Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In a switch, a contact member, a movably mounted second contact member, an electromagnet, an armature supported for movement from inactive position toward the electromagnet, a permanent magnet positioned to act on a portion of the armature to releasably maintain the armature in inactive position, biasing means normally urging the armature to a position where it engages said permanent magnet, manually operable contact moving means for causing movement of the second contact member into engagement with the first contact member and for causing manually initiated breaking of the magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet and armature and movement of the armature part way toward the electromagnet, and means including an electric circuit which includes said contact members whereby the electromagnet is energized when the contact members are thus engaged to magnetically move the armature the rest of the way toward the electromagnet and to maintain the contact members in closed condition as long as the electromagnet is thus energized, the permanent magnet being of such strength relative to the strength of the electromagnet, when the armature is in inactive position, that the armature is retained in such inactive position unless the manually operable contact moving means is manually operated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a switch, a contact member, a movably mounted second contact member, an electromagnet, an armature supported for movement from inactive position toward the electromagnet, a permanent magnet positioned to act on a portion of the armature to releasably maintain the armature in inactive position, biasing means normally urging the armature to a position where it engages said permanent magnet, manually operable contact moving means for causing movement of the second contact member into engagement with the first contact member and for causing manually initiated breaking of the magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet and armature and movement of the armature part way toward the electromagnet, and means including an electric circuit which includes said contact members whereby the electromagnet is energized when the contact members are thus engaged to magnetically move the armature the rest of the way toward the electromagnet and to maintain the contact members in closed condition as long as the electromagnet is thus energized, the permanent magnet being of such strength relative to the strength of the electromagnet, when the armature is in inactive position, that the armature is retained in such inactive position unless the manually operable contact moving means is manually operated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the armature is pivotally supported in unbalanced condition, in which there is a housing for the switch having a wall portion spaced from the electromagnet, in which the armature is so pivoted that an end is movable between said wall and the electromagnet, in which the biasing means normally urges said armature toward said wall, and in which the permanent magnet is mounted on said wall in such a position that it forms a seat for an end of the armature when the latter is in inactive position, said armature end extending transversely of the permanent magnet and the latter being arranged and positioned to provide a closed magnetic circuit without air gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the manually operable contact moving means engages the armature between its pivotal support and said permanent magnet.