Patent ID: 6133812
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: H01H,H01P

Abstract:
A switching device comprising:a first wire coil formed by a plurality of windings of wire wound around a hollow core;a first plunger rectilinearly slidably mounted within said hollow core for movement between a first plunger first position and a first plunger second position;a first spring for biasing said first plunger in a direction toward said first plunger first position;a stationary magnet located outside of said hollow core for producing a magnetic field; anda first coil plate and a second coil plate spaced apart from one another, said first coil plate and said second coil plate being formed of magnetically permeable material, said first wire coil, said magnet, and at least a portion of said first plunger being located between said first coil plate and said second coil plate,wherein energization of said first wire coil causes said first plunger to move from said first plunger first position to said first plunger second position, and said magnetic field provided by said magnet maintains said first plunger in said first plunger second position after electrical energy is removed from said first wire coil.