Relay with Reduced Leakage Current

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-open perspective view of a relay according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the relay of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view through an actuator and a housing of the relay of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a leakage path shown with and without the presence of first, second and third walls in the relay of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base plate and the first and second walls of the relay of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the actuator;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the actuator;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a contact system and an actuator of the relay of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the contact system and the second wall.

Claims

1. A relay, comprising: a magnetic system provided with an armature;a contact system provided with a first contact and a moveable second contact;an electrically insulating base plate arranged between the magnetic system and the contact system, the base plate having an opening therein;an actuator extending between the armature and the contact system through the opening, the actuator transferring movement of the armature to the second contact to move the second contact into electrical engagement with the first contact; anda first wall arranged between the opening and the magnetic system or the opening and the contact system that extends a leakage path of an electrical leakage current between the contact system and the magnetic system.

2. The relay of claim 1, wherein the first wall extends from the base plate.

3. The relay of claim 1, wherein the first wall substantially annularly surrounds opening.

4. The relay of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a pair of holding members fixed to the armature.

5. The relay of claim 1, further comprising a second wall arranged between the opening and the magnetic system or the opening and the contact system that extends the leakage path of the electrical leakage current between the contact system and the magnetic system.

6. The relay of claim 5, wherein the first wall has a greater height than the second wall.

7. The relay of claim 5, wherein the second wall is arranged on the same side of the base plate as the first wall, the second wall being spaced from and substantially surrounding the first wall.

8. The relay of claim 1, wherein operating arms protrude from the actuator, the operating arms transferring the movement of the armature to the second contact.

9. The relay of claim 8, wherein the second contact includes a contact spring, the contact spring having a conducting strip with an extension, the extension providing support for the operating arms.

10. The relay of claim 1, further comprising a third wall that laterally overlaps the first wall.

11. The relay of claim 1, wherein the actuator is guided by the first wall.

12. A relay, comprising: a magnetic system provided with an armature;a contact system provided with a first contact and a moveable second contact;an electrically insulating base plate arranged between the magnetic system and the contact system, the base plate having an opening therein;first and second walls extending from the base plate, the first and second walls arranged between the opening and the magnetic system or the opening and the contact system;an actuator extending between the armature and the contact system through the opening, the actuator transferring movement of the armature to the second contact to move the second contact into electrical engagement with the first contact, the actuator having a third wall that extends toward the base plate and between the first and second walls; andthe first, second, and third walls extending a leakage path of an electrical leakage current between the contact system and the magnetic system.

13. The relay of claim 12, wherein the actuator includes a pair of holding members fixed to the armature.

14. The relay of claim 12, wherein the third wall laterally overlaps the first wall.

15. The relay of claim 12, wherein the first wall has a height greater than the second wall.

16. The relay of claim 12, wherein the actuator contacts the first wall and is guided thereby.

17. The relay of claim 12, wherein the first, second, and third walls have a substantially annular shape.

18. The relay of claim 12, wherein the actuator contacts the first wall and is guided thereby

19. The relay of claim 12, wherein operating arms protrude from the third wall, the operating arms transferring the movement of the armature to the second contact.

20. The relay of claim 19, wherein the second contact includes a contact spring, the contact spring having a conducting strip with an extension, the extension providing support for the operating arms.