Emergency manual actuation mechanism for a solenoid

In a solenoid of the kind comprising an elongated housing, a magnetic plunger disposed within the housing and axially movable between an initial position and an actuation position, one end of the plunger being accessible through one end of the housing for connection to an external apparatus, spring means biasing the plunger toward its initial position, and solenoid coil means for driving the plunger to its actuation position, an emergency manual actuation mechanism comprising:

• a retraction rod axially movably mounted in the other end of the solenoid housing in alignment with the plunger, the retraction rod having a normal position in which the retraction rod is effectively disengaged from the plunger and does not interfere with or react to plunger movement;
• connecting means for interconnecting the retraction rod and the solenoid plunger;
• means for moving the retraction rod in a direction axially outward of the solenoid housing from its normal position to a retraction position, a first minor movement of the retraction rod engaging the connecting means and further movement of the retraction rod toward its retraction position driving the plunger from its initial position to its actuation position;
• and retainer means for retaining the retraction rod and the plunger in their respective retraction and actuation positions.