Electromagnetic actuator with direct drive and improved shock absorbance

A direct drive electromagnetic actuator, comprising:

• an outer housing;
• a movable body disposed at least partially within the outer housing, the movable body extended by an actuating head, the actuator configured to control movement of the movable body between an inoperative position and an operative position, the movable body comprising a ferromagnetic material;
• a resilient return member disposed within the outer housing and configured to exert a first force on the movable body in a first direction extending toward the inoperative position;
• a fixed coil located and configured to interact with the ferromagnetic material of the movable body so as to generate a second force acting on the movable body in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second direction extending toward the operative position;
• a shock-absorbing block movable with respect to the outer housing over at least a portion of the travel of the movable body between the inoperative position and the operative position, the shock-absorbing block being joined to the resilient return member, a length of the shock-absorbing block being such that the shock-absorbing block is compressed when the movable body is in the operative position;
• and
• a rigid abutment movable over at least a portion of the travel of the movable body between the inoperative position and the operative position, the rigid abutment coming into contact with a wall secured to the housing when the movable body is in the operative position.