US 4,725,801 AGranted

Bistable solenoid switch

AssigneeHamilton Standard Controls, Inc.

InventorJohn L. Snyder

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Abstract

A bistable solenoid switch has a plunger and associated movable contact adapted for controlled reciprocation by a coil and bobbin assembly to either of two stable states not requiring sustained energization of the coil. The movable contact is biased toward one of the stable states, for example, "Contacts Closed" in which a pair of stationary contacts are engged by the movable contact. The bobbin is provided with one or more radial projections extending into its core for serving a detenting function with respect to a land formed on an end face of the plunger. When the bobbin projection is engaged by the plunger land, it is prevented from displacing the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact, and the second, or "Contacts Open", state exists. Means are also provided for translating axial displacement of the plunger into angular displacement for moving it into and out of the detented engagement with the bobbin projection. The displacement translating means may include camming arrangements involving the plunger, the bobbin projection and a third member.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An improved solenoid-operated bistable switch including two contacts, a coil assembly fixedly positioned relative to said two contacts and including a bobbin having an axial bore and a coil disposed on the bobbin, a plunger disposed at least partly in the bore of the bobbin for rotation and axial reciprocation relative to the bobbin, conductive contact-bridging means mounted on said plunger for reciprocation therewith between at least two positions respectively in and out of contact-bridging engagement with said two contacts, said contact-bridging means being biased toward one of said at least two positions, said coil being selectively energizable to overcome said bias for displacing said plunger and contact-bridging means, the improvement comprising:

means for translating axial displacement of the plunger into rotation of the plunger relative to the bobbin;
said plunger having a first end face, said first end face facing in the direction toward which said contact-bridging means is biased;
and
detent means cooperatively including radial projection means on said bobbin and first land means extending less than 360.degree. on said first end face of the plunger, said detent means preventing displacement of said plunger and contact-bridging means entirely to said position toward which they are biased when energization of the coil is terminated and said first land means is angularly in registry with said projection means.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.