US3777292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linear motor relay
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1972-09-25
•
Granted: 1973-12-04
•
Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A linear motor relay is described for use in controlling switches and the like. The relay includes an electromagnetic drive in the form of a generally planar movable element and a generally planar stationary element. In one embodiment, a printed circuit conductor pattern is located on one element for coaction with longitudinal segments of a magnetic field produced by strips of unipolar permanently magnetic material located on the other element. In another embodiment an electromagnetic drive is obtained with coacting planar windings located on both the movable and stationary elements. A small layered structure may be formed capable of high output force for controlling a plurality of switches. A latching feature is provided to maintain the movable element in the position to which it has been driven by the electromagnetic drive. Stops are employed to retain a group of conductor turns in coacting relationship with a longitudinal segment of the magnetic field for bidirectional control upon a reversal of current flow.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fulenwider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H53/00; H01H53/06; H01H3/00; H01H3/22; H01H3/26; H01H2003/268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A linear motor relay comprising an electromagnetic layered structure formed of a generally planar stationary element and a generally planar movable element spaced from and mounted parallel with the stationary element for movement along an operating direction, means mounted to the stationary and movable elements for producing an electromagnetically induced force on the movable element, said force acting parallel with the operating direction, said means including a planar electrical winding mounted on one element and arranged in groups of turns which are oriented generally transverse to the operating direction to alternately carry currents in opposite directions, and strips of magnetic materials distributed on the other element with a strip opposite to and parallel with a group of turns for magnetic coupling therewith and coaction with currents carried thereby, said magnetic strips being alternately formed of unipolar opposite magnetic polarity to provide a magnetic field for coaction with the electrical winding to provide said force on the movable element, means for limiting the motion of the movable element along the operating direction to maintain each magnetic strip in coacting relationship with its oppositely disposed group of turns for bidirectional control of the movable element, and means for latching the movable element to maintain the latter in a displaced position upon the removal of current through the electrical winding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A linear motor relay comprising an electromagnetic layered structure formed of a generally planar stationary element and a generally planar movable element spaced from and mounted parallel with the stationary element for movement along an operating direction, means mounted to the stationary and movable elements for producing an electromagnetically induced force on the movable element, said force acting parallel with the operating direction, said means including a planar electrical winding mounted on one element and arranged in groups of turns which are oriented generally transverse to the operating direction to alternately carry currents in opposite directions, and strips of magnetic materials distributed on the other element with a strip opposite to and parallel with a group of turns for magnetic coupling therewith and coaction with currents carried thereby, said magnetic strips being alternately formed of unipolar opposite magnetic polarity to provide a magnetic field for coaction with the electrical winding to provide said force on the movable element, means for limiting the motion of the movable element along the operating direction to maintain each magnetic strip in coacting relationship with its oppositely disposed group of turns for bidirectional control of the movable element, and means for latching the movable element to maintain the latter in a displaced position upon the removal of current through the electrical winding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latching means includes toggle supports mounted on the stationary element to support the movable element, said toggle supports having each a pair of stable positions spaced along the operating direction with the force being sufficient to move the movable element between the stable positions of the toggle supports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stationary element supports the magnetic strips of material and the movable element supports the electrical winding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The linear motor relay as claim in claim 3 and further including a second generally planar stationary element mounted over the movable element to place the latter element in sandwich relationship between the stationary elements, said second stationary element being provided with magnetic strips which are aligned with the magnetic strips on the other stationary element and are of opposite magnetic polarity to provide a magnetic field which extends essentially transverse to the movable element between aligned magnetic strips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electrical winding is located on opposite planar surfaces as the movable element with the turns on one surface overlying spaces between turns on the other surface for enhanced interaction with the magnetic field between aligned magnetic strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of movable elements coupled to one another to form a multilayered armature structure and a plurality of stationary elements coupled to one another, said plurality of elements being interleaved to form alternate layers of movable and stationary elements arranged in an electromagnetic drive structure capable of producing a substantial force upon the application of current to the electrical winding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
A linear motor relay switch comprising a plurality of switches each having a stationary contact and a movable contact, a multi-layered structure formed of interleaved parallel mounted sets of stationary and movable plates, the set of movable plates being connected together to form a unified armature which moves along a linear direction, said unified armature being coupled to the movable contacts for controlling the opening and closing of the switches, means mounted to one set of plates for producing a magnetic field extending generally transverse to and between the plate surfaces along spaced longitudinal segments which are transverse to the direction of motion of the unified armature, and an electrical winding mounted to the other set of plates, said electrical winding being formed of groups of turns parallel to and in the path of the longitudinal segments of magnetic field and oriented to produce a common force on the unified armature when a current is passed through the electrical winding, and means for limiting the motion of the unified armature to maintain each group of turns in coacting relationship with a longitudinal segment of magnetic field for bidirectional control of the unified armature to open and close said switches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
199 words
A linear motor relay switch comprising a plurality of switches each having a stationary contact and a movable contact, a multi-layered structure formed of interleaved parallel mounted sets of stationary and movable plates, the set of movable plates being connected together to form a unified armature which moves along a linear direction, said unified armature being coupled to the movable contacts for controlling the opening and closing of the switches, means mounted to one set of plates for producing a magnetic field extending generally transverse to and between the plate surfaces along spaced longitudinal segments which are transverse to the direction of motion of the unified armature, and an electrical winding mounted to the other set of plates, said electrical winding being formed of groups of turns parallel to and in the path of the longitudinal segments of magnetic field and oriented to produce a common force on the unified armature when a current is passed through the electrical winding, and means for limiting the motion of the unified armature to maintain each group of turns in coacting relationship with a longitudinal segment of magnetic field for bidirectional control of the unified armature to open and close said switches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The linear motor relay switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein the magnetic field producing means includes strips of magnetic material of opposite magnetic polarity, said strips being mounted on the surfaces of said one set of plates and transverse to the linear direction, with magnetic strips on adjacent plates of the one set being of opposite polarity to establish said strip of magnetic field between them and through an interleaved plate of the other set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The linear motor relay switch as claim in claim 8 wherein the strips of magnetic material are mounted on the stationary plates and the electrical winding is mounted on the movable plates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The linear motor relay switch as claim in claim 9 wherein the groups of turns are distributed on opposite surfaces of a movable plate and are located to overlay spaces between adjacent turns on one surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
A linear motor relay comprising an electromagnetic structure formed of a generally planar stationary element and a generally planar movable element spaced from and mounted parallel with the stationary element for movement along an operating direction, both said stationary and movable elements being provided with planar windings formed of groups of turns oriented transverse to the operating direction and spaced uniformly from one another along the operating direction, with each group of turns on the movable element being in electromagnetic coacting relationship with corresponding groups of turns on the stationary element to produce a force on the movable element acting parallel to the operating direction upon the selective flow of current through the respective windings of the stationary and movable elements, and means for limiting the motion of the movable element along the operating direction to maintain eAch group of turns on the movable element in electromagnetic coacting relationship with its corresponding groups of turns on the stationary element for bidirectional control of the movable element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
A linear motor relay comprising an electromagnetic structure formed of a generally planar stationary element and a generally planar movable element spaced from and mounted parallel with the stationary element for movement along an operating direction, both said stationary and movable elements being provided with planar windings formed of groups of turns oriented transverse to the operating direction and spaced uniformly from one another along the operating direction, with each group of turns on the movable element being in electromagnetic coacting relationship with corresponding groups of turns on the stationary element to produce a force on the movable element acting parallel to the operating direction upon the selective flow of current through the respective windings of the stationary and movable elements, and means for limiting the motion of the movable element along the operating direction to maintain eAch group of turns on the movable element in electromagnetic coacting relationship with its corresponding groups of turns on the stationary element for bidirectional control of the movable element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 11 and further including a multilayered structure formed of at least a pair of stationary planar elements and a movable planar element mounted between the pair of stationary elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 12 and further including groups of turns located on opposite sides of the planar movable element with the groups of turns on each side mounted for electromagnetic coaction with a group of turns on the stationary elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 13 and further including parallel strips of unmagnetized highly permeable material, said strips being located between groups of turns on both the movable and stationary elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
The linear motor relay as claimed in claim 11 wherein said motion limiting means further includes a linear ball bearing structure mounted to the movable and stationary elements, said structure having outer linear races mounted to the stationary element and inner linear races mounted to the movable element and bearing balls mounted for movement between opposed pairs of outer and inner linear races, said races being aligned along the operating direction with one of the races in each pair having a bulge sized to define stable bearing ball positions corresponding with the limits on the movement of the movable element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |