US 4,352,048 AGranted

Electromagnetic actuator apparatus

AssigneeOntrax Corporation

InventorDieter M. O. T. Schulze

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An improved electromagnetic actuator apparatus comprising a plurality of circular concentric tubes of varying length arranged in length order nested about one another from shortest to longest. Solenoid coil assemblies are attached to each tube so that magnetic circuits are formed between adjacent solenoid coil assemblies attached to adjacent tubes. Stops are attached to each tube at the end opposite from the solenoid coil assemblies. One of the shortest tubes is connected to a frame by a positive motion stop in one direction. A return spring connects to a frame on one end and to a carriage attachment member which slides about the shortest concentric tube on the other end. Selective electric excitation of individual solenoid coil assemblies causes translation of said carriage attachment member. The return spring carries the means for carriage attachment back to a rest position when electrical excitation is removed.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An improved electromagnetic actuator apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of connecting members each of different length arranged in an assembly by order of length from the shortest connecting member to the longest connecting member;
means for providing parallel lengthwise motion of each of said connecting members within the assembly of said connecting members;
a plurality of solenoid coil assemblies one each rigidly attached to one end of each connecting member with each solenoid coil assembly forming a magnetic circuit with the adjacent solenoid coil assembly attached to the adjacent connecting member;
a plurality of stop members with one each attached to each connecting member at the opposite end from the solenoid coil assembly attached to each of said connecting members;
means for anchoring one end of one of the shortest connecting member, said means for anchoring connected to a frame and providing a positive motion stop of said longest connecting member in a first direction parallel to the lengthwise dimension of said connecting members;
means for carriage attachment adapted to move adjacent and parallel to the lengthwise dimension of said shortest connecting member between said shortest connecting member solenoid coil assembly and said stop member;
means for bias return of said means for carriage attachment urging motion of said means for carriage attachment opposite and away from said means for anchoring one end of the longest connecting member with one end of said means for spring return connected to said means for carriage attachment and the other end of said means for spring return connected to said frame;
means for selective excitation of individual solenoid coil assemblies,
wherein said means for bias return tends to urge all of said stop members into abutting relationship and the excitation stroke of each solenoid coil assembly is in a substantially digital relationship with respect to the stroke of the other solenoid coil assemblies so that said means for carriage attachment may be translated to any position corresponding to any combination of the excitation strokes of the individual solenoid coil assemblies.

6 more elements

An improved electromagnetic actuator apparatus for moving a mass, comprising:

a plurality of connecting members arranged in an assembly;
means supporting said connecting members in a predetermined spaced relationship and to allow lengthwise movement of each connecting member independent of the other connecting members;
a plurality of solenoid coil assemblies one attached to each connecting member with said coil assemblies arranged in one or more groups such that each solenoid coil assembly of a group includes a mating surface spaced from and forming a magnetic circuit with the next adjacent coil assembly of the group and energization and deenergization of a coil assembly will cause movement of that coil assembly towards said adjacent coil assembly and a corresponding movement of the attached connecting member;
means to maintain each connecting member and coil assembly in the predetermined spaced position relative to the adjacent coil assemblies until such coil assembly or an adjacent coil assembly is energized;
anchor means for anchoring at least one connecting member such that energization and deenergization of selected coil assemblies will move said coil assembly and connecting member relative to said anchor means;
and
means for attaching said connecting members to the mass for movement of the mass from an original position relative to said anchor means as any connecting member is moved.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.