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US 5,847,474 AGranted
Lorentz force actuator
AssigneeITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Gruden, Ned L. Kikly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear actuator powered by a Lorentz force. The force is generated by passing an electrical current through an armature spanning a space across a magnetic field established between two permanent magnets. The armature is mounted upon a slider extending between a pair of electrically conductive rails. Reversible linear motion is achieved by switching the polarity of an electrical potential applied across the two rails.
Claims11
A linear actuator comprising;
- a. a pair of electrically conductive, parallel rails;
- b. a slider extending between said parallel rails, said slider comprising a pair of electrically conductive sliding contacts engaging said rails, and an electrically conductive armature connected to said sliding contacts and extending therebetween;
- c. an actuator arm secured to said slider and extending in a direction parallel to said rails;
- d. a pair of permanent magnets facing said slider and magnetized to create a magnetic field extending across said armature, wherein (1) said pair of permanent magnets includes a first magnet and a second magnet, (2) each of said first magnet and said second magnet has a first side which has a first polarity and a second side which has a second polarity, (3) said first polarity is opposite of said second polarity, (4) said first side of said first magnet faces said slider, (5) said second side of said second magnet faces said slider, and (6) said slider is interposed between said first side of said first magnet and said second side of said second magnet during operation of said linear actuator;
- and
- e. means for applying an electrical potential across said rails thereby producing a current flow through said armature and generating a Lorentz force for driving said slider and said actuating arm in the direction of extent of said actuator arm.
3 more elements
A method for actuating an actuator, comprising:
- slidably mounting an actuator arm between a plurality of electrically conductive rails;
- conductive rails, said actuator arm comprising a slider electrically engaging said plurality of rails;
- mounting a first magnet and a second magnet around said actuator arm to permit said actuator arm to slide between a first sidewall of said first magnet which has a first polarity and a second sidewall of said second magnet which has a second polarity, wherein said first polarity is opposite of said second polarity;
- using said said first magnet and said second magnet to create a magnetic field across said actuator arm;
- and
- applying an electrical potential across said rails to produce a current flow through said actuator arm to generate a Lorentz force for driving said armature in a direction which is substantially parallel to said current flow.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.