Semi-solid link solenoid

A method of breaking the connection between a contact and at least one terminal of a solenoid comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a winding for receiving electric current;
• (b) providing a moveable plunger positioned in electromagnetic communication with the winding, the plunger having a center cavity with an abutment pin extending through the center cavity;
• (c) providing an impact device in communication with the contact;
• (d) moving the plunger in a first direction to cause the impact device to strike the abutment pin, thereby moving the impact device in the first direction and causing a connection between the contact and the terminal to be made;
• and
• (e) moving the plunger in a second direction such that the plunger impacts the impact device and thereby moves the contact in a direction away from the terminal.

A solenoid for making and breaking a connection between a contact and at least one terminal, the solenoid comprising:

• (a) windings for receiving electric current, the windings positioned upon a bobbin;
• (b) a plunger positioned to slide within the bobbin, the plunger including a center chamber formed axially within the plunger and an abutment pin traversing the center chamber, the center chamber including a shoulder which defines an axial bore extending from the exterior of the plunger to the center chamber, the plunger operable to move in a first direction when electric current is distributed to the windings and the plunger operable to move in a second direction when electric current is removed from the windings;
• (c) a contact rod slideably engaging the axial bore of the plunger, the contact rod having a first end and a second end, one end of the contact rod including a knob positioned within the center chamber of the plunger and the second end of the contact rod supporting the contact, wherein movement of the plunger in the first direction causes the abutment pin positioned within the plunger to impact the knob of the contact rod and move the contact rod in the first direction and thereby establish a connection between the contact and the at least one terminal, and movement of the plunger in the second direction causes the shoulder of the plunger to impact the knob of the contact rod to move the contact rod in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the at least one terminal.

A method of making and breaking a connection between a contact and terminals in a solenoid, the method comprising:

• (a) providing windings for receiving electric current, the windings positioned upon a bobbin;
• (b) providing a plunger positioned to slide within the bobbin, the plunger including a center chamber formed axially within the plunger and an abutment pin traversing the center chamber, the center chamber including a shoulder which defines an axial bore extending from the exterior of the plunger to the center chamber;
• (c) providing a contact rod slideably engaging the axial bore of the plunger, the contact rod having a first end and a second end, one end of the contact rod including a knob positioned within the center chamber of the plunger and the second end of the contact rod supporting the contact;
• (d) moving the plunger in a first direction further within the bobbin such that the knob of the contact rod strikes the abutment pin, causing the contact rod to also move in the first direction and bringing the contact into a connection with the terminals;
• (e) moving the plunger in a second direction further removed from the bobbin such that the shoulder of the plunger impacts the knob of the contact rod to move the contact rod in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the terminals.

A solenoid for making and breaking a connection between a contact and terminals, the solenoid comprising:

• (a) a winding for receiving electric current;
• (b) a moveable plunger positioned in electromagnetic communication with the winding, the moveable plunger including a center cavity, movement of the plunger in a first direction causing the connection between the contact and the terminals to be made, and movement of the plunger in a second direction causing the connection between the contact and the terminals to be broken;
• (c) an abutment pin positioned in the center cavity of the plunger;
• and
• (d) an impact means for moving the contact, the impact means positioned to impact the abutment pin when the plunger moves in the first direction and the impact means positioned to impact the plunger when the plunger moves in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the terminals.