Patent ID: 6831532
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
An electrical relay comprising:a relay housing comprising a switching cavity; first and second moveable electrical contacts, each having a wettable surface; a moveable contact carrier in the switching cavity supporting the first and second moveable electrical contacts; first and second fixed electrical contacts attached to the relay housing in the switching cavity between the first and second moveable electrical contacts, the first and second fixed electrical contacts each having a wettable surface; a first conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the first moveable electrical contact and the first fixed electrical contact; a second conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the second moveable electrical contact and the second fixed electrical contact; and an actuator in a rest position, coupling the contact carrier to the relay housing and operable to move the contact carrier in a first direction, to reduce the distance between the first moveable electrical contact and the first fixed electrical contact and increase the distance between the second moveable electrical contact and the second fixed electrical contact, and a second direction to increase the distance between the first moveable electrical contact and the first fixed electrical contact and decrease the distance between the second moveable electrical contact and the second fixed electrical contact, wherein: motion of the contact carrier in the first direction causes the first conducting liquid volume to form a connection between the first moveable electrical contact and the first fixed electrical contact and breaks a connection formed by the second conducting liquid volume between the second moveable electrical contact and the second fixed electrical contact; and motion of the contact carrier in the second directions breaks the connection formed by the first conducting liquid volume between the first moveable electrical contact and the first fixed electrical contact and causes the second conducting liquid to form a connection between the second moveable electrical contact and the second fixed electrical contact.