A Spring for an Electromagnetic Actuator
AssigneeThermoLift, Inc.
InventorsPeter Hofbauer, James F. Smith, Seann Convey, David Yates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reciprocating apparatuses such as a displacer in a Stirling engine or Vuilleumier (thermally-driven) heat pump and such as a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine have been known to be built with a mechatronic actuator. The reciprocating element has two springs in compression biased against each other. It has been found that conventional springs in compression introduce losses. A spring is disclosed in which a portion of the coil is wound in a clockwise direction and a portion is wound in a clockwise direction. Also, in reciprocation, the spring is in compression at one end of travel and in tension at the other end of travel.
Claims10
A reciprocating apparatus, comprising:
- a stationary housing;
- a reciprocating element adapted to travel between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing;
- and
- a spring system comprising at least one spring with a first end of the spring system coupled to the housing and a second end of the spring system coupled to the reciprocating element wherein:
- the spring system has a clockwise portion and a counterclockwise portion;
- and
- the spring is in tension when the reciprocating element is in the first position and the spring is in compression when the reciprocating element is in the second position.
The apparatus of claim 9 or 10 wherein a connector piece is provided between the first and second spring portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.