Patent · US Expired

Combined position sensor and magnetic motor or bearing

US4652820A · kind A · utility

1,183Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 1983
Grant dateMar 24, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C32/0459
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A combined magnetic sensor and actuator device for applying a magnetic force to a magnetizable body and for sensing the distance between the device and the magnetizable body. The device includes a magnetizable pole piece separated from the magnetizable body by gaps. The pole piece, gaps, and magnetizable body form a magnetic circuit with the gaps preferably being the major reluctance of the circuit. Separate means are provided for generating a relatively large time-varying magnetic actuating flux in the magnetic circuit and for generating a relatively small time-varying magnetic sensing flux in the magnetic circuit. Each magnetic flux follows a flux path, such that the two flux paths have at least a portion in common. Detection means measure the relatively small magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit, and thereby measure the distance between the device and the magnetizable body.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.