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Magnetically latching solenoid apparatus

  • US 5,883,557 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1997
  • Issued: 03/16/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A bistable magnetically latched solenoid apparatus comprising:

  • an armature assembly attached to a permanent magnet, said armature assembly adapted for travel along a stroke axis, said permanent magnet being characterized by magnetic poles oriented substantially parallel to the stroke axis of the armature assembly;

    a magnetic circuit including first and second pole pieces and the permanent magnet, said permanent magnet being intermediate the pole pieces to define a first variable air gap between the first pole piece and corresponding facing permanent magnet pole and a second variable air gap between the second pole piece and corresponding facing permanent magnet pole, each variable air gap having a respective magnetic attractive force established thereacross by the permanent magnet;

    said apparatus characterized by a dominant air gap comprising the one of the first and second variable air gaps across which the respective magnetic attractive force exceeds the respective magnetic attractive force across the other of the first and second variable air gaps wherein the magnetic attractive force across the dominant air gap establishes the apparatus into a prevailing one of first and second magnetically latched conditions;

    a coil for producing flux in the magnetic circuit when temporally energized to establish magnetic repulsive force across the dominant air gap to force the apparatus out of the prevailing one of the first and second magnetically latched conditions and into the other of the first and second magnetically latched conditions; and

    ,a first electrical contact in communication with said armature assembly in a manner to translate armature travel to said first electrical contact for coupling and decoupling the first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, said first and second electrical contacts being coupled in one of the first and second latched conditions and decoupled in the other of the first and second latched conditions, said first and second electrical contacts cooperatively providing a travel stop for said armature in the one of the first and second latched conditions providing coupling of the electrical contacts thereby preventing contact of the respective pole piece and corresponding facing permanent magnet pole, whereby force at the electrical contact interface corresponds directly to the respective magnetic attractive force at the one of the first and second air gaps characterized by the dominant magnetic attractive force when the electrical contacts are coupled.

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