Methods and apparatus for linear electric machine
AssigneeIris Dynamics Ltd
InventorsKyle A. HAGEN, Patrick A. MCFADDEN, Maximilien F. BETHUNE-WADDELL, Jeffrey R. RENDELL
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Abstract
An embodiment of a linear electric machine includes two or more phases that define a central bore, and alternating permanent magnets that are disposed within the central bore and are free to move relative the windings. An embodiment of a method for selectively powering the windings is disclosed that enables the machine to realize a commanded force, or to determine the force present by using the current within the windings and the alignment of the magnets relative to the windings.
Claims22
1-24. (canceled)
A linear electric machine, comprising:
- one or more shafts including one or more magnets configured to produce a sinusoid-like magnetic-field pattern;
- one or more winding packs, each defining a central bore and a central axis;
- each winding pack being configured to receive one of the one or more shafts along a central axis and within the defined central bore,
- each winding pack including two or more phases of windings being distributed along the shared central axis, each phase spaced apart from an adjacent phase by an approximately same interval, the product of said interval multiplied by the number of said phases equal to an integer multiple of one-half the period of the sinusoid-like magnetic-field pattern, the number of phases being more than three;
- and
- a phase-position sensor configured to detect the alignment of the shaft magnetic field with respect to at least one phase.
A method for profiling a linear electric machine including a shaft and winding phases, wherein:
- a normalized function of force-per-current constants versus position for one or more phase is obtained, comprising the steps of:
- changing a respective position of the shaft relative to the winding phases;
- measuring resulting phase currents and a relative speed between the winding phase and the shaft for respective positions of the shaft relative to the winding phases;
- and
- determining the normalized function of force-per-current constants at said respective positions by dividing said phase currents by said speeds.
A system comprising:
- one or more components;
- and
- a linear electric machine, including:
- one or more shafts each including one or more magnets configured to produce a sinusoid-like magnetic-field pattern, at least one of the one or more shafts coupled to at least one of the one or more components;
- one or more winding packs, each defining a central bore and a central axis;
- each winding pack being configured to receive one of the one or more shafts along a central axis and within the defined central bore;
- each winding pack including two or more phases of windings being distributed along the shared central axis, each phase spaced apart from an adjacent phase by an approximately same interval, the product of said interval multiplied by the number of said phases equal to an integer multiple of one-half the period of the sinusoid-like magnetic-field pattern, the number of phases being more than three;
- and
- a phase-position sensor configured to detect the alignment of the shaft magnetic field with respect to at least one phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.