Remote-controlled two-position actuator

Claim 2

A bi-stable electro-mechanical actuator, comprising: a bifurcated guide; a sliding member engaged in said guide; a pair of control elements placed at ends of said bifurcated guide; elastic bias means, urging said sliding member into preferential engagement with one branch of said guide; electro-magnetic selector means, opposing said bias means, urging said sliding member into engagement with other branch of said guide upon energization; drive means for reciprocating said sliding member along said guide; and governing means for setting said drive means into motion and for selectively energizing said selector means, thereby achieving actuation of one of said control elements, upon contact with said sliding member moving along one or other of said branches as determined by energization state of said selector means.

Claim 3

The actuator defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means include an electric motor.

Claim 4

The actuator defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means further comprise at least one eccentric cam, driven by said motor and bearing upon said sliding member, and elastic return means for maintaining positive contact between said cam and the sliding member.

Claim 5

The actuator defined in claim 1, wherein said governing means include a controller whose first actuation procures starting said drive means and energization of said selector means, and whose second actuation de-enrgizes said selector, thereby permitting selective actuation of the control element in said other branch of the guide by a single control signal, or actuation of the control element in said one branch of the guide by a successive pair of control signals applied to said controller.

Claim 6

The actuator defined in claim 4, wherein said signals are generated by a whistle and said controller includes a transducer sensitive to sound frequency of said whistle, amplifying means for electrical signal generated in said transducer and switching means, controlled by output of said amplifying means for starting said drive means and energizing said selector means.

Claim 7

The actuator defined in claim 5, wherein said drive means include an electric motor.

Claim 8

A remote-controlled, two-position, electro-mechanical actuator, governed by electronic transducer means sensitive to audio signals at a pre-selected frequency, comprising: a bifurcated guide; a sliding member engaged in said guide; a pair of control elements placed at ends of said bifurcated guide; elastic bias means, urging said sliding member into preferential engagement with one branch of said guide; an electro-magnetic relay acting on said sliding member and urging it into engagement with other branch of said guide upon energization, in opposition to said bias means; drive means, powered by an electric motor, for reciprocating said sliding member along said guide; and switching means, governed by said transducer means, for setting said electric motor into motion and selectively energizing said electro-magnetic relay, thereby achieving actuation of one of said control elements by the sliding member moving along one or other of said branches as determined by energization state of the relay.

Claim 9

A remote-controlled, two-position, electro-mechanical actuator, governed by electronic transducer means sensitive to audio signals at a pre-selected frequency, comprising: a bifurcated guide; a sliding member engaged in said guide; a pair of control elements placed at ends of said bifurcated guide; elastic bias means, urging said sliding member into preferential engagement with one branch of said guide; an electro-magnetic relay acting on said sliding member and urging it into engagement with other branch of said guide upon energization, in opposition to said bias means; drive means, powered by an electric motor, for reciprocating said sliding member along said guide; and switching means, governed by said transducer means, for setting said electric motor into motion and selectively energizing said electro-magnetic relay, thereby achieving actuation of one of said control elements by the sliding member moving along one or other of said branches as determined by energization state of the relay.

Claim 10

The actuator defined in claim 7, wherein said control elements are electrical switches.

Claim 11

The actuator defined in claim 8, wherein said switches are of the maintained position type.

Claim 12

ThE actuator defined in claim 7, wherein said switching means include a latching relay, which, upon receipt of a first audio signal by said transducer means starts said electric motor and energizes said relay, and upon receipt of a second audio signal by said transducer means de-energizes said relay.