The magnetic elements of a reed switch are supported within their non-magnetic capsule so that, instead of coming into contact in initially overlapping relationship, under the influence of a magnetic field they become essentially aligned with one another. The reeds may be so constructed that by selection of the size or shape of their respective opposed ends, the magnetic flux pattern is modified to maintain desired relative alignment to achieve desired contact. The invention relates to a mercury wetted switch which employs mercury to complete electrical contact between the non-contacting ends of the reeds.
A mercury switch has two spaced apart electrical contacts mechanically supported by its glass envelope and electrically connected to external terminals. A third conductor passes through the glass envelope at the opposite end. A housing for mercury is formed by divergent plates supported on the third conductor, which housing extends into the mercury reservoir near its support so as to draw mercury into the space between the divergent plates. A magnetic partition is supported from the third conductor by a flexible hinge which allows the partition to move back and forth between the divergent plates of the housing alternately into each of a pair of stops between said two spaced apart electrical contacts. Whichever wall of the housing the partition is closest to, the space is narrowed so that the mercury rises under capillary attraction and contacts the electrical contact between the wall and the partition. As the mercury rises in this narrow area, it lowers in the space between the partition and the other wall as it widens causing contact to be broken between the mercury and the other one of the pair of electrical contacts. The situation is reversed as the partition moves to the other position. One position is preferably the stable or normal condition of the switch. The other position is the energized position in which magnetic field is applied to move the armature on the position and change switch condition.
A drawback device to ensure the return of a moving part to its original position, after it has been moved away from it by another force. The existing method, involving an elastic mechanical component which acts as a spring, is replaced in this invention by a quantity of liquid, placed between the moving part and a fixed part, and remaining there through the effect of capillarity. When the moving part moves away from the fixed part, surface tension is created on the surface of the liquid, tending to draw the moving part back to its original position. Such devices are used in sealed miniaturized relays with mercury-wetted contacts.
A multi-positional mercury switch (1) for use with miniature relays (3). The mercury switch apparatus has magnetic contact structures (11, 13, 16, 17) supported in a sealed envelope member (10) with free ends thereof located in the envelope member and positioned to engage or disengage each other in response to a magnetic field generated by current appearing in a coil (310) externally surrounding the envelope member. A magnetic contact structure (11) has a mercury wetted surface (113) and an opening (111) at a free end (116) extending from the mercury wetted surface through the magnetic contact structure for forming a mercury contact (117) opposite the mercury wetted surface.
A multi-positional mercury switch (1, 2) for use with miniature relays. The mercury switch apparatus has mercury wettable magnetic contact structures (11, 12, 13, 21, 22) supported in a sealed envelope member (10, 20) supporting the magnetic contact structures with free ends thereof positioned to engage or disengage each other in response to a magnetic field generated by current appearing in a coil (410) externally surrounding the envelope member. A mercury wettable member (3, 15, 23, 24) having a porous construction for holding mercury is mounted on ones of the magnetic contact structures within the sealed envelope member for wetting the magnetic contact structures.
A MEM relay includes an actuator, a shorting bar disposed on the actuator, a contact substrate, and a plurality of liquid metal contacts are disposed on the contact substrate such that the plurality of liquid metal contacts are placed in electrical communication when the MEM relay is in a closed state. Further, the MEM relay includes a heater disposed on said contact substrate wherein said heater is in thermal communication with the plurality of liquid metal contacts. The contact substrate can additionally include a plurality of wettable metal contacts disposed on the contact substrate wherein each of the plurality of wettable metal contacts is proximate to each of the plurality of liquid metal contacts and each of the wettable metal contact is in electrical communication with each of the plurality of liquid metal contacts.
