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US 2022/0037070 A1Published application
Adjustable magnetic counterbalance
AssigneeZaber Technologies Inc.
InventorsJacob Daniel BAYLESS, Graham Daniel KERR, Jacob William HARDES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A passive magnetic constant-force apparatus comprises a geometry and arrangement of permanent magnets, ferromagnetic components, and non-magnetic structural components. The apparatus is easily and precisely adjustable, cost-effective, with a high load capacity, and with minimal parasitic forces. The apparatus is suitable for use as a counterbalance for vertical linear motion applications and may be integrated with or attached to a linear motion stage.
Claims80
Apparatus for applying a force comprising:
- a first part and a second part, the first and second parts movable relative to one another in a direction of motion,
- the first and second parts each comprising one or more permanent magnets arranged to provide one or more magnetic poles that are elongated and oriented parallel to the direction of motion, wherein the polarization of magnetic fields provided by the permanent magnets is substantially uniform along each of the magnetic poles in the direction of motion;
- wherein the one or more magnetic poles of the first part and the one or more magnetic poles of the second part are arranged facing one another and spaced apart by a gap and for a range of travel along the direction of motion one end of each of the magnetic poles of the first part is located between opposing ends of a corresponding one of the one or more magnetic poles of the second part in the direction of motion and one end of each of the one or more magnetic poles of the second part is located between opposing ends of a corresponding one of the one or more magnetic poles of the first part in the direction of motion such that interaction of the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets of the first and second parts causes a force directed to force the first part toward or away from the second part in the direction of motion,
- wherein the one or more magnetic poles of the first part are movable relative to the one or more magnetic poles of the second part in a direction different from the direction of motion to vary a magnitude of the force.
1 more element
A constant-force apparatus comprising:
- a first part,
- a second part movable in a direction of motion relative to the first part,
- a first permanent magnet assembly carried by the first part and comprising a first array of permanent magnets arranged to form a multipolar magnet array comprising a plurality of magnetic poles, the magnetic poles extending in the direction of motion,
- wherein the permanent magnets of the first array have polarizations directed in a first transverse direction transverse to the direction of motion, the polarization of the permanent magnets of the first array is substantially uniform along the direction of motion and the polarization of the permanent magnets of the first array alternates in orientation along the first transverse direction at regular intervals along a second transverse direction orthogonal to the direction of motion and the first transverse direction when the first array of permanent magnets is traversed in the second transverse direction,
- a second permanent magnet assembly carried by the second part and comprising a second array of permanent magnets arranged to form a multipolar magnet array comprising magnetic poles extending in the direction of motion, wherein the permanent magnets of the second array have a polarization that is substantially aligned with the first transverse direction and a number of the magnetic poles in the first and second arrays are equal,
- wherein the polarization of the permanent magnets of the second array is substantially uniform along the direction of motion and the polarization of the permanent magnets of the second array alternates in orientation along the first transverse direction at regular intervals along the second transverse direction when the second array of permanent magnets is traversed in the second transverse direction,
- wherein the first part and the second part are constrained to move relative to each other in the direction of motion within a fixed range of travel and the magnetic poles of the first and second arrays extend in the direction of motion for a distance at least equal to the range of travel;
- wherein the magnets of the first array are spaced apart from the magnets of the second array in the first transverse direction by a first gap having a width of 5 mm or less and the first array is supported relative to the second array located such that throughout the entire range of travel, at least a portion of the first array overlaps in the direction of motion with a corresponding portion of the second array.
5 more elements
-121. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.