High intensity radial field magnetic actuator

A method for actuating, said method comprising the steps of:

• proximately assembling at least one set of two magnets, the magnets comprising:
• an outer magnet portion having a magnetization pointing in an at least partially axial direction;
• a middle magnet portion having a magnetization substantially perpendicular to the magnetization of the outer magnet portion;
• and
• an inner magnet portion having a magnetization directed substantially anti-parallel to the magnetization of the outer magnet portion;
• positioning at least one substantially magnetically permeable object at least partially between the set of two magnets;
• positioning at least one electrically conductive coil at least partially between the set of two magnets;
• and
• initiating a current in a first direction within the conductive coil, which magnetically forces the substantially magnetically permeable object toward a first magnet of the set of two magnets.

A system for magnetically moving an actuator, the system comprising:

• means for providing a first magnetic field, the first magnetic field having at least a first vertical direction and a first radial direction;
• means for providing a second magnetic field proximate to the means for providing a first magnetic field, the second magnetic field having a second vertical direction opposing the first vertical direction and a second radial direction cooperative with the first radial direction;
• means for actuating approximately statically balanced by the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field;
• and
• means for electrically adding a third magnetic field that, once added, unbalances the means for actuating and causes the means for actuating to move.

An actuator, comprising:

• a first magnet with a first magnetic field, the first magnetic field having at least a first axial direction and a first radial direction;
• a second magnet with a second magnetic field, the second magnet proximate to the first magnet and the second magnetic field having a second axial direction and a second radial direction wherein the first axial direction and the second axial direction are symmetrically opposed and the first radial direction and the second radial direction are cooperative;
• an electrically conductive coil positioned at least partially between the first and second magnets;
• and
• a substantially magnetically permeable object positioned between the first and second magnets.

An actuation device comprising:

• a first magnet, wherein the first magnet is annular, the first magnet comprising:
• an outer magnet portion having a magnetization pointing in an at least partially axial direction;
• a middle magnet portion having a radial magnetization substantially perpendicular to the magnetization of the outer magnet portion;
• and
• an inner magnet portion having a magnetization directed substantially anti-parallel to the magnetization of the outer magnet portion.

An actuator, comprising:

• a first magnet with a first magnetic field, the first magnetic field having a first radial direction;
• a second magnet with a second magnetic field, the second magnet proximate to the first magnet and the second magnetic field having a second radial direction wherein the first radial direction and the second radial direction are parallel;
• an electrically conductive coil positioned at least partially between the first and second magnets;
• and
• a substantially magnetically permeable object positioned between the first and second magnets.

A method of making a magnetic actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning at least two magnets, coaxially, a predetermined distance apart;
• magnetizing at least one of the two magnets, such that the at least one of the two magnets comprises:
• an outer magnet portion having a magnetization pointing in an at least partially axial direction;
• a middle magnet portion having a magnetization substantially perpendicular to the magnetization of the outer magnet portion;
• and
• an inner magnet portion having a magnetization directed substantially anti-parallel to the magnetization of the outer magnet portion;
• positioning at least one electrically conductive coil at least partially between the two magnets;
• and
• positioning at least one substantially magnetically permeable object at least partially between the two magnets, an actuating rod integral with the substantially magnetically permeable object and extending therefrom.