Magnetic electrical switch
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsMichael Pearce, Travis Spoone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic electrical switch apparatus includes: a switch assembly that includes: a switch body housing including a stationary contact; a shaft configured to move relative to the switch body housing, the shaft including: a moveable contact; and a first magnet; and a movable support member including a second magnet. The moveable contact and the first magnet are configured to move with the shaft. Moving the movable support member moves the second magnet relative to the first magnet, and a magnetic interaction between the second magnet and the first magnet moves the moveable contact relative to the stationary contact to thereby change a state of the switch assembly.
Claims20
A magnetic electrical switch apparatus comprising:
- a switch assembly comprising:
- a switch body housing comprising a stationary contact;
- a shaft configured to move relative to the switch body housing, the shaft comprising:
- a moveable contact;
- and
- a first magnet, wherein the moveable contact and the first magnet are configured to move with the shaft;
- and
- a moveable support member comprising a second magnet, wherein
- moving the moveable support member moves the second magnet relative to the first magnet, and a magnetic interaction between the second magnet and the first magnet moves the moveable contact relative to the stationary contact to thereby change a state of the switch assembly, and
- the first magnet comprises a first north pole and a first south pole, the second magnet comprises a second north pole and a second south pole, the shaft and the moveable support member are arranged such that, when the first magnet and the second magnet are in substantially the same plane, the first north pole faces the second north pole or the first south pole faces the second south pole, and the magnetic interaction comprises a magnetic repulsion that moves the first magnet, the shaft, and the moveable contact away from the second magnet.
A magnetic electrical switch apparatus comprising:
- a switch assembly comprising:
- a switch body housing comprising a stationary contact;
- a shaft configured to move relative to the switch body housing, the shaft comprising:
- a moveable contact;
- and
- a first magnet, wherein the moveable contact and the first magnet are configured to move with the shaft;
- and
- a moveable support member comprising a second magnet, wherein
- moving the moveable support member moves the second magnet relative to the first magnet, and a magnetic interaction between the second magnet and the first magnet moves the moveable contact relative to the stationary contact to thereby change a state of the switch assembly, and
- the moveable support member and switch assembly are physically separated and do not make direct physical contact with each other.
A magnetic electrical switch apparatus comprising:
- a switch assembly comprising:
- a switch body housing comprising a plurality of stationary contacts;
- a shaft configured to move relative to the switch body housing, the shaft comprising:
- a plurality of moveable contact assemblies;
- and
- a first magnet, wherein the moveable contact assemblies and the first magnet are configured to move with the shaft;
- and
- a moveable support member comprising a second magnet, wherein
- moving the moveable support member moves the second magnet relative to the first magnet, and a magnetic interaction between the second magnet and the first magnet moves the shaft and all of the moveable contact assemblies relative to all of the stationary contacts to thereby change a state of the switch assembly.
A magnetic electrical switch apparatus comprising:
- a switch assembly comprising:
- a switch body housing comprising a stationary contact;
- a shaft configured to move relative to the switch body housing, the shaft comprising:
- a moveable contact;
- and
- a first magnet, wherein the moveable contact and the first magnet are configured to move with the shaft;
- a moveable support member comprising a second magnet, wherein moving the moveable support member moves the second magnet relative to the first magnet, and a magnetic interaction between the second magnet and the first magnet moves the moveable contact relative to the stationary contact to thereby change a state of the switch assembly;
- and
- a fixed support member configured to hold the switching assembly in a fixed location, wherein the fixed support member is configured to hold a plurality of the switching assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.