Bounce-reduced relay

• US 6,661,319 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gruner AG
• Original Assignee: Gruner AG
• Inventors: Schmelz, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/310,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 335/78, 335/80, 335/83, 335/124, 335/128, 335/129
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/26 with spring blade support
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/54 Contact arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/642 intermediate part being generally a slide plate, e.g. a card
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/2227 in which the movable part comprises at least one permanent magnet, sandwiched between pole-plates, each forming an active air-gap with parts of the stationary magnetic circuit H01H51/2209 takes precedence

Abstract

A relay includes a contact spring which closes or interrupts an electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact. One end of the contact spring is conductively connected to the first relay contact and another free end of the contact spring closes or interrupts the electric circuit in a first end position of the contact spring and in a second end position of the contact spring, respectively. An armature is provided which can be adjusted by a reversible magnetic field for deflecting the contact spring into the respective end position. An additional spring is provided for biasing the contact spring into the first end position, wherein the additional spring is supported, at least in the first end position, on the armature or on an actuator of the armature.

Claims

1. Relay comprising a contact spring which closes or interrupts an electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact, one end of the contact spring being conductively connected to the first relay contact and its other free end closing or interrupting the electric circuit in a first end position of the contact spring and in a second end position of the contact spring, respectively;

an armature which can be adjusted by a reversible magnetic field for deflecting the contact spring into the respective end position; and

an additional spring biasing the contact spring into the first end position, wherein the additional spring is supported, at least in the first end position, on the armature or on an actuator of the armature and mounted to a free end of the contact spring.

2. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the additional spring is mounted to the armature or to the actuator.

3. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the additional spring is formed as leaf spring.

4. Relay according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the additional spring is directed towards the free end of the contact spring.

6. Relay according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the additional spring projects laterally past the contact spring.

7. Relay according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the additional spring is directed away from the free end of the contact spring.

8. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is disposed such that it can be linearly displaced in the direction of the contact spring.

9. Relay according to claim 3, wherein the contact spring is coupled directly to the armature or the actuator in the opening direction of the relay and is motionally coupled via the additional spring in the closing direction of the relay.

10. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is directly hinged to the armature.

11. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is motionally coupled to the armature via a coupling spring acting therebetween.

13. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the additional spring is mounted to the armature or to the actuator, the additional spring is formed as leaf spring, the actuator is disposed such that it can be linearly displaced approximately in the direction of deflection of the contact spring, and wherein the actuator is motionally coupled to the armature via a coupling spring acting therebetween.

14. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the additional spring is mounted to the armature or to the actuator, the additional spring is as leaf spring, the contact spring is coupled directly to the armature or the actuator in the opening direction of the relay and is motionally coupled via the additional spring in the closing direction of the relay, and wherein the actuator is directly hinged to the armature.

15. Relay according to claim 1, wherein the additional spring is mounted to the armature or to the actuator, the additional spring is formed as leaf spring, the contact spring is coupled directly to the armature or the actuator in the opening direction of the relay and is motionally coupled via the additional spring in the closing direction of the relay, and wherein the actuator is motionally coupled to the armature via a coupling spring acting therebetween.

5. Relay comprising a contact spring which closes or interrupts an electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact, one end of the contact spring being conductively connected to the first relay contact and its other free end closing or interrupting the electric circuit in a first end position of the contact spring and in a second end position of the contact spring, respectively;

an armature which can be adjusted by a reversible magnetic field for deflecting the contact spring into the respective end position; and

an additional spring biasing the contact spring into the first end position, wherein the additional spring is supported, at least in the first end position, on the armature or on an actuator of the armature and wherein a free end of the additional spring projects past the free end of the contact spring.

12. Relay comprising a contact spring which closes or interrupts an electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact, one end of the contact spring being conductively connected to the first relay contact and its other free end closing or interrupting the electric circuit in a first end position of the contact spring and in a second end position of the contact spring, respectively;

an armature which can be adjusted by a reversible magnetic field for deflecting the contact spring into the respective end position; and

an additional spring biasing the contact spring into the first end position, wherein the additional spring is supported, at least in the first end position, on the armature or on an actuator of the armature the additional spring being formed as leaf spring, the actuator being disposed such that it can be linearly displaced in the direction of deflection of the contact spring, and the actuator is directly hinged to the armature.