Wagner hammer
The Wagner hammer , also known as the rheotome or Neeff hammer , is an electromechanical interrupter that, in contrast to the lightning wheel, is magnetically driven and works automatically. The name results from its inventor Johann Philipp Wagner , who came up with it in 1836, and the form of contact he chose. In terms of functionality, Wagner's hammer has mostly been replaced today by electronic circuits such as the multivibrator .
Layout and function
A Wagner hammer consists of an electromagnet , an armature moved by it and a switching contact (break contact) attached to it. When switching on, a contact is closed and the armature is attracted by the current flowing in the coil of the electromagnet . The switching contact opens and thus interrupts the current. The magnetic field then collapses and the switching contact closes again - it is pulled into the rest position by a return spring. The process then begins again periodically. It is a self-excited or feedback system. An important factor for the occurrence of the vibrations is the delayed feedback, which is caused by the fact that the armature and the switching contact are mounted on two separate leaf springs . In this way, the switching contact always lags a little behind the movements of the armature, and the overall system shows hysteresis . Another factor in the delayed feedback is the self-induction of the solenoids. Without the delayed feedback, a state of equilibrium would be established in which the switching contact would heat up considerably because a large part of the voltage would be reduced across it. In this operating state, which is undesirable here, the contact pressure between the switching contacts would be almost zero, and there would be an electrical resistance between zero (closed) and infinite (open) between the switching contacts , which would lead to severe contact erosion.
The working frequency or oscillation period is determined by the mechanical natural frequency of the spring-mass system armature-return spring if dimensioned appropriately . By increasing the mass of the system, e.g. B. a heavy clapper, a low frequency can be caused.
Application examples
Based on the principle of Wagner's hammer z. B. the operation of electromechanical bells that require an oscillating movement.
In the past it was also used, for example, for:
- Chopping : With a changeover contact, the oscillating movement generates an alternating voltage from a direct voltage, which can be transformed
- Spark inductor : functions like an ignition coil in a car, the breaker is a Wagner hammer
- Horn in automobiles
- Historic electrifying devices such as Violet Wands
In today's applications, the Wagner hammer is mostly replaced by electronic circuits.
Malfunctions and wear and tear
A Wagner hammer generates faults as a result of the switching arc and is subject to contact wear and contact erosion. To reduce these effects, a capacitor is often connected in parallel to the contact, which briefly takes over the current flow at the moment of interruption until the contacts are sufficiently far apart. This capacitor also increases efficiency because it avoids energy loss in the switching sparks. Another method of reducing radio interference and reducing contact erosion is to connect a protective diode in reverse direction parallel to the magnet coils, which is only possible with DC voltage operation.
Operating modes
Electromechanical bells, choppers or spark inductors work particularly effectively and reproducibly if the working frequency matches the mechanical natural resonance. The Wagner hammer can also be operated with AC voltage. Then there is a beating with the frequency of the operating voltage - unless it has half the operating frequency.
Similar arrangements without an interrupter contact, in which the electromagnet is operated with alternating current (mains frequency) (doorbell, rattle), is not a Wagnerian hammer. Here, the natural resonance of the armature is expediently twice the operating AC voltage. Door chimes only strike when switched on or off - they have a comparatively heavy armature that cannot follow the alternating voltage. Older telephone bells also work directly on the particularly low-frequency ringing voltage (25 Hz) without an interrupter contact. None of these arrangements cause any radio interference and are comparatively reliable and wear-free.
A distantly related version, in which the switching contact is switched as a normally open contact and not as a normally closed contact, is the self-holding function.
Individual evidence
- ^ Brockhaus' Kleines Konversations-Lexikon . 11th edition. FA Brockhaus, Leipzig 1911 ( zeno.org [accessed October 8, 2019] Lexicon entry “Rheotome”).
- ^ Meyer's Large Conversational Lexicon . 6th edition. Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig / Vienna 1909 ( zeno.org [accessed on October 8, 2019] lexicon entry “Wagnerscher Hammer”).
- ↑ Ernst Ruhmer: Design, construction and operation of spark inductors and their application, with special consideration of X-ray technology . In addition to an appendix: A brief overview of the basics of the doctor's X-ray technology. Hachmeister & Thal, Leipzig 1904, p. 69 ( archive.org [accessed October 8, 2019]).