Abstract: The present invention comprises an armature suspended within a resilient means, wherein the resilient means also performs a capillary function in that a wetting agent, such as mercury, forms a captive reservoir which travels upon said resilient means to said armature and thereby performs a self-renewing wetting function with regard to the contact surfaces of said armature. The armature and resilient means are enclosed within an envelope. The envelope has secured therein one or more contacts which interact with the contact surfaces of the armature (in response to an electromagnetic stimulus) and are continually wetted by said interaction.

Abstract: A coil winding machine for winding arrays of closely-spaced, irregularly shaped coils utilizes a winding head that moves elliptically about the coil being wound. The elliptical motion permits compact arrays to be produced economically by allowing more closely spaced coils to be wound than can be wound with a winding head having circular motion. The machine is programmable automatically to step between coils of the array, and to wind the coils in any desired direction. A turns counter is utilized gradually to slow the head prior to the completion of each winding operation, and a position detector is used to position the head between rows of coils as the head is advanced to the next coil to be wound.

Abstract: A cross point switching matrix utilizing remanent reed switches includes an array of coil forms mounted on a magnetically permeable shunt plate. Electromagnetic coils are wound around the coil forms in alternating directions and one or more remanent reed switches are contained in each coil. Magnetically permeable coupler plates are mounted on opposite sides of the shunt plates and serve to complete a magnetic path between the ends of each reed switch and the shunt plate through the other reed switches. When two or more reed switches are mounted in each coil, the switches are disposed in a straight line aligned at a 45.degree. angle to the coordinates of the matrix to permit electrical connections to be readily made to the reed switches utilizing straight conductors.

Abstract: A reed switch relay includes an elongated bobbin surrounding a reed switch having a pair of axially extending leads. Supporting members extend longitudinally from opposite ends of the bobbin for mounting the bobbin to a circuit board, and resilient members for retaining the leads of the reed switch are integrally molded into the supporting members. The leads of the reed switch are bent downwardly and engage the resilient retaining members with a snap action. The downwardly extending ends of the leads protrude from the retaining members and serve as connecting pins for mounting the relay assembly to a circuit board or a socket.