Patents by Inventor Rainer Schmelz

Rainer Schmelz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9704683
    Abstract: A relay for closing or interrupting the electric circuit between two relay connection contacts includes two contact springs which are each fixed in an electrically conductive manner to the relay connection contacts with the spring ends thereof facing away from each other and which face each other with the other free, deflectable spring ends thereof. A stationary, electrically conductive contact bridge, against which the free spring ends abut in the closed relay position and from which the free spring ends are lifted in the open relay position, is included. A single solenoid-operated mechanism is for the synchronous, parallel deflection of the two contact springs into the closed or open relay position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Gruner AG
    Inventor: Rainer Schmelz
  • Publication number: 20160071676
    Abstract: A relay for closing or interrupting the electric circuit between two relay connection contacts includes two contact springs which are each fixed in an electrically conductive manner to the relay connection contacts with the spring ends thereof facing away from each other and which face each other with the other free, deflectable spring ends thereof. A stationary, electrically conductive contact bridge, against which the free spring ends abut in the closed relay position and from which the free spring ends are lifted in the open relay position, is included. A single solenoid-operated mechanism is for the synchronous, parallel deflection of the two contact springs into the closed or open relay position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Rainer Schmelz
  • Patent number: 6788176
    Abstract: In a relay (1) with two parallel contact springs (2a, 2b) which close or interrupt the electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact (3, 4), whose one end is connected in a conducting fashion to the first relay contact (3) and whose other free end (5a; 5b) closes or interrupts the electric circuit in a first end position and a second end position of the contact springs (2a, 2b), respectively, and with an armature (11) which can be adjusted by means of a magnetic field whose poles can be changed, for deflecting the contact spring (2a, 2b) into the respective end position, in accordance with the invention, a leaf spring (17) is centrally pivotably disposed on the armature (11) or its actuator (14) whose two free ends (18a, 18b) bias the two contact springs (2a, 2b) with force into the first end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Gruner AG
    Inventor: Rainer Schmelz
  • Publication number: 20040080388
    Abstract: In a relay (1) with two parallel contact springs (2a, 2b) which close or interrupt the electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact (3, 4), whose one end is connected in a conducting fashion to the first relay contact (3) and whose other free end (5a; 5b) closes or interrupts the electric circuit in a first end position and a second end position of the contact springs (2a, 2b), respectively, and with an armature (11) which can be adjusted by means of a magnetic field whose poles can be changed, for deflecting the contact spring (2a, 2b) into the respective end position, in accordance with the invention, a leaf spring (17) is centrally pivotably disposed on the armature (11) or its actuator (14) whose two free ends (18a, 18b) bias the two contact springs (2a, 2b) with force into the first end position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Rainer Schmelz
  • Patent number: 6661319
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Gruner AG
    Inventor: Rainer Schmelz
  • Publication number: 20030112103
    Abstract: In a relay (1) comprising a contact spring (4) which closes or interrupts the electric circuit between a first and a second relay contact (2, 3), one end of the contact spring being conductively connected to the first relay contact (2) and its other free end (5) closing or interrupting the electric circuit in a first end position of the contact spring (4) and in a second end position of the contact spring (4), respectively; an armature (10) which can be adjusted by a reversible magnetic field for deflecting the contact spring (4) into the respective end position; and an additional spring (16) biasing the contact spring (4) into the first end position, the additional spring (16) is supported, at least in the first end position, on the armature (10) or on an actuator (13;20) of the armature (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Rainer Schmelz
  • Patent number: 6046661
    Abstract: A device (11a; 11b) for switching an electrical circuit has a contact element (15a; 15b) which closes or opens the circuit between a first and a second terminal (13a, 14a; 13b, 14b). One end of the contact element (15a; 15b) is connected to the first terminal in a conducting fashion (13a; 13b). The second free end of the contact element (15a; 15b) closes the circuit in a first end position and opens the circuit in a second end position. A switchable magnetic field, preferably one whose polarity can be changed, moves, by means of an actuator device, the contact element (15a; 15b) into one of its two end positions. The activating device comprises a toggle lever (23a; 23b) to move the free end of the contact element (15a; 15b) into at least one of its two end positions. The device allows the holding power and/or the seating pressure of the free end of the contact element to be increased in its closed end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Gruner Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arno Reger, Rainer Schmelz