EP0056624A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch assembly
Assignee: Omron Corp
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Filing: 1982-01-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A switch assembly includes first and second contact members which are operatively provided to take one of two positions, a break-position in which the first and second contact members are separated from each other, and a make-position in which the first and second contact members are electrically connected with each other. Magnetic members are provided operatively in association with the first and second contact members to define a closed magnetic loop with a current path extending through the loop, when the first and second contact members are turned to the make-position. The magnetic members attract each other by the magnetic flux through the closed loop to maintain the first and second contacts in the make-position when the current flowing through the current path is not zero. Thus, the first and second contact members are permitted to return to the break-position at a zero crossing point of a.c. current flowing through the contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryuichi Sato
- 👤 Tsutomu Taniguchi
- 👤 Hirofumi Koga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H50/00; H01H50/54; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/20; H01H1/2041; H01H1/50; H01H1/54; H01H50/02; H01H50/023; H01H2050/025; H01H59/00; H01H2059/009; H01H57/00; H01H7/00; H01H7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A switch assembly comprising: first and second contact means (10, 22, 42, 68, 70, 96; 12, 26, 44, 46, 72, 92, 94) provided operatively to take one of two positions, a break-position in which the first and second contact means are electrically separated from each other, and a make-position in which the first and second contact means are electrically connected with each other to define a current path therethrough; first and second magnetic bodies (4, 24, 40, 64, 100, 102; 6, 28, 48, 66, 104) provided operatively in association with said first and second contact means such that said first and second magnetic bodies define at least one closed magnetic loop with at least one of said first and second contact means passing through said closed magnetic loop when said first and second contact means are turned to said make-position, and said magnetic loop opens when said first and second contact means are turned to said break-position; biasing means (10b, 23, 54, 82) for biasing said first and second contact means towards said break-position; and actuating means (8, 18, 20, 34, 74, 90) for actuating said first and second contact means towards said make-position against said biasing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A switch assembly comprising: first and second contact means (10, 22, 42, 68, 70, 96; 12, 26, 44, 46, 72, 92, 94) provided operatively to take one of two positions, a break-position in which the first and second contact means are electrically separated from each other, and a make-position in which the first and second contact means are electrically connected with each other to define a current path therethrough; first and second magnetic bodies (4, 24, 40, 64, 100, 102; 6, 28, 48, 66, 104) provided operatively in association with said first and second contact means such that said first and second magnetic bodies define at least one closed magnetic loop with at least one of said first and second contact means passing through said closed magnetic loop when said first and second contact means are turned to said make-position, and said magnetic loop opens when said first and second contact means are turned to said break-position; biasing means (10b, 23, 54, 82) for biasing said first and second contact means towards said break-position; and actuating means (8, 18, 20, 34, 74, 90) for actuating said first and second contact means towards said make-position against said biasing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first magnetic body (4) substantially has an "S" shape configuration defined by first, second and third bars (4a, 4b, 4c) extending parallelly to each other with the second bar (4b) positioned intermediately between the first and third bars (4a, 4c), and said first bar (4a) positioned above a plane in which the second and third bars (4b, 4c) are contained, and also by a fourth bar (4d) connecting the first and second bars (4a, 4b) and a fifth bar (4e) connecting the second and third bars (4b, 4c).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said second magnetic body (6) has an elongated plate configuration with its intermediate portion pivotally supported adjacent said second bar (4b) of said first magnetic body (4), said elongated second magnetic body (6) having its first end portion located under said first bar (4a) and its second end portion located above said third bar (4c), whereby when said elongated second magnetic body (6) is rotated to narrow a gap (G2) between said first end portion and said first bar (4a), said elongated second magnetic body (6) and said second, third and fifth bars (4b, 4c, 4e) define a closed magnetic loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said first contact means comprises a first elongated contact member (10) extending along a longitudinal direction of said elongated second magnetic body (6) and passing through a space defined by said elongated second magnetic body (6) and second, third and fifth bars (4b, 4c, 4e), and a first contact point (lOc) mounted on the first elongated contact member (10) at a position where said first elongated contact member (10) is located adjacent to said first end portion of said elongated second magnetic body (6).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said second contact member comprises a second elongated contact member (12) extending through said space capable of effecting current flow through said space in the same direction as that flowing through said first elongated contact member (10) when said first and second contact means are turned to said make-position, and a second contact point (12c) mounted on said second elongated contact member (12) in such a manner as to locate said second contact point (12c) in face-to-face relation with said first contact point (lOc).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said first and second contact points (10c, 12c) have a gap (Gl) smaller than said gap (G2) between said first end portion and said first bar (4a) so as to maintain the latter gap (G2) greater than zero even after the first and second contact points (10c, 12c) are contacted with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said biasing means comprises a portion (10b) of said first elongated contact member (10) that extends along a longitudinal direction of said elongated second magnetic body (6) such that said portion (10b) of said first elongated contact member (10) serves as a leaf. spring for biasing said first end portion of said second magnetic body (6) away from said first bar (4a).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said actuating means is an electromagnet comprising a coil (8) wound on said fourth bar (4d) of said first magnetic body (4) to present an attractive force (Fl) between said first bar (4a) of said first magnetic body (4) and said first end portion of said elongated second magnetic body (6).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a base (2, 16, 36, 38, 62).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said first contact means comprises an elongated and stationary first contact member (22) having its first end rigidly mounted on said base (16), and a first contact point (22a) attached to said first contact member (22) at its second end opposite to said first end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
ll. A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said second contact means comprises an elongated and movable second contact member (26) having its first end rigidly mounted on said base (16), and a second contact point (26a) attached to said second contact member (26) at its second end opposite to said first end in such a manner that said first and second contact points (22a, 26a) are located in face-to-face relation with each other, said second contact member (26) movable between -said break-position in which said first and second contact points (22a, 26a) are electrically separated from each other and said make-position in which said first and second contact points (22a, 26a) are connected with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said first magnetic body (24) has a "U" shape configuration having a groove defined therein, said first magnetic body (24) connected to said first contact member (22) such that said first contact member (22) extends through said groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said second magnetic body (28) has a plate configuration, said second magnetic body (28) connected to said second contact member (26) so as to move together with said second contact member (26), said second magnetic body (28) closing said groove to define a closed magnetic loop around said first contact member (22) by said first and second magnetic bodies (24, 28) when said second contact member (26) moves to said make-position, and opening said groove when said second contact member (26) moves to said break-position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said actuating means comprises an electromagnet (18.) and a lever (20) movably provided by the actuation of said electromagnet (18), said lever (20) adapted to push said second contact means (26) to said make-position when said electromagnet (18) is actuated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said biasing means is leaf spring (23) exerting on said lever (20) for biasing said lever (20) in a direction opposite to the direction effected by said electromagnet (18).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said first contact means comprises an elongated and stationary first contact member (42) having its intermediate portion supported by said base, and first and second contact points (42a, 42b) attached to opposite ends of said first contact member (42).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
156 words
A switch assembly as claimed in.Claim 16, wherein said second contact means comprises elongated and movable second and third contact members (44, 46) having their first ends rigidly mounted on said base, and third and fourth contact points (44a, 46a) attached to said second and third contact members (44, 46), respectively, at their second ends opposite to said first end in such a manner that said first and second contact points (42a, 42b) are located in face-to-face relation, respectively, with said third and fourth contact points (44a, 46a), said second and third contact members (44, 46) being linked with each other to move simultaneously between said break-position in which said first and second contact points (42a, 42b) are electrically separated from said third and fourth contact points (44a, 46a), respectively, and said make-position in which said first and second contact points (42a, 42b) are electrically connected with said third and fourth contact points (44a, 46a), respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
154 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said first magnetic body (40) has a "U" shape configuration having a groove defined therein, said first magnetic body (40) connected to said first contact member (42) such that said first contact memebr (42) extends through said groove. 19, A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said second magnetic body (48) has a plate configuration, said second magnetic body (48) connected to said second and third contact members (44, 46) so as to move together with said second and third contact members (44, 46), said second magnetic body (48) closing said groove to define a closed magnetic: loop around said first contact member (42) by said first and second magnetic bodies (40, 48) when said second and third contact members (44, 46) move to said make-position, and opening said groove when said second and third contact members (44, 46) move to said break-position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
2 0 . A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said first magnetic body (64) has a "U" shape configuration and rigidly mounted on said base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said second magnetic body (66) has a plate configuration movably mounted on said base to move between a first position in which the second magnetic body (66) abuts against the first magnetic body (64) to define a closed magnetic loop by said first and second magnetic bodies (64, 66) and a second position in which said magnetic loop opens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 21, wherein said first contact means comprises first and second contact members (68, 70) rigidly mounted on said base and extending through a groove defined in said "U" shaped first magnetic body (64), and first and second contact points (68a, 80a) mounted on said first and second contact members (68, 70), respectively, at their ends remote from the base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 22, wherein said second contact means comprises an elongated third contact member (72) having its intermediate portion supported by said second magnetic body (66), and third and fourth contact points (72a, 72b) attached to opposite ends of said third contact member (72), said third and fourth contact points (72a, 72b) being connected to said first and second contact points (68a, 70a), respectively, when said second magnetic body (66) moves to said first position, and separated therefrom when said second magnetic body (66) moves to said second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said first contact means comprises an elongated plate shaped first contact member (96) having an intermediate portion provided with an axle (98) which is rotatably supported to said base, first and second contact points (96a, 96b) mounted at opposite end portions of said elongated first contact member (96) on opposite faces, respectively.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
105 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 24, wherein said second contact means comprises second and third contact members (92, 94) rigidly mounted on said base, and third and fourth contact points (92a, 94a) mounted on said second and third contact members (92, 94), respectively, said first contact member (96) being rotated about said axle (98) between said make-position in which said first and second contact points (96a, 96b) contact with said third and fourth contact points (92a, 94a), respectively, and said break-position in which said first and second contact points (96a, 96b) are separated from said third and fourth contact points (92a, 94a), respectively.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 30, wherein said first magnetic body (100 or 102) has a "U" shape configuration and rigidly mounted on said first contact member (96).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 31, wherein said second magnetic body (104a or 104b) has a plate configuration and rigidly mounted on said base, said first and second magnetic bodies (100, 104a) abut against each other to define a closed magnetic loop when said first contact member (96) is rotated to said make-position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a casing (60) for locating said first and second contact means in a vacuum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a casing (60) for locating said first and second contact means in an atmosphere of inactive gas.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 34, wherein said inactive gas is SF 6 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said actuating means is an electromagnet (8, 18).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a push button (34).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said actuating means is an electret (74).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a bimorph (90).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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