Relay

Claim 2

A control device comprising gas-filled housing means, control means mounted on said housing means for movement between first and second control positions, first contact means mounted on said housing means, second contact means mounted for movement with said control means to engage said first contact means when said control means is in said first control position and to be spaced a selected distance from said first contact means within said gas-filled housing means for permitting a glow discharge between said contact means when said control means is in said second control position, means biasing said control means to said first control position, and a metal actuator element secured to said housing means and connected in series with said first and second contact means, said actuator element being formed of a selected metal alloy to be deformed from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to said bias as said control means is moved to said first control position while said alloy displays a relatively low modulus of elasticity below a transition temperature and to abruptly return to its original configuration and to display a relatively higher modulus of elasticity to move said control means to said second control position against said bias when said alloy is heated above said transition temperature by electrical current directeD between said contact means and to retain said control means in said second control position while said alloy is maintained in heated condition above said transition temperature by said glow discharge.

Claim 3

A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal actuator element is formed of a selected nickel-titanium alloy having a composition, by weight, of from about 54 to 56 percent nickel and the balance titanium.

Claim 4

A control device as set forth in claim 1 having current limiting resistor means arranged in series relation to said metal actuator element.

Claim 5

A relay comprising a gas-tight housing, a noble gas filling said housing at subatmospheric pressure, a pair of control terminals mounted on said housing extending into said housing, in electrically insulated relation to each other, a stationary control contact mounted on one of said control terminals, a spring member mounted on said housing carrying a second control contact, said spring member normally biasing said second control contact into engagement with said stationary control contact and being movable for spacing said second control contact from said stationary control contact for permitting a glow discharge across said control contacts, a metal actuator wire of a selected nickel-titanium alloy secured between said spring member and said other control terminal forming a control circuit, said actuator wire being adapted to be deformed from an original length to a greater length in response to said spring member bias as said spring member bias engages said control contacts while said metal alloy displays a relatively low modulus of elasticity below a transition temperature and to abruptly return to said original length and to display a relatively greater modulus of elasticity when said metal alloy wire is heated above said transition temperature by electrical current directed through said control circuit for moving said second control contact against said spring member bias for spacing said control contacts to permit said glow discharge to retain said metal alloy in said heated condition, and output switch means movable between first and second control positions with said movement of said spring member.

Claim 6

A relay comprising a gas-tight housing, a noble gas filling said housing at subatmospheric pressure, a pair of control terminals mounted on said housing extending into said housing, in electrically insulated relation to each other, a stationary control contact mounted on one of said control terminals, a spring member mounted on said housing carrying a second control contact, said spring member normally biasing said second control contact into engagement with said stationary control contact and being movable for spacing said second control contact from said stationary control contact for permitting a glow discharge across said control contacts, a metal actuator wire of a selected nickel-titanium alloy secured between said spring member and said other control terminal forming a control circuit, said actuator wire being adapted to be deformed from an original length to a greater length in response to said spring member bias as said spring member bias engages said control contacts while said metal alloy displays a relatively low modulus of elasticity below a transition temperature and to abruptly return to said original length and to display a relatively greater modulus of elasticity when said metal alloy wire is heated above said transition temperature by electrical current directed through said control circuit for moving said second control contact against said spring member bias for spacing said control contacts to permit said glow discharge to retain said metal alloy in said heated condition, and output switch means movable between first and second control positions with said movement of said spring member.

Claim 7

A relay as set forth in claim 4 having current limiting resistor means interposed in series with said actuator wire in said control circuit.

Claim 8

A relay as set forth in claim 5 having semi-conductor means connected to one of said control means for regulating current flow in said control circuit.