Method for adjusting the switch-gap between the contact tongues of a reed switch

摘要

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the switch-gap between the overlapping metal tongues of a reed switch contained in a glass envelope, in which a beam of radiation energy is directed through the envelope onto a localised area of at least one of the tongues for a specific period of time, thereby effecting thermally-induced bending of the tongue in question about the irradiated area, wherein a radiation source is used which delivers radiation energy having a wavelength in a range in which the radiation is absorbed by the glass envelope to a considerable extent, and wherein the beam of radiation energy is focussed and measured in such a manner that the proportion between the irradiated glass volume of the envelope and the irradiated metal area of at least one of the tongues that is obtained is such that the temperature of the glass undergoes a temperature increase of less than 100 Kelvin during the time required for heating the metal to the melting point.