Abstract: Provided herein is an improved solenoid electrical switch. In some embodiments, a solenoid electrical switch may include a plunger at least partially disposed in a central aperture of a solenoid for rotation and axial reciprocation between at least two positions into and out of the central aperture relative to a magnetic coupling member. The plunger may include a first component including a main body and a central slot within the main body, and a second component at least partially disposed within the central slot, wherein the second component may include an engagement surface engaged with an inner surface of the central slot.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a support structure; at least one magnet provided on the support structure; a carriage; at least one coil arrangement provided around the carriage; and a spring arrangement operatively connected between the support structure and the carriage to urge the carriage towards a predetermined position relative to the support structure; wherein a part of one of the support structure and the carriage is received by a part of the other of the support structure and carriage so as to constrain motion of the carriage relative to the support structure substantially along a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic lifting armature actuator, in particular for valves, comprises an armature rod which can be shifted in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and a magnetic yoke comprising a first yoke leg and a second yoke leg which is coaxial to the armature rod. A first magnet coil encloses the first yoke leg and a second magnet coil encloses both the second yoke leg and the armature rod. One of the magnet coils is a working and measuring coil which can be selectively used for enhancing the magnetic force or for determining a position of the movable armature rod.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly for a circuit breaker having a clapper with an increased mass is provided. The mass, preferably at least one non-ferrous slug, increases the mass of the clapper so that the solenoid response time is slowed. That is, the added mass creates an inertial delay that slows the solenoid clapper as the clapper moves between the first position and the second position. Preferably, the delay is between 48 ms and 60 ms, and more preferably 50 ms. The clapper having a non-ferrous slug may also be incorporated into existing circuit breakers by, for example, coupling the non-ferrous slug to the preexisting clapper, or replacing the clapper with a clapper assembly having at least one non-ferrous slug thereon.

Abstract: A fast engage, slow release electrical actuator combines an electromagnetic actuator with a thermal actuator, the latter which retains the electromagnetic actuator after the former has been actuated to delay the release thereof.

Abstract: Power tool (10) may include solenoid coil (1) that functions as a drive source for plunger (5). Battery (3) may be connected with solenoid coil (1), battery (3) supplying a current to solenoid coil (1). Solenoid coil (1) may store magnetic energy while current from battery (3) flows through solenoid coil (1). The magnetic energy stored in solenoid coil (1) may be transformed into kinetic energy of plunger (5), whereby plunger (5) being moved from a first position to a second position. The magnetic energy stored in solenoid coil (1) is determined by the current flowing through solenoid coil (1) and has no relationship with the voltage of battery (3). Consequently, sufficient power can be conveyed to plunger (5) even if the voltage of battery (3) is low.

Abstract: Solenoid apparatus having a substantially cylindrical casing, an electro-magnetic coil, a plunger axially aligned and slideably mounted to the casing, a housing hermetically mounted to an end of the casing and a vacuum source operatively coupled to the external port. The plunger has a first end extending outside of the casing, a second end and an internal passage extending from the first end to the second end. The electro-magnetic coil is selectively energizeable for moving the plunger between a first position and a second position. The housing corresponds to the plunger second end to define an inner chamber which encloses the plunger second end. The housing includes an external port connected to the inner chamber so as to provide an unobstructed pathway from the external port to the first end of the plunger via the internal passage and the inner chamber regardless of whether the plunger is in the first position, the second position or therebetween.

Abstract: A solenoid having a controlled rate of motion is provided. The solenoid includes a housing having a channel disposed therein, a coil disposed around the channel for providing an electromagnetic force in response to a current being supplied therethrough, and a plunger disposed within the channel and movable between a first position and a second position in response to the presence or absence of the electromagnetic force. A dampener is linked to the plunger which creates an atmospheric pressure differential as the plunger moves to one or both of the first position or the second position which pressure differential acts to slow the rate of movement of the plunger.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a freezer section and a passage for the flow of ice through the closed freezer section door is provided with a solenoid-like actuator which is effective for quickly opening a related ice dispenser door upon initiation of the flow of ice, and which is effective for relatively slowly closing the related ice dispenser door to thereby assure that further ice will not pass into the passage after the ice dispenser door is closed.

Abstract: A lagged type solenoid capable of carrying out the plunger advancing operation at a speed lower than the plunger retreating operation. For this purpose, the solenoid includes a plunger lagging mechanism, which includes an air discharge passage for discharging air in a plunger moving space to an ambient atmosphere during the plunger advancing operation and an air supply passage for supplying air from the ambient atmosphere to the plunger moving space during the plunger retreating operation which is formed into a sectional area larger than the air discharge passage. The air supply passage is closed by a check valve during the plunger advancing operation. Thus, the plunger advancing operation takes place at a speed lower than the plunger retreating operation.

Abstract: A magnetic circuit breaker has a U-shaped magnetizable plate between the solenoid coil and the plastic spool flange located below the pole piece that is engaged by the armature to trip the breaker. This U-shaped disc diverts some of the instantaneous flux created by an inrush current spike away from the pole piece to prevent premature or "instantaneous" tripping of the breaker until a predetermined multiple of rated current is exceeded. In the preferred embodiment this disc is provided in a slot formed in the plastic spool flange itself.

Abstract: A circuit protecting sensor comprises a cylinder divided into two cylinder members with a common magnetic head interposed between them, one of which members contains a viscous fluid sealed therein and an oil plunger and the other member contains an operating plunger projecting partly out of the cylinder, and the respective plungers are biased by a spring normally away from the magnetic head. When a short-circuit current is detected by a coil wound on the cylinder, the operating plunger is immediately attracted by the magnetic head independently of the oil plunger prior to its attraction to the magnetic head.

Abstract: An electromagnetic circuit breaker comprising a solenoid coil and an armature actuatable by the coil. A tube of nonmagnetic material within which is a movable magnetizable core, the tube having a pole piece at one end toward which the armature is attracted on predetermined overload conditions, the core being biased toward the end of the tube away from the pole piece.An inertial mass is carried by the armature and is pivotally and eccentrically connected to a link at one end. The link has another end pivotally mounted to a fixed support.Thus, when the armature is attracted to the pole piece the inertial mass is caused to rotate at an angular velocity greater than the angular velocity of the armature, so that the current in the coil required to overcome the bias on the armature with substantially no time delay, when the gap between the core and the pole piece is at its maximum, is substantially higher than the current required for a similar device but which omits the inertial mass.

Abstract: A magnetic latch for a clapper type contactor having an electromechanical system comprising an operating coil, a coil core, a magnet frame, and an armature includes a magnetic latch plate. The magnetic latch plate includes a stop portion having a pair of ears mounted on a pivoted contact arm. The stop portion of the latch abuts against the magnet frame before energization of the coil so that a flux path includes the core, the magnet frame, the magnetic latch, the armature and the air gap between the armature and core of the coil.

Abstract: A solenoid electromagnet includes a movable core spaced from a fixed core, a spring urging the movable core away from the fixed core, an operation rod having a plurality of detent projections, a picker having an axially fixed connection with the movable core, and a catch having an axially fixed connection with the fixed core. The operation rod is slidably inserted in the movable core, and the picker as well as the catch is engageable with the detent projections of the rod. The stroke of the movable core causes the picker to push the operation rod by the engagement of the picker with the detent projection. At the same time the catch engages the detent projection to hold the operation rod at its position, thereby enabling successive advancement of the operation rod according to the strokes of the movable core.

Abstract: An electromagnetic solenoid with a yoke defining a hollow cylinder, an electromagnetic coil wound around this cylinder for connection to a power source, a plunger inserted in the cylinder for sliding movement therein when the coil is energized and having a needle-like rod extending through the yoke bottom, the plunger and cylinder each having a confronting surface which is faced with a confronting surface of the other during the sliding movement. A plurality of spaces are formed on the confronting surface of at least either the cylinder or the plunger, and a braking substance consisting of a highly viscous liquid is applied to the confronting surfaces of the plunger and cylinder. Spring means may be operatively provided about the plunger to return the slidingly moved plunger to its original position. Upon energization of the solenoid, the downward movement speed of the plunger is limited by the braking substance.