Reed switch, and switch assembly and circuit protection device comprising same
By employing a housing design with a loop-back structure in the reed switch, the problems of assembly space limitations and exposed weld joints are solved, achieving stable activation and deactivation distances and improving the reliability and lifespan of the switch.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DONGGUAN LITTELFUSE ELECTRONICS CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing reed switch designs suffer from space constraints during assembly, exposed welded joints leading to potential malfunctions, and inconsistent activation and deactivation distances affecting switch performance.
The housing design features a first chamber and a second chamber. The reed switch container is located in the first chamber, and the leads extend between the chambers and are connected by a loop structure. The channel and neck area are used to ensure lead alignment and stability.
It improves the assembly flexibility of reed switches, reduces the risk of exposed welded joints, ensures the stability of activation and deactivation distances, and enhances the reliability and service life of the switches.
Smart Images
Figure CN224153284U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments relate to the field of circuit protection devices, and more specifically, to reed sensors with a wrap-back switch design. Background Technology
[0002] A reed switch is an electromechanical switch with two reed blades made of conductive material. In the presence of a magnetic field, the overlapping reeds attract each other, causing them to bend and contact each other, thereby closing the circuit. The two reed blades can be positioned within a glass capsule, thus hermetically sealing a portion of each blade. This capsule typically contains a vacuum, air, or nitrogen at atmospheric or ultra-high pressure. Reed switches are capable of switching significant power, for example, in the range of 10 to 100 watts. Reed switches also have a long service life, withstanding millions to over 100 million operations without failure or a significant increase in contact resistance.
[0003] However, current reed switch designs are limited by space constraints during assembly. Furthermore, the weld joints of the switch are located very close to the end of the container, leaving the weld joints exposed and potentially leading to failure.
[0004] Furthermore, in current reed switch designs, the activation and deactivation distances vary due to the switch's off-center orientation. In other words, the gap between the switch and the magnet changes depending on the activation direction, which can lead to inconsistent results.
[0005] This disclosure is made in light of these and other shortcomings of the prior art. Utility Model Content
[0006] This overview is provided to present, in a simplified form, the selection of concepts further described below in the detailed description. This overview is not intended to identify key or substantial features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to help determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0007] In one embodiment, a switching assembly may include: a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber; and a reed switch including a container located within the first chamber of the housing. The reed switch may also include a first lead and a second lead, each extending from the container, wherein the first lead extends between the first chamber and the second chamber.
[0008] In another embodiment, a reed switch may include: a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber; and a container located within the first chamber of the housing. The reed switch may also include a first lead and a second lead, each extending from the container, wherein the first lead extends between the first chamber and the second chamber.
[0009] In another embodiment, a circuit protection device may include: a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber; and a reed switch including a container located within the first chamber of the housing. The reed switch may also include a first lead and a second lead extending from the container, wherein the first lead includes a first section extending through the first chamber, a second section extending through the second chamber, and a third section connecting the first and second sections. Attached Figure Description
[0010] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary methods of the disclosed embodiments designed for practical applications of their principles to date, and in the drawings:
[0011] Figure 1A This is a perspective view of a circuit protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] Figure 1B This is a side sectional view of a circuit protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] Figure 1C This is an end view of a circuit protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the housing of a circuit protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0015] Figure 3 This is a top view of the channel of the housing of the circuit protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are merely illustrative and not intended to depict specific parameters of this disclosure. The drawings are intended to depict exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and therefore should not be considered limiting in scope. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.
[0017] Furthermore, for clarity, certain elements in some figures may be omitted or shown off-scale. Cross-sectional views may be in the form of "slices" and / or "near-view" cross-sectional views, thus omitting certain background lines that would otherwise be visible in the "true" cross-sectional view for clarity. Additionally, for clarity, some reference numerals may be omitted in certain figures. Detailed Implementation
[0018] The components, devices, and switches according to this disclosure will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments are illustrated. The components, devices, and switches may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art.
[0019] Figures 1A to 1C A circuit protection device (hereinafter referred to as "device") 100, such as a reed switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. As shown, the device 100 may include a housing 102 having a first end 104 opposite a second end 106. A first chamber 108, which may be adjacent to a second chamber 110, is located within the housing 102. Although not limited to any particular shape, size, or construction, the first chamber 108 and the second chamber 110 may generally each be a hollow cavity. Figure 1B As best shown, the first chamber 108 may open at a first end 104 of the housing 102 and may extend between the first end 104 and the second end 106. The second chamber 110 may also open at the first end 104, but may extend only partially between the first end 104 and the second end 106. Figure 1A As shown, insulating material 117 (e.g., epoxy resin) may be present within the first chamber 108 and the second chamber 110. The specific external shape and / or external construction of the housing 102 is not intended to be limiting.
[0020] The device 100 may include a container 112 located within a first chamber 108 of the housing, wherein a first lead 116 and a second lead 118 extend to the outside of the container 112. Although not shown, two reed blades may be located within the container 112.
[0021] The first lead 116 may include a free end 122 extending within the second chamber 110, the free end 122 representing a solder joint with a first electrical conduit 126 (e.g., a wire) extending within the second chamber 110. A second electrical conduit 128 may extend within the first chamber 108 for connection to the second lead 118. The second electrical conduit 128 may extend fully to the second end 106 of the housing 102.
[0022] In some embodiments, the first lead 116 may include a first segment 130 extending from the container 112, wherein the first segment 130 is positioned within the first chamber 108, and a second segment 132 is positioned within the second chamber 110. A third segment 134 connects the first segment 130 and the second segment 132. While not limited to any particular shape or configuration, the first segment 130 and the second segment 132 may extend substantially parallel to each other, while the third segment 134 may extend substantially perpendicular to the first segment 130 and the second segment 132. As arranged, the first lead 116 is “wound” or has a U-shaped configuration.
[0023] refer to Figures 2 to 3 The housing 102 will be described in more detail. As shown, the first chamber 108 and the second chamber 110 can be separated from each other by a wall 138. A channel 140 can be provided through the wall 138, through which the first lead 116 is allowed to extend. More specifically, a third segment 134 of the first lead 116 can be positioned as a main opening 146 through the channel 140. However, a narrowed neck region 142 that partially defines the channel 140 prevents significant movement of the first lead 116, for example, in the x-direction. In some embodiments, the narrowed neck region 142 may include a slit 148 extending between the main opening 146 and a first end 106 of the housing 102. Advantageously, the channel 140 serves as a keyhole feature for the alignment of the first lead 116.
[0024] As used herein, elements or steps described in the singular and beginning with the words “a” or “an” are understood to not exclude elements or steps in the plural form, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” in this disclosure are not intended to exclude the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the described features.
[0025] The use of “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” and its variations herein, implies that the items listed thereafter and their equivalents, as well as additional items, are included. Therefore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” and their variations, are open-ended expressions and can be used interchangeably herein.
[0026] The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and / or” used in this article are open-ended expressions and are both conjunctions and disjunctions in operation. For example, the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and / or C” mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.
[0027] All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, up, down, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are used for identification purposes only to aid the reader in understanding this disclosure. Directional references do not constitute a limitation, particularly regarding the location, orientation, or purpose of this disclosure. Connection references (e.g., attachment, coupling, connection, and joining) should be interpreted broadly and, unless otherwise stated, may include intermediate members between sets of elements and relative movement between elements. Therefore, a connection reference does not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected and fixed to each other.
[0028] Furthermore, reference numerals (e.g., primary, secondary, first, second, third, fourth, etc.) are not intended to suggest importance or priority, but rather to distinguish one feature from another. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes, and the dimensions, positions, order, and relative sizes reflected in the drawings may vary.
[0029] Furthermore, the terms "substantially" or "approximately" and the terms "approximately" or "about" may be used interchangeably in some embodiments and may be described using any relative measure acceptable to those skilled in the art. For example, these terms may be used as comparisons to a reference parameter to indicate deviations from the expected functionality. While not limiting, the amount of deviation from the reference parameter may, for example, be less than 1%, less than 3%, less than 5%, less than 10%, less than 15%, less than 20%, etc.
[0030] While certain embodiments of this disclosure have been described herein, the disclosure is not limited thereto, as it is as broad as will be permitted in the art, and the specification can be similarly understood. Therefore, the foregoing description should not be construed as limiting. Rather, it is merely illustrative of specific embodiments. Other modifications will also be contemplated by those skilled in the art within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A switch assembly, characterized by The switching assembly includes: A housing, the housing comprising a first chamber and a second chamber; and A reed switch, the reed switch including a container located in a first chamber of the housing, the reed switch also including a first lead and a second lead extending from the container, wherein the first lead extends between the first chamber and the second chamber.
2. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein, The first lead includes a free end, and the free end terminates in the second cavity.
3. The switch assembly of claim 2, wherein, The first lead is connected to the first electrical conduit.
4. The switch assembly of claim 3, wherein, The first electrical conduit extends within the second cavity, and the second electrical conduit extends within the first cavity.
5. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein, The switching assembly further includes insulating material located within the first chamber and the second chamber.
6. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein, The housing also includes a wall that separates the first chamber and the second chamber.
7. The switch assembly of claim 6, wherein, The switch assembly further includes a channel through the wall, wherein the first lead extends through the channel.
8. The switch assembly of claim 7, wherein, The channel is partially defined by a neck region, and the neck region restricts the movement of the first lead.
9. A reed switch characterized by, The reed switch includes: A housing, the housing comprising a first chamber and a second chamber; Container, the container being located within the first chamber of the housing; and A first lead and a second lead, each extending from the container, wherein the first lead extends between the first chamber and the second chamber.
10. The reed switch of claim 9, wherein, The first lead includes a free end, and the free end terminates in the second cavity.
11. The reed switch of claim 10, wherein, The first lead is connected to a first electrical conduit, wherein the first electrical conduit extends within the second chamber, and wherein the second electrical conduit extends within the first chamber.
12. The reed switch of claim 9, wherein, The reed switch further includes insulating material located in the first chamber and the second chamber.
13. The reed switch of claim 9, wherein, The housing also includes a channel connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the first lead extends through the channel.
14. The reed switch of claim 13, wherein, The channel is partially defined by a neck region, and the neck region restricts the movement of the first lead.
15. A circuit protection device, characterized in that, The circuit protection device includes: A housing, the housing comprising a first chamber and a second chamber; and A reed switch, the reed switch including a container located in a first chamber of the housing, the reed switch also including a first lead and a second lead extending from the container, wherein the first lead includes a first section extending through the first chamber, a second section extending through the second chamber, and a third section connecting the first section and the second section.
16. The circuit protection device of claim 15, wherein, The second segment of the first lead includes a free end, and wherein the free end terminates in the second cavity.
17. The circuit protection device of claim 16, wherein, The free end is connected to a first electrical conduit, wherein the first electrical conduit extends within the second cavity, and wherein a second electrical conduit extends within the first cavity.
18. The circuit protection device of claim 15, wherein, The circuit protection device further includes insulating material located in the first chamber and the second chamber.
19. The circuit protection device of claim 15, wherein, The housing also includes a channel connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein a third segment of the first lead extends through the channel.
20. The circuit protection device of claim 19, wherein, The channel is partially defined by a neck region, wherein the neck region restricts the movement of a third segment of the first lead.