Q-Series Relays'Datasheet 3A

Style Q Plug-in Relays

Datasheet 3A

www.siemens.com.au/rail-components

General Information

The Style Q range of plug-in relays were developed to meet the British Rail 930 Series of Specifications, and have been proven in use in many countries for more than twenty years. The wide range available covers almost every railway signal relay need.

This section details the range of Style Q relays at present manufactured in Australia. The range is constantly increasing and enquiries for types not listed are welcomed.

BR930 Series Specifications

These Specifications were originated in the late 1950s/early 1960s by an IRSE Miniaturisation Committee, and were subsequently adopted by British Rail and issued as BR Specifications.

The objective was to create a range of relays smaller and lower in cost than(the then) standard plug-in relays and to ensure interchangeability between manufacturers, while maintaining maximum design freedom. The result has been wide standardisation and major cost saving in railway signalling.

The BR 930 Specifications lay down the major mechanical details affecting interchangeability for relay and plugboard. They also lay down relevant operating characteristics for

relays and the method of coding which ensures that non-compatible relays may not be plugged in.

To fully realise the interchangeability advantages offered by application of this system, care must be taken in circuit design to see that only the specified characteristics of relays are relied on for correct circuit functioning for example, non-specified timings are not measured in production and may vary from one manufacturer to another, and may also vary with the same manufacturers relays, as the result of design revisions.

Coil resistance of line relays is another parameter which may vary only maximum power consumption is specified and actual resistance may be selected by the manufacturer within that limit.

Pin codes

An important part of the Style Q relay concept is the allocation of pin codes to relays. Five basic contact combinations are available, covered by two interlocking pin codes:

Contacts Code

12F 4B

8F 8B 2

8F 4B

6F 6B 2

4F 4B 2

Typical Q relay

Datasheet 3A issue 2.0

Contact Layouts

This pattern was adopted because:

1. 12F 4B and 8F 8B combinations have some contact positions in which contacts in the same position are changed from front to back contacts; therefore, safety considerations require a different pin code.

2. An 8F 4B relay has all contacts in the same positions as a 12F 4B but one vertical stack of contacts is omitted, so no danger can result by substitution of one for the other. Similarly, a 6F 6B relay is an 8F 8B with one vertical stack of contacts omitted, and a 4F 4B is an 8F 8B with two vertical stacks omitted.

3. It allows the use of a variety of contact combinations in new signalling installations to minimise initial cost but only two, 12F 4B and 8F 8B, are required as spares for subsequent servicing.

General SpecificationsThe specifications below apply to all Style Q Relays unless varied by the detailed specifications included in the data sheets for individual relays.

Maximum number of contacts 16 (8 each on twin relays)

Contact material moving fixed

Silver Silver impregnated graphite

Contact pressure 28-50 g

Contact lift 0.5 mm (min)

Change-over gap 0.4 mm (min)

Contact resistance 0.2 (max)

Contact rating carrying switching (dc) resistive switching (dc) lnductive

3 A (max) 25 VA-125 V (max) 9 VA-125 V (max)

These ratings may be doubled for ac.

Note: Contact ratings may be exceeded at the cost of reduced contact life.

Coil resistance As specified 10% at 20C

Relay life 106 operations at rated loading of contacts

AC immunity (where applicable) 1000 Vrms

Packaging Packs of 10

Glossary of TermsOperate condition

the condition of the relay when all front contacts are just made.

Full Operate condition the condition of the relay when the armature has completed its maximum travel.

Release condition the condition of the relay when all front contacts have opened.

Full Release condition the condition the relay assumes when de-energised.

Front Contact a contact which is made when the relay is energised.

Back Contact a contact which is made when the relay is de-energised.

Percentage Release the release value as a percentage of the operate value ie Percentage Release = Release Value / Operate Value * 100

12

345678

A B C D

R1R3

12

345678R2R4

COIL

F F F F

F F F F

B F F B

B F F BCOIL

COIL

F F F F

F F F F

B B B B

B B B BCOIL COIL

F F F

F F F

B F B

B F BCOIL COIL

F F F

F F F

B B B

B B BCOIL COIL

F F

F F

B B

B BCOIL

12F 4B 8F 8B 8F 4B 6F 6B 4F 4B

Style Q Plug-in Relays Page 3

The range of Q relays can be divided into the following broad groups:

Single Relays contain one relay only in each enclosure and are the most simple group.

Twin Relays contain two independent relays within one enclosure, each driving half the contacts.

Relay Units incorporate a diverse selection of electronic timers, flashers, etc, each mounted in the same standard enclosure.

Guide to Style Q Relay Types and Related Specifications

Single Twin

Standard AC Immune Standard AC Immune

Type of Relay Style BR Spec Style BR Spec Style BR Spec Style BR Spec

Neutral QN1 930 QNA1 931 QNN1 960 QNNA1 966-F6

Neutral double wound QND2 930 QNND1 960

Neutral special for long lines QS2

Neutral slow operate QSPA1 933 QNNSl 963

Neutral slow release QSRA1 QSRA4

934

QNNSl 963

Biased QBA1 932 QBBA1 961

Biased contactor QBCA1 943 966-F4

Magnetic latched QLl 935

Track QT1 938 QTA1 939 966- F2

Timers slow operate slow operate slow release

QCJ1 QTD5 QTD4

949

QTD1

Transformer/Rectifier Units QXR1

Flashers QDF1 QDF2 QDF3

Others QR5 QR9

DC AC

Normal Release Slow Release Normal Release Slow Release

Type of Relay Style BR Spec Style BR Spec Style BR Spec Style BR Spec

Lamp proving QN3 QEC1 QSR3

940

QECX7 QECX8 QUCX1

942

QECX5

Relay Groups


Single Relays

General

The Style Q relay is built on a robust thermoset base moulding into which up to four vertical contact stacks may be fitted. Contact springs are separated by glass-filled polycarbonate spacer blocks and are insulated from the contact stack securing screw by a nylon tube. Each vertical contact stack can carry up to four independent contacts, which may be front or back according to how they are assembled. Each outside stack also carries two coil connectors.

The magnet assembly is mounted on the base moulding below the contacts and consists in its simplest form of an L shaped heel-piece, a core with retaining nut to hold the heel-piece onto the base moulding, and an armature. The armature pivots on the front face of the heel-piece and is located by a phosphor bronze pivot plate. Reliable and consistent release is assured by a fixed phosphor bronze residual pin rivetted into the armature face. The coil is wound on a separate bobbin which is subsequently fitted over the core. A label fitted to the coil indicates the number of turns and nominal resistance. Actual resistance is within 10% of nominal value. Wire of not less than 0.1 mm diameter is used for coils.

Contact springs are phosphor bronze and the rear ends form the plug contacts which engage with the plugboard on which the relay mounts. The front ends carry the contact tips which are silver impregnated graphite (SIG) for the fixed contacts and silver for the moving contacts. The silver contacts are rivetted and soldered to their springs. SIG contacts are attached by clips and the rear face soldered to the spring.

The moving springs are driven from the armature by operating arms blanked from synthetic resin bonded fabric (SRBF) sheet. The fixed springs are supported in their correct locations by adjustment cards blanked from SRBF sheet which are supported at the lower end by a bracket which is rivetted, with the pivot plate, to the heel-piece. At the upper end the cards are retained by support springs which also provide an

upper bearing for the operating arms to slide in.

Low rate contact springs are used so that the pressure of the fixed contact against the adjustment card is nearly the same as the final contact pressure, ensuring very little change in contact pressure with wear over the life of the relay.

Armature release torque is provided by a combination of a low-stressed helical spring, gravity, and front contact pressure.

The transparent polycarbonate cover is retained by two nuts which also retain the handle. These are attached to a stainless steel strap which conveys the tension of retaining the cover to the relay base preventing stress in the working parts of the relay. Plastic seals are fitted into the handle to prevent unauthorised access.

A clip-on label is provided on the front face of the cover for circuit function or similar information.

On the rear face of the relay below the contacts, five coding pins are provided to prevent the relay being fitted to an incorrect plugboard. These pins are retained by a plate which is also sealed. All parts which are insulated from other parts are tested to 1000 Vrms. This also includes tests between windings on double-wound coils.

Typical single Q Relay (Style QBA1)


Twin Relays

General

Style Q Twin relays provide two completely independent relays within a single Q relay enclosure. Each relay provides a maximum of 8 independent contacts. They offer considerable savings of both cost and space when contact requirements can be kept within these limits. They offer special advantages in building geographical sets.

Construction

The construction of twin Q relays closely follow what is already described for single relays. Base, contacts, cover, handle, etc, are identical and the only differences are in the magnet assembly.

The simplest twin relay magnet assembly consists of the usual L shaped heel piece which is fitted with two separate cores and two independent armatures, each of which drives two of the four stacks of contacts. Each coil is wound on a separate bobbin which is subsequently assembled to its core.

Relay Units

General

A wide variety of equipment can be conveniently housed in Style Q relay enclosures, including timers, flashers, transformers, rectifier feed units, capacitor slugging units, etc.

Construction

It is not possible to give a general description as construction methods used vary widely according to the particular components to be housed. Electronic components are usually mounted on printed circuit cards and wired to tags assembled to the relay base in positions normally occupied by relay contacts. The usual coding pins are provided on the rear of the unit to ensure only the correct unit is plugged in.

Special Units

Special units can be designed to meet specific requirements if justified by demand.

Typical Twin Q Relays

Style QBBA1

Typical Q Relay Units

Style QCJ1

Style QTDS

Style QNN1


Style Q Relay PlugboardsStyle Q Relay Plugboards are one-piece thermoset mouldings, fitted with removable crimp type connectors. These connectors provide for both wire and insulation support for one or two wires each. Connectors are suitable for soldering if desired.

Recommended cable is size 9/0.3 mm, with a maximum OD of 3 mm.

The relay is retained on the plugboard by a wire clip which engages in a groove in the top of the relay handle. A paper label fixed to the plugboard

gives details of its associated relay.

Each plugboard is mounted on racks or chassis by two screws of 5 mm diameter.

Plugboards are supplied in packs of 5 or bulk packs of 100.

The following tools are available:

Part Description

4790/0 Crimping tool for connectors

J4489M/1 Removal tool for connectors

AM227-20/1 Retaining clip tool

Crimped Connections

It is recommended that crimping tools should be checked at frequent intervals (approx. 400-1,000 crimps) by making two sample crimps using minimum possible compression of the tool. These should then be subjected to a pull out test by holding the connector in a vice and pulling the wire with a spring balance. The Q relay connector crimp must withstand a pull of 9 kg (20 lb).

Front: showing code pin positions Rear: showing terminal numbering

Assembly of connectors into Style Q Plugboard Connector with removing tool in position for withdrawal

No bending or twisting of tool needed


Mounting

Mountings for Style Q Relay plugboards

The diagram shows maximum density mounting centres but the vertical spacing is usually increased to allow space for wiring forms.

Siemens Rail Automation Pty LtdABN 78 800 102 483 Level 7, 380 Docklands Drive, Docklands, Victoria 3008, Australia T +61 3 1300 724 518 E [email protected] W www.siemens.com.au/rail-components2014, Siemens Rail Automation Pty Ltd


56 mm

180 mm

16 mm

120 mm

21 mm

117.5 mm

28.6 mm

127 mm

M5 (2BA) Clearance Hole

M5 (2BA) Clearance Hole

Plugboard

Physical Dimensions

Documents

Q-Series Relays'Datasheet 3A