Sequence relay

Claim 2

An improved sequence relay of the type having an armature on a frame, means for driving said armature in response to a signal input to said relay, contact means operated in response to movement of said armature, and improved means for operating said contact means in response to movement of said armature, said improved means comprising, in combination: lifter means mounted on said frame for driving said contact means, said lifter means translatable between a first position and a second position, drive means attached to said armature, said drive means engageable with said lifter means to translate said lifter means from said first position to said second position; means for locking said lifter means in said second position whenever said lifter means is driven by said drive means from said first position to said second position, said drive means also engageable with said means for locking whenever said lifter means is in said second position to disengage said means for locking from said lifter means; and means for translating said lifter means from said second position to said first position when said means for locking is disengaged.

Claim 3

The improved relay of claim 1 wherein said means for locking comprises pawl means biased to engage said lifter means and hold said lifter means in said second position whenever said lifter means is driven to said second position by said drive means.

Claim 4

The relay of claim 1 wherein said lifter means is mounted on said frame for translatable movement substantially parallel to the direction of pivotal movement of said armature.

Claim 5

The relay of claim 1 wherein said lifter means include stud means and wherein said drive means is comprised of pawl means adapted to engage said stud means and thereby lock said lifter means in said second position.

Claim 6

The improved relay of claim 1 whErein said locking means comprises pawl means rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the direction of translation of said lifter means, said pawl means adapted to engage stud means on said lifter means whenever said lifter means is in said second position.

Claim 7

The relay of claim 1 wherein said drive means is attached to said armature and is moved by said armature in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of pivotal movement of said armature.

Claim 8

The relay of claim 1 wherein drive means comprises flexible means for engaging said lifter means to drive said lifter means to said second position and for alternatively engaging said means for locking to disengage said means for locking upon flexion of said drive means.

Claim 9

The relay of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises flexible means fixed to said armature, said drive means also including an extension to engage said lifter means and, alternatively, said means for locking.

Claim 10

The relay of claim 1 wherein said means for locking comprises a pawl, said pawl including a radial arm extending from an axis of rotation for said pawl, a leg extending from said radial arm and adapted to engage said drive means whenever said pawl is being translated to the unlocked position, and means on said radial arm for engaging said lifter means to normally hold said lifter means in said second position.

Claim 11

The improved relay of claim 9 wherein said leg is arcuately shaped to facilitate engagement with said drive means.

Claim 12

The relay of claim 9 wherein said radial arm is normally biased about an axis into engagement with said lifter means and said radial arm includes an engaging surface driving said radial arm into engagement with said lifter means thereby limiting the travel of said radial arm, said radial arm also including a surface adapted to engage said lifter means and hold said lifter means in said second position, said radial arm also including a drive means guide surface for guiding said drive means from engagement with said lifter means subsequent to positioning of said lifter means in said second position by said drive means and subsequent to removal of a signal input to said relay.

Claim 13

The relay of claim 1 wherein said lifter means includes stud means extending therefrom and positioned for engagement with said drive means.

Claim 14

The relay of claim 12 wherein said stud means includes channel means for engagement with said drive means to hold said drive means in a fixed position relative to said stud means.

Claim 15

The relay of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a flexible spring positioned for movement substantially parallel with said lifter means, said spring having one end attached to said armature and having its opposite end positioned for engagement with said lifter means.

Claim 16

The relay of claim 1 wherein said means for translating said lifter means from said second position to said first position comprises biasing means.

Claim 17

The relay of claim 1 wherein said means for translating said lifter means from said second position to said first position comprises portions of said contact means engaging said lifter means to continuously bias said lifter means in the direction of movement from said second position to said first position.

Claim 18

The relay of claim 1 wherein said lifter means is engaged with a plurality of contact means for switching thereof.

Claim 19

The relay of claim 1 wherein said drive means is positioned for movement in a plane at an arcuate angle to a plane defined by the movement of said lifter means.

Claim 20

An improved sequence relay of the type having an armature on a frame, means for driving said armature in response to a signal input to said relay, contact means operated in response to movement of said armature, and improved means for operating said contact means in response to movement of said armature, said improved means comprising, in combination: a lifter attached to said frame and translatable in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of pivoTal movement of said armature, said lifter being translatable from a first position to a second position by drive means, said lifter being normally biased toward said first position by biasing means, said lifter having a portion thereof in engagement with contact means to effect switching of said contact means whenever said lifter is translated from one position to another; said drive means being attached to said armature and positioned for movement by said armature into engagement with said lifter whenever said lifter is in said first position; a biased pawl member biased to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the direction of translation of said lifter, said pawl member including a surface for engagement with said lifter whenever said lifter is in said second position to hold said lifter in said second position, said pawl member also including a drive means engaging surface positioned for engagement with said drive means whenever said pawl member is positioned to maintain said lifter in said second position. 20. The improved relay of claim 19 wherein said drive means comprises a flexible spring member attached to said armature and having a longitudinal extension from the one end for engagement with said lifter.

Claim 21

The improved relay of claim 19 wherein said pawl member comprises a leg radially extending from said pivotal axis and biased into engagement with a stud projecting from said lifter.

Claim 22

The improved relay of claim 19 including a saddle member for attachment to said frame to thereby define a channel in which said lifter is positioned for translatable movement.