ACTUATOR FOR DAMPING LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATIONS

• US 20150015091A1
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contitech Vibration Control GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Contitech Vibration Control GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Genderjahn, Robert, Uhrmeister, Bernhard, Karkosch, Hans-Juergen, Marienfeld, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,608,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/25
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/066 Electromagnets with movable winding
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/18 with coil systems moving upon intermittent or reversed energisation thereof by interaction with a fixed field system, e.g. permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/08 Structural association with bearings

Abstract

An actuator has an electrically conductive coil which has a longitudinal axis and windings through which a current can flow. The coil is surrounded by a highly permeable first ferromagnetic body so that the first body has projections of highly permeable ferromagnetic material above and below the coil in the longitudinal direction. The actuator has a magnet spaced apart from the coil so that a gap forms therebetween. The magnet is surrounded by a highly permeable second ferromagnetic body so that the second body has projections of highly permeable ferromagnetic material above and below the magnet in the longitudinal direction. The magnet is statically mounted with the second body and the coil is spring mounted with the first body so that the coil and first body oscillate in the longitudinal direction when an alternating current flows through the coil. The coil is outside the magnet perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. An actuator comprising:

an electrically conductive coil defining a longitudinal axis (L) and having a plurality (n) of winding turns configured to have an electrical current flow therethrough;

a first ferromagnetic body of high permeability surrounding said electrically conductive coil in such a manner that said first ferromagnetic body has collar-like projections of ferromagnetic material of high permeability above and below said electrically conductive coil in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L);

at least one magnet spaced substantially perpendicularly from said winding turns with respect to said longitudinal axis (L) so as to cause said coil and said magnet to conjointly define an air gap therebetween;

a second ferromagnetic body of high permeability surrounding said magnet such that said second ferromagnetic body has collar-like projections of ferromagnetic material of high permeability above and below said magnet in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L);

said magnet having a side facing away from said air gap;

said electrically conducting coil having a side facing away from said air gap;

said first ferromagnetic body being disposed on said side of said electrically conductive coil facing away from said air gap;

said second ferromagnetic body being disposed on said side of said magnet facing away from said air gap;

said magnet being statically mounted together with said second ferromagnetic body;

said electrically conductive coil being spring mounted together with said first ferromagnetic body so as to enable said electrically conductive coil together with said first ferromagnetic body to oscillate in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L) when an alternating current is flowing through said electrically conductive coil; and

,

said electrically conductive coil being arranged outside of said magnet perpendicularly with respect to said longitudinal axis (L).

2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein:

said electrically conductive coil has ends; and

,

said magnet projects beyond said ends of said coil as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of said electrically conductive coil when the actuator is in a static state.

3. The actuator of claim 1, wherein:

said magnet is configured as a cylindrical magnet; and

,

said electrically conductive coil is configured as a cylindrical coil disposed around said cylindrical magnet in a radial direction with respect to said longitudinal axis (L).

4. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to introduce oscillations to a structure, the actuator further comprising:

an actuator housing surrounding said electrically conductive coil at least in regions thereof;

a connecting element configured to connect one of said magnet and said second ferromagnetic body to the structure;

said actuator housing defining an opening; and

,

said connecting element being disposed through said opening.

5. The actuator of claim 4, wherein said electrically conductive coil further defines a radial direction (R), the actuator further comprising:

at least one elastomeric body provided between said actuator housing and one of said connecting element and the structure so that said elastomeric body can absorb transverse forces in said radial direction (R) and have a damping effect in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L) when said electrically conductive coil is oscillating.

6. The actuator of claim 5, wherein:

said connecting element surrounds said actuator housing at least in regions in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L); and

,

said elastomeric body is disposed between said connecting element and said actuator housing in said radial direction.

7. The actuator of claim 4 further comprising:

one of a ball guide and a sliding guide disposed between said connecting element and said actuator housing in the region of said opening in such a manner that said one of said ball guide and said sliding guide is configured to guide said electrically conductive coil in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L).

8. The actuator of claim 4, wherein said connecting element surrounds said actuator housing at least in regions, the actuator further comprising:

at least one ball guide disposed between said connecting element and said actuator housing in such a manner that said ball guide is configured to guide said electrically conductive coil in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L).

9. The actuator of claim 4, wherein said connecting element surrounds said actuator housing at least in regions, the actuator further comprising:

at least one sliding guide disposed between said connecting element and said actuator housing in such a manner that said sliding guide is configured to guide said electrically conductive coil in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L).

10. The actuator of claim 4 further comprising a supporting spring disposed between said actuator housing and the structure in such a manner that said supporting spring has a damping effect in the direction of said longitudinal axis (L) when said electrically conductive coil is oscillating.