Contact-actuation Means Patents (Class 335/121)
  • Patent number: 11657702
    Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a base portion and a rotating portion supported by the base portion so as to be rotatable about the base portion. The remote control device may include a control circuit, a wireless communication circuit, and a rotary encoder circuit. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion into input signals, and to operate as an antenna of the remote control device. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to provide the input signals to the control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to translate the one or more input signals into control signals for transmission to the load control device via the wireless communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Patent number: 11476552
    Abstract: A coaxial RF switch comprising a pair of coaxial conductors and a confinement flexure affixing to a conductor reed, wherein said confinement flexure having at least one fixed end such that the conductor reed can move freely and consistently to make and break the connections to the coaxial conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Jun Shen
  • Patent number: 11462378
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Juan Cristóbal Sedeño Merchán, Antonino Spataro, Marco Giger, Attila György, Herbert Willi
  • Patent number: 10347452
    Abstract: A polarized DC electromagnetic device and electromagnetic contactor using same to improve assembly efficiency without size increase of the electromagnetic device. The device includes a plunger inserted through a cylindrical portion of a spool around which an excitation coil is wound and having a first armature and a second armature attached to both ends, an outer yoke attracting the first armature and the second armature, an inner yoke disposed inside the outer yoke and attracting the second armature, and a permanent magnet disposed between the outer yoke and the inner yoke. The spool includes radially protruding flange portions respectively formed at both ends of the cylindrical portion, a coil terminal attachment portion formed in the flange portion on the first armature side, and a coil terminal attached to the coil terminal attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC FA COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tsutsumi, Masaaki Watanabe, Hideki Daijima, Shota Shiinoki
  • Patent number: 9761382
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a switching device having a contactor and an actuator. The contactor has at least a first contactor member and a second contactor member. The actuator is configured to actuate the contactor. At least one of the contactor members has a varying or variable thickness along its length such that the at least one of the contactor members has a relatively thick portion and a relatively thin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: REL DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher John Stanton, John William Chester, Hong Wen Jiang
  • Publication number: 20150137917
    Abstract: A relay for a defibrillator, including a support base on which a coil and a contacting unit having a contact assembly are mounted. The contacting unit can be actuated by an armature and at least one additional mechanical connecting link as a result of the electrical excitation of the coil. The contact assembly has contacts supported on contact carriers. The contacts can be connected to each other by activating the coil. In order to optimize the contacting, at least one connecting link can be designed as a rotating lever coupled to the armature, which rotating lever is pivotably coupled to a contact carrier, and another contact carrier is pivotably coupled to an additional rotating lever or directly to the armature, wherein both contact carriers having the contacts to be contacted are moved towards each other during contacting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Gerhard Plechinger
  • Patent number: 8797128
    Abstract: An exemplary medium or high voltage switch has a first set of contact elements and a second set of contact elements. Each contact element includes an insulating carrier carrying conducting elements. In the closed current-carrying state of the switch, the conducting elements align to form one or more current paths between terminals of the switch along an axial direction. For opening the switch, the contact elements are mutually displaced by through two drives along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The switching arrangement is arranged in a fluid-tight housing in a gas of elevated pressure or in a liquid. The switch has a high voltage withstand capability and fast switching times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Lars Liljestrand, Lars E. Jonsson, Per Skarby, Ryan Chladny
  • Patent number: 8791779
    Abstract: A medium or high voltage switch has a switching assembly actuated by two drives. Each drive includes a plunger arranged between two Thomson coils. The coils as well as the plunger are rectangular for reducing the weight and therefore inertia of the drive and thus to increase drive speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Lars E. Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20130321106
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch is provided which includes: a coil generating magnetomotive force; a frame accommodating the coil and generating a flux path; a resin cover covering an opening of the frame; and a current-supply terminal member energizing the coil. The current-supply terminal member includes: a blade-shaped terminal whose end is connected to the coil and whose another end is drawn out of the resin cover in the axial direction of the electromagnetic switch; and a plate-shaped external connection terminal whose end is joined to an end of the blade-shaped terminal and whose another end is drawn out in the direction intersecting the axial direction. A portion between the ends of the external connection terminal is insert-molded in a terminal anchor block provided with the resin cover. A female terminal of a power supply connector provided at an electric supply line is fitted and electrically connected to the external connection terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami NIIMI, Mitsuhiro MURATA, Kiyokazu HARUNO
  • Patent number: 8395464
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wedge shaped actuator device configured to provide separation of spring supported electrical contacts in an electrical switch. The wedge is configured with dual contour sides to maximize transfer of energy from a drive solenoid to the contact carrying springs. Portions of the wedge are relieved to allow for uninhibited movement of the wedge over side surfaces of the contact carrying springs to avoid digging in of any rough materials from the side edges of the spring as may be occasioned due to stamping techniques used to form the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pontin, David N. Makinson, Larry O'Dell
  • Patent number: 8222981
    Abstract: An electrical switching device includes first and second circuit assemblies. Each of the first and second circuit assemblies includes a base terminal and a moveable terminal movable between an open state and a closed state. The movable terminal is electrically connected to the base terminal in the closed state. An actuator assembly is electromechanically controlled by a motor. The actuator assembly includes a pivot member rotated by the motor that has a post extending outward from a pivot body. An actuator is moved by the pivot member and is movable between a first position and a second position. The actuator is operatively coupled to the moveable terminals of the first and second circuit assemblies. The actuator moves the movable terminals to the closed state as the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. The actuator has a pocket with a compression spring received in the pocket. The compression spring extends between a first end and a second end. The first end engages the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Thomas Zarbock, Matthew Len Moeller, Garland H. Ladd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7843289
    Abstract: An improved electromechanical switch designed to operate at frequencies from DC through microwave has terminal probe tips that are formed from an alloy of noble metal and contoured with a pattern of peaks and valleys in order to provide better contact wiping operation and capture of wear debris. The switch incorporates damper elements to reduce switching contact bounce, thus providing increased contact life as well as higher quality signal switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Scientific Components Corporation
    Inventors: Aron Raklyar, Gennady Simkin, Efim Polishchuk
  • Patent number: 7663457
    Abstract: Magnetically latching and releasing a voice coil actuator for controlling electrical switchgear. The voice coil actuator includes a voice coil magnet disposed on a common longitudinal axis with respect to a voice coil assembly. A coil of the voice coil assembly exerts a magnetic force on the voice coil assembly, thrusting the voice coil assembly towards the voice coil magnet. At least one pair of latching members mounted to the voice coil assembly creates a permanent magnet circuit between the latching members and the voice coil magnet. The permanent magnet circuit maintains the position of the voice coil assembly relative to the voice coil magnet, even when power to the coil is removed. This latch can be released by applying a current in the coil or by applying an external, physical force to a member coupled to the voice coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Bela Peter Szeifert, Michael Peter Dunk
  • Patent number: 7623010
    Abstract: An electrical switch for connecting and breaking a circuit including a connecting and breaking mechanism for connecting and breaking the circuit provided with at least a set of movable contacts and stationary contacts; a electromagnetism drive mechanism for controlling the contacts to be actuated so as to realize closed circuit; a housing for accommodating the movable contact and stationary contact; an arc-extinguishing mechanism disposed in the housing and corresponded to the movable and stationary contact; a case connected to a base for accommodating the electromagnetism drive mechanism; a bedplate associated with the case; and a holding mechanism disposed on the bedplate for holding the contacts to connect the circuit, the electromagnetic holding mechanism is electromagnetic and has a set of electromagnetic attracting mechanism in which the movable iron core is made to be a pothook or a baffle mechanism, the movable iron core is attracted so that the pothook or baffle keeps the switch closed by means of hi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 7538646
    Abstract: A relay includes a magnetic system provided with an armature and a contact system provided with a first contact and a moveable second contact. An electrically insulating base plate is arranged between the magnetic system and the contact system and has an opening therein. First and second walls extend from the base plate and are arranged between the opening and the magnetic system or the opening and the contact system. An actuator extends between the armature and the contact system through the opening and transfers movement of the armature to the second contact to move the second contact into electrical engagement with the first contact. The actuator has a third wall that extends toward the base plate and between the first and second walls. The first, second, and third walls extend a leakage path of an electrical leakage current between the contact system and the magnetic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Mikl
  • Patent number: 6762663
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic switch of a starter, a bobbin has two terminal holders on a flange. Each of the terminal holders defines a slot on its end surface and a terminal is press-fitted in the slot in an axial direction of the bobbin. An end of an excitation coil wound around the bobbin is pulled out the bobbin and connected to the terminal. A molded cover provides a through hole and is mounted on the terminal so that the terminal passes through the through hole. A sealing member is press-fitted on the terminal to air-tightly seal the through hole. A rod cover fitted on a rod supporting a movable contact has slits on its cylindrical part in the axial direction. The slits are closed before a distal end of the cylindrical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Andoh, Shinji Usami
  • Patent number: 5770901
    Abstract: A starter motor has an armature, a commutator and brushes slidably supported by a brush holder, and a magnet switch controls motor operation. A switch supporting member supports the magnet switch and an energization control unit accommodating a bimetal switch having a contact therein. The energization control unit opens its inner contact to shut off the current carried to a magnet switch coil when the temperature of heat transferred via switch supporting member, i.e., the heat of the coil transferred via brushes and a switch yoke, reaches a predetermined temperature, thereby stopping motor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Tsutomu Shiga
  • Patent number: 5160910
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, comprising: a case consisting of a terminal base and a cover fitted thereon; a pair of contact units arranged laterally on the terminal base; an electromagnet unit arranged in the case on a longitudinal end of the contact units; an upper longitudinal insulating wall depending from an upper inner wall surface of the cover between different ones of the contact units; a lower longitudinal insulating wall projecting from an inner surface of the terminal base so as to correspond to the upper longitudinal insulating wall; and an actuating member made of electrically insulating material for transmitting a drive force of an armature of the electromagnet unit to the contact units; a guide structure being defined between a lower end of the upper longitudinal insulating wall and an upper end of the lower longitudinal insulating wall so as to guide movement of the card along a longitudinal direction as it is actuated by an armature of the electromagnet unit to actuate the contact units between t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 4978935
    Abstract: A high-speed, high-reliability electromagnetic relay particularly adapted for use in electronic systems with signal frequencies from DC in excess of 20 MHz. A ferro-magnetic armature is attached to an actuator plate made of dielectric material which is in contact with a flexible contact reed. One end of the contact reed is in fixed electrical contact with an input pin and the other end is movable between a normal position in electrical contact with a first output pin and a second position in electric contact with a second output pin. To improve resistance to environmental extremes such as shock and vibration, a permanent magnet can be located so that its attractive force holds the armature in the normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventors: Jerzy Hoffman, Krzysztof J. Ciezarek
  • Patent number: 4740769
    Abstract: A relay includes a spool, or coil (3 and 4), and a yoke (5) next to the spool. In front of the spool, an armature (8) that activates a contact spring (16) is accomodated in a contact space positioned upstream in one of the free sides of the armature. The contact spring has an initial leg (16a) extending straight across the overall width of the relay and a U-shaped second leg (16b) mounted on the first. The free end of the U-shaped spring leg (16b) operates in conjunction with two reciprocal-contact elements (13 and 14). The generally Y shape results in a contact spring (16) with a maximum possible free length and hence a low spring constant, meaning a low relay-response output, while retaining the prescribed compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Herbert Mitschik
  • Patent number: 4703294
    Abstract: A remotely controllable relay comprises a rocker pivoted at an intermediate point for rocking at one end in normal or reverse direction in response to forward or backward motion of a movable member of an electromagnet means, and a movable contactor linked to the rocker for contacting with or separating from a fixed contactor in response to the rocking of the rocker. A larger momentum at the other end remote from the pivoted point of the rocker achieved with a smaller momentum of the movable member is utilized to sufficiently separate the movable contactor from the fixed contactor upon contact opening, the smaller momentum movable member allowing the electromagnet means to be minimized in size for a miniaturization of the relay and consumed power saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yokoyama, Hiroaki Hamaguchi, Masatoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4689587
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay has a hollow coil having a magnet system forming a flux guidance loop in a circuit with a portion extending outside of and parallel to the coil, and another portion, formed by the armature, extending through the interior of the hollow coil. The loop is interrupted by a working air gap, which is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the coil, and which is completely encompassed within the interior of the coil. The air gap is formed by a wedge-shaped portion of the armature in registry with a wedge-shape pole piece. The slanted surfaces are longer in length than surfaces parallel to the coil axis, thereby providing a larger area for flux transfer through the air gap. Additionally, by slanting the flux transfer faces within the hollow coil, the overall size of the relay is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Harry Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4658226
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a moving block assembly which is selectively attracted by the energization of the electromagnet in the relay and moves in a direction perpendicular to the axis of an iron core within the electromagnet, thus actuating a movable contact support. The moving block and the movable contact support slide together, thus preventing wobbling of the movable block assembly within the relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Kozo Maenishi, Keiji Genma, Takezo Sano, Toshiki Tanaka, Shigenobu Sato
  • Patent number: 4625191
    Abstract: A safety electromagnetic relay includes two pairs of contact sets, each pair including a load-driving contact set and a control contact set, and each contact set including a fixed contact and a movable contact spring. The two load-driving contact sets are normally-open contacts and may be connected in series and included in an external load circuit which requires safe interruption. The contact springs of each of the first and second pairs are ganged by a coupling member which is movable independently of a relay armature. The ganged pairs of contact springs are actuated by the armature in such a manner that when one of the load-driving contact sets should become welded in the closed condition, the other load-driving contact set will still open when the armature moves to the inoperative position, but the control contact set associated with the welded load-driving contact set is prevented from returning to its condition corresponding to the inoperative position of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Johannes Oberndorfer, Kenji Ono, Yoshiyuki Iwami
  • Patent number: 4616202
    Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor having an electromagnet consisting of a fixed core and an operating coil mounted on the fixed core, a plurality of fixed contacts, a crossbar disposed above the fixed core, a plurality of contact bars associated with the crossbar and each provided with a pair of movable contacts located opposite the corresponding fixed contacts, respectively, a movable core joined to the lower portion of the crossbar opposite to the fixed core, and a rigid frame consisting of two parallel polygonal bars and two parallel connecting bars interconnecting the respective opposite ends of the polygonal bars. The crossbar and the movable core are supported pivotally on the rigid frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kakizoe
  • Patent number: 4403121
    Abstract: A plurality of individual electrical load switches each having an operating tab are so mounted and oriented that the operating tabs extend toward a central axis to define a circle substantially normal to the central axis and operate substantially in the direction of the central axis. An operating arm having ends thereof arranged to be brought into register with each operating tab at mutually exclusive angular positions is normally tilt mounted in a first direction upon a rotor that may be positioned in selected ones of a plurality of angular positions by a step motor. Upon one end of the arm being brought into register with a switch operating tab, the arm is tilted in the opposite direction to effect the operation of the operating tab with which the one end thereof is in register to place the corresponding individual electrical load switch in a selected circuit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald O. Huntzinger, Raymond O. Butler, Jr., Lewis R. Hetzler, John Delaplane
  • Patent number: 4309683
    Abstract: This invention provides a novel and unique electric control device which utilizes a new auxiliary contact device. This new auxiliary contact device has a contact-carrying structure that is directly engaged with the operating mechanism of the electric control device whereby the operating mechanism directly moves the auxiliary contact device to all operating positions eliminating any requirement for biasing the auxiliary contacts into any normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Grunert, John J. Dauer, Jr., Birch L. DeVault
  • Patent number: 4281304
    Abstract: An electric circuit switchgear includes main contacts circumferentially arranged on a fixed panel and auxiliary contacts. The switchgear also includes a rotary electromechanical drive connected with a driving shaft and enabling the latter to be turned through a pre-set angle. The driving shaft is rotated together with an actuating element of an electromagnetic drive provided with a contactor and a disconnector both having at least one projection interacting with the main and auxiliary contacts through contact closing and disconnecting mechanisms having locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Inventors: Vitaly I. Koshman, Vladimir F. Petrichenko, Boris S. Gnilitsky, Vyacheslav G. Mironenko, Pavel V. Kamshitsky