Magnetic proximity switch system
First Claim
1. A proximity switch system, comprising:
- a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including;
an electrical contact forming part of the at least one electrical path;
a first magnetically active member moveable between a first position for contacting the electrical contact to connect the at least one electrical path and a second position for disconnecting the at least one electrical path, anda second magnetically active member magnetically interacting with the first magnetically active member to station the first magnetically active member to one of the first and second positions; and
a magnetically active actuator movable relative to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, wherein the actuator magnetically interacts with the first magnetically active member when in the proximal position for setting the first magnetically active member to the other one of the first and second positions,wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically active members comprises a magnet and wherein when the magnetically active actuator is in the proximal position, the electrical contact is disposed between the first magnetically active member and at least one of the second magnetically active member and the magnetically active actuator.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A proximity switch system includes a switch portion, configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, and a magnetically active actuator. The switch portion has a casing formed of a magnetically noninteracting material, at least one electrical contact disposed in the casing, a magnetically active armature member moveable along the casing between a first position and a second position, wherein the armature member contacts the electrical contact when in the first position to connect the at least one electrical path and the armature member being electrically isolated from the electric contact when in the second position to disconnect the at least one electrical path, and a magnetically active biasing member disposed in the casing, wherein the biasing member magnetically interacts with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions. The magnetically active actuator is movable with respect to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions. The actuator magnetically interacts with the armature member when in the proximal position to move the armature to the other one of the first and second positions, and at least one of the armature member and the biasing member include a magnet.
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Citations
75 Claims
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1. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; an electrical contact forming part of the at least one electrical path; a first magnetically active member moveable between a first position for contacting the electrical contact to connect the at least one electrical path and a second position for disconnecting the at least one electrical path, and a second magnetically active member magnetically interacting with the first magnetically active member to station the first magnetically active member to one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable relative to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, wherein the actuator magnetically interacts with the first magnetically active member when in the proximal position for setting the first magnetically active member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically active members comprises a magnet and wherein when the magnetically active actuator is in the proximal position, the electrical contact is disposed between the first magnetically active member and at least one of the second magnetically active member and the magnetically active actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28)
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14. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; a casing formed of a magnetically noninteracting material, at least one electrical contact disposed in the casing, a magnetically active armature member moveable along the casing between a first position and a second position, the armature member contacting the electrical contact when in the first position to connect the at least one electrical path and the armature member being electrically isolated from the electrical contact when in the second position to disconnect the at least one electrical path, and a magnetically active biasing member disposed in the casing, the biasing member magnetically interacting with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable with respect to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, the actuator magnetically interacting with the armature member when in the proximal position to move the armature member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the armature member and the biasing member comprise a magnet and wherein the electrical contact is disposed between the armature member and at least one of the biasing member and the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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29. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; first and second electrical contacts forming part of the at least one electrical path; a first magnetically active member moveable between a first position for contacting the first and second electrical contacts to connect the at least one electrical path and a second position for disconnecting the at least one electrical path, the first magnetically active member not contacting either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact when in the second position, and a second magnetically active member magnetically interacting with the first magnetically active member to station the first magnetically active member to one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable relative to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, wherein the actuator magnetically interacts with the first magnetically active member when in the proximal position for setting the first magnetically active member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically active members comprises a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; a first magnetically active member moveable between a first position for connecting the at least one electrical path and a second position for disconnecting the at least one electrical path, the first magnetically active member having a contact surface that forms a part of the at least one electrical path when the first magnetically active member is in the first position, and a second magnetically active member magnetically interacting with the first magnetically active member to station the first magnetically active member to one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable relative to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, wherein the actuator magnetically interacts with the first magnetically active member when in the proximal position for setting the first magnetically active member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically active members comprises a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; a first magnetically active member moveable between a first position for connecting the at least one electrical path and a second position for disconnecting the at least one electrical path, a contact portion attached to a surface of the first magnetically active member, the contact portion forming a part of the at least one electrical path when the first magnetically active member is in the first position, and a second magnetically active member magnetically interacting with the first magnetically active member to station the first magnetically active member to one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable relative to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, wherein the actuator magnetically interacts with the first magnetically active member when in the proximal position for setting the first magnetically active member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically active members comprises a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A proximity switch system, comprising:
a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; an electrically conductive casing forming part of the at least one electrical path; an electrical contact forming part of the at least one electrical path; a first magnetically active member moveable between a first position for electrically connecting the electrical contact with the casing to connect the at least one electrical path and a second position for disconnecting the at least one electrical path, and a second magnetically active member magnetically interacting with the first magnetically active member to station the first magnetically active member to one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable relative to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, wherein the actuator magnetically interacts with the first magnetically active member when in the proximal position for setting the first magnetically active member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically active members comprises a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; an electrically conductive casing formed of a magnetically noninteracting material, at least one electrical contact disposed in the casing, a magnetically active armature member moveable along the casing between a first position and a second position, the armature member connecting the at least one electrical path between the electrical contact and the casing when the armature member is in the first position and the armature member being electrically isolated from the electrical contact when in the second position to disconnect the at least one electrical path, and a magnetically active biasing member disposed in the casing, the biasing member magnetically interacting with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable with respect to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, the actuator magnetically interacting with the armature member when in the proximal position to move the armature member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the armature member and the biasing member comprise a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; a casing formed of a magnetically noninteracting material, first and second electrical contacts disposed in the casing, a magnetically active armature member moveable along the casing between a first position and a second position, the armature member contacting both the first and second electrical contacts when in the first position to connect the at least one electrical path and the armature member being electrically isolated from both the first and the second electrical contact when in the second position to disconnect the at least one electrical path, and a magnetically active biasing member disposed in the casing, the biasing member magnetically interacting with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable with respect to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, the actuator magnetically interacting with the armature member when in the proximal position to move the armature member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the armature member and the biasing member comprise a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; a casing formed of a magnetically noninteracting material, at least one electrical contact disposed in the casing, a magnetically active armature member moveable along the casing between a first position and a second position, the armature member having a contact surface that contacts the electrical contact and forms a part of the at least one electrical path when the armature member is in the first position, the armature member being electrically isolated from the electrical contact when in the second position to disconnect the at least one electrical path, and a magnetically active biasing member disposed in the casing, the biasing member magnetically interacting with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable with respect to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, the actuator magnetically interacting with the armature member when in the proximal position to move the armature member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the armature member and the biasing member comprise a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A proximity switch system, comprising:
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a switch portion configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, the switch portion including; a casing formed of a magnetically noninteracting material, at least one electrical contact disposed in the casing, a magnetically active armature member moveable along the casing between a first position and a second position, a contact portion attached to a surface of the armature member, the contact portion contacting the electrical contact and forming a part of the at least one electrical path when the armature member is in the first position and the at least one electrical path being disconnected when the armature member is in the second position, and a magnetically active biasing member disposed in the casing, the biasing member magnetically interacting with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions; and a magnetically active actuator movable with respect to the switch portion between proximal and distal positions, the actuator magnetically interacting with the armature member when in the proximal position to move the armature member to the other one of the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the armature member and the biasing member comprise a magnet. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A magnetic proximity switch configured to connect and disconnect at least one electrical path, comprising:
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first and second electrical contacts forming part of the at least one electrical path; a magnetically active armature member moveable according to an external magnetic field between a first position and a second position, the armature member contacting both the first and second electrical contacts when in the first position to connect the at least one electrical path and the armature member being electrically isolated from both the first and the second electrical contact when in the second position to disconnect the at least one electrical path; and a magnetically active biasing member magnetically interacting with the armature member to bias the armature member in one of the first and second positions in the absence of the external magnetic field.
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Specification