Linear motor armature

A method of manufacturing a linear motor armature comprising the steps of:

• providing a front module including a first fluid passage, one end of which is connected to the outside of the armature and the other end of which is open to a back edge of the front module, and a fifth fluid passage one end of which is connected to the outside of the armature and the other end of which is open at the back edge of the front module;
• providing at least two intermediate modules, each intermediate module including a second fluid passage, one end of which is open at a front edge of the intermediate module and the other end of which is open at a back edge of the intermediate module, a fourth fluid passage, one end of which is open at the front edge of the intermediate module and the other end of which is open at the back edge of the intermediate module, a coil, a core around which the coil is wound and a flat cooling tube partly forming one of the second and fourth fluid passages and having a U-shaped fold into which the coil can be fit;
• providing a back module including a third fluid passage, both ends of which are open at a front edge of the back module;
• and
• connecting the front module, the at least two intermediate modules and the back module in series so that coolant can be circulated in the first fluid passage, the second fluid passages, the third fluid passage, the fourth fluid passages and fifth fluid passage in order.

A linear motor armature comprising:

• a front module including a first fluid passage, and a fifth fluid passage;
• at least two intermediate modules connectable to said front module each intermediate module comprising a second fluid passage, a fourth fluid passage, a coil and a core around which the coil is wound;
• a back module connectable to said at least two intermediate modules comprising a third fluid passage;
• and
• connecting means for detachably connecting the front module, the at least two intermediate modules and the back module in series;
• wherein when the front module, the at least two intermediate modules and the back module are connected in series, coolant is circulated through the first fluid passage, the second fluid passages, the third fluid passage, the fourth fluid passages and fifth fluid passage to cool said coil.