Magnetic torsion spring for a magnetically actuated mechanism and method for forming the spring
AssigneeThe Governing Council of the University of Toronto
InventorsCameron Forbrigger, Adam Schonewille, Eric Diller
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Abstract
A magnetic torsion spring for a magnetically actuated mechanism, the spring having first and second links of the mechanism rotatably connected at a joint of the mechanism, the first link provided with a first magnet spaced from the joint and the second link provided with a second magnet spaced from the joint generating a spring effect, the spring defined by a torque curve with respect to spring deflection, the torque curve defined by spring type, dimensionless characteristic length ratio of the spring, and an amplitude constant, and the length ratio has a value between 0 and 1.
Claims24
A magnetic torsion spring for a magnetically actuated mechanism, the spring comprising:
- first and second links of the mechanism rotatably connected at a joint of the mechanism, wherein the first link is provided with a first magnet spaced from the joint and the second link is provided with a second magnet spaced from the joint generating a spring effect;
- wherein the spring is defined by a torque curve with respect to spring deflection, the torque curve defined by spring type, dimensionless characteristic length ratio of the spring, and an amplitude constant;
- and
- the length ratio has a value between 0 and 1.
A magnetically actuated mechanism, the mechanism comprising:
- a first magnetic torsion spring comprising first and second links of the mechanism rotatably connected at a first joint of the mechanism, wherein the first link is provided with a first magnet spaced from the first joint and the second link is provided with a second magnet spaced from the first joint generating a first spring effect;
- and
- a second magnetic torsion spring comprising a third link of the mechanism rotatably connected to the second link at a second joint of the mechanism, wherein the third link is provided with a third magnet spaced from the second joint generating a second spring effect;
- wherein each of the springs is defined by a torque curve with respect to spring deflection, the torque curve defined by spring type, dimensionless characteristic length ratio of the spring, and an amplitude constant;
- and
- the length ratio has a value between 0 and 1.
A method for forming a magnetic torsion spring having a desired torque-displacement response for a magnetically actuatable mechanism, the spring comprising first and second links of the mechanism rotatably connected at a joint of the mechanism, comprising:
- a. providing first and second magnets for positioning on the first and second links, respectively;
- b. determining a desired magnetic actuation response;
- c. selecting a spring type based on the desired magnetic actuation response;
- d. determining a torque curve reflective of the desired torque-displacement response;
- e. selecting a dimensionless parameter length ratio to achieve the shape of the desired torque-displacement response;
- f. selecting an amplitude constant to achieve an amplitude of the desired torque-displacement response;
- and
- g. positioning the first and second magnets on the first and second links, respectively, using the spring geometry, each of the first and second magnets spaced from the joint, and the length ratio having a value between 0 and 1, generating a spring effect.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.