Patent · US Expired

Magnetic actuation of a switching device

US7026898B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
30References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 2004
Grant dateApr 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 18, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H37/56
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A control device including a switch with a ferromagnetic armature moving between a first position and a second position. The armature actuates a plunger that causes the switch to snap from an open position to a closed position. An energy-storing member may be positioned adjacent the ferromagnetic armature, the energy-storing member moving a magnet between an attracting position and a non-attracting position based on a temperature of an environment surrounding the energy-storing member. When the energy-storing member positions the magnet in the attracting position, the magnet causes the armature to snap from the first position to the second position, thereby actuating the plunger and causing the switch to snap from the open position to the closed position. A ferromagnetic backstop may also be positioned adjacent the magnet and coupled to the energy-storing member to hold the magnet and the energy-storing member in the non-attracting position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.