Magnetic feedthrough manipulator
AssigneeThermionics Northwest, Inc.
InventorsJames N. Worthington, Richard D. Killam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic feedthrough manipulator adapted to be sealed to a chamber for inserting a manipulator shaft capable of rotational and longitudinal movement. The shaft is axially coupled to a ferromagnetic armature having an even number of longitudinal surface splines freely movable within a nonmagnetic tubular housing and which is controlled by alternately polarized magnets in a frame that slides and rotates on the outer surface of the housing. Two or more manipulator shafts may be controlled independently by a like number of armatures in the same housing.
Claims10
A magnetic feedthrough manipulator for controlling the position of a sample in a chamber, said manipulator comprising:
- a tubular housing of nonmagnetic material, said housing being sealed at a first end and adapted for communication with the chamber at a second end, said housing having a smooth bore;
- a manipulator shaft extending from said second end of said housing, said shaft passing through said second end and being mounted in bearings permitting said shaft rotational and longitudinal movement;
- at least one cylindrical shaped ferromagnetic armature within the bore of said nonmagnetic housing and coupled to an end of said manipulator shaft said armature being rotatable and longitudinally movable within the bore of said housing, said cylindrical armature having an even number of evenly spaced longitudinal splines in its surface;
- and
- a frame encircling the exterior of said housing, said frame being rotatable and longitudinally movable on said housing, said frame supporting a flux return yoke and a plurality of bar magnets positioned between said yoke and said housing, said plurality of bar magnets corresponding in number to said armature spines and being alternately polarized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.