Magnet System with H-Shaped Armature for a Relay

Abstract

A magnet system for a bi-stable relay includes a coil, first and second core yoke members, and an armature. The coil has a first polarity state and a second polarity state. Each of the first and second core yoke members has a core arm and a yoke arm. Each of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members has a pole face. The armature has substantially parallel armature core arms separated by a permanent magnet. The armature is pivotally mounted in an air gap between the pole faces of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members such that the armature core arms contact the yoke arms in a first switch position corresponding to the first polarity state and in a second switch position corresponding to the second polarity state. The armature core arms are arranged substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the coil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a magnet system for a relay according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a yoke core member of the magnet system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a core structure of a magnet system according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a yoke core member of the core structure of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an armature having a substantially H-shape of the core structure of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bi-stable relay containing the core structure of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is another diagrammatic perspective view of the bi-stable relay containing the core structure of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the magnet system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of a portion of the bi-stable relay containing the core structure of FIG. 3.

Claims

1. A magnet system for a bi-stable relay, comprising: a coil having a first polarity state and a second polarity state;first and second core yoke members, each of the first and second core yoke members having a core arm and a yoke arm, each of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members having a pole face; andan armature having substantially parallel armature core arms separated by a permanent magnet, the armature being pivotally mounted in an air gap between the pole faces of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members such that the armature core arms contact the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members in a first switch position corresponding to the first polarity state and in a second switch position corresponding to the second polarity state, the armature core arms being arranged substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the coil.

2. The magnet system of claim 1, wherein the armature has a substantially H-shape.

3. The magnet system of claim 1, wherein the first core yoke member is substantially U-shaped and the second core yoke member is substantially L-shaped.

4. The magnet system of claim 1, wherein the yoke arm of the first core yoke member is substantially U-shaped and the yoke arm of the second core yoke member is substantially straight.

5. The magnet system of claim 1, wherein each of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members has an end section near the pole face with an enlarged cross-section.

6. The magnet system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the armature core arms has a projection that engages with a slider.

7. The magnet system of claim 6, wherein the slider moves substantially parallel to the center axis of the coil in response to movement of the armature.

8. The magnet system of claim 1, wherein an extrusion coating is provided about a substantially center of the armature.

9. The magnet system of claim 8, wherein at least one stub axle is provided in the extrusion coating.

10. A bi-stable relay, comprising: an insulating body having a bottom surface and a recess;a coil having a first polarity state and a second polarity state, the coil being arranged in the recess such that a center axis of the coil is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom surface;first and second core yoke members, each of the first and second core yoke members having a core arm and a yoke arm, each of the yoke arms having a pole face; andan armature having substantially parallel armature core arms separated by a permanent magnet, the armature being pivotally mounted in an air gap between the pole faces of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members such that the armature core arms contact the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members in a first switch position corresponding to the first polarity state and in a second switch position corresponding to the second polarity state.

11. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein the armature core arms are arranged substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the coil.

12. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein the armature has a substantially H-shape.

13. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein the first core yoke member is substantially U-shaped and the second core yoke member is substantially L-shaped.

14. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein the yoke arm of the first core yoke member is substantially U-shaped and the yoke arm of the second core yoke member is substantially straight.

15. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein each of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members has an end section near the pole face with an enlarged cross-section.

16. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein at least one of the armature core arms has a projection that engages with a slider.

17. The bi-stable relay of claim 16, wherein the slider moves substantially parallel to the center axis of the coil in response to movement of the armature.

18. The bi-stable relay of claim 10, wherein the armature is pivotally mounted to the body.

19. The bi-stable relay of claim 18, wherein the armature has at least one stub axle that pivotally mounts the armature to the body.

20. The bi-stable relay of claim 19, wherein the stub axle is provided in an extrusion coating provided about a substantial center of the armature.