Magnetostrictive actuator
US5850109A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N35/00
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Drive elements whose physical volume is considerably smaller than piezoelectric actuators for comparable mechanical characteristics and actuation travels can be developed on the basis of the magnetostrictive material Tb.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2 (Terfenol). Despite these characteristics, magnetostrictive actuators have until now been used only where no rapid switching processes or actuation movements are required. An actuator of compact construction responds to an electrical drive signal very quickly and can produce large actuation forces. The actuator typically contains N.apprxeq.100 drive elements (1, 1') which are arranged one above the other in the form of a stack, are each of layered construction, and are provided with electrical connections. The drive elements (1, 1') each have a small metal plate (4, 4'), which is arranged between two insulators (2, 2', 3, 3'), and an actuator element (5, 5') which is manufactured from Terfenol. When current flows through it, the small metal plate (4, 4'), which is slotted in a U-shape, acts as a planar annular coil whose magnetic field passes through the actuator element (5, 5') and causes magnetostriction there.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.