Claims
- 1. A solenoid for making and breaking a connection between a contact and terminals, the solenoid comprising:
(a) a winding for receiving electric current; (b) a moveable plunger positioned in electromagnetic communication with the winding, movement of the plunger in a first direction causing the connection between the contact and the terminals to be made, and movement of the plunger in a second direction causing the connection between the contact and the terminals to be broken; and (c) an impact device in communication with the contact, the impact device positioned to impact the plunger when the plunger moves in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the terminals.
- 2. The solenoid of claim 1 wherein a contact rod provides the communication between the impact device and the contact.
- 3. The solenoid of claim 2 wherein the impact device is positioned at one end of the contact rod and the contact is positioned at an opposite end of the contact rod.
- 4. The solenoid of claim 3 wherein the impact device is a knob.
- 5. The solenoid of claim 3 wherein the plunger includes a center cavity for receiving the impact device.
- 6. The solenoid of claim 5 wherein the impact device is bounded in the center cavity by a shoulder formed in the plunger and the shoulder defines an axial bore for receiving the contact rod.
- 7. The solenoid of claim 6 wherein the impact device is further bounded in the center cavity by an abutment pin.
- 8. The solenoid of claim 3 wherein the contact is moveably positioned upon the opposite end of the impact device and biased toward the opposite end of the contact rod by a spring.
- 9. A method of breaking the connection between a contact and terminals of a solenoid comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a winding for receiving electric current; (b) providing a moveable plunger positioned in electromagnetic communication with the winding; (c) providing an impact device in communication with the contact; (d) moving the plunger in a first direction to cause the connection between the contact and the terminals to be made; and (e) moving the plunger in a second direction such that the plunger impacts the impact device and thereby breaks the connection between the contact and the terminals.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein a contact rod provides the communication between the impact device and the contact.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the impact device is positioned at one end of the contact rod.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the impact device is a knob.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the plunger includes a center cavity for receiving the impact device.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the impact device is bounded in the center cavity by a shoulder formed in the plunger and the shoulder defines an axial bore for receiving the contact rod.
- 15. The method solenoid of claim 14 wherein the impact device is further bounded in the center cavity by an abutment pin.
- 16. A solenoid for making and breaking a connection between a contact and terminals, the solenoid comprising:
(a) windings for receiving electric current, the windings positioned upon a bobbin; (b) a plunger positioned to slide within the bobbin, the plunger including a center chamber formed axially within the plunger, the center chamber including a shoulder which defines an axial bore extending from the exterior of the plunger to the center chamber, the plunger operable to move in a first direction when electric current is distributed to the windings and the plunger operable to move in a second direction when electric current is removed from the windings; (c) a contact rod slideably engaging the axial bore of the plunger, the plunger having a first end and a second end, one end of the contact rod including a knob positioned within the center chamber of the plunger and the second end of the contact rod supporting the contact, wherein movement of the plunger in the first direction causes the plunger to move the contact rod in the first direction and thereby establish a connection between the contact and the terminals, and movement of the plunger in the second direction causes the shoulder of the plunger to impact the knob of the contact rod to move the contact rod in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the terminals.
- 17. The solenoid of claim 16 wherein the plunger further includes an abutment pin positioned within the plunger, wherein movement of the plunger in the first direction causes the plunger to impact the abutment pin and move the contact rod in the first direction.
- 18. A method of making and breaking a connection between a contact and terminals in a solenoid, the method comprising:
(a) providing windings for receiving electric current, the windings positioned upon a bobbin; (b) providing a plunger positioned to slide within the bobbin, the plunger including a center chamber formed axially within the plunger, the center chamber including a shoulder which defines an axial bore extending from the exterior of the plunger to the center chamber; (c) providing a contact rod slideably engaging the axial bore of the plunger, the plunger having a first end and a second end, one end of the contact rod including a knob positioned within the center chamber of the plunger and the second end of the contact rod supporting the contact; (d) moving the plunger in a first direction further within the bobbin such that the contact rod also moves in the first direction and brings the contact into a connection with the terminals; (e) moving the plunger in a second direction further removed from the bobbin such that the shoulder of the plunger impacts the knob of the contact rod to move the contact rod in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the terminals.
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the plunger further includes an abutment pin positioned within the plunger and the step of moving the plunger in the first direction causes the plunger to impact the abutment pin and move the contact rod in the first direction.
- 20. A solenoid for making and breaking a connection between a contact and terminals, the solenoid comprising:
(a) a winding for receiving electric current; (b) a moveable plunger positioned in electromagnetic communication with the winding, movement of the plunger in a first direction causing the connection between the contact and the terminals to be made, and movement of the plunger in a second direction causing the connection between the contact and the terminals to be broken; and (c) an impact means for moving the contact, the impact means positioned to impact the plunger when the plunger moves in the second direction and thereby break the connection between the contact and the terminals.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/217,756, filed Jul. 12, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60217756 |
Jul 2000 |
US |