Relay and flag assembly for use with relays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9530598-B2
Application number	US-201414525463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A relay and a method of assembling a relay are provided. The relay comprising: a relay switch configured to operate in a first switch mode and a second switch mode; a flag structure for indicating an operative status of the relay switch, the flag structure capable of being orientated in a first position for indicating the relay switch being in the first switch mode and in a second position for indicating the relay switch being in the second switch mode; a card structure coupled to the flag structure for changing the orientation of the flag structure from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position; and a base plate coupled to the flag structure and the card structure, the base plate comprising an open ended slot for allowing part of the flag structure to be received therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A relay comprising:
a relay switch configured to operate in a first switch mode and a second switch mode;
a flag structure for indicating an operative status of the relay switch, the flag structure capable of being orientated in a first position for indicating the relay switch being in the first switch mode and in a second position for indicating the relay switch being in the second switch mode;
a card structure coupled to the flag structure for changing an orientation of the flag structure from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position; and
a base plate coupled to the flag structure and the card structure, the base plate comprising an open ended slot for allowing part of the flag structure to be received therein,
wherein the flag structure comprises projections for slotting into the open ended slot of the base plate to provide a pivoting point for changing the orientation of the flag structure, and wherein
the relay further comprises a housing for coupling with the base plate and for preventing the projections of the flag structure from dislodging from the open ended slot of the base plate through the open ended slot.

2. The relay as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first switch mode corresponds to the relay operatively providing electrical communication to an external circuit and the second switch mode corresponds to the relay operatively disrupting electrical communication to the external circuit.

3. The relay as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the open ended slot is configured to allow part of the flag structure to be received therein without substantial deformation of the flag structure.

4. The relay as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the card structure comprises a supporting platform for receiving part of the flag structure and for transmitting a force to the flag structure to change the orientation of the flag structure.

5. The relay as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the flag structure further comprises:
a first arm and a second arm;
a lip coupled to the first arm and the second arm for indicating the operative status of the relay switch; and
a shaft coupled to the first arm and the second arm, the shaft configured to engage the supporting platform of the card structure,
wherein the projections for being received in the open ended slot of the base plate comprises a projection extending from the first arm and a projection extending from the second arm.

6. The relay as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the shaft extends from the first arm to the second arm.

7. The relay as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the projections are disposed at ends of the first and second arms.

8. The relay as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the projection of the first arm and the projection of the second arm extend outwards away from each other.

9. The relay as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a window for allowing visual access to the lip of the flag structure when the flag structure is in the first position or the second position or both.

10. The relay as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the window is substantially transparent.

11. The relay as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the flag structure is substantially non-deformable.

12. A flag structure for use in a relay, the flag structure comprising:
a first arm and a second arm;
a lip coupled to the first arm and the second arm for indicating an operative status of a relay switch;
a shaft coupled to the first arm and the second arm, the shaft configured to engage a supporting platform of a card structure of the relay;
a projection extending from the first arm; and
a projection extending from the second arm,
wherein the projection of the first arm and the projection of the second arm are arranged to be received by an open ended slot of a base plate to provide a pivoting point for changing an orientation of the flag structure, and wherein
the relay further comprises a housing for coupling with the base plate and for preventing the projection of the first arm and the projection of the second arm of the flag structure from dislodging from the open ended slot of the base plate through the open ended slot.

13. The flag structure as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the shaft extends from the first arm to the second arm.

14. The flag structure as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the projections are disposed at ends of the first and second arms.

15. The flag structure as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the projection of the first arm and the projection of the second arm extend outwards away from each other.

16. The flag structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the flag structure is substantially non-deformable.

17. A flag assembly for use in a relay, the flag assembly comprising:
a flag structure for indicating an operative status of a relay switch of the relay, the flag structure comprising:
a first arm and a second arm;
a lip coupled to the first arm and to the second arm for indicating the operative status of the relay switch; and
a shaft coupled to the first arm and to the second arm for receiving a force to thereby change an orientation of the flag structure; and

a card structure coupled to the flag structure, the card structure comprising a supporting platform for receiving the shaft of the flag structure and for transmitting the force to the flag structure to change the orientation of the flag structure,
wherein the flag structure comprises projections for slotting into an open ended slot of a base plate to provide a pivoting point for changing the orientation of the flag structure, and wherein
the relay further comprises a housing for coupling with the base plate and for preventing the projections of the flag structure from dislodging from the open ended slot of the base plate through the open ended slot.

18. The flag assembly as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the flag structure further comprises:
a projection extending from the first arm; and
a projection extending from the second arm,
wherein the projection of the first arm and the projection of the second arm are arranged to be received by the open ended slot of the base plate of the relay.

19. The flag assembly as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the projections are disposed at ends of the first and second arms.

20. The flag assembly as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the projection of the first arm and the projection of the second arm extend outwards away from each other.

21. The flag assembly as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the flag structure is substantially non-deformable.

22. A method of assembling a relay comprising:
providing a base plate comprising an open ended slot;
providing a flag structure for indicating an operative status of a relay switch of the relay, wherein the flag structure is capable of being orientated in a first position for indicating the relay switch being in a first switch mode and in a second position for indicating the relay switch being in a second switch mode;
coupling a card structure to the base plate,
wherein the card structure is capable of changing an orientation of the flag structure from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position; and
receiving part of the flag structure with the open ended slot of the base plate,
wherein the flag structure comprises projections for slotting into the open ended slot of the base plate to provide a pivoting point for changing the orientation of the flag structure, and wherein
the

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Pan Yijun

Classifications

• H01H49/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of relays or parts thereof · CPC title

• H01H50/06

  having windows; Transparent cases or covers · CPC title

• H01H50/36

  Stationary parts of magnetic circuit, e.g. yoke · CPC title

• Y10T29/49105

  Switch making · CPC title

• H01H9/16

  Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" · CPC title