Linear actuator for valve control and operating systems and methods
AssigneeThe Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsChristopher S. Edrington, Hesan Vahedi, David Gonsoulin, Dallas Perkins
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Abstract
Linear actuators are disclosed. The linear actuator comprises a thruster and a stator. The thruster includes a thruster winding, and the stator includes a stator winding. The stator is disposed about the thruster. The linear actuator also includes a sheath disposed about the stator and the thruster. The thruster is configured to translate within the sheath relative to the stator upon application of an electrical current to the stator winding, the thruster winding, or a combination thereof. The stator winding and the thruster winding each comprise a nonpermanent magnet.
Claims27
A linear actuator, comprising:
- a thruster comprising a thruster disk with a thruster winding;
- a stator disposed about the thruster, wherein the stator comprises a stator winding, wherein the stator comprises a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the thruster disk along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the stator winding comprises a first stator winding disposed within the first portion of the stator and a second stator winding disposed within the second portion of the stator;
- and
- a sheath disposed about the stator and the thruster, wherein the sheath comprises (i) a first inner diameter about the thruster disk along the longitudinal axis and (ii) a second inner diameter about the stator, and wherein the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter,
- wherein the thruster is configured to translate within the sheath along the longitudinal axis relative to the stator upon application of an electrical current to the stator winding, the thruster winding, or a combination thereof,
- wherein the stator winding and the thruster winding each comprise a nonpermanent magnet.
A method for controlling a valve, the method comprising:
- applying electric current to a first portion and a second portion of a stator winding of a first stator portion and a second stator portion at intervals, wherein the first stator portion and the second stator portion are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis on opposite sides of a thruster disk of a thruster;
- and
- continuously applying electric current to a thruster winding of the thruster disk disposed between the first and second portions of the stator winding, wherein the stator winding and the thruster winding each comprise a nonpermanent magnet;
- surrounding the stator winding and the thruster winding by a stator sheath, wherein the stator sheath comprises (i) a first inner diameter about the thruster disk along the longitudinal axis and (ii) a second inner diameter about the first stator portion and the second stator portion, and wherein the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.