Electromagnetic Relay Spring Assembly With Insulating Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic relays face difficulties in assembling the return spring, making the process cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The return spring is positioned between the movable member and the driving device, with an insulating member having an opening for easy insertion and visual confirmation of secure assembly, allowing for a more compact design and space for auxiliary contacts without increasing the relay's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the return spring is placed below the movable member in a conventional electromagnetic relay, then the structure is simple, but the attachment of the return spring becomes difficult in assembling
Solution Approach 1:
The return spring is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement (side by side with movable member in second direction) to a vertical arrangement (between movable member and driving device in first direction). This dimensional change allows the spring to be accessed through the opening in the insulating member, making assembly easy while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member serves as an intermediary structure that provides an opening for inserting the return spring. This mediator component facilitates the assembly process by providing direct access to the spring installation location without requiring disassembly of other components.
2Volume of moving object
If the return spring and movable member are arranged side by side in the second direction, then the assembly is straightforward, but the electromagnetic relay size increases in the second direction
Solution Approach 1:
The return spring arrangement transitions from horizontal (second direction) to vertical (first direction) positioning. This allows the spring to occupy space in the first direction rather than increasing the second direction dimension, enabling compact relay design while facilitating assembly through the insulating member opening.
3Ease of manufacture
If the insulating member includes an opening for return spring insertion, then the assembly is simplified, but the insulating member structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is designed to serve multiple functions: electrical insulation between contact device and driving device, structural support for the return spring, and provision of an opening for spring insertion. The guide section within the insulating member simultaneously provides guidance for the movable member and defines the opening structure, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure and guide section are integrated into the insulating member as a unified component rather than separate parts. This merging of functions simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining the necessary structural complexity only where required for multi-functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy and secure mounting of the return spring, enabling a downsized electromagnetic relay with space for auxiliary contacts without size increments, improving assembly efficiency and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
The return spring urges the movable member toward another side of a second direction
Implementation Method 2
The insulating member separating the contact device from the driving device
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic relay includes a contact device, a movable member, a driving device, a return spring, and an insulating member. The contact device includes a first fixed terminal, a second fixed terminal, and a movable contact piece. The movable member presses the movable contact piece. The driving device is disposed on one side of a first direction with respect to the contact device and the movable member and moves the movable contact piece via the movable member to one side of a second direction intersecting the first direction. The return spring is disposed between the movable member and the driving device in the first direction for urging the movable member toward another side of the second direction. The insulating member separates the contact device from the driving device and has an opening where the return spring is inserted. The opening is open toward one side of the first direction.