JPH0529283B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to solenoid actuators for switches and other electrical devices.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

Although the technology associated with all-electronic switching devices has recently advanced significantly, electromagnetic actuators are still required for many applications where all-electronic switching devices are not appropriate. As a result, there is a need for reliable electromagnetic actuators, particularly in applications where vibrations, high shocks, high accelerations, and variations in temperature and humidity occur.

In the past, the internal structure of electromagnetic switching devices such as relays that could withstand these harsh conditions was often complex. As a result, these conventional devices were often difficult and expensive to manufacture. For example, a typical conventional relay is manufactured by Teledyne Corporation.
412K series manufactured by
It is a TO-5 relay. The relay includes a clipper-type armature and a return spring that urges the armature to a first position when the electromagnet is de-energized;
The armature has two small push pins with insulating glass beads to push the contact leads from a first position to a second position when an electromagnetic force attracts the armature. This relay is difficult to manufacture due to the structure of the armature and the complicated arrangement of the contact members. This structure has a relatively large number of moving parts and welds that can fail.

Another conventional relay uses a rod-shaped slider actuator that is mechanically coupled to the contact leads in place of a spring and armature system. The slider is provided with an off-axis permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is normally attracted to the electromagnet's yoke and core to hold the slider and contact leads in the first position. When the electromagnet is energized, the permanent magnet is repelled and moves the slider and contact lead toward the second position. Although the structure of this relay is improved over the TO-5 type relay, this relay has one stable position and consumes more power to repel the permanent magnet.

In yet another construction, an armature made of ferromagnetic material is placed beneath the electromagnet. For high resistance to shocks and vibrations, the permanent magnets are arranged so that the armature is held in one position by the attractive force of the permanent magnets. When the actuator electromagnet is energized, the attractive force of the electromagnet becomes greater than the attractive force of the permanent magnet and moves the armature to the second position. This structure also consumes enough power to generate an attractive force greater than that of a permanent magnet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide, for practical purposes, an improved solenoid actuator which overcomes the above-mentioned limitations, in particular in a manner that does not require relatively uncomplicated mechanical construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid actuator that is highly reliable, simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of withstanding severe operating conditions.

[Means to solve the problem]

A preferred embodiment of the actuator of the present invention includes a slider having a permanent magnet positioned coaxially beneath the core of the electromagnet. The slider is connected to the actuating element and held in the first position by a permanent magnetic repulsion force for the electromagnet. When the electromagnet is energized, it repels the permanent magnet to move the slider and actuated element to the second position. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator also includes a ferromagnetic mass disposed proximate the second location. When the electromagnet is energized, the attractive force of the permanent magnet on the ferromagnetic mass is combined with the repulsive force of the electromagnet to move the slider to the second position. It has been found that such a structure reduces the amount of repulsion force required on the electromagnet and thus reduces the power consumption of the actuator. Furthermore, the ferromagnetic mass can be sized to hold the slider in the second position to provide a second stable position after the electromagnet is de-energized.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

1-2 illustrate cross-sectional views of a preferred embodiment of the solenoid actuator 10 of the present invention. This actuator 10 is symmetrical about line A-A. The actuator 10 can be used to operate a number of electromechanical devices, including RF relays, DC relays, reed switches, RF attenuators, power dividers, and the like.

Actuator 10 includes an electromagnet 12 . The electromagnet includes a wire coil 14 wound around a generally cylindrical bobbin 16. A ferromagnetic core 18 is provided at the center of this coil 14 . The magnetic circuit is
It is completed by a yoke 20 made of ferromagnetic material. The yoke 20 includes an inverted U-shaped bracket member 22. This bracket connects core 1 to one end of coil 14.
8. The yoke 20 includes a pair of longitudinal radial members 2 extending inwardly from an end of the bracket member 22 toward the center of the other end of the coil 14.
4 and 26 (Figures 1 and 2).

The actuator 10 also has a slider 28 adapted to move along the central axis A--A of the bushing 30 for actuating the conductor leads of a relay or other electrical device or its movable element. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface of the slider 28 and the inner surface 32 of the bushing 30 are cylindrical, and the outer diameter of the slider 28 is slightly shorter than the inner diameter of the bushing 30 such that the slider 28 is axially disposed within the bushing 30. Allow freedom of movement. Of course, slider 28 can also have other shapes. Furthermore, for example, the bushing 30 can be omitted and the guiding function can be performed from the main body of the device.

A probe 34 is coupled to a movable member that actuates slider 28. In the illustrated embodiment, probe 34 can be constructed from a non-magnetic insulating material so that probe 34 can be directly coupled to a conductive member, such as a lead conductor, if desired.

A permanent magnet 36 is embedded in the slider 28. The horizontal cross-sectional shape of the permanent magnet 36 is square,
Other shapes such as circular can also be used. As represented by the symbols N and S, the north and south poles of the permanent magnet 36 are axially aligned with the central axis A-A of the coil and the core of the electromagnet. Coil 14 of electromagnet 12
is de-energized, the permanent magnet 36 becomes the electromagnet 1
The slider 2 is attracted to the core 18 of the slider 2.
8 to the first position of the actuator 10.
In this way, the movable element coupled to the slider 28 by the probe 34 of the slider is
It is maintained in a first position corresponding to the first position of slider 28 shown in the figure.

When the electromagnet is energized, the electromagnet applies an axial electromagnetic force to the permanent magnet 36 of the slider 28, repelling the permanent magnet away from the electromagnet core 18 and moving the slider 28 into the second position shown in FIG. Move it in the axial direction to the position. To further reduce the repulsive force (and therefore power) required by the electromagnet, the actuator 10 of the illustrated embodiment further includes a soft magnetic ferromagnetic mass 38. This ferromagnetic mass is located generally proximate the second position of slider 28. The permanent magnet 36 of the slider 28 is attracted towards the ferromagnetic mass 38. The attractive force, combined with the repulsive force provided by the electromagnet, moves the slider 28 to the second position shown in FIG. In this way, the movable element connected to the slider 28 by the probe 12 is
position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ferromagnetic mass 38 is generally annular and equidistantly positioned about the central axis A-A. Of course, ferromagnetic material 3
8 can also take other shapes. In one embodiment, core 18 of electromagnet 12 is in the second position.
The ferromagnetic mass 38 is dimensioned and positioned such that the attractive force of the permanent magnet 36 on the yoke 20 is greater than the attractive force on the ferromagnetic mass 38. Thus, when the electromagnet is de-energized, slider 28 returns to the first position shown in FIG. In this configuration, actuator 10 is normally considered to be in the first position.

Alternatively, the ferromagnetic mass 38 can be made large such that the attractive force of the permanent magnet 36 on the ferromagnetic mass 38 is greater than the attractive force on the electromagnet core 18 and yoke 20 when the slider 28 is in the second position. Thus, when the electromagnet is de-energized, the slider 28 remains in the second position. In this configuration, actuator 10 is bistable.
In other words, it is considered to have two stable positions. To move slider 28 to the first position, the direction of the current flowing through coil 14 is reversed to reverse the polarity of the electromagnet. As a result, slider 28
The permanent magnet 36 is also attracted to the electromagnet by the electromagnetic force of the electromagnet, and the permanent magnet 3 against the ferromagnetic mass 38
Eliminate 6 suctions. Alternatively, a coil (not shown) wound in the opposite direction to coil 14 can be energized.

In yet another embodiment, the ferromagnetic mass can be eliminated. This configuration has been found to work very satisfactorily. However, the ferromagnetic mass 3
By eliminating 8, the power consumption of the electromagnet increases somewhat.

Preferably, the allowable range of movement of the movable element coupled to the slider 28 is limited so as to prevent the slider 28 from contacting the electromagnet 12 when the slider 28 is in the first position. This configuration also reduces the force required to move slider 28 to the second position. Similarly,
The second position of the slider 28 may limit the range of movement of the movable element toward the second position.
For example, a movable element such as the lead conductor 40,
Two contact terminals 42, 44 can be contacted which define a first position and a second position and thus the range of movement of the lead conductor. Since the slider 28 is connected to the lead conductor 40 by the probe 34,
The first and second positions of the slider 28 are defined by the first and second positions of the lead conductor 40. Actuator 10 is therefore a self-regulating device. That is, the slider 28 constantly moves the lead conductor 40 to connect the two contact terminals 42, 4.
4 to make good electrical contact between the lead conductor and the associated terminal.

From the above description, it can be seen that, apart from the actuating element, the actuator 10 has only one moving part, the slider 28. Actuator 10 is highly reliable because it has very few moving parts. Furthermore, since it is easy to manufacture, the manufacturing cost is also low. Additionally, the actuator 10 of the embodiment described herein can operate at higher speeds than conventional actuators. The simple structure makes it highly resistant to degradation caused by harsh environmental conditions of shock, acceleration, vibration, temperature and humidity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the solenoid actuator of the present invention, showing the position of the slider when the electromagnet is in a non-energized state, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the slider in the position when the electromagnet is energized. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1. 10... Actuator, 12... Electromagnet, 1
4...Coil, 18...Core, 20...Yoke,
26...Ferromagnetic material mass, 28...Slider, 30
...Butsing, 34...Probe, 36...Permanent magnet.

[Claims]

1. When a case with an armature operates a device having a movable actuator and is deenergized, the movable actuator is normally pressed in one direction to a predetermined initial position and engaged with one end of the armature. an electromagnetic actuator having means for making the response repeatability of the electromagnetic actuator unchanged, the armature moving the movable actuator from the initial position to the device operating position when the electromagnetic actuator is energized; (a) providing the electromagnetic actuator with an adjustable manual solenoid actuator that engages the other end of the armature, and (b) engages the other end of the armature and connects the armature to the device. (c) adjusting the manual solenoid actuator in one direction so as to move the movable actuator from its initial position to begin actuation of the device; and (c) then adjusting the manual solenoid actuator in the opposite direction until the actuation of the device ceases. A process and a method for making the response repeatability of an electromagnetic actuator unchanged. 2 (a) attaching an adjustable manual solenoid operator to an override bushing mounted in a threaded manner within a solenoid case; and (b) adjusting the manual solenoid operator in said one direction and in said opposite direction. Override bushing to

Claims (1)

Eta. 4. An actuator for actuating a movable element according to claim 1, characterized in that the ferromagnetic mass is a ring positioned around the path of the permanent magnet of the slider. 5. Actuating the movable element according to claim 4, further comprising a cylindrical bushing, through which the slider is allowed to slide, and the ferromagnetic ring is positioned around the bushing. Actuator. 6 including a permanent magnet, coupled to the movable element and connected to the first
a slider disposed in a position and movable with the movable element between the first and second positions; and a core coaxially aligned with a magnetic pole of a permanent magnet of the slider; an electromagnet that attracts the permanent magnet of the slider to the first position and moves the permanent magnet of the slider toward the second position by repelling the permanent magnet of the slider with a magnetic field when the electromagnet is excited. An actuator that operates a characteristic movable element.