Abstract: A miniaturized electromechanical relay (1) with an armature assembly (14) and a contact assembly (13) mounting contacts thereon and having a magnetic member assembly (12) for activating the armature assembly to operate the contact assembly to engage and disengage the contacts. A spring member (16) for mounting the armature assembly on the magnetic member assembly is configured for generating a torsional moment in combination with a cantilever force on the armature assembly to maintain the armature assembly in a rotational relationship with the magnetic member assembly to control operation of the contacts in response to magnetic flux generated by the magnetic member assembly.

Abstract: A miniaturized electromechanical relay (1) having an armature (14) and a spring assembly (13) mounting contacts with a magnetic core member (15) for activating the armature to operate the spring assembly to engage and disengage the contacts. The magnetic core member is formed of hard and soft magnetic powdered materials (150, 151) sintered together to form a fused boundary therebetween for returning magnetic flux generated by the magnetic core pole areas through the fused boundary and the soft magnetic powdered materials.

Abstract: Switch assembly for use with equipment mounting apparatus backplane terminal pins. The assembly comprises an insulating housing member that is placed over a pair of adjacent terminal pins and secured to the backplane. An electrical shorting spring member positioned within the housing member engages both terminal pins to electrically short one terminal pin to another. An actuating member normally in engagement with the electrical shorting member is rotated by a connector inserted onto the backplane terminal pins to disengage the electrical shorting spring member from the pair of terminal pins.

Abstract: An extracting tool (14 ) for extracting a keying block (12) having keying pins (13) extending outwardly therefrom from the terminal pins (11) of a backplane (10) of an interconnection system. A keying pin seizing mechanism is retained on a mounting card (27) dimensioned to fit between the rails 17 and 18 of a guide frame normally holding a circuit board. The seizing mechanism comprises a pair of adjacent vise blocks (15, 16) having aligned holes (19) to correspond to the locations of the keying pins (13). When the card (27) is fully inserted in the guide frame, the keying pins (13) of the keying block (12) pass through the aligned holes (19) of both vise blocks (15, 16). The latter blocks have opposing parallel faces (20, 21) lying at an angle to the axes of the keying pins (13).

Abstract: Optical fiber switch apparatus for selectively coupling the end (16) of a first fiber (17) to the ends of a plurality of second fibers (10) circularly arranged within a housing (12) also enclosing the free end (16) of the first fiber (17). The latter (17) extends through a spherical bearing (20) seatable in a socket (24) formed in the housing end (23), the bearing having a disc (19) fitted about it at right angles to the axis of the first fiber (17). The pole-pieces of a plurality of electromagnets (26) arranged under the periphery of the disc (19) selectively tilt the disc (19) upon selective energization to swing the free end (16) of the first fiber (17) into juxtaposition with the end of a selected second fiber (10'). A hold electromagnet (36) is energized to urge the bearing (20) into its socket (24) and thereby the ends of the two fibers (17, 10') into abutment.

Abstract: Electrical relay apparatus in which a contact spring (35) is bowed rather than angularly flexed by the armature (16) to bring the contacts (28, 38, 34, 39) into or out of engagement. A first contact (38) is mounted at the crown of a slightly bowed spring (35) fixedly mounted at one end. The contact (38) is mounted at near the midpoint of the spring (35) spaced apart from a second, fixed contact (28) and the contacts (28, 38) are brought into engagement by the further bowing of the spring (35) by an armature (16) acting along the spring axis in the direction of its fixed end. A second contact (39) mounted on the underside of the spring (35) may be brought out of engagement with a second fixed contact (34) by the further bowing of the spring (35) for a break-before-make mode of operation.

Abstract: An electrical relay construction in which the function of the actuating magnetic field of operating the relay is separated completely from the function of providing contact closure force. A pair of electrically conductive, spherical bodies (18, 19) are rollably clamped by spring means (28) between a common, electrically conductive plate (20) and individual platforms (14, 15, 16) connected to the relay terminals (11, 12, 13). The common plate (20) is mounted on an actuating member (21) controlled by a solenoid (31) to roll the bodies (18, 19) between the common plate (20) and the terminal platforms (14, 15, 16) to complete the possible relay conducting paths.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing metallic inserts into thermoplastic material. The apparatus comprises a heating device in combination with a heating element having a first bore adapted to receive the heating device. The heating element is formed into an elongated tip specifically shaped to grasp a metallic insert which is then heated by conduction to a temperature suitable for melting the thermoplastic material. A longitudinal bore in alignment with the first bore and coupled thereto with a second bore extends through the heating element elongated tip. Plunger apparatus slidably inserted in the longitudinal bore and second bore is positioned by spring apparatus located in the second bore to maintain the metallic insert in engagement with the elongated tip of the heating element during the heating and insertion of the metallic insert into the thermoplastic material.