Electronically actuated apparatus using solenoid actuator with integrated sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electromagnetic actuator assembly comprising:
- a frame member having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall and a first end wall that is coupled to the inner and outer sidewalls, the frame member defining an interior annular cavity;
a coil assembly mounted in the annular cavity, the coil assembly including a core and a coil;
a plunger having an annular intermediate wall and a second end wall that extends radially inwardly from the intermediate wall, the intermediate wall being disposed between the coil assembly and the outer sidewall;
an armature that abuts the plunger;
a sensor target coupled to one of the armature and the plunger; and
a sensor mounted to the frame, the sensor being configured to sense a position of the sensor target and to produce a first sensor signal when the sensor target is moved in a first direction past a first position and the sensor is in a first state.
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Abstract
An electromagnetic actuator assembly that includes an annular frame, a coil assembly, an annular armature, a plunger and a sensor. The coil assembly is coupled to the frame and includes an annular core and an annular coil. The annular armature is received in the frame and abutted against the plunger. A sensor target can be coupled to the armature or the plunger and includes a radially outwardly extending sensor target. The sensor is coupled to the frame and configured to sense a position of the sensor target. A method for operating an electromagnetic actuator is also provided.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic actuator assembly comprising:
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a frame member having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall and a first end wall that is coupled to the inner and outer sidewalls, the frame member defining an interior annular cavity; a coil assembly mounted in the annular cavity, the coil assembly including a core and a coil; a plunger having an annular intermediate wall and a second end wall that extends radially inwardly from the intermediate wall, the intermediate wall being disposed between the coil assembly and the outer sidewall; an armature that abuts the plunger; a sensor target coupled to one of the armature and the plunger; and a sensor mounted to the frame, the sensor being configured to sense a position of the sensor target and to produce a first sensor signal when the sensor target is moved in a first direction past a first position and the sensor is in a first state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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providing an actuator having a frame member, a coil assembly, a plunger, an armature and a sensor target, the frame member having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall and a first end wall that is coupled to the inner and outer sidewalls, the frame member defining an interior annular cavity, the coil assembly being mounted in the annular cavity and including a core and a coil, the plunger having an annular intermediate wall and a second end wall that extends radially inwardly from the intermediate wall, the intermediate wall being disposed between the coil assembly and the outer sidewall, the armature being coupled to the intermediate wall, the sensor target being coupled to one of the armature and the plunger and extending radially outwardly of the intermediate wall; and sensing a position of the sensor target relative to the frame member. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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- 19. The method of claim 19, wherein prior to sensing the position of the sensor target the method includes fixedly coupling a sensor to the frame member.
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28. An electromagnetic actuator assembly comprising:
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an annular frame; a coil assembly having an annular core and an annular coil, the coil assembly being coupled to the frame; an annular armature received in the frame, the armature including a radially outwardly extending sensor target; and a sensor coupled to the frame, the sensor being configured to sense a position of the sensor target. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
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a frame member; a coil assembly proximate the frame member, the coil assembly being selectively operable in an operative condition for generating a magnetic field; and a plunger that is configured to translate when the coil assembly is operated in the operative condition; wherein the plunger, the coil assembly and the frame member cooperate to form a space and wherein at least one aperture is formed in the plunger to vent the space. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
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a frame member; a coil assembly proximate the frame member, the coil assembly being selectively operable in an operative condition for generating a magnetic field; a plunger; and an armature that is disposed between the frame member and the plunger, the armature being configured to translate in a direction opposite the frame when the coil assembly is operated in the operative condition, the armature engaging the plunger so that the plunger moves with the armature when the armature is moved in the direction opposite the frame. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
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a coil assembly having an annular coil and an annular shell member, the shell member abutting the coil and including a first tapered face portion, the coil assembly being selectively operable in an operative condition for generating a magnetic field; and an annular armature that is disposed about the coil, the armature including a second tapered face portion that is complementary to the first tapered face portion, the armature being configured to translate in a direction toward the shell member when the coil assembly is operated in the operative condition. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
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a frame; a coil assembly received in the frame, the coil assembly having a coil that is selectively operable in an operative condition for generating a magnetic field; and a plunger having a flange member and a rim member that is coupled to an outer periphery of the flange member, the flange member being oriented generally perpendicular to an axis along which the plunger may be translated by the coil assembly between an extended position and a returned position, the flange member being spaced apart from the coil assembly by a predetermined minimum distance when the plunger is in the returned position.
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43. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
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a frame; a coil assembly received in the frame, the coil assembly having a coil that is selectively operable in an operative condition for generating a magnetic field; and a plunger having a flange member and a rim member that is coupled to an outer periphery of the flange member, the flange member being oriented generally perpendicular to an axis along which the plunger may be translated by the coil assembly, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in at least one of the flange member and the rim member.
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Specification