Magnetic drives
US6598621B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/86445
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetic device is formed from a permanent magnet (12, 14) generating magnetic flux, and an armature (10) which can occupy either a first air gap in which the flux is in one direction, or a second air gap in which the flux is in the opposite direction, with a region of flux cancellation between the two air gaps. At least one electromagnet winding (36, 38) may be provided to which current can be supplied which when energised produces a magnetic flux in one direction or the other, depending on the direction of the current, the flux from the winding increasing the flux density in one of the air gaps and reducing the flux density in the other air gap. This effectively shifts the flux cancellation region towards or into one of the two air gaps so as to produce a flux density gradient extending from one air gap to the other, which will cause the armature to move into (or remain in) the air gap having the higher flux density, and continue to remain in that air gap after the current flow ceases. The device can be incorporated into a fluid valve to act as a drive for opening and closing the valve. It may also serve as the drive for opening and closing electrical contacts. Monostable opera…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.