Magnetic proximity switch

Abstract: A magnetically operated proximity switch is pro­ vided with a pivotal armature 24 formed as a hat in cross section with two L-shaped members (34, 36) one (36) being longer and greater in mass than the other (34). The horizontal leg (38, 40) of each L-shaped member cooperates with a respective electrical contact (28, 30). The device includes permanent magnets (14, 16) mounted below the members (34, 36) with the two L-shaped members (34, 36) being in close proximity with magnet poles of different polarities. Because of a greater air gap existing between the shorter leg 34 and its respective magnetic pole than between the longer leg 36 and its magnetic pole and because of the greater mass of the longer leg 36, the longer leg is normally held in engagement with its electrical contact 30. However, upon approach of a body of ferro-magnetic material, some of the magnetic flux through the longer leg 36 is shunted through such body, reducing the magnetic force on the longer leg 36 allowing the magnetic force on the shorter leg 34 to pivot the armature into position in which the shorter leg engages its contact 28.

Description: THIS INVENTION relates to magnetic proximity sensing devices. In general, magnetically actuated proximity switches are used to sense relative movement between two members; one being the switch itself, and the other being a magnetically permeable member of either iron or steel. United States Patent No. 4,225,837 discloses a pivotal armature which carries the switch contacts and which is provided at its ends with magnetically permeable lips extending toward the marginal area of the same magnetic sign pole faces of permanent magnets with which the armature cooperates. In order to create a greater pull or to maintain the pivotal armature in a horizontal disposition, a lesser air gap between the magnet and the armature exists on the one side of the device with a greater air gap on the other side. This magnet spacing between the lips requires that both magnets be identical in strength in their magnetic pull so as to eliminate the possibility of the magnetic influence varying during operation of the switch. The pole faces of the magnets influencing the lips of the contact bridge are of the same polarity or sign. The provision of identical polarity megnets requires labour intensive testing and manual positioning and repositioning of the magnets in order to attain the required magnetic flux intensity. Also, the method for decreasing the strength of one pole of the same magnet to create flux differential requires sophisticated equipment and test facilities to ensure that the correct amount of imbalance for pivotal movement of an armature is consistently achieved in the operation of the device. Other examples of magnetically operating proximity sensing devices are disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 3176096; 3325756; 3361995; 3673527; 3732512; and 4117431. There is lacking in the prior art, particularly in the switch design of the above-mentioned United States Patent No. 4225837, the ability to consistently obtain an adequate contact pressure between the electrical contacts of the switch at reasonable sensing distances. There is further lacking such a device capable of providing ample current carrying capabilities of the contact member. There is further lacking in the prior art disclosures the teaching of non-spacing of the magnets or non-weakening of the magnetic fields which conventionally provides magnetic imbalance to allow the pivoting or movement of the armature. There is further lacking in the prior art a design for an armature which eliminates the need for mounting a pair of contacts whose cooperation with another pair of contacts operates the device. There is further lacking in the prior art an armature having means extending towards its opposed ends having different lengths and masses cooperating with different pole faces of an associated permanent magnet. There is further lacking in the prior art means extending from the opposed ends of a pivotal armature employed as both a contact surface and a means for enhancing sensitivity. There is further lacking in the prior art a proximity switch which does not require labour intensive testing and manual positioning of the magnets for its optimum operation. It is an object of this invention to provide a magnetic proximity switch which is efficient, can be made small in size, and is simple in design and operation, requiring a minimum of testing and manual "trial and error" in the placement of the magnets in the device. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic proximity switch, comprising: a magnetically permeable armature pivotally mounted in a housing, said armature comprising a main body and a pair of magnetically permeable members depending in the same direction from said main body towards respective poles of permanent magnet means fixed in said housing, said armature being pivotable between a first position and a second position, the arrangement being such that, in said first position of the armature, in the absence of magnetic influence from outside the switch, the net effect of the magnetic forces between the permanent magnet means and said permeable members is to bias the armature into said first position but that when sufficient magnetic flux is diverted from the armature by the approach of a magnetically permeable operator, the net effect of the magnetic forces between the permanent magnet means and said armature is to move the armature into said second position, said armature providing an electrical contact which, in one of said positions of the armature, contacts a cooperating electrical contact fixed in the housing and which, in the other of said positions of the armature, is spaced from its cooperating fixed electrical contact, characterised in that said permeable members have dissimilar lengths and masses and in that in said first position of the armature, the gap between the permeable member with the shorter length and lesser mass and the respective pole of said permanent magnet means is greater than in said second position of the armature means and is also greater than the gap, in said first position of the armature, between the permeable member with the greater length and mass and the respective pole of said permanent magnet means. Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the flux lines for the magnetic field; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of part of the embodiment of Figure 1, and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, corresponding to Figure 2 of the corresponding part of a second embodiment of the invention. The device shown in Figure 1 comprises an outer housing 10 containing a magnetically operated proximity switch 12 employing multi-pole permanent magnets 14, 16 located in an inner housing 18. Housing 18 includes a horizontal member 20 and two upright members (one of which is shown at 22) on which an armature 24, which is magnetically permeable, is pivotally mounted. Housing 18 has an inner portion 26 extending between, and separating, magnets 14, 16 and dividing housing 18 into two pockets for receiving the magnets 14, 16. Preferably, housing 18 is made of a shock absorbing epoxy resin capable of withstanding heat up to a temperature of 300°F. A pair of contacts 28, 30 are suitably fixed in horizontal member 20, which is part of housing 18 and these contacts are connected, by means not shown, to suitable terminals, not shown, which extend from outer housing 10 in a conventional manner. In use, these terminals may be connected in operating or control circuitry of a machine to be controlled by the switch. Contacts 28, 30 preferably are screwed or moulded in tightly to increase the ampere rating on the switch. As shown in Figure 2 armature 24 consists of a central planar portion 32 which is pivotally mounted on the two upright members 22. (For clarity, the members 22 are not shown in Figure 2). As shown in Figure 1, armature 24 has two opposed L-shaped members 34, 36 extending down from main central portion 32. These L-shaped members 34, 36 have lower horizontal legs 38, 40 respectively. Each leg 38, 40 is positioned so as to be capable of making contact with the respective contacts 28, 30 which, in turn, as mentioned above, is connected to a respective terminal. The lower horizontal legs 38 and 40 extend outwardly in opposite directions as shown in Figure 1 away from the respective vertical portions of L-shape members 34, 36. The vertical portion of each L-shape member 34, 36, respectively, extends from portion 32 toward its respective magnet 14, 16 as shown in Figure 1. The proximity switch may assume the position shown in Figure 1 in a first operative mode. Conversely, in a second operative mode, armature 24 may be pivoted from this position, clockwise in Figure 1, whereby horizontal legs 38 and 40 are disposed at an angle relative to their respective magnets 14, 16, more about which will be discussed shortly. Preferably armature 24 is of a low carbon steel. Referring again to Figure 1, the vertical portions of L-shape members 34 and 36 are of different lengths from one another, member 36 being longer than member 34. Horizontal legs 38 and 40 are parallel to the plane of portion 32. Because the vertical portions of L-shape member 36 is longer than the vertical portion of member 34, but of the same thickness, the mass of L-shape member 36 cooperating with electrical contact 30 is greater than that of L-shape member 34 cooperating with electrical contact 28. This greater mass of L-shape member 36 provides a greater magnetic influence on armature 24 so that with no exterior influence, the armature is biased anticlockwise as viewed in Figure 1 and contact is made and maintained between the contacting surface of horizontal leg 40 of L-shape member 36 and contact 30. The shorter length of L-shape member 34 creates an air gap between magnet 14 and horizontal leg 38 which is slightly greater than the gap between magnet 16 and horizontal leg 40 of L-shape member 36. The smaller air gap, in conjunction with the greater mass of member 36 provides greater magnetic pull so that L-shape member 36 located to the left in Figure 1 remains in the position shown in the absence of any external influence. Permanent magnets 14 and 16 generally consist of two pole portions as shown in Figure 1, whereby the left side is of one polarity indicated by an "N" and the right side is of opposite polarity indicated by an "S." L-shape member 36 is in close proximity to, and horizontal leg 40 extends over the north pole of its cooperating magnet 16 creating the magnetic flux lines shown at 46 and L-shape member 34 is in close proximity to; and horizontal leg 38 extends over, the south pole of its cooperating magnet 14 creating the flux lines shown at 48. When a body of ferromagnetic material enters the magnetic flux area adjacent to L-shape member 36 which generally creates a closed contact, the magnetic field is interrupted by diverting the magnetic flux, resulting in a weakened magnetic pull on L-shape member 36. Thereupon, armature 24 is caused to be pivoted clockwise as viewed in Figure 1 by the now stronger magnetic field existing between L-shape member 34 and the area of contact 28. It has been the experience of the inventor that the invention operates in the above described manner with the respective poles of magnets 14, 16 in their positions relative to L-shape members 36, 40, shown in Figure 1. The armature 24 shown in Figure 2 is a single pole, double throw contact bridge. That is to say the proximity switch incorporating armature 24 is a single pole, double throw switch. Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment in which the unitary armature 24 of Figures 1 and 2 is replaced by two armatures 50 and 52, whereby the proximity switch in this embodiment is a double pole, double throw switch. Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment in which the unitary armature 24 of Figures 1 and 2 is replaced by two armatures 50 and 52, whereby the proximity switch in this embodiment is a double pole, double throw switch. In this arrangement armatures 50 and 52 are separated by an air gap 54 creating insulation therebetween. The armatures 50 and 52 are symmetrical with respect to each other about the median plane of the air gap 54, which is perpendicular to the common pivotal axis of the armatures 50 and 52, and each armature is identical in form to a respective one of the two halves which would result in dividing the armature 24 in two by a saw-cut along said median plane, whereby this second embodiment in vertical section, appears identical to Figure 1. In this second embodiment, each armature 50, 52 has a respective pair of associated contacts, one contact located below its longer leg and one below its shorter leg. Thus a contact 56 is located below the longer leg of armature 50; a contact 58 is located below the longer leg of armature 52; a contact 60 is located below the shorter leg of armature 50 and a contact 62 is located below the shorter leg of armature 52. In operation these contacts make direct contact with their respective armatures in respective positions of the switch. The magnetic proximity switch is described with reference to the drawings are inexpensive and are adapted to provide optimum sensitivity and operation. The shape of the armature eliminates the need for ancillary contacts on the armature and the need for disposing one permanent magnet in a different elevation with respect to the other permanent magnet for the required spacing for pivotal movement of the armature. The magnets have different polarities at their ends influencing the magnetic force on the ends of the armature, resulting in better balance of the armature. The provision of the legs 34 and 36 with different masses and lengths eliminates the need for different spacing of the magnets for creating an air gap necessary for pivoting the armature for the necessary electrical contact. The use of multi-pole magnets whose different polarities extend adjacent to the armature facilitates creation of a magnetic field with flux lines running longitudinally of the device. The armature of armatures can be machined or otherwise formed to control the mass at the opposed ends of the contact bridge for accurate switch activation. The components of the switch can be made relatively small so that the housing for the switch can be small compared to prior art proximity switches. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the following claims and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims: A magnetic proximity switch, comprising: a magnetically permeable armature (24, 50, 52) pivotally mounted in a housing (10,18), said armature comprising a main body (32) and a pair of magnetically permeable members (34, 38; 36, 40) depending in the same direction from said main body (32) towards respective poles of permanent magnet means (14, 16) fixed in said housing, said armature (24, 50, 52) being pivotable between a first position and a second position, the arrangement being such that, in said first position of the armature (24, 50, 52), in the absence of magnetic influence from outside the switch, the net effect of the magnetic forces between the permanent magnet means (14, 16) and said permeable members (34, 38; 36, 40) is to bias the armature (24, 50, 52) into said first position but that when sufficient magnetic flux is diverted from the armature by the approach of a magnetically permeable operator, the net effect of the magnetic forces between the permanent magnet means (14, 16) and said armature is to move the armature into said second position, said armature (24, 50, 52) providing an electrical contact (38, 40) which, in one of said positions of the armature, contacts a cooperating electrical contact (28, 30) fixed in the housing (10, 18) and which, in the other of said positions of the armature (24, 50, 52), is spaced from its cooperating fixed electrical contact (28, 30), characterised in that said permeable members (34, 38; 36, 40) have dissimilar lengths and masses and in that in said first position of the armature (24, 50, 52), the gap between the permeable member (34, 38) with the shorter length and lesser mass and the respective pole of said permanent magnet means is greater than in said second position of the armature means and is also greater than the gap, in said first position of the armature (24, 50, 52), between the permeable member (36, 40) with the greater length and mass and the respective pole of said permanent magnet means (14, 16). A magnetic proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein each of said permeable members is of L-shape configuration in cross section and each functions as a respective said electrical contact cooperating with a respective said cooperating electrical contact (28,30) fixed in the housing. A magnetic proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein each of said permeable members (34, 38; 36, 40) has a first portion (34, 36) extending perpendicularly to a normal plane of said armature (24, 50, 52) over a distance which constitutes said length of the respective magnetically permeable member and a second portion (38, 40) adjacent to said first portion and extending parallel to said normal plane of said armature (24, 50, 52), said second portion being the portion of the respective permeable member closest to the respective pole of said permanent magnet means (14, 16). A magnetic proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein said permanent magnet means (14, 16) consists of at least two magnets (14, 16) and wherein one said magnetically permeable member (34, 38) extends over a magnetic south pole of one of said magnets (14) and the other said magnetically permeable member (36, 40) extends over a magnetic north pole of another (16) of said magnets. A magnetic proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein said armature (24) is a single contact bridge with a single pole and double throw. A magnetic proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein two such armatures (50, 52) are provided spaced-apart from one another and each forming a respective contact bridge cooperating with a respective pair of fixed contacts (56, 60; 58, 62) whereby the proximity switch is a double pole, double throw switch. A magnetic proximity switch according to claim 2, comprising two such magnetically permeable armatures (50, 52) pivotally mounted in said housing, each armature (50, 52) comprising a main body and a pair of magnetically permeable members depending in the same direction from said main body towards respective poles of said permanent magnet means (14, 16), each said armature (50, 52) being a unitary body of low carbon steel providing said magnetically permeable members, the switch including, for each said armature (50, 52), a pair of electrical contacts (56-62) fixed in the housing, each said fixed contact arranged to cooperate with a respective said permeable member of the respective armature (50, 52) which thereby forms a respective cooperating contact of the switch, whereby the proximity switch is a double pole, double throw switch, each said armature (50, 52) being pivotable between a first position in which one of said permeable members thereof engages its fixed electrical contact and a second position in which the other of said permeable members thereof engages its fixed electrical contact, the arrangement being such that, in said first positions of the armatures (50, 52), in the absence of magnetic influence from outside the switch, the net effect of the magnetic forces between the permanent magnet means (14, 16) and said permeable members is to bias the armatures (50, 52) into their first positions but that when sufficient magnetic flux is diverted from the armatures by the approach of a magnetically permeable operator, the net effect of the magnetic forces between the permanent magnet means (14, 16) and said armatures (50, 52) is to move the armatures (50, 52) into their said second positions, said permeable members of each said armatures having dissimilar lengths and masses and the arrangement being such that in said first position of each armature (50, 52), the gap between the permeable member with the shorter length and lesser mass and the respective pole of said permanent magnet means is greater than in said second position of the armature and is also greater than the gap, in said first position of the armature, between the permeable member with the greater length and mass and the respective pole of said permanent magnet means.

Inventors: ZOVATH PETER J, ZOVATH, PETER J.
Applicants: ZOVATH PETER J, ZOVATH, PETER J.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01H36
IPC codes: H01H36