OSCILLATING ACTUATOR

• US 20130169071A1
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Masaya, Odajima, Shin, Tonogai, Yoshihide
• Application Number:
  US13/807,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/02 with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/12 with armatures moving in alternate directions by alternate energisation of two coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system

Abstract

An oscillating actuator comprising a shaft, arranged along an axis of oscillation of a housing, having both ends fixed to end walls provided at both ends of the housing; a movable element having a magnet adapted to pass the shaft therethrough and movable in an extending direction of the shaft and a weight arranged adjacent to the magnet in the extending direction of the shaft, adapted to pass the shaft therethrough, and movable integrally with the magnet; and an elastic member, arranged between the movable element and the end wall, for urging the movable element in the oscillation axis direction; wherein the coil comprises first and second coils wound annularly about the axis of oscillation and disposed in parallel with each other in the oscillation axis direction, the first and second coils having respective current flowing directions different from each other.

Claims

1. An oscillating actuator having a coil arranged within a tubular housing and a magnet arranged within the housing while being surrounded by the coil, the coil and the magnet cooperating with each other so that the magnet oscillates linearly along an axis of oscillation of the housing, the oscillating actuator comprising:

a shaft, arranged along the axis of oscillation of the housing, having both ends fixed to end walls provided at both ends of the housing in the oscillation axis direction of the housing;

a movable element having the magnet adapted to pass the shaft therethrough and movable in an extending direction of the shaft and a weight arranged within the housing adjacent to the magnet in the extending direction of the shaft, adapted to pass the shaft therethrough, and movable integrally with the magnet; and

an elastic member, arranged between the movable element and the end wall, for urging the movable element in the oscillation axis direction;

wherein the coil comprises first and second coils wound annularly about the axis of oscillation and disposed in parallel with each other in the oscillation axis direction, the first and second coils having respective current flowing directions different from each other.

2. An oscillating actuator according to claim 1, wherein the weight comprises first and second weights arranged on both sides in the oscillation axis direction of the magnet;

wherein the elastic member comprises a first compression spring arranged between the first weight and one end wall of the housing and a second compression spring arranged between the second weight and the other end wall of the housing; and

wherein respective annular pole yokes are arranged between the magnet and the first and second weights.

8. An oscillating actuator according to claim 1, wherein the weight has a smaller diameter part at least partly surrounded by the coil, the smaller diameter part and the magnet having a length in the oscillation axis direction longer than that of the coil in the oscillation axis direction.

3. An oscillating actuator having a coil arranged within a tubular housing and a magnet arranged within the housing while being surrounded by the coil, the coil and the magnet cooperating with each other so that the magnet oscillates linearly along an axis of oscillation of the housing, the oscillating actuator comprising:

a shaft, arranged along the axis of oscillation of the housing, having both ends fixed to end walls provided at both ends of the housing in the oscillation axis direction of the housing;

a movable element having the magnet adapted to pass the shaft therethrough and movable in an extending direction of the shaft and a weight arranged within the housing, adapted to pass the shaft therethrough, and movable integrally with the magnet; and

an elastic member, arranged between the movable element and the end wall, for urging the movable element in the oscillation axis direction;

wherein the weight has a bearing part slidable along the shaft; and

wherein the movable element is provided with a movement regulator for restraining the magnet from moving radially of the shaft with respect to the weight.

4. An oscillating actuator according to claim 3, wherein the movable element has a yoke adapted to pass the shaft therethrough and arranged between the magnet and the weight;

and

wherein the movement regulator restrains the magnet from moving radially of the shaft by a male-female engagement between the weight and the yoke and a male-female engagement between the yoke and the magnet.

5. An oscillating actuator according to claim 4, wherein the yoke has a first annular part arranged about the shaft and a second annular part located on the outer periphery side of the first annular part and arranged away from the first annular part in the oscillation axis direction.

6. An oscillating actuator according to claim 3, wherein the movement regulator restrains the magnet from moving radially by a male-female engagement between the weight and the magnet.

7. An oscillating actuator according to claim 3, wherein a gap is formed between the magnet and the shaft.

9. An oscillating actuator according to claim 3, wherein the weight has a smaller diameter part at least partly surrounded by the coil, the smaller diameter part and the magnet having a length in the oscillation axis direction longer than that of the coil in the oscillation axis direction.