Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In an electrical apparatus comprising a functional element mounted for movement between a rest position and first and second operating positions, said first operating position being spaced further from said rest position than said second operating position, return biasing means for biasing said functional element to said rest position from said first and second operating positions, means for moving said functional element from said rest position to said first operating position, and first electromagnetic holding means for electromagnetically holding said functional element in said first operating position, the improvement comprising: control means for controlling the position of said functional element upon release of said functional element from said first electromagnetic holding means and movement towards said rest position caused by said biasing means, said control means comprising means for exerting a holding force on said functional element smaller than said return bias for holding said functional element in said second operating position for a predetermined limited time, and second electromagnetic holding means for exerting an additional holding force on said functional element within said predetermined limited time for holding said functional element in said second operating position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In an electrical apparatus comprising a functional element mounted for movement between a rest position and first and second operating positions, said first operating position being spaced further from said rest position than said second operating position, return biasing means for biasing said functional element to said rest position from said first and second operating positions, means for moving said functional element from said rest position to said first operating position, and first electromagnetic holding means for electromagnetically holding said functional element in said first operating position, the improvement comprising: control means for controlling the position of said functional element upon release of said functional element from said first electromagnetic holding means and movement towards said rest position caused by said biasing means, said control means comprising means for exerting a holding force on said functional element smaller than said return bias for holding said functional element in said second operating position for a predetermined limited time, and second electromagnetic holding means for exerting an additional holding force on said functional element within said predetermined limited time for holding said functional element in said second operating position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second electromagnetic holding means consist of a single electromagnetic device comprising a field coil and two spaced parallel yokes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
In an electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic device is a holding magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
An electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said control means further comprising: said functional element having a latching nose and a first armature plate coactive with said electromagnetic device for holding said functional element in said first operating position, and a spacing member comprising a second armature plate coactive with said electromagnetic device and a latching pin biasable towards said functional element, said spacing member being arranged such that when said functional element is released from said first operating position upon de-energization of said first electromagnetic holding means and moves towards said rest position, said latching pin holds said functional element in said second position for only said predetermined period of time when said electromagnetic device is not energized, and said latching nose securing said functional element in said second operating position when said electromagnetic device is re-energized within said predetermined time period, said first and second armature plates being attracted by said electromagnetic device in the same direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
In an electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said spacing member is pivotable parallel to the plane of said functional element about a pivot adjacent the electromagnetic device and comprises two latching arms, of which a longer arm carries the second armature plate and a shorter arm carries the latching pin, and a spring member which loads the spacing member towards the electromagnetic device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a chassis carrying the spacing member, and said spring member is a resilient plastic arm bearing on a portion of said chassis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
In an electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the length ratio between said shorter and said longer latching arm is approximately 1:2.5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an electrical apparatus 2 as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic device comprises two superimposed U-shaped yokes and a single field coil for energizing said two yokes, the end faces of the leg ends of the U-shaped yokes comprising armature poles, the armature poles of one U-shaped yoke being positioned for electromagnetically holding said first armature plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
In an electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the armature poles of the second U-shaped yoke have a larger cross-sectional pole area than the armature poles of the first U-shaped yoke.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, comprising means for applying an increased voltage to the electromagnetic device for reducing the time constant of the electromagnetic device during re-energisation of the second armature plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said functional element having a latching nose and a first armature plate coactive with said first electromagnetic holding means for holding said functional element in said first operating position, and a spacing member comprising a second armature plate coactive with said second electromagnetic holding means and a latching pin biasable towards said functional element, said first and second armature plates being attracted by said first and second electromagnetic holding means in the same direction, said spacing member being arranged such that when said functional element is released from said first operating position upon de-energization of said first electromagnetic holding means and moves towards said rest position, said latching pin holds said functional element in said second operating position only for said predetermined period of time when said second electromagnetic holding means is not energized, and said latching nose securing said functional element in said second operating position when said second electromagnetic holding means is re-energized within said predetermined time period.