Patent ID: 7561014

Claim:
A rapid insertion assembly for placing and withdrawing a component to and from a predetermined location, comprising: a shuttle adapted to support the component proximate a first end, and having a second distal end with first and second pieces of magnetic material coupled thereto and spaced apart a predetermined distance; a guide-way supporting the shuttle, permitting the shuttle to move in a first direction between a first IN position where the component lies substantially in the location and a second OUT position where the component does not lie substantially in the location; a base for supporting the guide-way; a third magnetic piece and coil sharing a common magnetic axis, coupled to the base and located between the spaced-apart first and second pieces, so that when the shuttle reaches the IN position the first and third piece are in contact forming a first magnetic latch to releasably hold the shuttle in the IN position and when the shuttle reaches the OUT position the second and third pieces form a second magnetic latch to releasably hold the shuttle in the OUT position, wherein a magnetic pulse created by the coil causes either magnetic latch to release, freeing the shuttle from the IN or OUT position; and one or more springs coupled between the shuttle and the base, the one or more springs storing energy when the shuttle is in either the IN or OUT position, and transferring such stored energy to the shuttle when either magnetic latch is released, thereby causing the shuttle to move to the opposite OUT or IN position.