Pin Mechanism

A pin release mechanism comprising:

• a release pin axially movable from a first position to a second position;
• a bias spring connected to the release pin and exerting a force biasing the release pin towards the second position;
• a spring guide for receiving the bias spring and having a plurality of notches for interacting with a plurality of ball bearings;
• a moveable ball retainer connected to the bias spring and having a locked position in which a plurality of ball bearings radially interfere with the movement of the release pin and prevent movement of the release pin from the first position to a second position by engaging the release pin, and an unlocked position in which the plurality of ball bearings may move radially, disengaging the release pin, and engaging the ball retainer, to allow the release pin to move from the first position towards the second position;
• and
• a solenoid assembly comprising:
• a movable armature coupled to the ball retainer for moving the ball retainer between the locked position and the unlocked position;
• an armature spring exerting a spring force biasing the movable armature to move the ball retainer toward the unlocked position;
• a permanent magnet exerting a magnetic force on the movable armature, attracting the movable armature to move the ball retainer toward the locked position, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet on the movable armature being sufficient to overcome the spring force of the armature spring to hold the movable armature with the ball retainer in the locked position;
• and
• a coil, which when energized exerts a magnetic force on the movable armature opposite to the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, such that when the coil is energized, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet is overcome, allowing the spring force of the armature spring to move the ball retainer toward the unlocked position, permitting movement of the release pin from the first position to the second position by the force of the bias spring.