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US 11,114,930 B2Granted
Eddy current brake configurations
AssigneeEddy Current Limited Partnership
InventorsChristopher James Allington, Andrew Karl Diehl, Kevin A. Wright, Weston Hill, Dave Walters
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Abstract
Described herein are eddy current brakes and associated methods of their use, particularly configurations that have a kinematic relationship with at least two rotational degrees of freedom used to tune operation of the brake or apparatus in which the brake is located.
Claims32
An eddy current brake, comprising:
- a magnetic field;
- and
- an electrical conductor;
- wherein the magnetic field and electrical conductor can move relative to each other and interact thereby inducing eddy current drag forces;
- and
- wherein the eddy current brake has exactly two rotational degrees of freedom about a first primary axis and a secondary control axis, respectively, and zero linear degrees of freedom, wherein the first primary axis is orthogonal to the secondary control axis, and wherein, during operation, braking action is applied to the first primary axis and the secondary control axis is used to modulate the braking action;
- wherein the first primary axis and the secondary control axis intersect.
4 more elements
A method of generating an eddy current drag force using an eddy current brake comprising:
- a magnetic field;
- a shaft;
- and
- a collar coupled to the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the collar is an electrical conductor;
- wherein the magnetic field and electrical conductor can move relative to each other and interact thereby inducing eddy current drag forces;
- and
- wherein the eddy current brake has exactly two rotational degrees of freedom and zero degrees of linear freedom, wherein a first primary axis of rotation is orthogonal to a secondary control axis of rotation, and wherein, during operation, braking action is applied to the first primary axis of rotation and the secondary control axis of rotation is used to modulate the braking action;
- wherein the first primary axis of rotation and the secondary control axis of rotation intersect;
- the method comprising:
- applying a driving force to cause varying relative movement between the magnetic field and the at least one electrical conductor;
- and
- by causing movement, making the at least one electrical conductor and magnetic field interact, thereby inducing eddy current drag forces and acting to resist relative motion between the magnetic field and the at least one electrical conductor.
9 more elements
An eddy current brake, comprising:
- a magnetic field;
- and
- an electrical conductor;
- wherein the magnetic field and electrical conductor can move relative to each other and interact thereby inducing eddy current drag forces;
- and
- wherein the eddy current brake has exactly two rotational degrees of freedom about a first primary axis and a secondary control axis, respectively, and zero linear degrees of freedom, wherein the first primary axis is orthogonal to the secondary control axis, and wherein, during operation, braking action is applied to the first primary axis and the secondary control axis is used to modulate the braking action;
- wherein the eddy current brake is configured to have a first rotating shaft and an electrical conductor linked to, and rotating with, the shaft;
- wherein the eddy current brake includes a collar coupled to the shaft, and either one section of the collar, multiple sections of the collar, or the whole collar, is an electrical conductor;
- wherein the collar is rotatable about the shaft;
- wherein rotation of the collar rotates the electrical conductor;
- wherein the shaft, on which the collar and electrical conductor are mounted, is flexible or incorporates a flexible coupling to allow secondary control axis rotation of the collar and electrical conductor thereon.
8 more elements
An eddy current brake, comprising:
- a magnetic field;
- and
- an electrical conductor;
- wherein the magnetic field and electrical conductor can move relative to each other and interact thereby inducing eddy current drag forces;
- and
- wherein the eddy current brake has exactly two rotational degrees of freedom about a first primary axis and a secondary control axis, respectively, and zero linear degrees of freedom, wherein the first primary axis is orthogonal to the secondary control axis, and wherein, during operation, braking action is applied to the first primary axis and the secondary control axis is used to modulate the braking action;
- wherein the eddy current brake is configured to have a first rotating shaft and an electrical conductor linked to, and rotating with, the shaft;
- wherein the eddy current brake includes a collar coupled to the shaft, and either one section of the collar, multiple sections of the collar, or the whole collar, is an electrical conductor;
- wherein the collar is rotatable about the shaft;
- wherein rotation of the collar rotates the electrical conductor;
- wherein the electrical conductor is rotatable about an axis or axes mounted on the collar and, when shaft rotation occurs, at least part of the electrical conductor rotates outward from the plane of rotation of the collar about another axis or other axes.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.