Pressurized relay assembly

Abstract

A high voltage magnetic relay assembly has a double pole, double throw contact assembly enclosed within a housing containing gas, such as sulfur hexafluoride. Terminals surrounded by insulators project from the housing, the terminals and insulators being sealed with respect to the housing to prevent gas leakage therefrom. The contact mechanism includes an operating yoke acting on pivoted contact arms electrically connected to some of the terminals and shiftable to and from contact with other of the terminals.

I claim: 
     
       1. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly comprising: a metal housing, normally open contact means and normally closed contact means in said housing including terminals projecting from said housing, electromagnetic operating means for closing and opening said contact means upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, means forming a seal between said terminals and said housing, and means for admitting a pressurized dielectric gas into said housing, said means forming a seal including insulators on said terminals, first sealing members sealingly affixed to said insulators, and other sealing members sealingly affixed to said housing and to said first sealing members and said terminals. 
     
     
       2. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first sealing members include first metallic members sealingly engaged with said insulators, and said other sealing members include metallic members brazed to said housing, said terminal and said first metallic members. 
     
     
       3. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulators are ceramic insulators, said first sealing members including metallic members brazed onto said insulators, and said other sealing members include metallic sealing members brazed to said housing, said terminal and said first metallic members. 
     
     
       4. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact means includes spring contact arms, means pivotally supporting said contact arms, and means actuatable by said electromagnetic operating means for pivoting said contact arms. 
     
     
       5. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact means includes spring contact arms, means pivotally supporting said contact arms, and means actuatable by said electromagnetic operating means for pivoting said contact arms, said contact arms including a pair of leaf spring members. 
     
     
       6. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact means includes spring contact arms, means pivotally supporting said contact arms, and means actuatable by said electromagnetic operating means for pivoting said contact arms, said contact arms including a pair of leaf spring members, one of said leaf spring members being connected to the other of said leaf spring members. 
     
     
       7. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, including common terminals extending through said housing, said contact means including spring contact arms, means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring contact arms to said common terminals, and means connecting said electromagnetic operating means with said spring contact arms. 
     
     
       8. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, including common terminals extending through said housing, said contact means including spring contact arms, means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring contact arms to said common terminals, and means connecting said electromagnetic operating means with said spring contact arms including an actuating arm responsive to said electromagnetic means and coupled with said spring contact arms to pivot said spring contact arms. 
     
     
       9. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 1, including common terminals extending through said housing, said contact means including spring contact arms, means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring contact arms to said common terminals, and means connecting said electromagnetic operating means with said spring contact arms including an actuating arm responsive to said electromagnetic means, said arm having a yoke thereon, said spring contact arms having a member engaged by said yoke to pivot said spring contact arms. 
     
     
       10. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly comprising: a metal housing, normally open contact means and normally closed contact means in said housing including terminals projecting from said housing, electromagnetic operating means for closing and opening said contact means upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, means forming a seal between said terminals and said housing, and means for admitting a pressurized dielectric gas into said housing, said contact means including spring contact arms, means pivotally supporting said spring contact arms including common terminals extending through said housing, and means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals. 
     
     
       11. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears. 
     
     
       12. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes support blocks connected with said common terminals and pivot pins connecting said support blocks with said spring contact arms. 
     
     
       13. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears, and including means coupling said electromagnetic operating means to said spring contact arms to pivotally shift the latter upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means. 
     
     
       14. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears, and including means coupling said electromagnetic operating means to said spring contact arms to pivotally shift the latter upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said coupling means including an actuator arm pivotally movable upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said arm having a yoke thereon, and means coupling said yoke to said spring contact arms in spaced relation to the pivotal support of said spring contact arms. 
     
     
       15. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears, and including means coupling said electromagnetic operating means to said spring contact arms to pivotally shift the latter upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said coupling means including an actuator arm pivotally movable upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said arm having a yoke thereon, and means coupling said yoke to said spring contact arms in spaced relation to the pivotal support on said spring contact arms including a member projecting from said spring contact arms and engaged by said yoke. 
     
     
       16. A .[.high voltage double pole, double throw.]. relay assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said spring contact arms comprise dual leaf springs. .Iadd. 17. A relay assembly comprising: a housing, normally opened contact means and normally closed contact means in said housing including terminals projecting from said housing, electromagnetic operating means for closing and opening said contact means upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, means forming a seal between said terminals and said housing, and means for admitting a pressurized dielectric gas into said housing, said contact means including spring contact arms, means pivotally supporting said spring contact arms including common terminals extending through said housing, and means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A relay assembly as defined in claim 17; wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A relay assembly as defined in claim 17; wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes support blocks connected with said common terminals and pivot pins connecting said support blocks with said spring contact arms. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. A relay assembly as defined in claim 17; wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears, and including means coupling said electromagnetic operating means to said spring contact arms to pivotally shift the latter upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A relay assembly as defined in claim 17; wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears, and including means coupling said electromagnetic operating means to said spring contact arms to pivotally shift the latter upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said coupling means including an actuator arm pivotally movable upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said arm having a yoke thereon, and means coupling said yoke to said spring contact arms in spaced relation to the pivotal support of said spring contact arms. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. A relay assembly as defined in claim 17; wherein said means pivotally and electrically connecting said spring arms on said common terminals includes ears on said spring contact arms and pivot pins connected with said common terminals and said ears, and including means coupling said electromagnetic operating means to said spring contact arms to pivotally shift the latter upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said coupling means including an actuator arm pivotally movable upon energization and deenergization of said electromagnetic operating means, said arm having a yoke thereon, and means coupling said yoke to said spring contact arms in spaced relation to the pivotal support of said spring contact arms including a member projecting from said spring contact arms and engaged by said yoke. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A relay assembly as defined in claim 17; wherein said spring contact arms comprise dual leaf springs. .Iaddend.