Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – Utilizing conductive liquid
Patent
1994-08-30
1996-05-14
Donovan, Lincoln
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
Utilizing conductive liquid
335 60, H01H 108
Patent
active
055171664
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mercury wetted switch assembly which is capable of operation in any position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical mercury wetted switch comprises a sealed glass capsule in which there is mounted a movable armature having a pair of pole ends for alternately contacting a respective electric contact when the armature is pivoting and the surface of the armature is wetted with a film of mercury. An energizing coil is provided to generate magnetic field in the magnetic conducting parts in order to generate a magnetic force which tends to operate the switch. The mode of operation, either monostable or bistable, is creating by externally positioning one or two permanent magnets to the capsule.
The reeds used in the capsule for making the switching contacts are to be made of a material that must be carefully chosen in order to meet three requirements: glass.
In practice, the choice of the material for the reeds is a compromise between the said three requirements and can never optimally meet all and each of them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a mercury wetted switch construction in which the magnetic and electric paths are as much as possible separate from each other thereby allowing the magnetic and electric materials to be optimally chosen independently from one another.
It is another object of this invention to provide a mercury wetted switch construction in which the magnetic and electric paths are as much as possible separate from each other thereby making it possible to achieve better magnetic and electrical characteristics.
These objects are attained in accordance with the invention with a mercury wetted switch assembly as defined in the claims.
In particular, there is provided a switch assembly comprising a housing including a baseplate. On the baseplate are mounted a magnetic core having a pair of flanges and a winding wound around it, and two switch capsules positioned on either sides of the magnetic core with each capsule being insulated from each flange of the magnetic core by insulating means. Magnets are also positioned to provide either a monostable or a bistable mode of operation as desired. With this construction, the magnetic and electric paths in the assembly are physically separated from one another, thereby allowing the magnetic and electric materials to be chosen independently from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the switch assembly in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of tile switch assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one of the capsules shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line V--V in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a partially stripped view of a capsule shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it is shown that the switch assembly according to the invention essentially comprises a magnetic unit 10 and two switch capsules 20 which are mounted on either sides of the magnetic unit 10. The whole assembly is housed in an envelope or housing 16 with terminals 15 projecting therefrom.
The magnetic unit 10 includes a I-shaped magnetic core 11 having a winding 17 directly wound around it and end flanges 12 made of the same magnetic material. Each switch capsule 20 is insulated from the flanges 12 of the magnetic core by means of insulating tapes 13 (FIG. 2) whereby the magnetic and electric paths are physically separated from each other. This construction allows the magnetic and electric conducting materials to be optimally chosen independently from one another.
Each switch capsule 20 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The capsule comprises a ceramic plate 21 having a recess 22 formed therein for accommodation of a cantilever beam 23 in such a manner that it is capable of pivoting movement with a minimum clearance between the beam and the ceramic plate. The beam 23 has a pair of pol
REFERENCES:
patent: 3482071 (1969-12-01), Miller
patent: 4134088 (1979-01-01), Asbell et al.
patent: 4260970 (1981-04-01), Bitko
C. P. Clare International N.V.
Donovan Lincoln
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