Linear position sensor

• US 20090140730A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Newman, Robert, Storrie, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,395,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.240
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A sensor used to sense the position of an attached movable object. The sensor can be mounted to a pneumatic actuator. The sensor includes a housing that has a pair of cavities or pockets separated by a wall. A magnet carrier is positioned within one of the cavities and a magnet is coupled to the magnet carrier. The magnet carrier is coupled to the moveable object. A magnetic sensor is positioned in the other of the cavities. The magnetic sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the movable object.

Claims

1. A sensor for sensing a moveable object, comprising:

a housing defining first and second cavities;

a wall separating the first and second cavities;

at least one magnet positioned within the first cavity, the magnet generating a magnetic field, the magnet being adapted for movement in response to movement of the moveable object; and

at least one magnetic sensor positioned within the second cavity, the magnetic sensor generating an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the moveable object.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a spring surrounds the sensor and the magnet.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the magnet is mounted to a magnet carrier.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein a bucket couples the magnet carrier to a shaft.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to a pneumatic actuator.

6. A sensor for sensing movement of a moveable object, comprising:

a magnet carrier disposed in a first pocket;

a magnet coupled to the magnet carrier, the magnet generating a magnetic field; and

a magnetic sensor positioned in a second pocket, the magnetic sensor being adapted to sense the magnetic field.

7. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein the first and second pockets are defined by a housing.

8. The sensor according to claim 7, wherein the housing includes a wall separating the first and second pockets.

9. The sensor according to claim 7, wherein the magnet carrier is adapted to move within a first bore in the housing.

10. The sensor of claim 6, wherein a spring surrounds the magnet carrier.

11. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the magnet carrier defines a second bore and the magnet is mounted in the second bore.

12. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the housing is coupled to a pneumatic actuator.

13. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the housing defines a port which allows fluid communication with an interior portion of the housing.

14. An actuator and sensor assembly, comprising:

an actuator housing;

a sensor assembly coupled to the actuator housing, the actuator housing and the sensor assembly defining at least one chamber;

a piston mounted in the chamber;

a shaft coupled to the piston and extending from the actuator housing;

a spring biasing the piston from the actuator housing; and

the sensor assembly being adapted to sense the position of the shaft.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the spring surrounds the sensor assembly.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a sensor housing and a magnet carrier, the sensor housing being adapted to be coupled to the actuator housing.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein a magnet carrier is coupled to the piston.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein a magnet is mounted to the magnet carrier.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the sensor housing defines a pocket for a magnetic sensor.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein a wall separates the pocket defined by the sensor housing from the chamber defined by the actuator housing and the sensor assembly.