Electromagnetic actuating mechanism

An electromagnetic control mechanism (1) comprising:

• first and second coils (3, 4) each being supported by a respective first and second yokes (5, 6) at axially opposite ends of and within a cylindrical tube (2), each of the first and the second yokes (5, 6) having an opening (5a, 6a) which is coaxially aligned with and supports an axially slidable actuating element (15),
• a single permanent magnet (8) being fixed to the actuating element (15) between two flux-conducting plates (9, 10) and two plunger armatures (13, 14), each of the two flux-conducting plates (9, 10) being coupled to and radially extending from a respective one of the two plunger armatures (13, 14) with the permanent magnet (8) being sandwiched therebetween,
• a holding pole (16) being fixed to and located within the tube (2) between the axially opposite ends thereof,
• the first and the second yokes (5, 6), the holding pole (16) and the permanent magnet (8) being axially located between and axially separating and spacing the first coil (3) from the second coil (4),
• the actuating element (15) being axially slidable between a first stable end position, in which the permanent magnet (8) is axially fixed adjacent the first yoke (5), and a second stable end position, in which the permanent magnet (8) is axially fixed adjacent the second yoke (6), depending on variable interaction between a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet (8) and magnetic fields (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) of the first and the second coils (3, 4), and
• the actuating element (15) being fixable in a third axially centrally located stable position, between the first and the second end positions, by a closed magnetic circuit formed by the permanent magnet (8), the flux-conducting plates (9, 10) and the holding pole (16).