Circuit and method for wetting relay contacts

• US 7,573,360 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Bryan, Lyle Stanley, Irlbeck, Robert Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rojas; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US11/502,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 335201-202, 200/400, 200/401
• US Class Current: 335/201
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/605 Cleaning of contact-making surfaces by relatively high voltage pulses

Abstract

A circuit for wetting relay contacts includes a relay having a relay coil, a movable contact and a stationary contact. The movable contact is movable between an open position and a closed position upon energizing of the relay coil, and the movable contact engages the stationary contact in the closed position. The movable contact is moved from the closed position to the open position when the relay coil is de-energized. A transistor is connected to the relay coil through a load, wherein the transistor loads the relay coil after the relay coil is de-energized to provide an arc between the movable contact and the stationary contact as the movable contact is moved from the closed position to the open position.

Claims

1. A circuit for wetting relay contacts, the circuit comprising:

a relay having a relay coil, a movable contact and a stationary contact, the movable contact being movable between an open position and a closed position upon energizing of the relay coil, the movable contact engages the stationary contact in the closed position, the movable contact being moved from the closed position to the open position when the relay coil is de-energized;

a transistor connected to the movable contact and a load; and

a resistor connected to the transistor and the relay that senses voltage drop at the relay coil and turns on the transistor to load the movable contact after the relay is de-energized to provide an arc between the movable contact and the stationary contact as the movable contact is moved from the closed position to the open position.

2. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transistor is activated when the relay coil is de-energized.

3. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein, after the relay coil is de-energized, the relay maintains the movable contact in the closed position for a predetermined drop-out time before the movable contact is moved from the closed position to the open position, the transistor loading the relay coil faster than the predetermined drop-out time.

4. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the load comprises at least one of a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor.

5. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transistor senses a voltage drop at the relay upon de-energization of the relay, and wherein the transistor loads the relay contact after the voltage drop is sensed.

6. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transistor provides a wetting current which generates the arc when the movable contact separates from the stationary contact.

7. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transistor loads the relay contact with a current between 0.5 Amps and 1.0 Amp.

8. A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transistor includes a base, an emitter and a collector, the base connected to the relay coil, the emitter connected to the movable contact, and the collector connected to ground through the load.

9. A circuit for wetting relay contacts, the circuit comprising:

a relay having a relay coil, a movable contact and a stationary contact, the relay coil configured to move the movable contact between an open position and a closed position upon energizing and de-energizing of the relay coil; and

a transistor connected to the relay, the transistor being positioned between the movable contact and a ground through a load, wherein the load comprises at least one of a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor, and wherein the transistor loads the relay contact after the relay coil is de-energized to provide an arc between the movable contact and the stationary contact as the movable contact is moved from the closed position to the open position.

10. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transistor includes a base, an emitter and a collector, the base connected to the relay coil, the emitter connected to the movable contact, and the collector connected to ground through the load.

11. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transistor is activated when the relay coil is de-energized.

12. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, wherein, after the relay coil is de-energized, the relay maintains the movable contact in the closed position for a predetermined drop-out time before the movable contact is moved from the closed position to the open position, the transistor loading the relay contact faster than the predetermined drop-out time.

13. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transistor provides a wetting current which generates the arc when the movable contact separates from the stationary contact.

14. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transistor loads the relay contact with a current between 0.5 Amps and 1.0 Amp.

15. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a resistor between a base of the transistor and the relay.

16. A circuit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transistor senses a voltage drop at the relay upon de-energization of the relay, and wherein the transistor loads the relay contact after the voltage drop is sensed.

17. A method of wetting relay contacts comprising;

providing an electromechanical relay having a coil, a movable contact and a stationary contact;

energizing the coil to move the movable contact to a closed position in contact with the stationary contact;

de-energizing the coil to allow the movable contact to move to an open position; and

maintaining a load on at least one of the movable contact and the stationary contact after the relay is de-energized using a wetting circuit having a transistor by sensing a voltage drop at the coil and providing a current path from the transistor to the relay when the voltage drop is sensed.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

connecting a base of the transistor to a coil of the relay through a first resistor;

connecting an emitter of the transistor to the movable contact of the relay; and

connecting a collector of the transistor through a load to a ground terminal.