Remanent reed relay

Claim 2

A relay having a pair of contacts with free ends movable with respect to each other to close an electrical path when the contacts are each magnetized in the same direction and to open said electrIcal path when the contacts are each magnetized in opposite directions, said relay comprising first means for producing a first magnetic magnitude and magnetic direction with respect to a first one of said contacts, second means for producing a second magnetic magnitude and magnetic direction with respect to the other of said contacts, said second magnetic direction being opposite from said first magnetic direction, and said second magnetic magnitude being equal to said first magnetic magnitude, said first and second means operable concurrently from a single application of energy to produce said respective magnetic magnitudes and magnetic directions whereby said contacts open, and third means selectively operable concurrently with said first and second means and responsive to said single application of energy for changing the magnetic direction of said first one of said contacts from said first magnetic direction to said second magnetic direction whereby said contacts close.

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second means are windings each having n turns of wire.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and said second windings are separated from each other only by an air gap.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein said third means is a winding having m turns where m is a number greater than n.

Claim 6

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second means each produces a magnetic flux field of strength y, each said field having a direction of magnetization opposite that of the other.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and said second flux field producing means are separated from each other only by an air gap.

Claim 8

The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein said third means produces a magnetic flux field of strength z where z is greater than y, said magnetic flux field being produced primarily around said first one of said contacts and having a direction opposite from that produced by said first means.

Claim 9

The invention set forth in claim 7 wherein said third flux field producing means includes a cover having a large magnetic permeability so as to reduce the magnetic reluctance around said contacts.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said relay further comprises a plurality of said contact pairs, each said pair operable for opening and closing an individual electrical path and each said pair arranged such that one contact thereof has said first magnetic direction produced therein by said first means and the other contact thereof has said second magnetic direction produced therein by said second means.

Claim 11

A magnetic reed-switching device comprising a pair of magnetic members, each such member constructed of a remanent magnetic material, said pair of members operable for closing an electrical path when said members are magnetized in a particular direction with respect to each other and operable for opening said electrical path when said members are magnetized in another direction with respect to each other, said device comprising means for producing a first magnetic flux field about a first one of said members, means for producing a second magnetic flux field about the second one of said members, said first and said second magnetic flux field producing means operable for producing said magnetic flux fields such that the magnetic flux field produced around said first member is equal to the magnetic flux field produced around said second member, said magnetic flux fields being produced in opposition to each other, and means for producing a third magnetic flux field about said first one of said members, said third magnetic flux field producing means operable for producing said third magnetic flux field around said first member in a direction opposing said first magnetic flux field and of a magnitude greater than said first magnetic flux field.

Claim 12

A magnetic reed-switching device comprising a pair of magnetic members, each such member constructed of a remanent magnetic material, said pair of members operable for closing an electrical path when said members are magnetized in a particular direction with respect to each other and operable for opening said electrical path when said members are magnetized in another direction with respect to each other, said device comprising means for producing a first magnetic flux field about a first one of said members, means for producing a second magnetic flux field about the second one of said members, said first and said second magnetic flux field producing means operable for producing said magnetic flux fields such that the magnetic flux field produced around said first member is equal to the magnetic flux field produced around said second member, said magnetic flux fields being produced in opposition to each other, and means for producing a third magnetic flux field about said first one of said members, said third magnetic flux field producing means operable for producing said third magnetic flux field around said first member in a direction opposing said first magnetic flux field and of a magnitude greater than said first magnetic flux field.

Claim 13

The invention set forth in claim 10 wHerein said first and second means are windings each having n turns of wire.

Claim 14

The invention set forth in claim 11 wherein said first and said second windings are separated from each other only by an air gap.

Claim 15

The invention set forth in claim 12 wherein said third means is a winding having m turns where m is a number greater than n.

Claim 16

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein said first and second means each produces a magnetic flux field of strength y, each said field having a direction of magnetization opposite that of the other.

Claim 17

The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein said third flux field producing means includes a cover having a large magnetic permeability so as to reduce the magnetic reluctance around said contacts.

Claim 18

A magnetic reed-switching device comprising a pair of magnetic members, each such member constructed of a remanent magnetic material, said pair of members operable for closing an electrical path when said members are magnetized in a particular direction with respect to each other and operable for opening said electrical path when said members are magnetized in another direction with respect to each other, said device comprising a first magnetic field producing winding positioned about a first one of said members, a second magnetic field producing winding positioned about the second one of said members, said first winding and said second winding connected in series relationship to one another and arranged with an air gap between them so that a current pulse applied to said first and second windings produces a magnetic flux field around said first member equal to the magnetic flux field produced around said second member, said magnetic flux fields being produced in opposition to each other thereby eliminating the need for a magnetic shunt plate between said windings while at the same time providing for the opening of said members upon the application of said current pulse, and a third magnetic field producing winding positioned about said first one of said members, said third winding adapted so that a current pulse applied to said third winding concurrently with said application of a current pulse to said first and second windings provides a magnetic flux field around said first members in a direction opposing and of a magnitude greater than said magnetic flux field produced by said first winding, thereby closing said members upon the passage of a current pulse therethrough.

Claim 19

A magnetic reed-switching device comprising a pair of magnetic members, each such member constructed of a remanent magnetic material, said pair of members operable for closing an electrical path when said members are magnetized in a particular direction with respect to each other and operable for opening said electrical path when said members are magnetized in another direction with respect to each other, said device comprising a first magnetic field producing winding positioned about a first one of said members, a second magnetic field producing winding positioned about the second one of said members, said first winding and said second winding connected in series relationship to one another and arranged with an air gap between them so that a current pulse applied to said first and second windings produces a magnetic flux field around said first member equal to the magnetic flux field produced around said second member, said magnetic flux fields being produced in opposition to each other thereby eliminating the need for a magnetic shunt plate between said windings while at the same time providing for the opening of said members upon the application of said current pulse, and a third magnetic field producing winding positioned about said first one of said members, said third winding adapted so that a current pulse applied to said third winding concurrently with said application of a current pulse to said first and second windings provides a magnetic flux field around said first members in a direction opposing and of a magnitude greater than said magnetic flux field produced by said first winding, thereby closing said members upon the passage of a current pulse therethrough.

Claim 20

The invention set forth in claim 16 wherein said first and second windings each have n turns of wire.

Claim 21

The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein said third winding has m turns where m is a number greater than n.

Claim 22

The invention set forth in claim 18 wherein said third flux field producing means includes a cover having a large magnetic permeability so as to reduce the magnetic reluctance around said contacts.