Magnetic latch

A magnetic latch comprising:

• a. a pair of coils;
• b. a frame receiving magnetic flux from said coils when energized, including first and second pairs of spaced apart magnetically permeable members for carrying flux produced by said coil;
• c. a latching member mounted in said frame and rotatably movable between first and second positions about a longitudinal axis;
• d. said latching member including a pair of magnetically permeable bridging means for providing a pair of magnetic flux bridges between said flux carrying members by each magnetically permeable bridging means contacting both of said flux carrying members when the latching member is in said first position;
• e. first and second means for providing magnetic flux carried by said flux carrying members and said magnetically permeable bridging means when in contact with the flux carrying members, in a direction opposing magnetic flux provided by said coils, for magnetically retaining said latching member in said first position when said coils are not energized;
• f. resilient means for biasing said latching member from said first position towards said second position with force sufficient to overcome said magnetic retention of said latching member and thereby move said latching member towards said second position when said coils are providing magnetic flux to said flux carrying members in a direction opposing the flux from said flux providing means;
• g. first portions of said flux carrying members being between a first one of said magnetic flux providing means and a first one of said bridging means;
• and
• h. second portions of said flux carrying members being positioned between a second one of said magnetic flux providing means and a second one of said bridging means.

A shock resistant magnetic latch comprising:

• a. a coil;
• b. a magnetically permeable frame;
• c. first and second elongated permanent magnets mounted in said frame;
• d. said frame including first and second pairs of spaced members, aligned parallel with a direction of elongation of the permanent magnets, for carrying flux when provided by said coil and for respectively carrying flux provided by said first and second magnets;
• e. portions of said frame respectively abutting ends of said first and second magnets over the entire magnet cross-section perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said magnets at said ends so that respective frame portions abut an opposite end of a respective magnet;
• f. a latching member rotatably moveable in said frame between first and second positions about an axis parallel with the direction of elongation of said magnets;
• g. said latching member including a pair of magnetically permeable means for providing magnetic flux bridges between the flux carrying members by contacting both flu carrying members of each pair when the latch member is in said first position;
• h. said first and second elongated magnets providing magnetic flux, carried by said flux carrying members and said magnetically permeable bridging means when in contact with the flux carrying members, opposing magnetic flux from said coil, for magnetically retaining said latching member in said first position when said coil is not energized;
• i. means for biasing said latching member from said first position towards said second position with force sufficient to overcome said magnetic retention of said latching member and thereby move said latching member towards said second position when said coil provides magnetic flux to said flux carrying members in a direction opposing flux from said magnets;
• j. said first magnet and a first one of said bridging means;
• said first magnet and a first one of said bridging means;
• k. said second pair of flux carrying members being between said second magnet and a second one of said bridging means.

A magnetic latch comprising:

• a. a coil;
• b. spaced apart magnetically permeable frame means for carrying flux produced by said coil when energized;
• c. rotatable means, mounted in said frame means and movable between first and second positions, for providing a magnetic flux bridge between said spaced apart frame means when in said first position;
• d. means continuously providing magnetic flux, carried by said frame means and said rotatable means when contacting said frame means, opposing coil-produced magnetic flux in said rotatable means, for magnetically retaining said rotatable means in said first position when said coil is not energized;
• and
• e. means for biasing said rotatable means towards said second position with force sufficient to overcome said magnetic retention and move said rotatable means towards said second position when said coil is providing magnetic flux to said frame means opposing flux from said flux providing means.

A magnetic latch comprising:

• a. a coil;
• b. frame means receiving magnetic flux from said coil when energized and including spaced apart means for carrying flux produced when said coil is energized;
• c. pivoting means mounted in said frame and movable through an arc between first and second positions for providing a magnetic flux bridge between said flux carrying means by substantially facing contact with said flux carrying means when in said first position;
• d. means for continuously providing magnetic flux carried by said flux carrying means and said pivoting means when in contact with the flux carrying means, opposing flux provided by said coil, sufficient for magnetically retaining said pivoting means in said first position when said coil is deenergized;
• and
• e. means biasing said pivoting means towards said second position with force sufficient to overcome said magnetic retention of said pivoting means when said coil is providing magnetic flux.

A magnetic latch comprising:

• a. two coils each having an axis of elongation;
• b. a magnetically permeable frame including two substantially identical facing segments spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of an imaginary plane of reflection;
• c. a rotatable latch member having an axis of rotation and substantial two-fold rotational symmetry about said axis of rotation, rotatably connected to said frame;
• d. magnetically permeable wing pieces connected to opposite sides of the latch member in a manner to substantially preserve rotational symmetry of the member;
• e. two elongated permanent magnets having planar end cross sections abutting inner surfaces of said frame segments, said magnets intersecting said imaginary plane of reflection;
• f. said frame segments being spaced apart and said latch member and wing pieces being located so that when the latch member is in a first position, said wing pieces bridge space between said frame segments and make facing contact with the frame segments, establishing two paths for magnetic flux supplied by said magnets;
• g. biasing springs at opposite ends of the latch member imposing force on the latch which if unopposed would move the latch to a second position at which said wing pieces are spaced from said frame segments.