Electromagnetic actuator having preloaded spring means
OwnerL. Clark Feightner, E. Dale Hartleyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator comprising a coil, an armature moveable along a path toward and away from the coil, and a spring for resiliently urging the armature in one direction along the path. The coil is energizable to urge the armature in the other direction along the path against the biasing action of the spring. The spring rate of the spring progressively increases as the armature is moved by electromagnetic forces. This is accomplished by using an appropriately configured leaf spring and a a ramp for progressively supporting the leaf spring as it is deflected. The leaf spring is also preloaded.
Claims10
An apparatus comprising:
- a leaf spring;
- means for mounting the leaf spring at least at two locations with the region of the leaf spring between said two locations being resiliently movable;
- said leaf spring having a predetermined configuration in its relaxed condition;
- an armature having a first surface with a configuration different from said predetermined configuration;
- means for mounting said armature on said region of the leaf spring with the leaf spring being held against the first surface of the armature whereby the first surface of the armature resiliently deflects said region of the leaf spring to preload the leaf spring;
- electromagnetic means energizable to apply a force to the armature to move the armature along a path from a first position to a second position against the biasing force of the leaf spring to increase the load on the leaf spring, said spring moving said armature along said path from said second position toward said first position when the electromagnetic means is de-energized;
- and
- means for progressively increasing the spring rate of the spring as the armature moves along said path from said first position toward said second position.
An apparatus comprising:
- electromagnetic means including a core and a coil wound on the core;
- a housing member;
- attaching means for attaching the electromagnetic means and the housing member;
- a leaf spring;
- means for mounting the leaf spring adjacent the ends of the leaf spring with the leaf spring being resiliently deflectable along a path toward and away from the electromagnetic means;
- an armature mounted on the leaf spring and movable along said path with the leaf spring, said leaf spring resiliently urging the armature in one direction along said path and said electromagnetic means being energizable to urge the armature in the other direction along said path;
- first and second ramp members adjacent the electromagnetic means, each of said ramp members having a ramp surface for progressively supporting greater lengths of the leaf spring as the leaf spring deflects under the influence of said electromagnetic means in said other direction whereby the leaf spring is progressively stiffened;
- said ramp members being spaced apart to define an opening, said armature projecting into said opening;
- said armature having a generally concave surface;
- and
- means for holding the leaf spring against the concave surface to deflect the leaf spring into the concave surface to preload the leaf spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.