Patent ID: 6740829
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
An electrical relay comprising:a first electrical contact, having a wettable surface; a second electrical contact with a wettable surface, at least partially lining the cavity in the second electrical contact to form a liquid well; a well-support structure in close proximity to the first and second electrical contacts, the well-support structure having a liquid well formed within it; a first conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the first electrical contact; a second conducting liquid volume in the liquid well in wetted contact with the second electrical contact; and an actuator having a rest position at least partially within the liquid well; wherein expansion of the actuator decreases the volume of the liquid well and displaces the second conducting liquid volume, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to coalesce and complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts, and contraction of the actuator increases the volume of the liquid well, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to separate and break the electrical circuit.