Patent ID: 7724112
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: H01H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A safety switch, comprising: a housing; a set of electrical contacts located within the housing; a rod, axially moveable within the housing to open and close the set of contacts; a locking mechanism arranged to lock the rod in position relative to the housing, the locking mechanism comprising a rod locking element located adjacent to the rod and engageable with the rod to lock it in position relative to the housing; a solenoid fixed in position relative to the housing; a solenoid plunger slideably mounted in the solenoid, the solenoid plunger being connected to the rod locking element, and being arranged such that moving the solenoid plunger relative to the solenoid actuates the rod locking element; the solenoid plunger being moveable in a first direction and the locking mechanism, being moveable in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; the solenoid plunger being connected to a moveable connecting member by a pivot member pivotable about a pivot point fixed in position relative to the housing, the pivot member being arranged to translate movement of the solenoid plunger in the first direction to movement of the connecting member in the second direction; and a locking member that is moveable relative to the housing in response to a difference in inertia between the locking member and the housing when a force is applied to the housing, the locking member being arranged to inhibit disengagement of the rod locking element from the rod when the force is applied to the housing.