Solenoid Actuator
AssigneeSentec Ltd
InventorsAndrew Dames, James Evett, Matthew Storkey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solenoid actuator is described. The solenoid actuator comprises an armature, pole piece(s), electromagnet coil(s) arranged, in response to energisation, to cause travel of the armature between first and second positions along a direction of travel, permanent magnet(s) positioned and orientated for latching the armature in at least the first position when the armature is in the first position and spring(s) arranged to bias the armature. The solenoid actuator can be operated to provide partial lift.
Claims51
1-87. (canceled)
A solenoid actuator comprising:
- an armature;
- pole piece(s);
- electromagnet coil(s) arranged, in response to energisation, to cause travel of the armature between first and second positions along a direction of travel wherein travel of the armature is bounded in the direction of travel by the pole piece(s);
- permanent magnet(s) positioned and orientated for latching the armature in at least the first position;
- and
- spring(s) arranged to bias the armature, wherein the spring(s) is (are) configured to provide sufficient force so as to prevent the armature from latching in second position.
A solenoid actuator comprising:
- an armature;
- pole piece(s);
- electromagnet coil(s) arranged, in response to energisation, to cause travel of the armature between first and second positions along a direction of travel wherein travel of the armature is bounded in the direction of travel by the pole piece(s);
- permanent magnet(s) positioned and orientated for latching the armature in at least the first position;
- and
- spring(s) arranged to bias the armature, wherein the spring(s) is (are) configured to provide sufficient force so as to prevent the armature from latching in second position wherein the magnitude of the (net) spring constant of the spring(s) is greater than the magnitude of the spring rate of a magnetic spring provided by the solenoid actuator over at least some portion of the travel.
A method of forming an actuator, comprising:
- providing an armature;
- providing pole piece(s);
- providing electromagnet coil(s) arranged, in response to energisation, to cause travel of the armature between first and second positions along a direction of travel wherein the travel of the armature is bounded in the direction of travel by the pole piece(s);
- providing permanent magnet(s) positioned and orientated for latching the armature in at least the first position;
- and
- providing spring(s) arranged to bias the armature wherein the method further comprises:
- measuring performance of the actuator without the spring(s) or with test spring(s);
- selecting spring(s) of predetermined spring constant(s) in preference to spring(s) of different spring constant(s) based on the performance of the actuator such that the spring is configured to provide sufficient force so as to prevent the armature from latching in the second position and the magnitude of the (net) spring constant of the spring(s) is greater than the magnitude of the spring rate of a magnetic spring provided by the solenoid actuator;
- and
- adding the spring(s) of predetermined spring constant(s) in the actuator.
A method of operating a solenoid actuator comprising an armature, pole piece(s), electromagnet coil(s) arranged, in response to energisation, to cause travel of the armature between first and second positions along a direction of travel, permanent magnet(s) positioned and orientated for latching the armature in at least the first position and spring(s) arranged to bias the armature, the method comprising:
- applying turn-on drive waveform(s) to the electromagnet coil(s) having profile(s) and duration so as to position the armature at a position between the first and second positions and at which the armature is substantially at rest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.