Single solenoid based double actuator device

A single solenoid based double actuator device, the device comprising;

• a solenoid winding having an opening along an axis of the solenoid winding;
• a first actuator plunger configured through the opening for linear movement along the axis of the solenoid winding between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a first biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• a pair of magnetic paths comprising an upper magnetic path configured at an upper end of the solenoid winding, and a lower magnetic path configured at a lower end of the solenoid winding;
• a second actuator plunger arranged configured for linear movement along a second actuator axis between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a second biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• wherein the first actuator plunger, the upper magnetic path, the second actuator plunger and the lower magnetic path provide a primary magnetic path for a magnetic field created as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding;
• and
• wherein the upper magnetic path and the lower magnetic path are coupled to each other by a connecting portion located between the second actuator plunger and the solenoid winding, the connecting portion providing a secondary magnetic path through the first actuator plunger, a part of the upper magnetic path, the connecting portion and a part of the lower magnetic path;
• and
• wherein the first biasing force, the second biasing force and the primary magnetic path and the secondary magnetic path are configured such that when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a first current value, the first actuator plunger is moved to the corresponding actuated position overcoming the corresponding biasing force, and when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a second current value, which is higher than the first current value, the second actuator plunger is also moved to the corresponding actuated position overcoming the corresponding biasing force.

A single solenoid based double actuator device, the device comprising;

• a solenoid winding having an opening along an axis of the solenoid winding;
• a connecting static pole provided through the opening of the solenoid winding;
• a pair of magnetic paths comprising an upper magnetic path configured at an upper end of the solenoid winding and coupled to an upper end of the connecting static pole, and a lower magnetic path configured at a lower end of the solenoid winding and coupled to a lower end of the connecting static pole;
• a first actuator plunger configured between the upper magnetic path and the lower magnetic path for linear movement along an first actuator axis between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a first biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• and
• a second actuator plunger configured between the upper magnetic path and the lower magnetic path for linear movement along a second actuator axis between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a second biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• wherein the first actuator axis and the second actuator axis are spaced apart from the solenoid axis;
• wherein the first actuator plunger, the static pole, the upper magnetic path, the connecting static pole, and the lower magnetic path provide a first magnetic path for a magnetic field created as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding;
• and the second actuator plunger, the upper magnetic path, the connecting static pole, and the lower magnetic path provide a second magnetic path for the magnetic field created as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding;
• and
• wherein the first biasing force, the second biasing force, the first magnetic path and the second magnetic path are configured such that when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a first current value, one of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger is moved to the corresponding actuated position overcoming the corresponding biasing force, and when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a second current value, other of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger is also moved to the corresponding actuated position overcoming the corresponding biasing force.

A single solenoid based double actuator device, the device comprising;

• a solenoid winding having an opening along an axis of the solenoid winding;
• a first actuator plunger configured through the opening for linear movement along the axis of the solenoid winding between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a first biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• a pair of magnetic paths comprising an upper magnetic path configured at an upper end of the solenoid winding, and a lower magnetic path configured at a lower end of the solenoid winding;
• a second actuator plunger configured for linear movement along a second actuator axis between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a second biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• wherein the first actuator plunger, the upper magnetic path, the second actuator plunger and the lower magnetic path provide a magnetic path for a magnetic field generated as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding;
• and
• wherein the first biasing force is provided by a combination of a first permanent magnet and a first spring configured with the first actuator plunger, and the second biasing force is provided by a combination of a second permanent magnet and a second spring configured with the second actuator plunger;
• wherein the magnetic field generated as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding, either supports or nullifies magnetic fields of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet to change the net biasing force on the corresponding actuator plunger such that when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a first current value, one of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger is moved to the corresponding actuated position, and when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a second current value, which is higher than the first current value other of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger is also moved to the corresponding actuated position.

A single solenoid based double actuator device, the device comprising;

• a solenoid winding having an opening along an axis of the solenoid winding;
• a first actuator plunger configured through the opening for linear movement along the axis of the solenoid winding between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a first biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• a pair of magnetic paths comprising an upper magnetic path configured at an upper end of the solenoid winding, and a lower magnetic path configured at a lower end of the solenoid winding;
• a second actuator plunger configured for linear movement along a second actuator axis between an actuated position and an dropped position and being biased by a second biasing force to remain in the dropped position;
• wherein the first actuator plunger, the upper magnetic path, the second actuator plunger and the lower magnetic path provide a magnetic path for a magnetic field generated as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding;
• and
• wherein the first biasing force is provided by a combination of a first permanent magnet and a first spring configured with the first actuator plunger, and the second biasing force is provided by a combination of a second permanent magnet and a second spring configured with the second actuator plunger;
• the two permanent magnets and the corresponding springs being configured such that magnetic force on the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger from the respective permanent magnets partly nullifies the force from the corresponding springs;
• wherein the magnetic field generated as a result of passing of a current through the solenoid winding, either supports or nullifies magnetic fields of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet to change the net biasing force on the corresponding actuator plunger such that when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a first current value, one of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger is moved to the corresponding actuated position, and when the current through the solenoid winding exceeds a second current value, other of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger is also moved to the corresponding actuated position;
• and
• wherein each of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger and the corresponding permanent magnets are configured for latching of the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger in the corresponding actuated positions such that after the current through the solenoid winding is stopped, the first actuator plunger and the second actuator plunger remain in the actuated position thereby enabling actuation of the device by applying current pulses.