Magnetic control devices for enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9728358-B2
Application number	US-201615149363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2016
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A control device for an enclosure is disclosed, where the control device includes a first portion positioned proximate to a back side of an enclosure surface of the enclosure, and a second portion positioned proximate to a front side of the enclosure surface. The first portion can include a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is adjacent to the enclosure surface. The first portion can also include a first magnet having a first polarity and disposed at the proximal end of the plunger. The first portion can further include at least one contact in communication with the distal end of the plunger, where the at least one contact has a first state and a second state. The second portion can include a second magnet having a second polarity, where the second magnet has an engaged position and a disengaged position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for an enclosure, the control device comprising:
a first portion positioned proximate to a back side of an enclosure surface of the enclosure, wherein the first portion comprises:
a plunger comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger has a first position toward the enclosure surface and a second position away from the enclosure surface, and wherein the proximal end is adjacent to the enclosure surface;
a first magnet having a first polarity and disposed at the proximal end of the plunger; and
at least one contact in communication with the distal end of the plunger, wherein the at least one contact has a first state and a second state; and

a second portion positioned on a front side of the enclosure surface opposite the first portion on the back side of the enclosure, wherein the second portion comprises:
a receiving feature positioned on the front side of the enclosure surface; and
a second magnet removably disposed within the receiving feature, wherein the second magnet has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side has the first polarity, wherein the second side has a second polarity that opposes the first polarity, wherein the second magnet is in an engaged position when the first side is positioned proximate to the front side of the enclosure surface, and wherein the second magnet is in a disengaged position when the second side is positioned proximate to the front side of the enclosure surface,

wherein the second magnet, when in the engaged position, generates a first magnetic force with the first magnet, wherein the first magnetic force moves the plunger to force the contact into the first state, and
wherein the second magnet, when in the disengaged position, generates a second magnetic force, wherein the second magnetic force moves the plunger to force the contact into the second state.

2. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the second magnet, in the engaged position, pulls the plunger into the first position, and wherein the second magnet, in the disengaged position, repels the plunger to a default position.

3. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the default position is the second position.

4. The control device of claim 3 , wherein the second magnet, in the engaged position, pushes the plunger to the second position, and wherein the second magnet, in the disengaged position, releases the plunger to a default position.

5. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the receiving feature comprises a recessed area in the front side of the enclosure surface.

6. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the receiving feature comprises a collar disposed on the front side of the enclosure surface.

7. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the second magnet is flipped between the first side and the second side relative to the receiving feature.

8. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the first state of the at least one contact closes the at least one contact, and wherein the second state of the at least one contact opens the at least one contact.

9. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises:
a housing mechanically coupled to the back side of the enclosure surface, wherein the plunger, the first magnet, and the at least one contact are disposed within the housing.

10. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises:
a resilient device disposed on the proximal end of the plunger, wherein the resilient device maintains the plunger in the second position absent a greater force directing the plunger toward the first position.

11. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is an explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the explosion-proof enclosure has at least one joint that forms a flame path, wherein the at least one joint is located away from the first portion and the second portion of the control device.

12. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises at least one contact arm disposed at the distal end of the plunger, wherein the at least one contact in communication with the at least one contact arm.

13. The control device of claim 1 , wherein changing between the first state and the second state of the at least one contact changes a state of an electrical device located within the enclosure, wherein the enclosure is an explosion-proof enclosure.

14. An enclosure, comprising:
an enclosure surface having a front side and a back side;
a control device disposed proximate to the enclosure surface, wherein the control device comprises:
a first portion positioned proximate to the back side of an enclosure surface of the enclosure, wherein the first portion comprises:
a plunger comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger has a first position toward the enclosure surface and a second position away from the enclosure surface, and wherein the proximal end is adjacent to the enclosure surface;
a first magnet having a first polarity and disposed at the proximal end of the plunger; and
at least one contact in communication with the distal end of the plunger, wherein the at least one contact has a first state and a second state; and

a second portion positioned on the front side of the enclosure surface opposite the first portion on the back side of the enclosure, wherein the second portion comprises:
a receiving feature positioned on the front side of the enclosure surface; and
a second magnet removably disposed within the receiving feature, wherein the second magnet has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side has the first polarity, wherein the second side has a second polarity that opposes the first polarity, wherein the second magnet is in an engaged position when the first side is positioned proximate to the front side of the enclosure surface, and wherein the second magnet is in a disengaged position when the second side is positioned proximate to the front side of the enclosure surface,

wherein the second magnet, when in the engaged position, generates a first magnetic force with the first magnet, wherein the first magnetic force moves the plunger to force the contact into the first state, and
wherein the second magnet, when in the disengaged position, generates a second magnetic force, wherein the second magnetic force moves the plunger to force the contact into the second state.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the enclosure surface is among a plurality of enclosure surfaces, wherein the plurality of enclosure surfaces comply with at least one standard for an explosion-proof enclosure.

16. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the enclosure surface is a cover of the enclosure.

17. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the enclosure surface lacks an aperture traversed by the control device.

18. A control device for an enclosure, the control device comprising:
a first portion positioned proximate to a back side of an enclosure surface of the enclosure, wherein the first portion comprises:
a plunger comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plunger has a first position toward the enclosure surface and a second position away from the enclosure surface, and wherein the proximal end is adjacent to the enclosure surface;
a first magnet having a first polarity and disposed at the proximal end of the plunger; and
at least one contact in communication with the distal end of the plunger, wherein the at least one contact has a first state and a second state; and

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Assignees

• Henderson Lewis T
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Henderson Lewis T

Classifications

• H01H36/004 Primary

  push-button-operated, e.g. for keyboards · CPC title

• H01H2223/002

  sealed · CPC title

• H01H36/0073 Primary

  actuated by relative movement between two magnets · CPC title

• H01H36/00

  Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding · CPC title