Patent ID: 7408433

Claim:
An electromagnetically actuated, bistable magnetic latching pin lock, said lock comprising: a pin lock moveably mounted for linear movement along a longitudinal axis between a pin extended position and a pin retracted position; a magnet having two pole ends, said magnet mounted for limited rotation about between said pin extended and pin retracted positions; an electromagnet having first and second ends and electromagnetically actuated in one of said pin extended and pin retracted positions to provide one orientation of magnetic field and in the other of said pin extended and said pin retracted positions to provide a second orientation of magnetic field, said second orientation of magnetic field substantially the reverse of the first orientation of magnetic field, wherein actuation of said electromagnet biases said permanent magnet towards a field alignment rotation; a ferromagnetic latch located within the magnetic field of said mounted magnet to latch the magnet into at least one of said pin extended and pin retracted positions in the absence of actuation of said electromagnet; and a mechanical interconnection between said pin lock and said magnet for moving said pin lock from said pin extended position when said magnet is in said pin extended position to said pin retracted position when said magnet is in said pin retracted position, said magnet is located in the magnetic field of said electromagnet and moveable between said magnet pin extended and pin retracted positions in dependence on the orientation of said electromagnet magnetic field.