The invention relates to a cradle for a narrow relay, a cradle assembly and a relay.

Cradles are employed in relays to transmit a force from a triggering system of a first circuit, typically an electromagnetic system with an armature, to a contact system of a second circuit. In order to realise sufficient creepage and air gaps in previous systems, large spacings between the triggering system and the contact system and materials with special properties, in particular with high capacity to carry creepage current, are used.

A disadvantage in the previous systems is that these need a lot of space and the materials are expensive.

A problem of the invention is to provide a solution with which smaller relays, in particular narrow relays, can also be produced with standard materials.

This problem is solved by a cradle for a narrow relay, comprising a force introduction section at which force is introduced from a triggering system, and a force diversion section in which the introduced force is diverted into a contact system, wherein a direct connection line between the force introduction section and the force diversion section runs through a receptacle and a bottom of the receptacle is spaced apart from the direct connection line. A cradle assembly according to the invention comprises a cradle according to the invention. A relay according to the invention comprises a cradle according to the invention.

As a result of the fact that the triggering system is not connected to the contact system in a straight line, but rather that the direct connection line runs through a receptacle, the creepage gap between the two is longer than the direct connection line. An air gap between the two can also be lengthened through the insertion of an additional element into the receptacle, for example a section of a base body. The triggering system and the contact system can therefore be constructed comparatively close to one another and, at the same time, a long creepage gap and a long air gap can be present between the two. This makes a compact design possible. In this case, it is not necessary to resort to materials with special properties. On the contrary, standard materials can be employed.

The solution according to the invention can be further improved with the following improvements and further developments which are each advantageous and able to be combined with one another as desired. The bottom can be spaced apart from the direct connection line by at least an inner thickness measured along the direct connection line. This is regarded as a good value for a high isolation effect because the creepage gap is thus approximately three times as long as in the case of a direct connection. The greater the spacing of the bottom from the direct connection line, the longer the creepage gap and the better the isolation behaviour.

The receptacle can be channel-shaped at least in sections. A channel shape can be manufactured simply. Furthermore, a further element, a section of the base body for instance, can be easily received in a channel shape. In order to enable a displaceability and/or a tolerance compensation of an employed element, the cross-section of the channel can remain the same in a displacement direction.

The inner walls of the receptacle can run in a U shape. Two walls can run parallel to one another and be connected and/or bordered by a bottom. As a result, a space-saving configuration is possible which allows an additional element to be simply inserted into the receptacle. The U shape is in this case formed by several inner walls.

The U may open to one side. In particular, it may open perpendicular to the direct connection line in order to enable a compact configuration.

The force introduction section may lie against the armature and be connected to this. It can form or comprise a fastening section for the armature or a corresponding part of the triggering system. The force diversion section may lie against the contact system and be connected to this. It may form or comprise a fastening section for the contact system.

The bottom can be the sole connection between the force introduction section and the force diversion section in order to achieve a particularly light configuration. The receptacle can therefore be open towards three sides.

In another configuration, alongside the bottom there can be a side wall in the receptacle which enables a good transmission of force. However, this side wall should be further distant from a direct connection line than the bottom in order to not enable any paths for creepage gaps or air gaps which are shorter than across the bottom. The receptacle can therefore be open towards two sides or towards only one side.

The force introduction section and/or the force diversion section can be configured like legs. They can protrude out from a connecting section such as a bottom. The actual force- introduction points or force-diversion points may be able to be fixed along the leg so that a transmission ratio between the triggering system and the contact system can be adjusted through the length of the lever.

This bottom can be bordered by two legs in order to enable a compact configuration. In such a configuration, the bottom does not protrude beyond the legs.

A leg, preferably both legs may run parallel to longitudinal sides of the relay. As a result, a compact configuration, easy manufacture and easy insertion into other elements are possible.

In one advantageous configuration, a wall of the receptacle runs perpendicular to the direct connection line and shields the contact system from the triggering system. This makes better isolation possible, in particular a longer air gap because there is no longer any direct connection between the contact system and the triggering system. A creepage gap may also be lengthened as a result.

In order to enable particularly easy attachment to the force introduction section and/or the force diversion section, these can each have an engagement section for engagement with the triggering system or contact system. The engagement section can represent the lengthening of a leg. In this manner, easy binding and focused force introduction or diversion are possible.

Advantageously, the engagement section is configured in a hook shape. This allows simple fastening and a secure grip. The hook may grip around the force introduction section and/or the force diversion section or penetrate into it. For example, it may run through a recess in the force introduction section and/or in the force diversion section.

For particularly easy mounting, a wall of the receptacle can be designed with an engagement projection for the triggering system and/or the contact system. The projection can project perpendicularly to the direct connection line in order to enable a short configuration along the connection line.

For particularly good isolation, an inner depth, measured perpendicularly to the direct connection line, and/or an inner width, measured perpendicularly to the direct connection line, of the receptacle may be larger than an inner thickness measured along the direct connection line.

The base body of the relay can be configured for receiving the triggering system and/or the contact system. It can represent a frame for the relay. It can have a main plate or base plate and contacts which protrude therefrom. The contacts can be arranged and/or retained in the main plate. An isolation slot can run in a U-shaped manner between the triggering system and the contact system around the section of the base body which protrudes into the receptacle. The air gap is lengthened as a result and the configuration is compact particularly in the direction of the direct connection line.

The isolation slot can in particular run from the triggering system to the contact system around the section. The isolation slot can therefore end at the triggering system and at the contact system. As a result, the relay is particularly small and the relationship between isolation effect and size is particularly good.

To obtain a particularly thin and nevertheless securely switching configuration, the force introduction section can be arranged at least in part between an armature and a yoke. The yoke may, for example, represent a stop for a force introduction section so that it is possible to dispense with other separate stops. The force introduction section may be attached between an armature and the contact system, in order to enable a compact configuration.

The armature may have a recess in which a magnet system is received at least in part. This configuration makes it possible to further reduce the size of the relay.

The cradle may form a contact system receptacle in order to enable secure receiving of at least parts of the contact system. For good isolation, the contact system receptacle may be configured in a U-shaped manner. The legs of the U may at least partially surround the contact system. The contact system receptacle can be shield-shaped or tub-shaped, for example, in order to enable good shielding of the contact system.

The cradle can have a recess, which is adjacent to the receptacle, for a stiffening member of the base body. As a result, the base body can be stable whereas the relay is small.

In order to improve stability against deformation, the cradle may have a stiffening strip.

Hereinafter, the solution according to the invention is described in greater detail using advantageous embodiments with reference to the figures. The advantageous embodiments and further developments realised are each individually advantageous and can be combined with one another as desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cradle in a relay; Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the relay from Fig. 1 in a sectioned depiction;

Fig. 3 shows the sectioned depiction from Fig. 2 from another perspective;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the cradle;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the cradle from another perspective;

Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the cradle from another perspective;

Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a relay with a cover;

Fig. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of the relay;

Fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the relay without the cradle;

Fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the cradle together with an armature and a spring;

Fig. 1 1 shows a further schematic perspective view of the cradle together with the armature and a spring;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a section through the relay; Fig. 13 shows a schematic perspective view of the cradle; Fig. 14 shows a further schematic perspective view of the cradle; Fig. 15 shows a further schematic perspective view of the cradle; Fig. 16 shows a further schematic perspective view of the cradle. A relay 2 comprises a triggering system 30 and a contact system 40.

The triggering system 30 comprises an electromagnet 33 through which a triggering current flows, a yoke 32 which runs through the electromagnet 33 and concentrates the magnetic field which is generated by the electromagnet 33. An armature 31 which is arranged in the relay 2 such that it is hinged and which consists of a ferromagnetic material is attracted by the yoke 32 when a triggering current of sufficient strength is flowing. The movement produced as a result is intended to be transmitted to a contact system 40 which is part of an electrical circuit which is to be switched. The contact system 40 comprises contact members 42 which are pressed against a spring 41 when the triggering system 30 triggers. The force introduction section 3 lies against the armature 31 and is connected to it. The force diversion section 4 lies against the part of the contact system 40 which comprises the contact members 42.

A direct connection line 5 between the force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4 runs through a receptacle 6. A bottom 7 of the receptacle 6 is spaced apart from the direct connection line 5. Through the spacing-apart, a creepage gap between the force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4 is lengthened compared to a direct connection. If there is an additional member in the receptacle 6, for example a section 20 of a base body 19, the air gap between the force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4 is lengthened correspondingly.

A cradle assembly 100 also comprises, alongside the cradle 1 , the armature 31 , which lies against the force introduction section and is connected to it, and a part of the contact arrangement 40 which comprises the contacts 42 which lies against the force diversion section 4. Such a cradle assembly 100 is shown in Fig. 1 , for instance.

The relay 2 can be particularly narrow, because due to the receptacle 6 there is sufficient isolation with long creepage and air gaps despite a short distance between the force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4.

The spacing 70 between the bottom 7 and the direct connection line 5 is larger than a thickness 18 measured along the direct connection line 5.

In the embodiment shown, an isolation slot 21 , which runs in a U-shaped manner, is formed by the receptacle 6 and that section 20 of the base body 19 arranged therein.

The inner walls 60 of the receptacle 6 run in a U-shaped manner and form a part of the creepage gap which must be overcome for a creepage current.

The force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4 are formed like legs. They each form a leg 9. The leg 9 of the force introduction section 3 is shorter than the leg 9 of the force diversion section 4. By varying the length of the legs 9 and the lever force which results from this, it is possible to adjust a transmission ratio between the force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4.

The bottom 7 of the receptacle 6 is bordered by the two legs 9. In this case, the legs 9 run parallel to longitudinal sides 10 of the relay 2. Through the solution according to the invention, the relay 2 is particularly narrow and nevertheless has sufficient isolation between the triggering system 30 and the contact system 40.

A wall 1 1 of the receptacle 6 runs perpendicular to the direct connection line 5 and thus shields the contact system 40 from the triggering system 30.

In order to enable a particularly compact configuration, the armature 31 has a recess 131 in which at least part of the electromagnet 33 is arranged.

An inner thickness 18 of the receptacle 6 measured along the direct connection line 5 is smaller than an inner width 17 measured perpendicular thereto and a depth 16 of the receptacle 6 also measured perpendicular thereto. As a result, a particularly long path is obtained between the triggering system 30 and the contact system 40.

The receptacle 6 forms, at least in sections, a channel 8 in which the section 20 of the base body 19 is received. The receptacle 6 is therefore channel-shaped, as a result of which it is possible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, for example. Furthermore, such a channel 8 is simple to manufacture.

The base body 19 serves to receive the triggering system 30 and the contact system 40. It forms a frame of the relay 2. The base body 19 comprises in particular a base plate 120 and contact members 121 which protrude out from it and which are connected to the triggering system 30 or contact system 40.

An engagement section 12, in the form of a hook 13, is attached to the leg 9 of the force introduction section 3. This is configured as an engagement projection 14 which projects parallel to a longitudinal side 10 of the relay 2, as a result of which the relay 2 is particularly compact. It serves to engage in the triggering system 30, in particular in a hole in the armature 31 .

A wall 1 1 of the receptacle 6 is configured with an engagement projection 14 for the triggering system 30.

The cradle 1 forms a contact system receptacle 15 in which the two contact elements 42 are arranged. The contact system receptacle 15 shown is configured in a U-shaped, shield-shaped or tub-shaped manner, so that the contact members 42 are also shielded at the sides. It forms a shield which runs around the contact members 42. The leg 9 which lies against the force diversion section 4 still continues in part beyond the contact system receptacle 15 in order to further lengthen the creepage and air gap.

The force introduction section 3 is at least in part arranged between the armature 33 and the yoke 32. As a result of this sandwich design, the relay 1 can be particularly narrow. In this case, the yoke 32 serves as a stop for a movement of the cradle 1 .

The cradle 1 has a recess 50, which is adjacent to the receptacle 6, for a stiffening member 51 of the base body 19. As a result of this telescoping design, the relay 1 can be particularly space- saving.

The cradle 1 further has a stiffening strip 52 which stabilises the cradle 1 against twisting or bending.

A reinforcing member 90 is arranged in an inner edge and permits a good flow of force.

In Fig. 6, the U-shaped course of the receptacle 6 is shown by the reference number 80. The delineated U opens perpendicularly to the connection line between the force introduction section 3 and the force diversion section 4.

Fig. 7 shows the relay 2 arranged in a cover 53. Due to the solution according to the invention, the relay 2 is particularly narrow and long.

The cradle 1 is designed as an injection-moulded member and manufactured from a plastic material, for example.

Reference Numbers cradle

relay

force introduction section

force diversion section

direct connection line

receptacle

bottom

channel

leg

longitudinal side

wall

engagement section

hook

engagement projection

contact system receptacle

depth

width

thickness

base body

section of the base body

isolation slot

triggering system

armature

yoke

electromagnet

contact system

spring

recess

stiffening element

stiffening strip

cover

inner wall

spacing direct connection line to bottom U shape reinforcing member cradle assembly base plate contact member recess