Torqueless relatively moving transformer windings

• US 4,117,436 A
• Filed: 08/23/1976
• Issued: 09/26/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Inventors: MacLennan, Alexander G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kozma, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US05/716,707
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 336/83, 336/117, 336/118, 336/119, 336/120, 336/115, 336/130, 336/175, 336/68, 336/65
• US Class Current: 336/65
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/18 Rotary transformers

Abstract

A transformer for coupling between relatively moving elements having a limited degree of motion without inducing torques or forces between the elements as the result of fluxes coupling transformer windings. The transformer includes a primary and secondary coil respectively secured to the relatively moving elements and housed within a core structure of high permeability material which provides a low reluctance flux path for the mutual or coupling flux between the transformer primary and secondary windings and a relatively high reluctance path for leakage flux.

Claims

1. A transformer providing low restraint limited motion between transformer windings comprising:

first and second transformer windings having a common axis;

first and second elements;

a core structure of high permeability material surrounding and passing through said first and second windings to provide a high permeability flux circuit substantially free of low permeability gaps for mutual flux between said first and second transformer windings;

said core structure being configured to contain said first and second transformer windings to permit relative motion therebetween;

means for rigidly supporting said first and second transformer windings to said first and second elements independent of said core structure and each other to permit relative rotary motion therebetween about said axis;

said core structure including apertures for said support means to accommodate limited relative rotary motion between said first and second transformer windings about said axis;

said core structure providing a path for mutual flux of said first and second transformer windings substantially without air gaps therein without providing a low reluctance path to leakage flux.

2. The transformer of claim 1 wherein said core structure includes:

a hollow tube of high permeability material having a central spindle therein of high permeability material;

said first and second transformer windings being substantially annular in shape to fit about the spindle of said core structure within the tube thereof;

end sections of high permeability material completing a magnetic circuit between said tube and spindle at respective ends thereof.

3. The transformer of claim 2 wherein said support means includes at least one strut supporting said first transformer winding through apertures in one of said end sections, said apertures being limited in size to correspond to the desired degree of motion of said first transformer winding about the spindle of said core structure.

4. The transformer of claim 2 wherein said first and second transformer windings are displaced from each other axially along said central spindle.

5. The transformer of claim 1 wherein said core structure high permeability material includes Ferrite.

6. A transformer providing low restraint limited motion between transformer windings comprising:

first and second transformer windings having a common axis;

first and second elements;

a core structure for said first and second transformer windings and including a first portion of high permeability material for conducting magnetic flux centrally through said first and second transformer windings and a second portion for conducting magnetic flux peripherally about said first and second transformer windings from one end section of said first portion to an opposite end section of said first portion;

said core structure thereby providing a high permeability path for mutual flux coupling said first and second transformer windings substantially free of low reluctance gaps therein and a substantially lower flux path for leakage flux coupling only one of said first and second transformer windings;

said core structure being further configured to contain said first and second transformer windings to permit relative rotary motion therebetween;

means for rigidly supporting said first and second transformer windings to said first and second elements respectively independent of said core structure and each other to permit said relative rotary motion therebetween;

said core structure including apertures for said support means to accommodate limited relative rotary motion between said first and second transformer windings.

7. The transformer of claim 6 wherein said first and second windings are displaced from each other axially along said core structure first portion.