Sensing armature motion in high-speed solenoids
US7595971B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01F2007/1861
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a technique for discerning a status of an armature of a high-speed solenoid at any time during its operational cycle. In high speed solenoids, motion of an armature does not occur until after a finite and indeterminate lapse of time after application of a driving voltage.In the present invention, a pulsed driving voltage is used to drive the solenoid. A resultant current in a coil of the solenoid exhibits discontinuities in its rate of change when the armature moves. Occurrences of the discontinuities are used to produce control signals and coordinate operation of the solenoids and other controllable events. Occurrence of these discontinuities exactly correlates with armature motion. Consequently, time lapse between application of voltage and motion of the armature becomes inconsequential in design of a control system. In other words, control and coordination of operation of high-speed solenoids can be performed without consideration of uncertainties of the time lapse.In an exemplary illustration, the invention is applied to controlling speed of a turbine generator of a type used in space vehicles. High-speed solenoids are used to control bursts of hydrogen…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.