Electromagnetic indicator

Claim 2

In combination a two-state electromagnetic indicator and a switch which is closed in one of said states and open in the other of said states; said indicator comprising a permanent magnet mounted for rotation, said magnet being polarized radially of its axis of rotation, an indicator member mounted for rotation with said magnet, said member adapted to indicate one state when said magnet is rotated to one position and the other state when said magnet is rotated to a second position, and electromagnetic means operative to move said magnet from one to the other of said positions; said switch comprising an electrically conductive surface on said magnet and a pair of spaced electrical contact members disposed so as to be engaged and bridged by said conductive surface when said magnet is in said one position and spaced from said conductive surface when said magnet is in said other position, and means supporting each of said contact members, said supporting means including terminals for connecting said contact members to an electrical circuit.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means are resilient and are disposed so as to permit said contact members to move with said magnet through a limited distance as it moves toward or away from said first position.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein a portion of each of said contact members comprises a magnetic material.

Claim 5

A two-state electromagnetic indicator adapted to provide switching in each of its states, said indicator comprising a rotor assembly that includes a permanent magnet and an indicator member, means supporting said rotor assembly for rotational movement between first and second predetermined limit positions, said indicator member adapted to indicate one state in said first limit position and a second state in said second limit position, electromagnetic means energizeable to magnetically influence said magnet to rotate said rotor assembly from one to the other of said limit positions, a first normally open switch comprising contacts adapted to be closed by said magnet when said rotor assembly is in said first limit position, and a second normally open switch comprising contacts adapted to be closed by said magnet when said rotor assembly is in said second position.

Claim 6

A two-state electromagnetic indicator adapted to provide switching in each of its states, said indicator comprising a rotor assembly that includes a permanent magnet and an indicator member, means supporting said rotor assembly for rotational movement between first and second predetermined limit positions, said indicator member adapted to indicate one state in said first limit position and a second state in said second limit position, electromagnetic means energizeable to magnetically influence said magnet to rotate said rotor assembly from one to the other of said limit positions, a first normally open switch comprising contacts adapted to be closed by said magnet when said rotor assembly is in said first limit position, and a second normally open switch comprising contacts adapted to be closed by said magnet when said rotor assembly is in said second position.

Claim 7

A two-state electromagnetic indicator as defined by claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a magnetic core and electrically energizeable means for inducing a magnetic field of selected polarity in said core, and further wherein the ends of said core determine said limit positions.

Claim 8

A two-state electromagnetic indicator as defined by claim 5 wherein the ends of said core are positioned to intercept one end of said magnet.

Claim 9

A two-state indicator as defined by claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a magnetic core and a pair of coils, said core comprising two parallel legs and a base connecting said legs, said coils each disposed in surrounding relation with a different leg of said core, and terminal means for selectively energizing said coils, said coils arranged so that application of an input signal of given polarity to the terminal means of one coil induces a first magnetic field in said core and application of an input signal of the same polarity to the terminal means of the other coil induces in said core a second magnetic field that is opposite to said first magnetic field, said legs disposed so that (a) said magnet is magnetically latched to one leg in said first limit position and magnetically latched to the other leg in said second limit position and (b) said first magnetic field will repel said magnet away from said one leg toward said other leg and said second magnetic field will repel said magnet away from said other leg toward said one leg.

Claim 10

An electromagnetic indicator comprising a magnetic core presenting two spaced pole pieces, a magnet with a north magnetic pole at one end and a south magnetic pole at its opposite end, means rotatably supporting said magnet for rotation on an axis located between its ends, said magnet being rotatable in either direction so that one of its ends can swing into and out of magnetic latching relation with each of said pole pieces, at least a portion of said magnet having an electrically conductive surface, first and second pairs of electrical contact members, said first pair of electrical contact members disposed so as to be engaged and bridged by the conductive surface of said magnet when said magnet is latched to one of said pole pieces, said second pair of contact members disposed so as to be engaged and bridged by the conductive surface of said magnet when said magnet is latched to the other of said pole pieces, and electrically energizeable means adapted to selectively induce first and second magnetic fields of opposite polarity in said core so that one field will force said magnet out of latching relation with said one pole piece and rotate it into latching relation with the other pole piece and the other field will force said magnet out of latching relation with said other pole piece and rotate it into latching relation with said one pole piece, said electrically energizeable means comprising an energizing circuit that includes said first and second pairs of contact members arranged so that said first field is produced only when said first pair of contact members is bridged by said conductive surface and said second field is produced only when said second pair of contact members is bridged by said conductive surface.

Claim 11

An electromagnetic indicator comprising a magnetic core presenting two spaced pole pieces, a magnet with a north magnetic pole at one end and a south magnetic pole at its opposite end, means rotatably supporting said magnet for rotation on an axis located between its ends, said magnet being rotatable in either direction so that one of its ends can swing into and out of magnetic latching relation with each of said pole pieces, at least a portion of said magnet having an electrically conductive surface, first and second pairs of electrical contact members, said first pair of electrical contact members disposed so as to be engaged and bridged by the conductive surface of said magnet when said magnet is latched to one of said pole pieces, said second pair of contact members disposed so as to be engaged and bridged by the conductive surface of said magnet when said magnet is latched to the other of said pole pieces, and electrically energizeable means adapted to selectively induce first and second magnetic fields of opposite polarity in said core so that one field will force said magnet out of latching relation with said one pole piece and rotate it into latching relation with the other pole piece and the other field will force said magnet out of latching relation with said other pole piece and rotate it into latching relation with said one pole piece, said electrically energizeable means comprising an energizing circuit that includes said first and second pairs of contact members arranged so that said first field is produced only when said first pair of contact members is bridged by said conductive surface and said second field is produced only when said second pair of contact members is bridged by said conductive surface.

Claim 12

An indicator as defined by claim 8 wherein said contact members comprise magnetic material and are resiliently mounted so that engagement and disengagement thereof by said magnet is affected by the magnetic attraction of said magnetic material to said magnet.

Claim 13

An electromagnetic indicator as defined by claim 8 wherein said energizeable means comprises a first coil arranged to induce said first field anD a second coil arranged to induce said second field, and further wherein said first and second pairs of contact members are connected in series with said first and second coils respectively.

Claim 14

An electromagnetic indicator comprising a hollow case formed with one end open, a permanent magnet, means rotatably supporting said magnet in said case, an energizeable electromagnet assembly adapted when energized to magnetically influence said magnet to rotate from one to the other of two predetermined limit positions, said electromagnet assembly positioned in said case and including first and second limit stops that determine said first and second limit positions respectively, a portion of said magnet having an electrically conductive surface, a pair of spaced electrically conductive contact members in said case in position to be engaged and bridged by said electrically conductive surface when said magnet is in one of said first and second limit positions, a pair of electrically conductive terminal members connected to said contact members for coupling said contact members to an electrical circuit, means in said case rotatable with said magnet for providing a first indication when said magnet is in said first limit position and a second indication when said magnet is in said second limit position, and means sealing off said open end of said case.

Claim 15

An electromagnetic indicator comprising a hollow case formed with one end open, a permanent magnet, means rotatably supporting said magnet in said case, an energizeable electromagnet assembly adapted when energized to magnetically influence said magnet to rotate from one to the other of two predetermined limit positions, said electromagnet assembly positioned in said case and including first and second limit stops that determine said first and second limit positions respectively, a portion of said magnet having an electrically conductive surface, a pair of spaced electrically conductive contact members in said case in position to be engaged and bridged by said electrically conductive surface when said magnet is in one of said first and second limit positions, a pair of electrically conductive terminal members connected to said contact members for coupling said contact members to an electrical circuit, means in said case rotatable with said magnet for providing a first indication when said magnet is in said first limit position and a second indication when said magnet is in said second limit position, and means sealing off said open end of said case.