US3342966A - Vacuum coaxial relay - Google Patents

Vacuum coaxial relay Download PDF

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Publication number
US3342966A
US3342966A US429336A US42933665A US3342966A US 3342966 A US3342966 A US 3342966A US 429336 A US429336 A US 429336A US 42933665 A US42933665 A US 42933665A US 3342966 A US3342966 A US 3342966A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
envelope
fixed contact
support plate
actuator
relay
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US429336A
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English (en)
Inventor
Orhan A Guraydin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jennings Radio Manufacturing Corp
Original Assignee
Jennings Radio Manufacturing Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jennings Radio Manufacturing Corp filed Critical Jennings Radio Manufacturing Corp
Priority to US429336A priority Critical patent/US3342966A/en
Priority to US429855A priority patent/US3328547A/en
Priority to DE19661491951 priority patent/DE1491951A1/de
Priority to CH130566A priority patent/CH450552A/de
Priority to GB4141/66A priority patent/GB1131274A/en
Priority to BE675858D priority patent/BE675858A/xx
Priority to NL6601301A priority patent/NL6601301A/xx
Priority to FR47967A priority patent/FR1525000A/fr
Priority to NL6601360A priority patent/NL6601360A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3342966A publication Critical patent/US3342966A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/60—Switches wherein the means for extinguishing or preventing the arc do not include separate means for obtaining or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/66—Vacuum switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H51/00—Electromagnetic relays
    • H01H51/28—Relays having both armature and contacts within a sealed casing outside which the operating coil is located, e.g. contact carried by a magnetic leaf spring or reed
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
    • H01P1/10—Auxiliary devices for switching or interrupting
    • H01P1/12—Auxiliary devices for switching or interrupting by mechanical chopper
    • H01P1/125—Coaxial switches

Definitions

  • This invention relates to coaxial relays, and particularly to a vacuum coaxial relay of the cross-point type.
  • Cross-point matrices are useful in the communication arts to connect a single receiving or transmitting station with one or more receiving or transmitting antennae. It has been the practice in conventional matrices to utilize a plurality of separate individually controlled relays to accomplish this function. This has resulted in space-consuming complicated arrays, and in the necessity of an unwieldy control circuit to control the multiplicity of relays incorporated in such matrices. It also results in needless expense and multiplication of parts. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a vacuum coaxial relay of the two-pole, two-position type, operable to provide a selectivity and versatility in crosspoint switching not heretofore available with known crosspoint vacuum relays.
  • Another principal object of the invention is to provide a cross-point type coaxial relay designed to eliminate cross-talk between adjacent circuits while providing a low voltage standing wave ratio in the order of 1:1.085.
  • Coaxial matrices of conventional design have heretofore utilized devices such as relays and connecting hardware which rendered such matrices voluminous and heavy, thus precluding or restricting their use in airborne equipment where space and weight are important factors. It is therefore another object of the invention to provide a vacuum coaxial relay of the two pole-two position crosspoint type which is compact in configuration, low in weight, and which is provided with standard coaxial fittings in a manner to minimize the space requirements of a matrix in which it is incorporated.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum coaxial cross-point relay, portions of the envelope being broken away to disclose the underlying parts.
  • FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. 6, and showing the relationship of the movable contact assembly to the fixed contacts.
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the relationship of the coaxial fittings on the fixed contact support plate.
  • FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the fixed contact support plate, similar to FIG. 2, but with the movable contact assembly removed to illustrate the relationship between the fixed contacts and one of the ground planes which extends into the envelope.
  • the plane of the section is indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 5 is a vertical cros-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 55 in FIG. 3. A portion of each coaxial connector and the actuator shaft are broken away to reduce the height of the figure. The view illustrates the manner in which the ground conductor of each coaxial connector is extended to form a smooth impedance matching transition from the transmission line outside the envelope to the relay parts within the relay.
  • FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 66 in FIG. 3 and illustrates the detachable relationship of the cover plate and coaxial connectors.
  • the envelope is closed by a support plate on which are insulatedly mounted a plurality of conductors terminating within the envelope in fixed contact points, selected ones of which are adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the movable contacts.
  • the end plates are heremetically united and held in spaced parallel relation by a tubular metallic shell.
  • the fixed contact points comprise a plurality of circularly arranged horizontally extending fixed contact members, spaced so that selected pairs of movable contact points may be enegaged therewith to make and break cross circuits through the envelope.
  • Each of the fixed contact points and the conductor to which it is connected is associated with a conventional coaxial fitting suitably mounted on one of the end plates.
  • the vacuum coaxial crosspoint relay of the invention comprises an evacuated metallic envelope designated generally by the numeral 2, and is fabricated from a stepped base plate 3, shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, a tubular metallic shell 4 brazed to the base plate as shown at its bottom end 6, with the 0pposite end of the shell provided with a radially outwardly extending seal flange 7, the peripheral edge of which is heliarc welded as at 8 to a juxtaposed and contiguous seal flange 12 which is an integral part of the fixed contact support plate 13.
  • Base plate 3, shell 4 and support plate 13 are preferably fabricated from oxygenfree high-conductivity copper.
  • the fixed-contact support plate is provided with a second radially outwardly extending and integral anchor flange 14, bored and threaded to receive a multiplicity of circularly arranged cap screws 16, shown best in FIGS. 3 and 6, whose function is to a accurately position and clamp cover plate 17, having a peripheral cylindrical flange 18 as shown, to the anchor flange 14 of support plate 13.
  • the height of flange 18 provides a space 19 between the cover plate and fixedcontact support plate within which are conductively clamped ground conductor tubular shells 21, 22, 23 and 24 operatively associated, respectively, with coaxial inner conductor members 26, 27 and 29.
  • the coaxial inner conductor members include tubular end portions 31, 32, 33 and 34, respectively, two of which are shown in FIG. 5, and each of which is heremetically brazed in the central bore of an associated dielectric seal and transition member 35.
  • the other ends of the coaxial inner conductor members are provided with integral radially inwardly extending fixed contact points 36, 37, 38 and 39, all lying in substantially the same plane.
  • Each dielectric member 35 is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 41 which overlies an annular flange 42 integral with support plate 13.
  • the flange is formed by rabbeting the plate about an aperture 43 therein and through which a tubular portion 44 of the dielectric seal and transition member extends.
  • Hermetic sealing of the transition member 35 to the flange 42 is effected by brazing a cylindrical lip portion 46 formed on the inner periphery of the annular flange to a metallized band formed about the tubular portion 44 closely adjacent flange 41. In this manner the differences in thermal expansion and contraction between the metal and dielectric parts has a minimum effect.
  • the tubular end portions of the coaxial inner conductors extend into the outer or ground conductor shells 21, 22, 23 and 24, and are adapted to be slidably and conductively engaged by the inner conductor portion 47 of a coaxial transmission line coupling or connector member 48 shown best in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6.
  • the dielectric seal and transition members form electrically insulating units, insulating the inner conductor members from the grounded support plate 13 and associated structure. Accordingly, all of the actuating mechanism of the relay, including the outer metallic envelope, is at ground potential, thus enabling the relay to be handled with safety.
  • the coupling members 48 are preferably detachably secured to the cover plate by appropriate screws 49, shown best in FIG. 3.
  • the actuating mechanism of the relay comprises an axially extending actuator shaft or stem 51 extending into the envelope and slidably supported over a portion of its length by hearing member 52 forming an integral extension of base plate 3.
  • An expansible metallic bellows 53 surrounds a reduced-in-diameter inner end portion 54 of the actuator stem and has its inner end 56 brazed to the actuator stem intermediate its ends. The portion 57 of the stem extending into the envelope beyond the inner end of the bellows is threaded on its inner end 58.
  • the reduced-in-diameter shaft portion 54 lies within the bellows outside the vacuum envelope and slidably engages a bearing and stop flange 59 which forms an abutment against which the shoulder 61 on the shaft may abut to limit inward movement of the shaft when the shaft is actuated in this direction solely by atmospheric pressure.
  • the outer open end of the bellows is brazed to a step in the base plate about the bearing member 52.
  • a mobile contact assembly including a cruciform dielectric support plate 62 arranged perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the actuator shaft.
  • the dielectric support plate 62 has appreciable thickness, in the order of about W and is shown best in FIG. 1, 2, 5 and 6.
  • Adjacent the ends of each pair of its cruciform arms, which pairs of arms are substantially perpendicular to each other, but on opposite surfaces on perendicularly disposed pairs of arms, are brazed two pairs of conductive resilient contact blades 63 and 64. As shown best in FIGS.
  • the blades of the pair of contact blades 63 are spaced on opposite sides of the axis of the actuator stern and are brazed on the upper surface of the arm portion of dielectric member 62.
  • Each blade of the pair includes a central portion 66 brazed to an end portion of the associated arm of the cruciform dielectric member, and. laterally extending thin resilient metallic finger portions 67 and 68 extending in opposite directions perpendicular to the long dimension of the arm on which it is attached, as shown best in FIG. 2.
  • the resilient contact blades 64 are likewise horizontally spaced on opposite sides of the axis of the actuator stem but are supported on the lower side of the cruciform dielectric member 62. Each of these contact blades is provided with a central body portion 68, which overlaps and is brazed to the end portion of the associated arm of the cruciform dielectric support member, and with laterally extending thin resilient metallic finger portions 69 and 71 extending in opposite directions perpendicular to the long dimension of the arm on which it is attached, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the resilient contact blades 64 are likewise horizontally spaced on opposite sides of the axis of the actuator stem but are supported on the lower side of the cruciform dielectric member 62. Each of these contact blades is provided with a central body portion 68, which overlaps and is brazed to the end portion of the associated arm of the cruciform dielectric support member, and with laterally extending thin resilient metallic finger portions 69 and 71 extending in opposite directions perpendicular to the long dimension of the arm on which it is attached, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • An adjustable nut 72 threadedly engaging the upper end of the actuator stem fixes the position of the mobile contact assembly with respect to fixed contact points 36, 37, 38 and 39 so that these fixed contact points lie in the space between the resilient contact blades 63 and 64. Accordingly, when the actuator stem is displaced in an axial direction by any appropriate means such as a solenoid (not shown), the mobile contact assembly moves up and down so as to bring first one pair of contact blades, such as 63, into contact with two selected pairs of the fixed contact points, while when the mobile contact assembly is moved in the opposite direction, i.e., toward the support plate 13, the contact blades 64 are brought into conductive contact with a different set of two selected pairs of fixed contact points.
  • the pair of resilient contact blades 63 will conductively connect fixed contact point 38 to fixed contact point 37 as a third pair, and fixed contact point 36 to fixed contact point 39 as a fourth pair. It will accordingly be seen that a cross-point connection has been effected between the enumerated fixed contact points. It should be understood that while the actuator shaft has here been shown as responding to atmospheric pressure, an actuator mechanism similar to that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,145,278 may be utilized, where a spring is inserted to compensate for atmospheric pressure and the limits of travel are set by the actuator mechanism.
  • shielding means are provided within the envelope interposed between the pairs of resilient contact blades 63 and .64 in a' manner to eflect shielding of the contact blades of each pair from each other by providing a ground plane disposed therebetween.
  • a hollow metallic shell-like ground member 73 shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, brazed at one end to the underside of the support plate 13 and at its other end provided with a ground plate portion 74 having a square aperture 75.
  • the portions 76 of the shell which define the aperture provide a ground potential abutment against which the resilient contact blades 63 abut when the relay has been actuated by atmospheric pressure or other means.
  • the configuration of the metallic ground plate portion 74 cooperates with the fixed contact points and movable resilient contact blades to provide substantially constant impedance through the relay.
  • a third tubular metallic member 81 Concentrically disposed within the tubular shell 79, and surrounding the expansible bellows to form a sputter-shield therearound, is a third tubular metallic member 81, its lower end 82 brazed to a shoulder formed in the support plate 3, and its inner end extending freely in the direction of the mobile contact assembly 62.
  • the relay is provided with radially extending thin metallic plates 83 shown best in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6.
  • the plates 83 are fixedly interposed conductively between the tubular shell 79 and the tubular member 81, and provide an upwardly extending portion 84 extending into the corner formed by two adjacent and perpendicular arms of the cruciform dielectric member 62 as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • a vacuum coaxial relay comprising an envelope including an actuator support plate forming one end of the envelope, a fixed-contact support plate spaced from the actuator support plate and forming the other end of the envelope, a tubular metallic shell hermetically disposed between said actuator and fixed contact support plates and forming the side wall of said envelope, a plurality of spaced conductors extending insulatedly and hermetically through said fixed contact support plate and terminating within the envelope in a plurality of spaced fixed contact points, a mobile contact assembly including a cruciform dielectric support member disposed within the envelope and including pairs of resilient contact blades arranged to conductively connect a plurality of pairs of said fixed contact points when the mobile contact assembly is moved in one direction and to conductively connect a plurality of different pairs of said fixed contact points when the mobile contact assembly is moved in the opposite direction, and an actuator assembly movably supported on said actuator support plate and engaging said mobile contact assembly to effect movement thereof in a selected direction.
  • a ground plate extends transversely across the interior of said envelope on the side of said mobile contact assembly remote from said fixed-contact support plate whereby movement of said mobile contact assembly in one direction effects engagement of one pair of said resilient contact blades with said ground plate while another pair of said resilient contact blades conductively connects two pairs of said fixed contact points.
  • said mobile contact assembly comprises a cruciform dielectric support plate, and said pairs of resilient contact blades are fixed in spaced relation on opposite sides of said cruciform dielectric support plate.
  • a second tubular shell is mounted on said actuator support plate in radially spaced concentric relation within said tubular shell forming the side wall of the envelope, and a third tubular shell is mounted on said actuator support plate within said second tubular shell and about said actuator assembly, said second tubular shell terminating adjacent said fixed contact points to provide a conductive ground plane selectively engageable and disengageable by one of said pairs of resilient contact blades.
  • said actuator assembly includes a shaft slidably disposed on said actuator support plate and extending into the envelope, an expansible metallic bellows hermetically interposed between said shaft and said actuator support plate, and said mobile contact assembly is mounted on the inner end of said shaft within the envelope.
  • a first ground plane is mounted within the envelope on one side of said mobile contact assembly and a second ground plane is mounted within the envelope on the opposite side of said mobile contact assembly whereby movement of the mobile contact assembly toward said first ground plane effects engagement of one pair of resilient contact blades therewith and engagement of another pair of resilient contact blades with two selected pairs of fixed contact points whereas movement of the mobile contact assembly toward said second ground plane effects disengagement of said one pair of resilient contact blades from said first ground plane and engagement thereof with two different pairs of fixed contacts, and effects disengagement of said other pair of resilient contact blades from said two first mentioned pairs of fixed contacts and engagement thereof with said second ground plane.
  • said fixed contact points comprise circumferentially arranged radially inwardly extending integral terminations of said plurality of spaced conductors.
  • said ground shell mounted on said fixed-contact support plate includes a tubular portion brazed at one end to the support plate and terminating at its other end in an apertured ground plate, the configuration of the aperture being such that the portion of the ground plate which remains cooperates with said resilient contact blades to maintain substantially constant impedance transmission through the relay.
  • a mobile contact assembly comprising a cruciform dielectric support member having at least two pairs of arms with the arms of one pair extending substantially perpendicular to the arms of the other pair, and a resilient contact blade mounted on each arm of each pair of arms and extending substantially perpendicular to the long dimension of the arm on which it is mounted.
  • a coaxial relay including an evacuated envelope having a metallic end wall, a plurality of dielectric bushings extending hermetically through said end wall and bonded thereto, a conductive center conductor extending through each said bushing and bonded thereto, each said conductive center conductor terminating within the envelope in a fixed contact point, a tubular conductive ground shell coaxially associated with each center conductor outside the envelope and engaging said end wall, and a cover plate detachably secured to said end wall and clamping said tubular conductive ground shell between said end wall and said cover plate.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
US429336A 1965-02-01 1965-02-01 Vacuum coaxial relay Expired - Lifetime US3342966A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US429336A US3342966A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-01 Vacuum coaxial relay
US429855A US3328547A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-02 Coaxial cross-point relay
DE19661491951 DE1491951A1 (de) 1965-02-01 1966-01-27 Koaxiales Vakuumrelais
GB4141/66A GB1131274A (en) 1965-02-01 1966-01-31 Vacuum relay
CH130566A CH450552A (de) 1965-02-01 1966-01-31 Koaxiales Vakuumrelais
BE675858D BE675858A (xx) 1965-02-01 1966-02-01
NL6601301A NL6601301A (xx) 1965-02-01 1966-02-01
FR47967A FR1525000A (fr) 1965-02-01 1966-02-01 Relais coaxial à point de croisement
NL6601360A NL6601360A (xx) 1965-02-01 1966-02-02

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US429336A US3342966A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-01 Vacuum coaxial relay
US429855A US3328547A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-02 Coaxial cross-point relay

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3342966A true US3342966A (en) 1967-09-19

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US429336A Expired - Lifetime US3342966A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-01 Vacuum coaxial relay
US429855A Expired - Lifetime US3328547A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-02 Coaxial cross-point relay

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US429855A Expired - Lifetime US3328547A (en) 1965-02-01 1965-02-02 Coaxial cross-point relay

Country Status (7)

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US (2) US3342966A (xx)
BE (1) BE675858A (xx)
CH (1) CH450552A (xx)
DE (1) DE1491951A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1525000A (xx)
GB (1) GB1131274A (xx)
NL (2) NL6601301A (xx)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015194169A1 (ja) * 2014-06-19 2015-12-23 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 接点装置およびそれを用いた電磁継電器、および接点装置の製造方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2841670A (en) * 1954-12-23 1958-07-01 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Frictionless plunger switch having alignable self-holding contacts
DE1075191B (de) * 1960-02-11 Leipzig Herbert Bernstein Kontaktanordnung mit auswechselbarem Kontaktträger
US2997669A (en) * 1958-02-03 1961-08-22 Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc Broad band lobing switch
US3131268A (en) * 1962-03-14 1964-04-28 Electronic Specialty Company Electromagnetic coaxial switch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1075191B (de) * 1960-02-11 Leipzig Herbert Bernstein Kontaktanordnung mit auswechselbarem Kontaktträger
US2841670A (en) * 1954-12-23 1958-07-01 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Frictionless plunger switch having alignable self-holding contacts
US2997669A (en) * 1958-02-03 1961-08-22 Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc Broad band lobing switch
US3131268A (en) * 1962-03-14 1964-04-28 Electronic Specialty Company Electromagnetic coaxial switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE675858A (xx) 1966-08-01
US3328547A (en) 1967-06-27
GB1131274A (en) 1968-10-23
DE1491951A1 (de) 1969-07-17
CH450552A (de) 1968-01-31
NL6601301A (xx) 1966-08-02
NL6601360A (xx) 1966-08-03
FR1525000A (fr) 1968-05-17

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