Relay with a Contact Arrangement Consisting of Contact Springs

• US 20080030288A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Mader, Leopold, Zeitlberger, Philipp
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/2
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/042 Different parts are assembled by insertion without extra mounting facilities like screws, in an isolated mounting part, e.g. stack mounting on a coil-support
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/043 Details particular to miniaturised relays H01H50/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/14 Terminal arrangements for coils H01H50/443
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/548 for miniaturised relays
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/642 intermediate part being generally a slide plate, e.g. a card

Abstract

A relay has a main body with a base. An electromagnetic switching mechanism is arranged on the base. A contact arrangement includes at least one stationary contact spring and at least one moveable contact spring arranged on a first side of the main body. The moveable contact spring has a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to the base that is actuatable by the electromagnetic switching mechanism and a second portion extending substantially parallel to the base that extends from the first side of the main body to an opposing second side of the main body. A terminal contact extends from the second portion on the second side of the main body.

Claims

1. A relay, comprising:

a main body with a base;

an electromagnetic switching mechanism arranged on the base;

a contact arrangement including at least one stationary contact spring and at least one moveable contact spring, the stationary contact spring and the moveable contact spring being arranged on a first side of the main body; and

the moveable contact spring having a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to the base that is actuatable by the electromagnetic switching mechanism and a second portion extending substantially parallel to the base that extends from the first side of the main body to an opposing second side of the main body, a terminal contact extending from the second portion on the second side of the main body.

2. The relay of claim 1, wherein the base includes a channel extending from the first side to the second side of the main body, the second portion of the moveable contact spring being arranged in the channel.

3. The relay of claim 1, wherein the stationary contact spring has a terminal contact extending therefrom on the first side of the main body.

4. The relay of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic switching mechanism has terminal contacts extending therefrom on the second side of the main body.

5. The relay of claim 4, wherein the terminal contacts of the electromagnetic switching mechanism extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the base, the terminal contact of the moveable contact spring being offset from the plane of the terminal contacts of the electromagnetic switching mechanism.

6. The relay of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic switching mechanism is arranged between the first side and the second side of the main body.

7. The relay of claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic switching mechanism includes a core, an armature, an actuating member, and a coil.

8. The relay of claim 7, wherein the coil is arranged substantially perpendicular to the base.

9. The relay of claim 1, wherein the moveable contact spring is fixed to the base between the first side and the second side of the main body.

10. The relay of claim 1, wherein the moveable contact spring is fixed to the base by a thickened portion of the moveable contact spring.

11. The relay of claim 1, wherein the base includes a web that presses the second portion of the moveable contact spring onto a bearing surface in the main body.

12. The relay of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic switching mechanism includes an actuating member that actuates the moveable contact spring between a normal position and a contact position, the actuating member being moveable substantially parallel to the base.

13. The relay of claim 12, wherein a restoring spring arm extends from the first portion of the moveable contact arm and is decoupled therefrom, the restoring spring arm engaging the actuating member such that the restoring spring arm bias the moveable contact spring into the normal position.

14. The relay of claim 1, wherein the stationary contact spring includes an end portion with a contact zone aligned with a first contact zone of the moveable contact, the end portion having a substantially L-shape.

15. The relay of claim 14, wherein the main body includes a limit stop, the end portion of the stationary contact spring resting against the limit stop.