Means effecting relay contact arc suppression in relay controlled alternating load circuits

Claim 2

Switching means effecting selective energization of loads in alternating current load circuits, comprising: first and second input terminal means adapted to be connected with an alternating current source; load terminal means adapted to interconnect a load with at least one of said input terminal means; bilateral semiconductor triode means having gate terminal means and first and second power terminal means, the latter being connected, respectively, with the other of said input terminal means and said load terminal means; electromagnetic relay means having relay winding means, relay contact means adapted to make and break upon energization and deenergization, respectively, of said relay winding means, and selector switch means effecting selective energization of said relay winding means; said selector switch means and said relay winding means being connected in series between one of said input terminals means and said gate terminal means; and said relay contact means being connected in and effecting the establishment of a shunt circuit path from said other of said input terminal means to said load terminal means.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said bilateral semiconductor triode means comprises a bilateral thyristor triode.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein upon the application of an alternating current input to said input terminal means, and selective energization of said relay winding means by said selector switch means, said bilateral semiconductor triode means is rendered substantially instantaneously conductive between the said power terminal means thereof and, subsequently, said relay contact means are caused to make, whereby said bilateral semiconductor triode means substantially precludes arcing at said relay contact means.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 3, wherein said bilateral semiconductor triode means comprises a bilateral thyristor triode.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein, upon application of an alternating current waveform to said input terminal means, said bilateral semiconductor triode means is gated into a conductive state by energization of said relay winding means, said winding means having a sufficiently low resistance after energization thereof such that said bilateral semiconductor triode means is maintained gated into said conductive state regardless of the polarity of an alternating current waveform applied to said input terminal means.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said bilateral semiconductor triode means comprises a bilateral thyristor triode.

Claim 8

An alternating current load circuit, comprising: first and second input terminal means adapted to be connected with an alternating current source; load terminal means; load means connected between said load terminal means and one of said input terminal means; bilateral semiconductor triode means having gate terminal means and first and second power terminal means, the latter being connected, respectively, with the other of said input terminal means and said load terminal means; electromagnetic relay means having relay winding means, relay contact means adapted to make and break upon energization and deenergization, respectively, of said relay winding means, and selector switch means effecting selective energization of said relay winding means; said selector switch means and said relay winding means being connected in series betWeen said one of said input terminal means and said gate terminal means; and said relay contact means being connected in and effecting the establishment of a shunt circuit path from said other of said input terminal means to said load terminal means.

Claim 9

An alternating current load circuit, comprising: first and second input terminal means adapted to be connected with an alternating current source; load terminal means; load means connected between said load terminal means and one of said input terminal means; bilateral semiconductor triode means having gate terminal means and first and second power terminal means, the latter being connected, respectively, with the other of said input terminal means and said load terminal means; electromagnetic relay means having relay winding means, relay contact means adapted to make and break upon energization and deenergization, respectively, of said relay winding means, and selector switch means effecting selective energization of said relay winding means; said selector switch means and said relay winding means being connected in series betWeen said one of said input terminal means and said gate terminal means; and said relay contact means being connected in and effecting the establishment of a shunt circuit path from said other of said input terminal means to said load terminal means.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said bilateral semiconductor triode means comprises a bilateral thyristor triode.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 7, wherein upon the application of an alternating current input to said input terminal means, and selective energization of said relay winding means by said selector switch means, said bilateral semiconductor triode means is rendered substantially instantaneously conductive between the said power terminal means thereof, and, subsequently, said relay contact means are caused to make, whereby said bilateral semiconductor triode means substantially precludes arcing at said relay contact means, and said load means is energized through said shunt path and said bilateral semiconductor triode means.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 9, wherein said bilateral semiconductor triode means comprises a bilateral thyristor triode.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 7, wherein, upon application of an alternating current waveform to said input terminal means, said bilateral semiconductor triode means is gated into a conductive state by energization of said relay winding means, said winding means having a sufficiently low resistance after energization thereof such that said bilateral semiconductor triode means is maintained gated into said conductive state regardless of the polarity of an alternating current waveform applied to said input terminal means.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 11, wherein said bilateral semiconductor triode means comprises a bilateral thyristor triode.

Claim 15

Switching means effecting selective energization of loads in alternating current load circuits, comprising: first and second input terminal means adapted to be connected with an alternating current source; load terminal means adapted to interconnect a load with at least one of said input terminal means; electromagnetic relay means including relay winding means and relay contact means, the latter being included in and effecting the establishment of a first circuit from one of said input terminal means to said load terminal means upon the energization of said relay winding means; bilateral thyristor means having a gate electrode connected to one end of the relay winding means, and first and second power terminal means connected, respectively, with said one of said input terminal means and said load terminal means, in shunt with said relay contact means; and circuit means selectively interconnecting the other end of said relay winding means and the other of said input terminal means and selectively effecting a substantially instantaneous conductive state in said bilateral thyristor means upon energization of said relay winding means to thereby establish a second circuit through said power terminal means in shunt with and suppress arcing at said relay contact means.

Claim 16

Switching means effecting selective energization of loads in alternating current load circuits, comprising: first and second input terminal means adapted to be connected with an alternating current source; load terminal means adapted to interconnect a load with at least one of said input terminal means; electromagnetic relay means including relay winding means and relay contact means, the latter being included in and effecting the establishment of a first circuit from one of said input terminal means to said load terminal means upon the energization of said relay winding means; bilateral thyristor means having a gate electrode connected to one end of the relay winding means, and first and second power terminal means connected, respectively, with said one of said input terminal means and said load terminal means, in shunt with said relay contact means; and circuit means selectively interconnecting the other end of said relay winding means and the other of said input terminal means and selectively effecting a substantially instantaneous conductive state in said bilateral thyristor means upon energization of said relay winding means to thereby establish a second circuit through said power terminal means in shunt with and suppress arcing at said relay contact means.