. A device as recited in claim 11 in which said contact carrier has an elongated flange extending along either side thereof defining said ledge means, and in which said means attaching said tabs to said armature is a plate secured to said aRmature beneath said contact carrier, said tabs being positioned along either side edge of said plate.

13. In combination with a relay device including an armature, a bracket at either end of said armature for pivotally mounting the same, a contact carrier on said armature, and movable contact means carried by said contact carrier, a device for insulating said movable contact means from said bracket at one end of said contact carrier comprising a wall of dielectric material interposed between one end of said contact carrier and the bracket adjacent thereto, said wall extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said contact carrier, said wall having an opening therethrough, said opening having an edge adjacent said armature, said contact carrier having a projection at said one end thereof, said projection including an inclined surface tapering outwardly away from said end of said contact carrier and toward said armature, said projection defining a shoulder adjacent said armature, said projection being positioned in said opening with said shoulder adjacent said lower edge of said opening for thereby holding said wall to said contact carrier.

14. A relay comprising a housing, a gas in said housing, an armature, magnetic means for moving said armature between a first position and a second position, first contact means carried by said armature, said first contact means including a support member, and a duality of spaced first contacts carried by said support member, second stationary contact means, said second contact means including a duality of spaced second contacts, said support member and said duality of first contacts being movable by said armature toward said second contact means for causing said first spaced contacts to interengage said second spaced contacts on one side of said second spaced contacts, and away from said second contact means for causing said first and said second spaced contacts to become disengaged, and means for preventing an arc from bridging between said duality of spaced second contacts, said last-mentioned means including a wall means adjacent said duality of spaced second contacts on the opposite side thereof, said wall means having means defining a path for the flow of said gas intermediate said duality of spaced second contacts for causing said gas to flow between said duality of second spaced contacts as a result of said movement of support member away from said second contact means.