Latching solenoid mechanism.

摘要

An internal latching mechanism for a solenoid (10) comprises a cylindrical ball race (54) on the main solenoid plunger (16) with a plurality of balls (55) disposed in aligned apertures in the ball race (54). First and second axially displaced fixed retainers (52, 53), interconnected by a shoulder, (50) define the limits of ball movement in one radial direction for the unactuated and actuated positions of the main plunger (16), and third and fourth axially displaced retainers (75, 60) perform the same function for the opposite radial direction; the fourth retainer (60) is a movable retainer connected to a latch release plunger. When the main solenoid coil (34) is energized to drive the main plunger (16) to its actuated position, the balls (55) displace the fourth retainer (60) enough to allow the balls (55) to move into engagement with the second and fourth retainers (55, 60); when the main coil (34) is de-energized the balls (55) engage the shoulder (50) between the first and second retainers (52, 53) to latch the main plunger (16) in actuated position.