US3821674A

US3821674A - Electromagnetic relay armature mounting

Info

Publication number: US3821674A
Application number: US00350315A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Wanka; M Aidn; G Furtwangler
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1972-04-17
Filing date: 1973-04-12
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28
Also published as: GB1387093A; FR2180841B1; NL7305311A; DE2218493B2; JPS4916848A; IT983737B; JPS5617778B2; DE2218493A1; SE393709B; CS177126B2; AT328543B; ES413456A1; DK140357C; CH557594A; DK140357B; ATA253173A; FR2180841A1; NL158964B

Abstract

An L-shaped armature is mounted on a supporting yoke associated with an electromagnetic relay coil in a manner enabling easy straight line assembly and removal of the armature and assuring positive mounted retention of the armature for efficient functioning for its intended purpose. Retention of the armature is effected by a leaf spring having a generally Z-shaped portion extending through an aperture in the armature and engaging with an anchor edge aligned with the rocking fulcrum of the armature. Straight line assembly is facilitated by a cam terminal on the free end portion of the spring and a cam surface tooth formation on the armature. Interlocking shoulders on the spring and the armature assure positive retention of the armature on the yoke.

Description

United States Patent [191 Ain et al. p

a [111 3,821,674 [451 June 28, i974 [54] ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY ARMATURE MOUNTING [75] Inventors: Martin Aidn; Gerhard Furtwangler,

both of Munich; Eberhard Wanlka, Dachau, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin & Munich, Germany 22 Filed: Apr. 112, 11973 21 Appl. No.: 350,3115

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1972 Germany 2218493 [52] US. Cl. 335/270, 335/274 [51] Int. Cl. H0 [58] Field of Search....'. 335/274, 276, 270

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,360 2/1949 Vincent 335/274 3,365,683 1/1968 Aidn et al. 335/274 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 335/276 312,606 7/1969 Sweden 335/276 Primary ExaminerGeorge Harris Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen,. Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [5 7] ABSTRACT An L-shaped armature is mounted on a supporting yoke associated with an electromagnetic relay coil in a manner enabling easy straight line assembly and removal of the armature and assuring positive mounted retention of the armature for efficient functioning for its intended purpose. Retention of the armature is efvfected by a leaf spring having a generally Z-shaped portion extending through an aperture in the armature and engaging with an anchor edge aligned with the rocking fulcrum of the armature. Straight line assembly is facilitated by a cam terminal on the free end portion of the spring and a cam surface tooth formation on the armature. Interlocking shoulders on the spring and the armature assure positive retention of the armature on the yoke.

llll Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY ARMATURE MOUNTING This invention relates broadly to electromagnetic relays, and is more particularly concerned with the mounting of generally L-shaped armatures on the supporting yokes of the relays.

In the prior art, the use of retaining springs of various shapes for angular armatures is known. For example, in German Gebrauchsmuster 1,805,215 an armature retaining spring is described which is inserted through an aperture in the armature into engagement with the yoke. However, in such construction, the armature spring must be inserted carefullythrough the aperture in the armature and thereafter screwed onto the yoke to retain the armature. Because of the complicated shape of the armature spring in that disclosure, therefore, the assembly must be effected strictly manually.

Another prior art example that may be referred to is in German published application 1,002,467 which describes an angulararmature which is retained by a metal leaf spring attached at the yoke, and with the spring extending through an opening in the middle of the armature. However, the'exact shape of the annature and the retaining spring cannot be determined from the illustration in that prior disclosure and the disclosure does not contain sufficient details concerning the shape and the assembly possibilities in respect to the armature spring. Therefore, it must be assumed that the armature spring is assembledand secured in the same manner as the first mentioned instance, that is by inserting it through the opening in the armature and thereafter securing the spring in place on the yoke.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other disadvantages, defficiencies, inefficiencies, shortcomings and problems in electromagnetic relay armature mounting are overcome.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved armature and retaining spring structure for electromagnetic relays, and a method of assembling the same. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved armature and retaining spring structure for electromagnetic relays adapted to be assembled in a simple mechanical straight line assembly operation, facilitating low cost mass production.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved armature and retaining means therefor permitting not only quick and easy mechanical assembly but also quick and easy replacement of the armature.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electromagnetic relay armature constructed and arranged for snap-together assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

'FlG. l is a perspective assembly view of an armature and magnetic relay yoke having a retaining spring thereon and demonstrating how the parts can be readily assembled by a straight line assembly action; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of an electromagnetic relay having an armature assembled therewith according to the present invention.

In a typical relay construction embodying features of the invention, as shown in the drawings, by way of illustration, a relay coil 17 has operatively associated therewith a yoke 1 having means in the form of a leaf spring 2 for retaining an armature 8 movably mounted on the free end portion of an outer leg la of the yoke and in a position to cooperate with a pole lb extending through the coil l7.

ln a preferred construction, the armature retaining leaf spring 2 comprises an elongated body having an inner end portion 2a secured as by means of an oval rivet 7 flatwise against the outer face of the yoke arm la and against turning from an axially extending position wherein an opposite angular end portion finger 3 turned obliquely generally into the plane of the yoke arm la extends into and preferably longitudinally slightly beyond an endwise opening recess 4 in the armature-supporting end portion of the yoke arm lla.

Mounting of the armature 8 on the yoke arm la is such that the armature can rock between a magnetically activated and an inactive position. For this purpose the armature is of generally L-shaped construc tion having an elongated leg 8a arranged to overlie the yoke arm ]la and having any suitable preferred free end shape to serve the intended purpose, such for example, as for coupling such leg to a device to be actuated thereby in the rocking movements of the armature. To this end, the free end portion of the armature leg 8a may have pressed therein a spacer boss 18 for engagement with the yoke arm la. At its opposite end of the leg 8a, an angular pole leg 8b normally extends in gap relation to the pole lb and is adapted to be drawn theretoward to rock the armature about a line contact fulcrum edge surface 16 on the end of the yoke arm lla engaging a bight bearing surface 15 on the rocking axis of the armature 8 between the

legs

8a and 8b.

Operative retention of the armature 8 on the yoke arm la by the spring 2 is effected by extension of the detent finger portion 3 through a longitudinal slot aperture 9 in the armature leg 8a and the bight portion of the leg 3b to engagewith a partially struck out tooth or tongue 10 offset obliquely inwardly from the bight end portion of the armature leg 8b to be received in the yoke arm recess 4. The tongue lit) and the recess 4 are of complementary width so that the tongue is freely received in the recess 4 but is held against any more than slight lateral movement in the recess to hold the armature against lateral displacement. In length, the tongue 10 is proportioned so that a fine line thrust edge surface 14 thereof aligned with the oppositely facing surface l5, and thereby in the assembly also aligned with the fulcrum surface 16, is engaged with tensioned thrust line contact by the spring detent finger 3. This retains the armature in place but permits the armature to rock freely as it is activated and deactivated, and with minimal frictional resistance at the contact between the finger 3 and the gripped edge 14.

Means are provided enabling straight line assembly of the armature 8 with the yoke arm lla, as indicated by the directional arrow lll in FIG. ll. To this end, the finger 3 is provided with an angularly upwardly and outwardly turned cam terminal 5 which is adapted in relative assembly movement of the yoke leg 1a and the armature 8 in the straight line indicated by the arrow ll 3 and reception of the spring finger 3 in the aperture 9 to engage a complementary cam surface a provided by the end of the tongue 10 which causes the spring 2 to be deflected upwardly as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 until the finger rides beyond the tongue edge 14 whereupon the finger 3 snaps into the retaining engagement with the tongue 10, pressing the bight bearing surface of the armature into rocking bearing engagement with the bearing fulcrum 16;

In order to lock the armature 8 against unintentional separation from the yoke l, interlock means are provided comprising laterally projecting locking lug extensions on the cam terminal 5 of the spring 2 and which are movable in assembly over cam leading surfaces 12 provided on the leg 8b of the armature 8 at opposite sidesof the tongue 10 and generally aligned with the cam surface 10a of the tongue 10. The length of the spring finger portion 3 and the terminal cam flange 5 together is such that as the armature 8 attains a full assembly with the yoke arm la, the latching or locking projection 6 will clear the outer ends of the cam lead surfaces l2 and move by reason of tensioned deflection of the spring 2 into locking opposition engagement with shoulders 13 at the opposite sides of the space from which the tongue 10 has been pressed.

It will be understood, of course, that the relationship between the latching projection shoulder elements 6 and the locking shoulders 13 is such that there is an ample freedom for easy pivotal rocking movement of the retaining finger 3 and the bearing edge 14, while nevertheless the relationship is close enough to assure that the armature 8 will be held against unintentional longitudinal displacement from the yoke l. Nevertheless, should it be desired to remove the armature 8, that can be done quickly and expeditiously by lifting the spring terminal flange 5 to flex the spring away from the tongue 10 and then sliding the armature free from the yoke arm la by a relative longitudinal separating movement wherein the spring 2 will be withdrawn through the slot aperture 9. Therefore, not only can the armature 8 be quickly assembled by a straight line assembly maneuver as indicated by the arrow 11, with automatic snap retention by the spring 2, but straight line separation can also be effected by simply flexibly releasing the spring from the armature. Yet, in the assembled condition of the elements, the armature 8 is thoroughly retained against any displacement from the electromagnetic relay assembly such as from shocks to which the apparatus may be subjected. No securing operation is required of the spring 2 relative to the yoke 1 after assembly of the armature 8 has been effected with the yoke 1. Neither does the spring 2 have to be removed from the yoke 1 when the armature 8 is separated from the yoke l but, indeed, the spring 2 remains in place on the yoke ll fully effective to receive the armature 8 or a replacement therefor by a simple snaptogether assembly, since there has been complete freedom from any need to alter the structure or cause any damage to the spring 2 when releasing it from the armature 8 during a disassembly or separation operation.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. An electromagnet relay assembly, including a yoke member provided with a fulcrum surface, an armature having a bearing surface rockably engaging said fulcrum surface, a thrust surface on said armature facing oppositely to said bearing surface, a retaining leaf spring secured to said yoke member and having a spring detent portion in snap-on retaining engagement with said thrust surface and tensionably thrusting against said thrust surface and thereby pressing said bearing surface against said fulcrum surface, said armature having a rigid tongue providing said thrust surface and offset relative to a face of said armature, said yoke member having a complementary recess into which the tongue projects, said spring detent portion overlying said recess and retaining said tongue in the recess, said armature being of generally L-shaped provided with a body leg overlying the yoke member and a pole leg angularly related to said body leg, said bearing surface being provided at the bight at juncture of said legs, said tongue being offset into said bight with said thrust surface and said bearing surface in alignment, said legs having a clearance slot opening extending across said bight, and said detent portion of the spring extending into said opening, said detent portion including a thrust surface engaging finger and a cam terminal flange at the tip of said finger, said tongue having a cam surface leading to said thrust surface and engageable with said cam terminal flange to lift the detent portion tensionably over said thrust surface during a longitudinal relative assembly movement of the armature and yoke member, the improvement comprising:

said terminal cam flange being of a length to project outwardly from said opening and having inwardly facing interlock shoulder means thereon in locking confrontation with outwardly facing locking shoulder means on said armature and preventing unintentional relative longitudinal separation of the armature and the yoke member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, including leadin surfaces extending outwardly at the sides of and in general alignment with said cam surface of the tongue for guiding said cam flange interlock shoulder means to said outwardly facing locking shoulder means during the longitudinal relative assembly movement of the armature and the yoke member.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, said locking shoulder means on said flange comprising lateral projections thereon, and said shoulder means on the armature comprising outwardly facing surfaces thereon alongside said opening.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, said armature including leading cam surface for guiding said shoulder means of the cam flange to the shoulder means of the armature during relative assembly movement of the armature and the yoke member.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, said tongue cam surface and said leading cam surface extending in a common plane upwardly and outwardly relative to said armature where the body leg of the armature extends generally horizontally and faces upwardly.

6. An electromagnet relay assembly, including a yoke member provided with a fulcrum surface, an armature having a bearing surface rockably engaging said fulcrum surface, a thrust surface on'said armature facing oppositely to said bearing surface, a retaining leaf spring secured to said yoke member and having a spring detent portion in snap-on retaining engagement with said thrust surface and tensionably thrusting against said thrust surface and thereby pressing said bearing surface against said fulcrum surface, said armature having a clearance aperture therein through which said spring detent portion extends, the improvement comprising:

said spring detent portion having interlock shoulder means;

and said armature having interlock shoulder surface facing toward said interlock shoulder means and preventing unintentional relative separation of said armature and said yoke member;

said interlock shoulder means being releasable from v said shoulder surface by manual springing of said leaf spring.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein said spring detent portion includes a retaining finger in engagement with said thrust surface, and a cam terminal flange portion turned relative to said finger for camming over said thrust surface during relative assembly movement of said armature and said thrust member, and said interlock shoulder means comprise lateral projections on said cam terminal flange portion.

d. An assembly according to claim 6, said armature having a rigid tongue providing said thrust surface and struck inwardly from said opening and with said thrust surface offset relative to a front face of said armature, said tongue providing a cam surface extending up- 6 wardly and outwardly considered with respect to the armature and leaf spring lying generally horizontally and facing upwardly, said interlock surface of the armature extending upwardly above said thrust surface of the tongue, and cam surface means provided on the armature in generally the same plane as said tongue cam surface and leading to said locking surface of the armature for leading said interlock shoulder means to said locking shoulder surface during relative assembly movement of the armature and the yoke member, and

said interlock shoulder means snapping automatically into interlocking relation to said locking surface at completion of the relative assembly movement.

9. An assembly according to claim 3, said clearance slot being wider than said tongue to clear said shoulder projections for movement into interlocking relation with said shoulder means on the armature during said longitudinal relative assembly movement.

10. An assembly according to claim 3, said locking shoulder means lateral projections extending outwardly sufficiently relative to said shoulder means on the armature in the fully assembled relationship of the armature with the yoke to permit free rocking of the armature about said fulcrum surface, but said projections and said outwardly facing surfaces being close enough together to prevent unintentional separation of the armature and yoke member.

l l i l=

Claims

1. An electromagnet relay assembly, including a yoke member provided with a fulcrum surface, an armature having a bearing surface rockably engaging said fulcrum surface, a thrust surface on said armature facing oppositely to said bearing surface, a retaining leaf spring secured to said yoke member and having a spring detent portion in snap-on retaining engagement with said thrust surface and tensionably thrusting against said thrust surface and thereby pressing said bearing surface against said fulcrum surface, said armature having a rigid tongue providing said thrust surface and offset relative to a face of said armature, said yoke member having a complementary recess into which the tongue projects, said spring detent portion overlying said recess and retaining said tongue in the recess, said armature being of generally L-shaped provided with a body leg overlying the yoke member and a pole leg angularly related to said body leg, said bearing surface being provided at the bight at juncture of said legs, said tongue being offset into said bight with said thrust surface and said bearing surface in alignment, said legs having a clearance slot opening extending across said bight, and said detent portion of the spring extending into said opening, said detent portion including a thrust surface engaging finger and a cam terminal flange at the tip of said finger, said tongue having a cam surface leading to said thrust surface and engageable with said cam terminal flange to lift the detent portion tensionably over said thrust surface during a longitudinal relative assembly movement of the armature and yoke member, the improvement comprising: said terminal cam flange being of a length to project outwardly from said opening and having inwardly facing interlock shoulder means thereon in locking confrontation with outwardly facing locking shoulder means on said armature and preventing unintentional relative longitudinal separation of the armature and the yoke member.

6. An electromagnet relay assembly, including a yoke member provided with a fulcrum surface, an armature having a bearing surface rockably engaging said fulcrum surface, a thrust surface on said armature facing oppositely to said bearing surface, a retaining leaf spring secured to said yoke member and having a spring detent portion in snap-on retaining engagement with said thrust surface and tensionably thrusting against said thrust surface and thereby pressing said bearing surface against said fulcrum surface, said armature having a clearance aperture therein through which said spring detent portion extends, the improvement comprising: said spring detent portion having interlock shoulder means; and said armature having interlock shoulder surface facing toward said interlock shoulder means and preventing unintentional relative separation of said armature and said yoke member; said interlock shoulder means being releasable from said shoulder surface by manual springing of said leaf spring.

8. An assembly according to claim 6, said armature having a rigid tongue providing said thrust surface and struck inwardly from said opening and with said thrust surface offset relative to a front face of said armature, said tongue providing a cam surface extending upwardly and outwardly considered with respect to the armature and leaf spring lying generally horizontally and facing upwardly, said interlock surface of the armature extending upwardly above said thrust surface of the tongue, and cam surface means provided on the armature in generally the same plane as said tongue cam surface and leading to said locking surface of the armature for leading said interlock shoulder means to said locking shoulder surface during relative assembly movement of the armature and the yoke member, and said interlock shoulder means snapping automatically into interlocking relation to said locking surface at completion of the relative assembly movement.