Patent · US Active

Electromechanical latching relay and method of operating same

US7482899B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
34References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 2006
Grant dateJan 27, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2050/007
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A latching relay employing a movable cantilever with a first permanent magnet and a nearby second magnet is disclosed. The permanent magnet affixed to the cantilever is permanently magnetized along its long (horizontal) axis. The cantilever has a first end associated to the first pole (e.g., north pole) of the first magnet, and a second end associated to the second pole (e.g., south pole) of the first magnet. When the first end of the cantilever approaches the second magnet, the first pole of the first magnet induces a local opposite pole (e.g., south pole) in the second magnet and causes the first end of the cantilever to be attracted to the local opposite pole of the second magnet, closing an electrical conduction path (closed state). An open state on the first end of cantilever 10 can be maintained either by the second pole of first magnet being attracted to a local opposite pole in the second magnet or by a mechanical restoring force of flexure spring which supports the cantilever. A magnetic generator provides a third magnetic field about the first magnet and produces a torque on the associated cantilever to force the cantilever to switch in one of the closed, neutral and open…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.