[0001] This invention relates to relay arrangements and more particularly to relay arrangements
which are capable of switching large energies but which are inexpensive to manufacture.
[0002] Relay arrangements used in equipment such as medical defibrillators, for example,
must be able to withstand large hold off voltages without arcing and capable of being
switched quickly. One type of relay used at present includes contacts which are housed
within an envelope of glass and metal which also contains an insulating gas at a relatively
high pressure, typically in the region of three atmospheres. Such an envelope is expensive
to fabricate because of the difficulties in providing good sealing between the glass
and metal parts, particularly where electrical leads are taken out through the glass
wall and because glass tends to be difficult to work.
[0003] The present invention arose from an attempt to design a relay arrangement which is
particularly suitable for use with medical defibrillators and which is relatively
cheap to manufacture.
[0004] According to the invention there is provided a relay arrangement comprising fixed
and movable contacts contained within a housing which is of plastic material and filled
with electrically insulating gas. By using plastic material for the housing, the arrangement
may be fabricated relatively cheaply, preferably using moulding techniques. Furthermore,
the problems caused when materials having different coefficients of expansion are
used in the envelope are reduced or avoided. The inventor has realised that, although
a housing of plastic material may not be generally as strong as a conventional glass/metal
construction, that by suitably configuring the contacts within the housing a lower
pressure gas may be used whilst retaining satisfactory performance. The relay arrangement
must be able to hold off in the region of 5.5 kV for use in defibrillator equipment
and be capable of switching 500 J. By using relatively large gaps between metal parts
within the housing and having an insulating gas filling this may be achieved at relatively
low gas pressures, enabling plastic to be used even in such a demanding application.
It is preferred that the gas pressure within the housing is approximately one atmosphere,
reducing stresses on the housing walls caused by differences between internal and
external pressures.
[0005] The insulating gas used must be such that, unlike air, say, it does not readily conduct
and if it has by-products then they must also be non-conductive. The particular plastic
material used depends on its properties when it comes into contact with the insulating
gas.
[0006] In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the movable contact is pivoted at
two pivot points. This enables a large amount of movement to be produced in a relatively
short time. Thus, it is possible to space the movable and fixed contacts at fairly
large distances apart to reduce the tendency for arcing to occur without significantly
impairing the performance of the relay.
[0007] In one embodiment of the invention two sets of fixed and movable contacts are included
and a member of electrically insulating material is located between the two sets,
thus giving additional shielding against arcing. Preferably, the member is an actuator
for moving the movable contacts, this being a particularly convenient configuration.
[0008] One way in which the invention may be performed is now described by way of example
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a relay arrangement in accordance with the
invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram.
[0009] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a relay arrangement used in medical defibrillator
equipment includes two sets of contacts generally indicated at 1 and 2 respectively.
Each set 1 and 2 of contacts includes two fixed contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6 and a movable
contact 7 and 8. The sets 1 and 2 of contacts are located within a housing 9 which
is of a plastic material and is cuboid, having rectangular faces. The housing 9 is
filled with an insulating gas, at a pressure of approximately one atmosphere.
[0010] The contacts 3 and 4 of the first set 1 are mounted on a common post, the electrical
connection to the lower contact 4 being made by a wire 10 and that to the upper contact
3 by a wire 11. Insulating material 12 is located between the contacts 3 and 4 and
the wires 10 and 11 are also insulated. The movable contact 7 is pivoted at two points
13 and 14. The pivot point 14 at the end of the movable contact 7 remote from the
fixed contacts 3 and 4 consists of a slot in a metal portion 15 of a post 16 through
which the contact 7 passes. At the other pivot point 13, a cylindrical rod 17, attached
to an actuator member 18 is located against the contact 7, the contact 7 including
a curved part to accommodate the rod 17.
[0011] The second set 2 of contacts is substantially identical in configuration to the first
set. The part of the actuator member 18 between the two sets is of electrically insulating
material.
[0012] The housing 9 also includes a coil 19 which provides means for electromagnetically
moving the actuator 18. Normally, the actuator 18 is held in the position shown in
Figures 1 and 2, by a spring 20, the movable contacts 7 and 8 being in contact with
the upper fixed contacts 3 and 5. When the coil 19 is energised, the actuating member
18 is moved downwardly and the movable contacts 7 and 8 come into contact with the
lower fixed contacts 4 and 6.
[0013] The actuator member 18 comprises a horizontal part 21 as shown and a substantially
vertical part 22. The vertical part 22 is arranged to extend sufficiently far that,
when the member 18 is in its upper most position, the lower fixed contacts 4 and 6
are electrically shielded by it.
[0014] The base 23 of the housing 9 includes moulded portions 24 through which electrical
connectors are taken. During manufacture of the relay arrangement, the coil 19 and
contacts 1 and 2 are assembled on the base 23 and then the remainder of the housing
sealed to the base 24. The housing 9 is then evacuated via a vent hole and the insulating
gas pumped in.
[0015] With reference to Figure 3, a circuit arrangement which includes the relay arrangement
of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a high voltage d.c. supply 25 connected across a capacitor
26 via the movable contacts 7 and 8 of the relay arrangement. The capacitor is also
connected to paddles 27 and 28 which, in use, are held in contact with a patient who
is being defibrillated.
[0016] In use, the high voltage d.c. supply 25 is switched on to charge the capacitor 26,
the movable contacts 7 and 8 being in the position shown, when the required amounts
of energy is stored, the operator triggers the arrangement and a voltage pulse is
applied to the relay coil 19. This activates the relay so that the capacitor 26 is
discharged via an inductor 29 across the paddles 27 and 28.
1. A relay arrangement comprising fixed (3, 4, 5, 6) and movable (7, 8) contacts contained
within a housing (9) which is of plastic material and filled with electrically insulating
gas.
2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas pressure within the housing is
approximately one atmosphere.
3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing (9) is a hollow cuboid.
4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the movable contact (7, 8) is
arranged to move between two fixed contacts (3 and 4, 5 and 6).
5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the movable contact (7, 8)
is pivoted at two pivot points (13, 14).
6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and including electromagnetic means
(19) for moving the movable contact (7).
7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and including two sets (1, 2) of
fixed and movable contacts and a member of electrically insulating material (18) located
between the two sets.
8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the electrically insulating member is
an actuator (18) for moving the movable contacts.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing (9) is manufactured
using moulding techniques.
10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the housing includes moulded lead-through
portions (24) through which electrical conductors are passed.
11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim and adapted and constructed for use
with defibrillator equipment.