DOUBLE-ARMATURE RELAY

Abstract

An electromagnetic double-armature relay with an excitation coil comprises a first yoke and a second yoke, which are arranged on the excitation coil. The first leg of the first yoke serves as a support for a first armature and the first leg of the second yoke serves as a support for a second armature. The double-armature relay has a first comb which cooperates with the first armature, and a second comb cooperates with the second armature. In addition, the double-armature relay has at least two contact bridges, each of which is detachably arranged with a first end in the first comb and the second end in the second comb and comprises two contact rivets oriented in opposite directions, and fixed contacts which are arranged opposite the contact rivets of the contact bridge. The arrangement of the two yokes and armatures are such that the two combs perform opposing translational movements.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic double-armature relay, comprising: an excitation coil having a longitudinal axis with a first and a second end; a first yoke arranged at the first end of the excitation coil and a second yoke arranged at the second end of the excitation coil, the yoke having two legs, the first of which is essentially parallel and the second is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the excitation coil, the first leg of the first yoke serving as a support for a first armature and the first leg of the second yoke serving as a support for a second armature, the second leg of the first yoke serving as a pole face for the second armature, and the second leg of the second yoke serving as a pole face for the first armature; a first armature pivotably arranged on the first leg of the first yoke by a first holding device; a second armature pivotably arranged on the first leg of the second yoke by a second holding device; a first comb cooperates with the first armature and can be moved back and forth essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the excitation coil; a second comb cooperates with the second armature and can also be moved back and forth essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the excitation coil, the first and the second combs being arranged opposite each other on the pole faces of the excitation coil; at least two contact bridges, each of which is detachably arranged with a first end in the first comb and the second end in the second comb and comprises two contact rivets oriented in opposite directions; and fixed contacts arranged opposite the contact rivets of the at least two contact bridges, two fixed contacts in a de-energized rest position being in contact with the contact rivets of a first contact bridge and remaining fixed contacts coming into contact with respective opposing contact rivets of remaining contact bridges by energizing the excitation coil, the two yokes and armature arranged so that the two combs perform opposing translational movements.

2. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the two legs of the yokes are arranged on opposite sides of the excitation coil.

3. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the yoke is J-shaped and the first leg is the longer of the two legs.

4. The relay according to claim 1, wherein a base of the yoke is fixed to an end face of a core running through the excitation coil.

5. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the first leg of the yoke has a recess at a short distance from an end, and the armature at its center of gravity has a curvature that comes into engagement with the recess of the yoke.

6. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the armature in the de-energized rest position extends essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the excitation coil.

7. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the armature is approximately the same length as the excitation coil.

8. The relay according to claim 1, wherein the relay comprises a housing with a lower housing part and a cover.

9. The relay according to claim 1, wherein each contact bridge comprises a spring sheet.

10. The relay according to claim 8, wherein each contact bridge has a tap approximately in its center, which is connected to a connection pin attached under the lower housing part.

11. The relay according to claim 8, wherein the excitation coil with the yokes is positioned and aligned on the lower housing part by two depressions that are arranged opposite one another.

12. The relay according to any claim 8, wherein each contact bridge is sandwiched between two profile elements attached in the center of the lower housing part.

13. The relay according to 8, wherein each contact bridge is shielded from adjacent contact bridges or from the excitation coil by a partition, the partition comprising one or two profile elements for sandwiching a respective contact bridge.

14. The relay according to claim 13, wherein the fixed contacts are attached to the partition.

15. The relay according to claim 13, wherein the lower housing part comprises the partitions with the fixed contacts.

16. The relay according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the pole faces can be changed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the excitation coil.

17. The relay according to claim 8, wherein guides for the combs are provided on the lower housing part and are covered by the cover in the closed state.

18. The relay according to claim 8, wherein each fixed contact is connected to a connection pin attached below the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] Further advantages and features of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to schematic representations. In a representation that is not to scale:

[0032] FIG. 1: shows a top view of a double-armature relay according to the invention with 4 contact bridges;

[0033] FIG. 2: shows a three-dimensional representation of the same double-armature relay according to the invention from FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3: shows an exploded view of a double-armature relay;

[0035] FIG. 4: shows a three-dimensional view of an excitation coil with two yokes and two armatures;

[0036] FIG. 5: shows a top view of the excitation coil of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] In the following, the same reference numerals designate the same or functionally identical elements (in different figures). An additional apostrophe can be used to differentiate between elements of the same type or with the same function or with a similar function in a further embodiment.

[0038] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electromagnetic relay 11 with an excitation coil 13, the coil axis of which extends in the longitudinal direction of excitation coil 13. The two ends of the excitation coil form the pole faces. FIG. 1 shows a top view of an electromagnetic relay according to the invention. The electromagnetic relay comprises a housing which consists of a lower part 15 and a cover (not shown in the figure) which can be placed thereon. Lower housing part 15 accommodates all components relevant to the function of the electromagnetic relay. At the same time, lower housing part 15 has a rectangular shape. Excitation coil 13 is arranged such that its axis comes to rest perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of lower housing part 15. The excitation coil is arranged offset from the center of the lower housing portion 15, so that the distance from excitation coil 13 to a width edge of lower housing part 15 compared to that to the other broadside edge is about twice as long. Excitation coil 13 extends so far in its longitudinal direction that at both ends an equally large gap to the longitudinal edges of lower housing part 15 forms. The cross section of the excitation coil 13 can be either rectangular or round. The diameter of the cross section, regardless of the shape, is approximately one fifth of the length of excitation coil 13. In excitation coil 13, a core (not shown in the drawing) made of iron is attached, which fills the interior of excitation coil 13 from one end to the other end.

[0039] J-shaped yokes 17,19 are attached to both pole faces of the excitation coil. First yoke 17 is arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to second yoke 19, wherein the axis of rotation comes to rest perpendicular to the lower housing part in the center of the excitation coil. Yoke 17,19 comprises a short leg 21,23, a long leg 25,27, and a base. The base of the yoke 17,19 represents the connecting piece between short leg 21,23 and long leg 25,27. Each yoke 17,19 is attached at its base to one end of the core, which extends through excitation coil 13, so that its legs are directed towards excitation coil 13. The long leg extends parallel to the coil axis and beyond the center of the coil length. At a short distance from its end, the leg has a round recess on its side opposite to excitation coil 13. This recess comprises a receiving surface 29,31. Said surface serves to accommodate armature 33,35. Armature 33,35 has a curvature approximately in its center, which comes to rest on receiving surface 29,31 of long leg 25,27. Thus, armature 33,35 is pivotable on receiving surface 29,31 and is restricted in its pivotal movement in the direction of pole face 37,39 by said face. In the rest position when no current flows through excitation coil 13, armature 33,35 is arranged essentially parallel to excitation coil 13. A holding means 41,43 ensures a non-slip arrangement of armature 33,35 by pressing said armature onto receiving surface 29,31 without affecting its pivoting. Armature 33,35 has an arm 49,51 as an extension of its longitudinal direction. This arm 49,51 is arranged on that half, which comes to rest on pole face 37,39 when excitation coil 13 is energized. After placing armature 33,35 on receiving surface 29,31, arm 49,51 of the armature tops excitation coil 13 together with yoke 17,19.

[0040] The arm 49,51 of the armature comes into engagement with a comb 45,47. Said comb extends perpendicular to the coil axis of excitation coil 13, in each case on both pole faces of excitation coil 13 on the edge of lower housing part 15. On lower housing part 15, guides 44 are attached along both longitudinal edges, on which the two combs 45,47 come to rest. A cutout for arm 49,51 of the armature is attached in comb 45,47. When the armature pivots, the arm of the armature pushes comb 45, 47 and causes its translational movement. Due to the rotationally symmetrical arrangement of yokes 17,19 and thus also of armature 33,35 around excitation coil 13, both combs 45,47 move in opposite directions. Comb 45,47 has a length, which is smaller than the longitudinal side of the lower housing part 15, so that upon movement of comb 45,47, said comb does not project beyond lower housing part 15.

[0041] The comb has further cutouts in its longitudinal direction. Said cutouts are attached to accommodate contact bridge 52. Contact bridges 52 run essentially in the direction of the coil axis from one longitudinal edge to the opposite longitudinal edge of lower housing part 15. A contact bridge 52a is arranged on that side of excitation coil 13, which is defined by the shorter distance from excitation coil 13 to the broadside edge of lower housing part 15. On the opposite side of excitation coil 13 there are three further contact bridges 52b. In the embodiments described here and shown in the figures, each contact bridge 52 is formed by one contact spring 53 in each case.

[0042] Each contact spring 53 has two contact rivets 55. Said contact rivets 55 are attached to the two outer areas of contact springs 53. The two contact rivets 55 on contact spring 53 are always attached on different sides and point in opposite directions. A fixed contact 57 is provided opposite to each contact rivet 55 of a contact spring 53. Said fixed contact 57 comprises a contact which is immovably attached to lower housing part 15. In a de-energized rest position of excitation coil 13 and armatures 33,35, the two contact rivets 55 of contact spring 53a which is insulated from remaining contact springs 53 by excitation coil 13, are in the closed state with oppositely attached fixed contacts 57. In this situation, the contacts of the remaining contact springs 55 are at a distance from the respective fixed contacts 57 and are therefore in the open state.

[0043] When energizing excitation coil 13, armatures 33,35 are pivoted at the same time in the direction of pole face 37,39 and move laterally arranged combs 45,47 along. Combs 45,47 in turn deflect engaging contact springs 53 in the same direction. As a result, open contacts 55 are closed and closed contacts 55 are opened. In proper operation of excitation coil 13, armatures 33,35 move approximately at the same time. As a result, contacts 55 of a contact spring 53 are either both in a closed state or both in an open state. When a single armature 33,35 or comb 45,47 moves, there is no closed circuit at any contact spring 53, since all contact springs 53 have at least one open contact. When energizing the excitation coil, it may also be desirable for the armatures to move at a slightly different time. As a result, one side of the contact springs is brought into contact with the fixed contacts while the current flow through the contact spring is still interrupted. This prevents the risk of fusing these contacts together.

[0044] The center of contact spring 53 is arranged at lower housing part 15. Upon deflection of comb 45,47 and contact springs 53 arranged therein, contact springs 53 bend from their center in the direction of movement of comb 45,47. The rigidity of contact springs 53 causes them to assume their original straight shape when excitation coil 13 is not energized. In doing so, contact spring 53 pulls comb 45,47 together with armature 33,35 also back into their original position.

[0045] Partitions 59 are attached to lower housing part 15 between contact springs 53 themselves and excitation coil 13. Said partitions extend from the trace of one comb 45,47 to the trace of the other comb. Profile elements 61 are attached in the center of these partitions 59, so that only just a gap remains between two opposite profile elements 61. Profile elements 61 have two bulges at those places where the opposite profile element has a notch. The gap is defined by the distance between the tips of the bulges from two opposing profile elements. Contact spring 53 is arranged in this gap.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a possible embodiment of a double-armature relay 11. Without contact springs 53 depicted between partitions 59, their geometry is clearly visible. Profile elements 61 attached to partitions 59 are, as already described above, placed in the center of partitions 59. Fixed contacts 57 are attached to a connection pin 63, the size of which can be seen in this illustration. Connection pin 63 is pushed through from the top of lower housing part 15 through lower housing part 15. As described above, fixed contact 57 is located at the top of lower housing part 15. The area of connection pin 63, which is responsible for the transmission of the electrical power, is arranged at the bottom of lower housing part 15.

[0047] Comb 45,47 has recesses in its longitudinal direction, equal to the number of contact springs 53 in the relay. Furthermore, a nib 65 is attached to its bottom. In the installed state, said nib comes to rest next to the arm of armature 49,51 on the side to which the arm of the armature moves upon the pivoting movement of armature 33,35.

[0048] A blocking body 67 is attached next to each profile element 61 on lower housing part 15. Said blocking body has an approximately cube-shaped structure and has an edge length of a quarter of the height of partitions 59. This blocking body 67 is arranged on that side of contact spring 53 to which contact spring 53 can bend. As shown in FIG. 3, contact springs 53 have a further element at their lower edge. A tongue-shaped tab 68 extends in both longitudinal directions of contact spring 53. This tab 68 protrudes from the center in both longitudinal directions up to respective blocking body 67, so that in the installed state contact spring 53 is in contact with blocking body 67. This prevents tab 68 from also bending when contact spring 53 bends.

[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 show excitation coil 13 with two yokes 17,19 and armatures 33,35. The illustration shows the state of the de-energized rest position of coil 13 and armatures 33, 35. Yokes 17,19 are attached to the core (not shown here) of excitation coil 13 using a rivet 69. Short leg 21,23, which comprises pole face 37,39, is at an angle to the coil axis. This angle defines the distance of pole face 37,39 to armature 33,35 and also the place on pole face 37,39 at which armature 33,35 will strike.

[0050] On both pole faces of excitation coil 13, there are two pin receptor sockets 71 offset perpendicular to the coil axis. A pin 73 is arranged in each of said pin receptor sockets, which establishes the connection from an electrical control circuit to excitation coil 13. The beginning and end of the wire of excitation coil 13 are attached to these two pins 73, the beginning and end of the wire not being shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Pin 73 has a greater length than the height of excitation coil 13, so that it protrudes from the bottom of the lower housing part 15 in the installed state of excitation coil 13.

[0051] While specific embodiments have been described above, it is obvious that different combinations of the shown design options can be used insofar as the design options are not mutually exclusive.