US 4,502,030 AGranted

High reliability solenoid switch

AssigneeAllied Corporation

InventorPeter J. Caruso

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Abstract

A fail-safe solenoid switching mechanism (11) includes separate solenoids (17,18) for switchings to "armed" and "safed" statuses. A manually operated safing mechanism (19) has a capability of overriding the solenoids (17,18) to establish the switching mechanism (11) in the "safed" status. The manually operated safing mechanism (19) is operated by a special tool (41), which is retained by the switching mechanism (11) whenever the manually operated safing mechanism (19) is engaged. The manually operated safing mechanism (19) is held in engagement by a catch (22) whenever the solenoid (17) for arming is powered, thereby preventing the specialized tool from being removed and the switching mechanism (11) from inadvertently switching to the "armed" status. Further status indications are provided by a flag (54) which can be used to directly read the status of the switching assembly (11). The switching assembly (11) uses a reciprocating switch (15) to establish make-or-break connections. In order to increase the effective life of shorting bars on the reciprocating part of the switch, the reciprocating part is rotated by a ratcheting mechanism each time the switch (15) is cycled. Advantages include enhanced reliability, and positive assurances as to the operating status of the switching assembly.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Switching assembly having at least one make-or-break connection, which is switchable between a first status and a second status in response to electrical signals, characterized by:

(a) solenoid means providing force in response to the electrical signals;
(b) a moveable switch armature, the status of the make-or-break connection being controlled by movement of the switch armature, the armature being connected to the solenoid means so that the force from the solenoid biases the armature to effect said movement when the solenoid responds to said electrical signals;
and
(c) a manually operated override assembly, connected to at least one of either the switch armature or the solenoid means so as to force the switch armature to a "safed" position in which the make-or-break connection is in the first status, the manually operated override means providing a force which is sufficient to overcome the biasing force exerted by the solenoid means;
(d) means to latch the manually operated override assembly in the "safed" position when the solenoid means applied force to bias the switch armature to the second status, the latching means including:
(i) a catch,
(ii) an opening in the manually operated override assembly, adapted to receive the catch, said opening being juxtaposed with the catch when the manually operated override assembly is in the "safed" position, and
(iii) catch biasing means, the catch biasing means biasing the catch into engagement with said opening to latch the manually operated override assembly into the "safed" position whenever the solenoid means applies the force to the bias the switch armature to the second state, so that the armature is unable to fully respond to said biasing.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.