Patent ID: 7280019

Claim:
A solenoid comprising: a solenoid housing; a magnetically conductive shell disposed within the solenoid housing and having a single coil of wound wire; a movable magnetic object disposed within a bore of the single coil, the object configured to receive a magnetic force when current is induced in the single coil; a permanent magnet disposed within the solenoid housing and having a fixed polarity that magnetically repels the moveable magnetic object when current is induced in the single coil and magnetically attracts an end of the movable magnetic object when no current is induced in the single coil; a non-magnetic spacer disposed within the solenoid housing and disposed between the permanent magnet and the movable magnetic object; and a return spring operationally connected to bias the movable magnetic object in a return position against the spacer when no current is induced in the single coil and the return spring at least partially disposed outside the solenoid housing.