US RE32,793 EGranted

Latching solenoid mechanism

AssigneeSynchro-Start Products, Inc.

InventorsKeith F. Baker, Richard M. Kowalski, Ralph E. Mishler

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Abstract

An internal latching mechanism for a solenoid comprises a cylindrical ball race on the main solenoid plunger with a plurality of balls disposed in aligned apertures in the ball race. First and second axially displaced fixed retainers, interconnected by a shoulder, define the limits of ball movement in one radial direction for the unactuated and actuated positions of the main plunger, and third and fourth axially displaced retainers perform the same function for the opposite radial direction; the fourth retainer is a movable retainer connected to a latch release plunger. When the main solenoid coil is energized to drive the main plunger to its actuated position, the balls displace the fourth retainer enough to allow the balls to move into engagement with the second and fourth retainers; when the main coil is de-energized the balls engage the shoulder between the first and second retainers to latch the main plunger in actuated position.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In a latching solenoid of the kind comprising a main plunger axially movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, a main coil energizable to drive the main plunger to its actuated position, a main return spring for driving the main plunger to its unactuated position, a latching mechanism for holding the main plunger in its actuated position when the main coil is de-energized, a latch release plunger axially movable through a given displacement from a normal position to a latch release position to release the latch means and allow the main plunger to return to its unactuated position, a latch spring urging the latch release plunger to its normal position, and an auxiliary coil energizable to drive the latch release plunger to its latch release position, an improved latch mechanism comprising:

a cylindrical ball race mounted on the main plunger and having a plurality of circumferentially distributed ball-receiving apertures;
a corresponding plurality of balls disposed in the ball race apertures;
first and second axially displaced fixed retainer means of different diameters, interconnected by a shoulder, defining limits of displacement of the balls in one radial direction for the unactuated and actuated positions, respectively, of the main plunger;
and third and fourth axially displaced retainer means of different diameters defining limits of displacement of the balls in the opposite radial direction when the balls engage the first and second retainer means, respectively, the fourth retainer means comprising a movable retainer connected to the latch release plunger;
the balls displacing the fourth resistor means as the main plunger nears its actuated position, through an axial clearance distance no larger than the given displacement for the latch release plunger but sufficient to allow the balls to ride along the shoulder into contact with the second retainer means and permitting the fourth retainer means to return to its original position, the balls engaging the shoulder to latch the main plunger in its actuated position until the latch release plunger is driven to its latch release position.

2 more elements

In a latching solenoid of the kind comprising a main plunger axially movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, a main return spring for driving the main plunger to its unactuated position, a latching mechanism for holding the main plunger in its actuated position, a latch release plunger axially movable through a given displacement from a normal position to a latch release position to release the latch means and allow the main plunger to return to its unactuated position, a latch spring urging the latch release plunger to its normal position, and a release coil energizable to drive the latch release plunger to its latch release position, an improved latch mechanism comprising:

a ball race mounted on the main plunger and having a plurality of circumferentially distributed ball-receiving apertures;
a plurality of balls disposed in the ball race apertures;
first and second axially displaced fixed retainer means of different diameters, interconnected by a shoulder defining limits of displacement of the balls in one radial direction for the unactuated and actuated positions, respectively, of the main plunger;
and third and fourth axially displaced retain means of different diameters defining limits of displacement of the balls in the opposite radial direction when the balls engage the first and second retainer means, respectively;
one of the retainer means comprising a movable retainer connected to the latch release plunger;
the balls displacing the movable retainer means, as the main plunger nears its actuated position, through an axial clearance distance sufficient to allow the balls to ride along the shoulder away from the first retainer means and into contact with the second retainer means and permitting the latch release plunger to return to its original position, the balls engaging the shoulder to latch the main plunger in its actuated position until the latch release plunger is driven to its latch release position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.