Bistable solenoid actuator

A fuel filler door locking system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a solenoid winding defining an elongated cylindrical cavity,
• an armature disposed in said winding cavity, said armature being linearly translatable in said cavity between first and second positions,
• permanent magnet means for providing a magnetic field and for holding said armature in said first position,
• spring means for urging said armature to said second position and for holding said armature at said second position, wherein when said armature is in said first position, said armature may be moved to said second position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which opposes the field presented by said permanent magnet thereby cancelling the attracting force of said armature to said permanent magnet and releasing said armature to move to said second position under the influence of said spring means, and wherein said armature may be moved from said second position to said first position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which combines with the field presented by said permanent magnet to attract said armature to said first position, wherein said permanent magnet thereafter holds said armature in said first position when no current is passing through said winding,
• a locking mechanism actuatable between conditions of locking and unlocking said fuel filler door, and
• a flexible cable coupled to said solenoid armature and to said locking mechanism, wherein movement of said armature between said first and second positions actuates said locking mechanism between said locking and unlocking conditions.

A bistable actuating solenoid comprising:

• a bobbin in the form of an elongated tube with a hollow internal bore,
• a coil winding wrapped around said bobbin,
• an armature disposed in said bobbin bore and being axially translatable therein between first and second positions,
• a remote latching mechanism actuatable between a first condition and a second condition,
• coupling means for mechanically joining said solenoid armature to said remote latching mechanism whereby when said armature is in said first position, said latching mechanism is in said first condition, and when said armature is in said second position, said remote latching mechanism is in said second condition,
• a permanent magnet for providing a magnetic field and for holding said armature in said first position, said permanent magnet disposed at one end of said bobbin bore,
• an actuation cable affixed to one end of said armature,
• a frame member having first and second upstanding tabs, said tabs acting as flux collectors, said first tab trapping said magnet within said bobbin bore and said second tab separated from said first tab and generally surrounding said bobbin,
• spring means for urging said armature to said second position and for holding said armature at said second position, wherein when said armature is in said first position, said armature may be moved to said second position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which opposes the field presented by said permanent magnet thereby cancelling the attracting force of said armature to said permanent magnet and releasing said armature to move to said second position under the influence of said spring means, and wherein said armature may be moved from said second position to said first position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which combines with the field presented by said permanent magnet to attract said armature to said first position, wherein said permanent magnet thereafter holds said armature in said first position when no current is passing through said winding.

A bistable actuating solenoid used for actuating an automobile fuel filler door locking mechanism, comprising:

• a solenoid winding defining an elongated cylindrical cavity,
• an armature disposed in said winding cavity, said armature being translatable in said cavity between first and second positions,
• permanent magnet means for providing a magnetic field and for holding said armature in said first position,
• spring means for urging said armature to said second position and for holding said armature at said second position, wherein when said armature is in said first position, said armature may be moved to said second position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which opposes the field presented by said permanent magnet thereby cancelling the attracting force of said armature to said permanent magnet and releasing said armature to move to said second position under the influence of said spring means, and wherein said armature may be moved from said second position to said first position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which combines with the field presented by said permanent magnet to attract said armature to said first position, wherein said permanent magnet thereafter holds said armature in said first position when no current is passing through said winding,
• a locking mechanism actuatable between locked and unlocked conditions, and
• a flexible cable coupled to said solenoid armature and said to locking mechanism, wherein movement of said armature between said first and second positions actuates said locking mechanism between said locked and unlocked conditions.

A bistable actuating solenoid used for actuating an automobile fuel filler door locking system, comprising:

• a bobbin in the form of an elongated tube with a hollow internal bore,
• a coil winding wrapped around said bobbin,
• an armature disposed in said bobbin bore and being axially translatable therein between first and second positions,
• a permanent magnet for providing a magnetic field and for holding said armature in said first position, said permanent magnet disposed at one end of said bobbin bore,
• a frame member having first and second upstanding tabs, said tabs acting as flux collectors, said first tab trapping said magnet within said bobbin bore and said second tab separated from said first tab and generally surrounding said bobbin,
• spring means for urging said armature to said second position and for holding said armature at said second position, wherein when said armature is in said first position, said armature may be moved to said second position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which opposes the field presented by said permanent magnet thereby cancelling the attracting force of said armature to said permanent magnet and releasing said armature to move to said second position under the influence of said spring means, and wherein said armature may be moved from said second position to said first position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which combines with the field presented by said permanent to attract said armature to said first position, wherein said permanent magnet thereafter holds said armature in said first position when no current is passing through said winding,
• a locking mechanism actuatable between locked and unlocked conditions, and
• a flexible cable coupled to said solenoid armature and to said locking mechanism, wherein movement of armature between said first and second positions actuates said locking mechanism between said locked and unlocked conditions.

A bistable actuating solenoid, comprising:

• a solenoid winding defining an elongated cylindrical cavity,
• an armature disposed in said winding cavity, said armature being translatable in said cavity between first and second positions,
• permanent magnet means for providing a magnetic field and for holding armature in said first position,
• spring means for urging said armature to said second position and for holding said armature at said second position, wherein when said armature is in said first position, said armature may be moved to said second position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which opposes the field presented by said permanent magnet thereby cancelling the attracting force of said armature to said permanent magnet and releasing said armature to move to said second position under the influence of said spring means, and wherein said armature may be moved from said second position to said first position by passing current through said winding in a manner that produces a magnetic field having a polarity which combines with the field presented by said permanent magnet to attract said armature to said first position, wherein said permanent magnet thereafter holds said armature in said first position when no current is passing through said winding, and
• manual actuation means coupled to said armature for moving said armature from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position.