Patent ID: 6778047
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
Relay with a coupling element, comprising: a first spring bracket, a first plurality of contact spring pairs, each of the first plurality of contact spring pairs including an active contact spring disposed on the first spring bracket which cooperates with a passive contact spring positioned on the coupling element, wherein associated with the first plurality of contact spring pairs is a drive disposed on the first spring bracket and which acts over an actuator on at least one active contact spring which cooperates with at least one passive contact spring of the first plurality of contact spring pairs at least one of the active and passive contact springs of the first plurality of contact spring pairs being electrically contactable through a connecting pin; characterized in that the relay is mechanically connectable with at least one further relay wherein the further relay includes a second spring bracket and defines a second plurality of contact spring pairs, each of the second plurality of contact spring pairs including an active contact spring disposed on the second spring bracket which cooperates with a passive contact spring positioned on the coupling element, wherein associated with the second plurality of contact spring pairs is a second drive disposed on the second spring bracket at least one of the active and passive contact springs of the second plurality of contact spring pairs being electrically contactable through a second connecting pin, and wherein the coupling element is constructed as a separate component engagable with the spring brackets of the respective relays to thereby provide the mechanical connection between the respective relays, electric connecting pins of the contact springs of the first and second plurality of contact spring pairs of the respective relays being disposed proximate the coupling element, and further characterized in that the passive contact springs of the first plurality of contact spring pairs are aligned with the passive contact springs of the second plurality of contact spring pairs, each passive contact spring of the first plurality of contact spring pairs positioned on the coupling element opposite one of the passive contact springs of the second plurality of contact spring pairs wherein the coupled relays lie in mirror-image symmetry relative to the coupling element.