Latching Technology Used to Isolate Power Faults

A manufacturer of high voltage electrical power distribution equipment needed a solution to actuate a fault-interrupting device. TLX Technologies designed a durable solenoid with a manual reset feature.

Customer Problem

A manufacturer of high voltage electrical power distribution equipment needed a solution to actuate a fault-interrupting device. The solution needed to be stable and durable in a wide range of temperatures. The solution also needed a manual reset feature in the event of a fault that could not be cleared immediately (e.g. a fallen power line). In such a case, power to the affected section needed to be cut off until the fault was cleared.

The TLX Solution

TLX Technologies designed and produced a manual reset latching solenoid that utilized a permanent magnet and a heavy-duty spring. The permanent magnet held the solenoid in the latched position without using power. When the system detected a fault, a short pulse de-latched the solenoid and interrupted power. Power could only be restored to the affected area by manually resetting the solenoid, minimizing the possibility of power being inadvertently restored before the fault was cleared.

View Design Solution

Manual Reset Latching Solenoid

Specifications

Stroke: 22.9 ± .635 mm

Coil resistance at 20°C: 5.75 ± 0.5 Ω

Latched spring load: 59.16 ± 5.78 N (13.3 ± 1.3 lbs)

Response time: 12 ms max

Release voltage: 3 to 30 Vdc

Operating temperature range: -40 to 50°C

Durability: >100K cycles

Minimum trip energy: .030 J

Electric strength: 500 VAC for 1 second

All TLX components are customized to fit system requirements, meaning technical specifications are unique to each customer and design. Examples given on our website are for illustration purposes only.

Working with TLX

Experienced partner of industry leaders, first-tier suppliers, and OEMs
Direct access to our design and engineering team
Localized production in USA and China
Dependable single-source solution from design to delivery

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Our Process

Step 1 / Initial Review

Our engineering team works directly with you to determine the viability of your program and identify the best solution based on your specifications.

Step 2 / Quote

Quotes include all costs related to your project - tooling, prototype, piece part, production and project specific costs.

Step 3 / Design Review & Prototypes

Our engineering team reviews the design with you and makes any adjustments needed. Prototypes are built according to design specifications for testing.

Step 4 / Testing

Prototypes are tested according to your specifications, with all relevant test data provided to you for evaluation.

Step 5 / APQP

DFMEA’s, PFMEA’s, control plans and process flow diagrams are started to drive the product intent design.

Step 6 / Pre-Production

Working drawings are developed for production. A second prototype build and a set of production parts are made from tooling and thoroughly tested.

Step 7 / PPAP/Production

The final design along with the PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) is developed and the new product enters production.

Step 8 / Ongoing Improvements

Our team collaborates with you to continue making improvements to the product to best meet your needs, increasing efficiency and reducing cost.

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