Of Diverse Magnetic Characteristics (e.g., Permanent Plus Electromagnet) Patents (Class 335/179)
  • Patent number: 8314669
    Abstract: An electromechanical connection system having a current supply device connectable to a current source through current supply contacts. The current supply device has with switching magnets on a magnet carriage. A current collection device has a release magnet and can be electrically connected to a load is connectable to the current supply device. A safety magnet is restored to a rest position by a retaining magnet or a ferromagnetic retaining part if the magnet carriage remains in a live state even if the current collection device is removed to effect short circuit. A non-conducting short-circuit part movably arranged in the current supply device between two short-circuit line parts, holds the safety magnet a distance from the short-circuit line under normal conditions. The non-conducting short-circuit part connects the short-circuit line parts if the magnet carriage does not return responsive to removal of the current collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Axel Botsch
  • Publication number: 20120262257
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for monitoring the state of a protective device (2) of a machine (4) in particular is a safety switch for monitoring the closed state of a protective door or the like. The apparatus (1) has a switch housing (22) with a switch head (24) and an actuator (8). In the closed state of the protective device (2), the actuator interacts with the switch head (24) and, as a result, the closed state of the protective device (2) can be signaled. The apparatus (1) has a tumbler device (20) with a tumbler element (30) mounted movably in the apparatus (1) and by which the closed state of the protective device (2) can be locked releasably. The tumbler device (20) has at least one permanent magnet (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Erik BÄCHLE, Walter LINK
  • Patent number: 8289112
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) monitors a protective device (2) of a machine (4). The apparatus (1) has a switch housing (22) with a switch head (24) and an actuator (8). In the closed state of the protective device (2), the actuator interacts with the switch head (24) with that closed state being signaled. The apparatus (1) has a tumbler device (20) with a tumbler element (30) mounted movably in the apparatus (1) to lock releasably the closed state. The tumbler device (20) has a permanent magnet (34). The magnetic force fixes the tumbler element (30) in a first position when the power supply to the apparatus (1) is switched off to lock the closed state of the protective device (2), in a second position with the tumbler device (20) not locking the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Euchner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Erik Bächle, Walter Link
  • Patent number: 8289111
    Abstract: The electromagnetic contactor enables a reliable return to a pole open position without increasing the spring force of a return spring. In an electromagnetic contactor, an electromagnetic device having an exciting coil and a contact mechanism having a return spring are disposed in parallel, and the electromagnetic device and contact mechanism are linked by a drive lever. The electromagnetic device has a polarized electromagnet having a magnetic circuit that includes a permanent magnet generating a suction force that moves the contact mechanism to a pole open position side when the exciting coil is not energized. The drive lever is fixed to either one of the electromagnetic device or contact mechanism and contacts with the other with no gap at least when the contact mechanism is moved to the pole open position side. The return force of the contact mechanism is covered by the suction force of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naka, Toshikatsu Ohgami, Koji Okubo, Kouetsu Takaya, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8269584
    Abstract: An incorrect-circuit deactivation device of a magnetic GFCI outlet includes an electromagnetic coil seat, a magneto-conductive core driven by the electromagnetic coil seat to displace, and two magnetic elements located on both sides of the magneto-conductive core. The magneto-conductive core is connected to a first electrical conductive end. The first electrical conductive end is positioned to face a second electrical conductive end. Electric power is supplied when the first electrical conductive end is brought into contact with the second electrical conductive end. The electromagnetic coil seat senses a reverse current to make the magneto-conductive core to displace toward one of the magnetic elements when there is a ground fault, thereby departing the first electrical conductive end from the second electrical conductive end to cut off the electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: YFC-Boneagle Electric Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Ming Ku, Chun-Chieh Chen, Yun-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8248194
    Abstract: A disconnect switch includes a case having a movable contact, a stationary contact and a plurality of magnets. The movable contact is adapted to move from a first closed position where it is in physical contact with the stationary contact to a second open position. The magnets are located at predefined locations and in predefined orientations about the axis of movement of the movable contact, whereby upon the movement of the movable contact from the first position to the second open position, a current arc created by the movable contact is extinguished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan A. Fisher, Michael J. Holland
  • Publication number: 20120200377
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) relay includes a switch with a first contact region and a second contact region that are vertically separated from each other by a gap. The MEMS relay requires a small vertical movement to close the gap and therefore is mechanically robust. In addition, the MEMS relay has a small footprint and, therefore, can be formed on top of small integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Dok Won Lee, Peter Johnson, Aditi Dutt Chaudhuri
  • Patent number: 8228146
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for monitoring the state of a protective device (2) of a machine (4) in particular is a safety switch for monitoring the closed state of a protective door or the like. The apparatus (1) has a switch housing (22) with a switch head (24) and an actuator (8). In the closed state of the protective device (2), the actuator interacts with the switch head (24) and, as a result, the closed state of the protective device (2) can be signaled. The apparatus (1) has a tumbler device (20) with a tumbler element (30) mounted movably in the apparatus (1) and by which the closed state of the protective device (2) can be locked releasably. The tumbler device (20) has at least one permanent magnet (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Euchner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Erik Bächle, Walter Link
  • Publication number: 20120182099
    Abstract: A relay comprises a movable body placed in a cavity which is formed on a substrate and surrounded by an enclosing side wall and sealed by a cover layer. The movable body comprises a first magnet which is permanently magnetized and has at least a first end. The enclosing side wall formed by ceramic layers, wherein a coil being formed by providing conductor traces on the ceramic layers and stacking the ceramic layers such that the conductor traces on adjacent ceramic layers are connected head to tail to form a continuous conduction path. When the coil is energized, a magnetic torque is generated on the first magnet to force the first magnet and the movable body to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: MAGVENTION (SUZHOU), LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Shen
  • Patent number: 8222981
    Abstract: An electrical switching device includes first and second circuit assemblies. Each of the first and second circuit assemblies includes a base terminal and a moveable terminal movable between an open state and a closed state. The movable terminal is electrically connected to the base terminal in the closed state. An actuator assembly is electromechanically controlled by a motor. The actuator assembly includes a pivot member rotated by the motor that has a post extending outward from a pivot body. An actuator is moved by the pivot member and is movable between a first position and a second position. The actuator is operatively coupled to the moveable terminals of the first and second circuit assemblies. The actuator moves the movable terminals to the closed state as the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. The actuator has a pocket with a compression spring received in the pocket. The compression spring extends between a first end and a second end. The first end engages the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Thomas Zarbock, Matthew Len Moeller, Garland H. Ladd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8222978
    Abstract: An incorrect-circuit deactivation device of a magnetic GFCI outlet includes an electromagnetic coil seat, a magneto-conductive core driven by the electromagnetic coil seat to displace, and two magnetic elements located on both sides of the magneto-conductive core. The magneto-conductive core is connected to a first electrical conductive end. The first electrical conductive end is positioned to face a second electrical conductive end. Electric power is supplied when the first electrical conductive end is brought into contact with the second electrical conductive end. The electromagnetic coil seat senses a reverse current to make the magneto-conductive core to displace toward one of the magnetic elements when there is a ground fault, thereby departing the first electrical conductive end from the second electrical conductive end to cut off the electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: YFC-Boneagle Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Ming Ku, Chun-Chieh Chen, Yun-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8217741
    Abstract: A switching device is provided. An electromechanical switch controls rotation and/or lateral displacement of a core inside a housing with a magnetic field. The core is magnetically aligned by the magnetic relationship between the core and the housing. An energizing device generates a magnetic field that is sufficiently strong to realign the core with the generated magnetic field. As a result, the core switches to an energized state. When the generated magnetic field is removed, the core switches back to the natural state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Paul D. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120169441
    Abstract: In a switch device in which the main circuit contact sections of the switch device, an insulating rod, a driving rod, a contact pressure spring, an open spring, and an electromagnet are all coaxially arranged, a problem exists in that the axial dimension of the switch device becomes large. The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problem. An object is to obtain an electromagnet device and a switch device using the electromagnet device, in which shortening the axial dimension of the switch device is achieved by arranging the main circuit contact sections of the switch device, the insulating rod, the driving rod, the contact pressure spring, the open spring, and a part of the electromagnet in the same axial range. Particularly, the open spring and the electromagnet are arranged in the same axial region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Taehyun Kim, Tomotaka Yano, Masahiro Arioka
  • Patent number: 8193883
    Abstract: A switching system includes two or more rotary switching mechanisms for selectively moving items. The switching system may be used for switching optical elements, such as filters, into and out of an optical path, for example selectively placing one of a group of available filters into the optical path. Each of the rotary switching mechanisms has a passive torque device, including a mechanical flexure and a magnetic latch, that provides most of the torque for moving an item between a retracted position and an extended position, and vice versa. The passive torque device has a pair of null positions or detents at the retracted and extended positions. A brushless DC motor is used to provide a force to get the passive torque device out of these null positions. Thereafter the passive torque device is able on its own to provide most of the torque for movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Long, Felix T. Sasso
  • Patent number: 8193885
    Abstract: “Electromagnetic spring” characteristics can be obtained in a voice coil actuator by deliberately selecting some or all of geometry, location of the housing, field assembly and coils, and/or magnitude and direction of the current applied to the coils; for example, predetermined bidirectional spring characteristics can be provided by appropriate deliberate selection of the relative dimensions of the housing and field assembly, and the spring characteristics can be further altered though the addition of structures, such as a radially magnetized magnet, or a soft magnetic extension, positioned at an end of the housing, and/or by applying current of a selected magnitude and direction to the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: BEI Sensors And Systems Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Mikhail Godkin
  • Patent number: 8179217
    Abstract: A polar electromagnet device has a drive shaft comprising an axis center supported so as to reciprocate in an axis center direction at a center hole of a spool wound with a coil, and a movable iron core attached to a lower end of the drive shaft on the axis center. The drive shaft is reciprocated with the movable iron core which reciprocates based on excitation and demagnetization of the coil. A permanent magnet is integrally arranged at the movable iron core on the same axis center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Kawaguchi, Kazuchika Hiroki
  • Patent number: 8174343
    Abstract: A relay comprises a movable body placed in a cavity which is formed on a substrate and surrounded by a spacer layer and sealed by a cover layer. The movable body comprises a first magnet which is permanently magnetized and has at least a first end. A nearby switching electromagnet, when energized, produces a switching magnetic field which is primarily perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the first magnet and exerts a magnetic torque on the first magnet to force the first magnet and said movable body to rotate and close an electrical conduction path at the first end. Changing the direction of the electrical current in the switching electromagnet changes the direction of the switching magnetic field and thus the direction of the magnetic torque on the first magnet, and causes the first magnet and said movable body to rotate in an opposite direction and opens the electrical conduction path at the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Magvention (Suzhou) Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Shen
  • Patent number: 8169282
    Abstract: A switch and an electronic device maintain a power supply ON state until data processing is completed, and automatically turn OFF the power supply after the data processing is completed. The switch includes a rotation operating body that does not receive an operation force from an operating element when OFF operated is arranged inside the operating element. The rotation operating body includes a switch operating portion for turning ON a power supply switch mechanism and a return spring regulating piece for biasing a return spring in an anti-biasing direction. A regulating state of the return spring regulated by the return spring regulating piece is held, where the ON state of the power supply switch mechanism is held with a permanent magnet, and the ON state of the power supply switch mechanism is released by applying a release force on the permanent magnet when the power supply is reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kiyono, Toshihiro Naruo
  • Patent number: 8169284
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator including an actuating member associated with an armature and able to move under the action of at least one electromagnet, a coil, and a core suitable for channeling a flux of the coil so that the flux closes within the armature, where the core includes a base from which branches extend, including a central branch around which the coil extends, and two permanent magnets which are associated with the core. The two permanent magnets are placed in the central branch of the core in order to form a V, which separates the central branch into two parts so that any section of the core or the armature through which the flux from one or the other of the permanent magnets can pass, has an area large enough to prevent saturation by this flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Valco Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventor: Emmanuel Talon
  • Patent number: 8143978
    Abstract: An electromechanical relay employing a movable first magnet and a nearby switching electromagnet is disclosed. The movable first magnet is permanently magnetized with a magnetic moment and has at least a first end. The switching electromagnet, when energized, produces a switching magnetic field which is primarily perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the first movable magnet and exerts a magnetic torque on the first magnet to force the first magnet to rotate and closes an electrical conduction path at the first end. Changing the direction of the electrical current in the switching electromagnet changes the direction of the switching magnetic field and thus the direction of the magnetic torque on the first magnet, and causes the first magnet to rotate in an opposite direction and opens the electrical conduction path at the first end. Multiple magnetic layers can be arranged to form closed magnetic circuits to facilitate switching and maintaining switched states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Magvention (Suzhou), Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Shen
  • Patent number: 8013695
    Abstract: A magnetic circuit includes a stationary iron core, a permanent magnet, and an armature, in a circular pattern. A contact mechanism spring separates the armature from the stationary iron core to open the magnetic circuit to switch a contact mechanism to a reset position. A coil on the magnetic circuit generates a magnetic flux in a direction same as that of the permanent magnet when an overload is detected and in an opposite direction when a predetermined time is elapsed after detecting the overload. A reset bar switches a movable stopper between an engaging position and a non-engaging position with the contact mechanism against a biasing force of the contact mechanism spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichirou Suzuki, Sadaaki Baba, Tomoyuki Kamiyama, Tsuyoshi Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20110193663
    Abstract: A redundant non-contact switch reports a status as closed or open for a first member and a second member that move relative to each other between an open state and a closed state. In some embodiments, the redundant non-contact switch includes a wireless authentication (WA) pair and a magnetic pair. The WA pair may include a WA responder attached to one of the first member and the second member, and a WA interrogator attached to the other of the first member and the second member. The WA pair may be configured to register a WA status of closed or open, depending on a WA authentication between the WA responder and the WA interrogator. The magnetic pair may include a magnet attached to one of the first member and the second member, and a magnet sensor attached to the other of the first member and the second member. The magnetic pair may be configured to register a magnetic status of closed or open, depending on whether a magnet distance between the magnet and magnet sensor is beyond a threshold magnet distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Andy Peczalski, Gangi Reddy Rajula
  • Patent number: 7990239
    Abstract: At least one electrical contactor is provided that includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. The fixed contact includes a center leg and first and second arms that extend in opposite directions from the center leg. The movable contact associated with each fixed contact includes first and second blades positioned on opposite sides of the center leg. The first and second blades extend parallel to the center leg of the fixed contact such that when current flows through the electrical contactor, the current flow creates a force to push the first and second blades into the first and second arms of the fixed contact. The electrical contactor includes an actuating arrangement having a pair of cam members. The movement of the cam members causes pegs on each of the first and second blades to travel within the cam channel, thus opening and closing the contactor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Brown, William R. Mazza, Jr., Oliver Burstall, Alan Syrop
  • Patent number: 7982567
    Abstract: An actuator comprising: a fixed part comprising a ferromagnetic yoke and a magnetized assembly mounted on a face of the yoke and extending substantially over the whole dimension of said face parallel to the axis of movement of a moving part, the moving part comprising a ferromagnetic element comprising a first air-gap surface to form a magnetic air-gap of variable thickness and a second air-gap surface parallel to the axis of movement to form a residual magnetic air-gap of constant thickness with a corresponding air-gap surface of the magnetized assembly. an excitation coil. An electric switch apparatus equipped with the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Christophe Cartier Millon, Christian Bataille, Philippe Pruvost
  • Patent number: 7965161
    Abstract: A device (1) suitable for moving a body (2) along a linear path (F) between two predetermined positions, and comprising: first and second electromagnets (5, 8) respectively having first and second moving cores (6, 9) that are secured to the body and that are arranged to have axes of action (7, 10) on the body that are parallel to the path (F), and a permanent magnet (11) associated functionally with the first core (6) and disposed to co-operate magnetically and functionally therewith when the body finds itself in its first position, and preferably return means (13) that are associated with the body so as to urge it back from the second position to the first position when the second electromagnet (8) is not excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventor: Sylvain Roche
  • Patent number: 7924124
    Abstract: Electrical switching device, especially a high-frequency switching device, with at least one oblong electrical switching element, which is arranged with one contact end between two fixed-contact elements spaced a transverse distance from one another and can be moved by two adjustment elements forming a transverse movement drive transversely to a longitudinal direction optionally towards the one or the other fixed-contact element. The adjustment elements are disposed laterally alongside the switching element and can be moved transversely to and from the switching element. In order to improve the transverse movement drive for the switching element, the switching element-comprises magnetic material, wherein the adjustment elements are formed by magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Leipold, Helmut Hingrainer, Alexander Bayer
  • Patent number: 7911304
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay has a movable iron core, an insulation holder integrated with an upper end portion of the movable iron core, a movable contact piece supported by the insulation holder, and a solenoid formed from a wound coil. The movable iron core is housed in an axial hole in the solenoid movably in the upward and downward directions. The movable iron core is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly based on magnetization and demagnetization of the solenoid for contacting and separating a movable contact point provided on the movable contact piece with and from a fixed contact point for opening and closing a contact point. A permanent magnet is embedded in a base portion of the insulation holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Yano, Masayuki Noda, Hiroshi Ono, Hiroyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 7911303
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a vacuum valve, an electromagnet including a first coil for driving an operating shaft of the vacuum valve toward an opening direction by electromagnetic repulsion, a movable core and a permanent magnet. Further, an operating mechanism is provided which excites the first coil to close the vacuum valve, holds the vacuum valve closed by an attractive force of the permanent magnet and excites the first coil in a direction reverse to an excitation direction in closing operation to open the vacuum valve. In the circuit breaker, together with the first coil, a second coil is disposed which is excited simultaneously with an electromagnetic repulsion coil for a quick opening operation by electromagnetic repulsion is provided in the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Morita, Minoru Hosoda, Yoshihiko Matsuda, Masato Suzuki, Keiichi Miyashita, Shigetoshi Oouchi, Masaaki Saitou, Akihito Yano
  • Patent number: 7843289
    Abstract: An improved electromechanical switch designed to operate at frequencies from DC through microwave has terminal probe tips that are formed from an alloy of noble metal and contoured with a pattern of peaks and valleys in order to provide better contact wiping operation and capture of wear debris. The switch incorporates damper elements to reduce switching contact bounce, thus providing increased contact life as well as higher quality signal switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Scientific Components Corporation
    Inventors: Aron Raklyar, Gennady Simkin, Efim Polishchuk
  • Patent number: 7817001
    Abstract: In actuating devices such as, e.g., multifunctional actuators, it is necessary in many cases to block at least one specific direction of movement. A simple and reliably operating device is proposed for this purpose, which uses an electromagnet to bring a ball from a rest position into a blocking position. In the blocking position, the ball mechanically blocks the relative movement between two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Publication number: 20100231333
    Abstract: A double-pole-double-throw (DPDT) electromechanical relay employing a movable first magnet and a nearby third electromagnet is disclosed. The movable first magnet is permanently magnetized with a magnetic moment and has at least a first end and a second end. The third electromagnet, when energized, produces a third magnetic field which is primarily perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the first movable magnet and exerts a magnetic torque on the first magnet to force the first magnet to rotate and closes electrical conduction paths at the first end. Changing the direction of the electrical current in the third electromagnet changes the direction of the third magnetic field and thus the direction of the magnetic torque on the first magnet, and causes the first magnet to rotate in an opposite direction and opens the electrical conduction path at the first end and closes the electrical conduction paths at the second end. Latching, non-latching types, and various forms (normally open or closed, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Jun Shen
  • Patent number: 7733202
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switching device is disclosed with an electromagnet and a movable magnet armature, which is mounted in the switching device with a resetting force, which counteracts the closing force, is different than zero in an OPEN position and is formed at least partially by a magnet arrangement with at least one permanent magnet. The magnet arrangement is arranged fixed in position in the switching device outside the magnetic circuit formed from the electromagnet and the magnet armature, and whose resetting force, which acts on the magnet armature, is at a maximum in the OPEN position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Feil, Andreas Krätzschmar, Reinhard Maier, Bernd Trautmann
  • Patent number: 7726297
    Abstract: In order to simplify and reduce the production costs of a push-button switch, especially a push switch or a rocker switch, the switch has a time function, which is manually operated and can be reset by an electric pulse. The electromechanical rocker or push-button switch can be combined to form a device block switch with other rocker or push-button switches as usually used in exhauster hoods. As a result, time-controlled intensive and follow-up steps can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Egon Feisthammel, Dieter Rosmann
  • Patent number: 7696846
    Abstract: A drive solenoid, a yoke, an armature and at least one contact are mounted in a housing of an electromagnetic switching device. The drive solenoid, yoke and armature are inductively intercoupled, in such a way that when an inrush current is applied to the drive solenoid, the armature can be displaced into a pickup position, thus directly or indirectly actuating the contact. The yoke and/or armature contain(s) pulverulent magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Maier, Erich Zerbian
  • Patent number: 7663457
    Abstract: Magnetically latching and releasing a voice coil actuator for controlling electrical switchgear. The voice coil actuator includes a voice coil magnet disposed on a common longitudinal axis with respect to a voice coil assembly. A coil of the voice coil assembly exerts a magnetic force on the voice coil assembly, thrusting the voice coil assembly towards the voice coil magnet. At least one pair of latching members mounted to the voice coil assembly creates a permanent magnet circuit between the latching members and the voice coil magnet. The permanent magnet circuit maintains the position of the voice coil assembly relative to the voice coil magnet, even when power to the coil is removed. This latch can be released by applying a current in the coil or by applying an external, physical force to a member coupled to the voice coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Bela Peter Szeifert, Michael Peter Dunk
  • Patent number: 7598830
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coil apparatus includes a ferrous coil frame having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A coil assembly includes a conduit, a number of coils within the ferrous coil frame and being disposed on the conduit, and a ferrous plunger movable in the conduit. A first ferrous heel member is disposed proximate the first end of the ferrous coil frame. A second ferrous top plate member has an opening and is disposed proximate the second end of the ferrous coil frame. A magnetic flux enhancer is external to the conduit and is at least partially external to the ferrous coil frame. The magnetic flux enhancer includes a ferrous conduit coupled to the second ferrous top plate member and cooperates with the opening thereof to form a passageway. A portion of the ferrous plunger of the coil assembly passes through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erik R. Bogdon, Thomas A. Whitaker, Mark A. Juds
  • Patent number: 7595710
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly includes a magnetic latch solenoid for actuating a moveable contact of a contact pair. The magnetic latch solenoid includes a magnet that latches the contact assembly in an open position, and a coil that moves an armature to the latched position under current in one polarity, and disrupts the permanent magnet field to release the armature from the latched position under current in a reverse polarity. A spring biases the contacts to the closed position. The spring is separate from the magnetic latch solenoid. The contact assembly may also include a printed circuit board for providing pulses to the coil to operate the assembly. The contact assembly is part of a remote operated circuit breaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: John DeBoer, Brian Timothy McCoy
  • Publication number: 20090231070
    Abstract: A relay includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic circuit. The permanent magnet is disposed between a pair of electromagnets. The pair of the electromagnets is formed by winding coils around body portions of spools. Each spool has flanges integrally formed on both upper and lower end portions thereof. The magnetic circuit is formed by a yoke spanning the spools and the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is held by the upper and lower flanges of a pair of the spools that are juxtaposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yojiro Saruwatari, Masanori Nakamura, Tatsuo Shinoura, Akira Ota
  • Patent number: 7564333
    Abstract: A magnetic separator with permanent magnets includes a ferromagnetic member (2) for the circuit connection between at least two magnetic poles (3C) made up of ferrite magnets (12) in the bottom portion in contact with said ferromagnetic member (2) for the circuit connection, and of rare earth magnets (13) in the top portion that represents the entrance/exit surface (14) of the magnetic flux lines (15, 16). The ratio between the effective magnetic length of the ferrite magnets (12) and of the rare earth magnets (13) is preferably 2:1, and the preferred materials are strontium ferrite for the former and iron-boron-neodymium for the latter. In this way it is possible to combine the magnetic characteristics of the two types of permanent magnets so as to make them complementary and thus enhance the attractive effectiveness of the separator both for ferromagnetic materials with high or low shape factor, and for materials with high or low and sometimes very low permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: SGM Gantry S.p.A.
    Inventor: Danilo Molteni
  • Patent number: 7557681
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus accessory sub-assembly is for an electromagnetic coil including a movable stem. The electrical switching apparatus accessory sub-assembly includes a coil frame having a first end and an opposite second end. A housing includes a plurality of interior surfaces, a first end and an opposite second end. The second end of the housing has an opening structured to receive the movable stem of the electromagnetic coil. A number of the interior surfaces of the housing are structured to selectively hold the coil frame in either one of a first position in which the coil frame first end faces the housing first end and the coil frame second end faces the housing second end, and a second position in which the coil frame first end faces the housing second end and the coil frame second end faces the housing first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Erik R. Bogdon
  • Publication number: 20090167471
    Abstract: A magnetic latch for switches is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naveen Samuel Jesuraj, V. Palanisamy, Karl L. Kitts, Bernard Victor Bush
  • Publication number: 20090167470
    Abstract: Electric switch which comprises a general structure (11), in which there is use of coils (1) enabled with alternated and rectified DC current, which are combined with the permanent magnets (2), being that the coils (1) and magnets (2) are set up in parallel in a fixed core (3), made of steel or ferrite plates, which is made up of a crown (4), on which the coils (1) are set up, legs (5) through which circulate the magnetic flows induced by the coils (1) as well as the magnetic flows from the permanent magnets (2); the coils (1) being supplied through a supply line (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Oscar Rolando Avila Cusicanqui, Jose Carlos Tinoco Soares, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7495535
    Abstract: A magnet system for a bi-stable relay includes a coil, first and second core yoke members, and an armature. The coil has a first polarity state and a second polarity state. Each of the first and second core yoke members has a core arm and a yoke arm. Each of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members has a pole face. The armature has substantially parallel armature core arms separated by a permanent magnet. The armature is pivotally mounted in an air gap between the pole faces of the yoke arms of the first and second core yoke members such that the armature core arms contact the yoke arms in a first switch position corresponding to the first polarity state and in a second switch position corresponding to the second polarity state. The armature core arms are arranged substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Mikl
  • Patent number: 7468646
    Abstract: A bi-stable magnetic switch assembly is provided that comprises a stator and a rotor, which is configured for rotation with respect to the stator between a first latched position and a second latched position. The stator and the rotor cooperate to form a first magnetic path and a magnetic path having a shared portion. A spring, which is coupled to the rotor, biases the rotor toward the first and second latched positions when the rotor is in the second and first latched positions, respectively. At least one magnet is fixedly coupled to either the stator or the rotor. The magnet is included within the first magnetic path and configured to produce a magnetic latching force that biases the rotor toward first latched position when the rotor is closer to the first latched position than to the second latched position, and toward the second latched position when the rotor is closer to the second latched position than to the first latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Osterberg
  • Patent number: 7330091
    Abstract: An electronic type protective relay integrates the mechanical structure into a single operation rod to protect electric machinery. The electronic type protective relay includes an insulating shell, a tripping rod, a magnetic-force device and an operation device. The tripping rod is pivoted in the inner part of the insulating shell and conducts two pairs of connection pins. The tripping rod includes a control magnetic core. The magnetic-force device includes a tripping electromagnet, a reset electromagnet, and a permanent magnet installed between the tripping electromagnet and the reset electromagnet. The operation device includes an auxiliary rod located on one side of the tripping rod, an operation rod installed between the tripping rod and the auxiliary rod and protruding beyond the insulating shell. The operation rod can be located at four locations and in cooperation with the auxiliary rod to stop or reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Teco Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seng-Wen Peng, Fong-Jhou Chen
  • Patent number: 7283027
    Abstract: Switching device comprising a contact block having a fixed part connected to at least one electric terminal and having at least one electric contact zone able to be in contact with a contact zone of a movable part, an actuating device enabling the movable part to be moved from a closed position to an open position of said contact zones. The fixed part comprises two bases. The actuating device is formed by at least one electric coil placed between the bases. The movable part comprises a magnet able to move between two stable positions. The magnet comprises an electric contact zone electrically connected to a first electric terminal and able to be electrically in contact with contact zones connected to a second electric terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Batteux, Oleg Garelli
  • Patent number: 7236071
    Abstract: A medium voltage vacuum contactor comprising for each pole, a vacuum envelope which contains a fixed contact and a corresponding movable contact; and actuating means providing the energy required to move the movable contacts, characterized in that said actuating means comprise an electromagnetic actuator having: a magnetic yoke which has an inner cavity communicating with the outside through at least a first opening; at least one coil accommodated in the cavity; a movable armature which is operatively connected to at least one movable contact through coupling means, and is mounted axially displaceable in the cavity with at least one end protruding from the first opening; at least one permanent magnet devoted to directly hold the movable armature in two stable positions. Further, there are provided means for guiding the movement of the movable armature which are positioned outside the yoke in correspondence of at least the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Osvaldo Prestini, Alberto Zulati
  • Patent number: 7233220
    Abstract: The electrical switching device comprises at least a first part comprising at least a first magnetizable element and a first contact zone associated with said first magnetizable element, and at least a second movable part comprising at least a second magnetic element and a second contact zone associated with said second magnetic element. The first or second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetization part to keep the first electrical contact closed and to exert a contact pressure between the first and second contact zones when the movable part is in a first stable position. The electromagnetic relay and/or electrical apparatus comprise electrical contact inputs and control inputs connected to a switching device comprising electromagnetic control coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Pierre Batteux
  • Patent number: 7170375
    Abstract: A permanent-magnet ground fault circuit interrupter plug with self-diagnosing function having an enclosure and a permanent-magnet mechanism encased in the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: General Protecht Group Inc.
    Inventors: Wusheng Chen, Yong Dai, Xiaoyong Li
  • Patent number: 7138894
    Abstract: An electromagnetic breaker includes a housing (10) having two conductors (30, 31), and a slidable conductor (40) slidably disposed in the housing (10) and movable to engage with the conductors (30, 31) and to electrically couple the conductors (30, 31) together. An electromagnetic device (2) may selectively force the slidable conductor (40) toward and away from the conductors (30, 31). The slidable conductor (40) includes a magnetic member (44), the electromagnetic device (2) includes a core for acting with the magnetic member (44). A spring device (14) may bias the conductors (30, 31) toward the slidable conductor (40). Another spring device (47) may bias the slidable conductor (40) away from the conductors (30, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: Mei-Ling Lo