Electromagnetic flip-type visual indicator

An electromagnetic indicator for providing binary indication of first and second conditions comprising:

• a housing;
• magnetic latching means comprising bracket means having a first end and a second end, and a core bar means, said bracket and core bar means being mounted within said housing;
• a flag assembly rotatably mounted in said housing near said ends of said bracket and core bar means so that said flag assembly is rotatable between a first and a second position, said first position indicating said first condition and said second position indicating said second condition, said flag assembly having a pivot shaft rotatably mounted in said housing on an axis that crosses said core bar means, a flag member fixedly connected to said pivot shaft so as to rotate therewith, and at least one permanently magnetized portion mounted on said flag member;
• electromagnetic means mounted within said housing, said electromagnet means comprising at least one electromagnet having a core and a winding therearound, said electromagnetic means having first and second ends, said bracket means being magnetically connected to said first end of said electromagnetic means, and second end of said electromagnetic means being magnetically connected to said core bar means and being near said flag assembly, said winding being connectable to an electrical power source so that when said electromagnetic means is connected to said electrical power source said electromagnetic means is able to generate a magnet field whereupon said bracket means, said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means become magnetized to produce a magnetic field, the magnetic field of said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means interacting with the magnetic field of said magnetized portion of said flag assembly to cause said flag assembly to rotate from said first position to said second position and become magnetically latched in said second position by the magnetic attraction between said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means and said magnetized portion of said flag assembly, or to cause said flag assembly to rotate from said second position to said first position and become magnetically latched in said first position by the magnetic attraction between said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means and said magnetized portion of said flag assembly, said magnetic latching to continue after said electromagnetic means is disconnected from said electrical power source.

An electromagnetic indicator for providing binary indication of first and second conditions comprising:

• a housing;
• magnetic latching means comprising bracket means having a first end and a second end, and a core bar means, said bracket and core bar means being mounted within said housing;
• a flag assembly rotatably mounted in said housing near said ends of said bracket and core bar means so that said flag assembly is rotatable between a first and a second position, said first position indicating said first condition and said second position indicating said second condition, said flag assembly having a pivot shaft rotatably mounted in said housing on an axis that is parallel to a line that connects said two ends of said bracket means, a flag member fixedly connected to said pivot shaft so as to rotate therewith, and at least one permanently magnetized portion mounted on said flag member;
• electromagnetic means mounted within said housing, said electromagnet means comprising at least one electromagnet having a core and a winding therearound, said electromagnetic means having first and second ends, said bracket means being magnetically connected to said first end of said electromagnetic means, said second end of said electromagnetic means being magnetically connected to said core bar means and being near said flag assembly, said winding being connectable to an electrical power source so that when said electromagnetic means is connected to said electrical power source said electromagnetic means is able to generate a magnet field whereupon said bracket means, said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means become magnetized to produce a magnetic field, the magnetic field of said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means interacting with the magnetic field of said magnetized portion of said flag assembly to cause said flag assembly to rotate from said first position to said second position and become magnetically latched in said second position by the magnetic attraction between said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means and said magnetized portion of said flag assembly, or to cause said flag assembly to rotate from said second position to said first position and become magnetically latched in said first position by the magnetic attraction between said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means and said magnetized portion of said flag assembly, said magnetic latching to continue after said electromagnetic means is disconnected from said electrical power source.

An electromagnetic indicator for providing binary indication of first and second conditions comprising:

• a housing;
• magnetic latching means comprising bracket means having a first end and a second end, and a core bar means, said bracket and core bar means being mounted within said housing;
• a flag assembly rotatably mounted in said housing near said ends of said bracket and core bar means so that said flag assembly is rotatable between a first and a second position, said first position indicating said first condition and said second position indicating said second condition, said flag assembly having a pivot shaft rotatably mounted in said housing on an axis that is perpendicular to a line that connects said two ends of said bracket means, a flag member fixedly connected to said pivot shaft so as to rotate therewith and at least one permanently magnetized portion mounted on said flag member;
• electromagnetic means mounted within said housing, said electromagnetic means comprising at least one electromagnet having a core and a winding therearound, said electromagnetic means having first and second ends, said bracket means being magnetically connected to said first end of said electromagnetic means, said second end of said electromagnetic means being magnetically connected to said core bar means and being near said flag assembly, said winding being connectable to an electrical power source so that when said electromagnetic means is connected to said electrical power source said electromagnetic means is able to generate a magnet field whereup said bracket means, said ends of a said bracket means and said core bar means become magnetized to produce a magnetic field, the magnetic field of said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means interacting with the magnetic field of said magnetized portion of said flag assembly to cause said flag assembly to rotate from said first position to said second position and become magnetically latched in said second position by the magnetic attraction between said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means and said magnetized portion of said flag assembly, or to cause said flag assembly to rotate from said second position to said first position and become magnetically latched in said first position by the magnetic attraction between said ends of said bracket means and said core bar means and said magnetized portion of said flag assembly, said magnetic latching to continue after said electromagnetic means is disconnected from said electrical power source.