Self-energized magnetic keys

Claim 2

A snap action, magnetic flux reversing, key actuator mechanism, comprising: a housing; a plunger mounted in said housing for sliding reciprocal movement between a first and a second position therein; means connected to said plunger for applying a motive force thereto to move said plunger from said first to said second position; a doubly polarized, permanently magnetized, annular ring magnet means having 180* opposed diametral flux fields, said fields being directed in an opposed sense relative to one another across the opening of said magnet and parallel to the faces thereof; said magnet means being connected to said plunger means for movement thereby between said first and second positions; a first, suddenly yieldable restraint means in said housing and located at said first position for yieldably restraining and suddenly releasing movement of said magnet means from said first position under the impetus of said plunger when moving in the direction of said second position; and support means in said housing having a surface located between said first and second positions and in axial alignment with the aperture of said magnet means for supporting apparatus at an altitude to be within first one of said opposed diametral flux fields of said magnet means, and then the other of said opposed diametral flux fields, and inside the periphery of said annulus of said magnet means, when said magnet means is moved from said first to said second position, thereby exposing said supported apparatus to a 180* flux reversal along a plane located at said altitude maintained by said support means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising: a lost motion connection for connecting said magnet means to said plunger so as to allow a limited degree of motion by said plunger without moving said magnet means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as described in claim 2, further comprising: a resilient energy storage and release means located between said plunger and said magnet means for absorbing the energy expended in moving said plunger through the independent travel thereof which is permitted by said lost motion connection, and for releasing said energy in a sudden snapping motion when said first suddenly yieldable restraint means reLeases said magnet means, thereby to impel said magnet rapidly towards said second position.

Claim 5

Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: said first restraint means comprises a ferromagnetic keeper means affixed to said housing at said first position for restraining said magnet means by magnetic attraction therebetween and for shunting the one of said two opposed diametral flux fields of said magnet means on the surface closest thereto.

Claim 6

Apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising: a second suddenly yieldable restraint means in said housing, located in proximity to said second position for yieldably restraining and suddenly releasing movement of said magnet means under the impetus of said plunger moving in the direction of said first position.

Claim 7

Apparatus as described in claim 5, further including: a resilient spring biasing means operatively engaged with said plunger and with said housing for resiliently biasing said plunger toward said first position.

Claim 8

Apparatus as described in claim 6, further comprising: a lost motion connection for connecting said magnet means to said plunger so as to allow a limited degree of motion by said plunger without moving said magnet means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as described in claim 7, further comprising: a resilient energy storage and release means located between said plunger and said magnet means for absorbing the energy expended in moving said plunger through the independent travel thereof which is permitted by said lost motion connection, and for releasing said energy in a sudden snapping motion when said first suddenly yieldable restraint means releases said magnet means, thereby to impel said magnet rapidly towards said second position.

Claim 10

Apparatus as described in claim 5, further comprising: a lost motion connection for connecting said magnet means to said plunger so as to allow a limited degree of motion by said plunger without moving said magnet means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as described in claim 9, further comprising: a resilient energy storage and release means located between said plunger and said magnet means for absorbing the energy expended in moving said plunger through the independent travel thereof which is permitted by said lost motion connection, and for releasing said energy in a sudden snapping motion when said first suddenly yieldable restraint means releases said magnet means, thereby to impel said magnet rapidly towards said second position.

Claim 12

Apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising: a lost motion connection for connecting said magnet means to said plunger so as to allow a limited degree of motion by said plunger without moving said magnet means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as described in claim 11, further comprising: a resilient energy storage and release means located between said plunger and said magnet means for absorbing the energy expended in moving said plunger through the independent travel thereof which is permitted by said lost motion connection, and for releasing said energy in a sudden snapping motion when said first suddenly yieldable restraint means releases said magnet means, thereby to impel said magnet rapidly towards said second position.

Claim 14

A self-energizing data encoding key apparatus, comprising: a housing; a plunger mounted in said housing for sliding reciprocal movement between a first and a second position therein; means connected to said plunger for applying a motive force thereto to move said plunger from said first to said second position; a doubly polarized, permanently magnetized, annular ring magnet means having 180* opposed diametral flux fields, said fields for creating said opposite fields separate from one another across the opening of said magnet and directed parallel to the faces thereof; said magnet means being connected to said plunger means for movement thereby between said first and second positions; a first, suddenly yieldablE restraint means in said housing and located at said first position for yieldably restraining and suddenly releasing movement of said magnet means from said first position under the impetus of said plunger when moving in the direction of said second position; and support means in said housing having a surface located between said first and second positions and in axial alignment with the aperture of said magnet means for supporting apparatus at an altitude to be within first one of said opposed diametral flux fields of said magnet means, and then the other of said opposed diametral flux fields, and inside the periphery of said annulus of said magnet means, when said magnet means is moved from said first to said second position, thereby exposing said supproted apparatus to a 180* flux reversal along a plane located at said altitude maintained by said support means; a flux sensitive magnetic sensor for generating electrical signals when subjected to changing magnetic flux fields; and said sensor being located on said support means so as to be exposed to said 180* opposed diametral flux fields of said doubly polarized magnet means during the motion thereof between said first and second positions.

Claim 15

A self-energizing data encoding key apparatus, comprising: a housing; a plunger mounted in said housing for sliding reciprocal movement between a first and a second position therein; means connected to said plunger for applying a motive force thereto to move said plunger from said first to said second position; a doubly polarized, permanently magnetized, annular ring magnet means having 180* opposed diametral flux fields, said fields for creating said opposite fields separate from one another across the opening of said magnet and directed parallel to the faces thereof; said magnet means being connected to said plunger means for movement thereby between said first and second positions; a first, suddenly yieldablE restraint means in said housing and located at said first position for yieldably restraining and suddenly releasing movement of said magnet means from said first position under the impetus of said plunger when moving in the direction of said second position; and support means in said housing having a surface located between said first and second positions and in axial alignment with the aperture of said magnet means for supporting apparatus at an altitude to be within first one of said opposed diametral flux fields of said magnet means, and then the other of said opposed diametral flux fields, and inside the periphery of said annulus of said magnet means, when said magnet means is moved from said first to said second position, thereby exposing said supproted apparatus to a 180* flux reversal along a plane located at said altitude maintained by said support means; a flux sensitive magnetic sensor for generating electrical signals when subjected to changing magnetic flux fields; and said sensor being located on said support means so as to be exposed to said 180* opposed diametral flux fields of said doubly polarized magnet means during the motion thereof between said first and second positions.

Claim 16

Apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein: said sensor comprises a switchable polarity, magnetically coupled pair of permanent magnets; said magnets being separated by a conductive, nonmagnetic barrier; said magnets being so magnetized as to assume an opposed field vector relationship to one another in the absence of other external magnetic fields, said vectors being switchable to a parallel state upon being subjected to an external magnetic flux field of the proper intensity and direction; said first permanent magnet being overlain by said non-magnetic barrier layer; and said second permanent magnet overlying said barrier layer; and at least one inductive pickup electrical signal producing means adjacent to said magnetically coupled pair of magnets and oriented to be subjected to the switching magnetic field vector of said pair when said switching action of the magnetic vectors occurs in response to said external magnetic flux field, for generating an electrical data signal indicative of the switching taking place.