SWITCH HAVING MAGNETIC LATCHING MEANS

摘要

A rotary switch having separable stationary and movable contacts and a shaft which is rotatable to actuate the movable contacts between two operating positions. A spring biasing means is operatively connected to the shaft to bias the shaft toward a first position corresponding to one of the operating positions of the associated contacts. A lever is mounted on the shaft and carries a magnetic armature which is disposed to engage a stationary magnetic structure having a permanent magnet member in a second position of the shaft which corresponds to the other operating position of the associated contacts to magnetically latch the switch contacts in the latter operating position. An electromagnetic coil is disposed on the stationary magnetic structure and is energizable to release the magnetic armature and the shaft which then actuates the associated contacts under the influence of the spring biasing means to the first-mentioned operating position of said contacts.