Magnetic lauer compositions for use in a device for determining the position of an axially movable body

• US 5,394,082 A
• Filed: 01/29/1993
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Alasafi, Khaldoun, Gutohrlein, Ralf, Schiessle, Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDMONDS, WARREN
• Application Number:
  US08/010,857
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.15, 324/207.18, 324/207.19, 324/207.22, 324/207.24, 428/611
• US Class Current: 324/207.22
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004

Abstract

A device for determining the position of an axially movable body wherein the position of the body is deduced from the inductance of a coil arrangement. A layer which has a layer structure containing less than 8% by weight of P, preferably up to 3% by weight of phosphorus, up to 2% by weight of an element of main group IV or V, in particular antimony, and up to 5% by weight of a transition metal element, in particular cobalt, is deposited on the body. The percentages by weight resulting from the sum are increased up to 100% with nickel. An axial movement of the body to which the layer is joined, modifies the magnetic flux in a coil arrangement comprising at least one coil. The changes in inductance resulting therefrom are measured and the position of the body is deduced therefrom.

Claims

1. A device for determining a position of an axially movable body, comprising:

a coil arrangement coaxially arranged around said body, said coil arrangement having an inductance from which said position of the body is deduced;

a layer having magnetic properties which modify the inductance of the coil arrangement, said layer being deposited on said body by atomic growth in a region electrically interacting with said coil arrangement as said body moves;

wherein an axial movement of said body, to which said layer is joined, modifies a magnetic flux in said coil arrangement comprising at least one coil, and the resulting change in the inductance therefrom is measured in order to allow for the determination of the position of the body; and

wherein said magnetic properties of said layer are obtained by a layer composition comprising less than 8% by weight of phosphorous, up to 2% by weight of an element from one of main groups IV and V of the Periodic Table, and up to 5% by weight of a transition metal element, the percentages by weight resulting from the sum being increased up to 100% with nickel.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said layer structure contains up to 3% by weight of phosphorous.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said element of one of main groups IV and V is one of antimony and lead, and wherein said transition metal element is one of cobalt and iron.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coil arrangement comprises two coils, which arrangement is coaxially disposed with respect to the body and surrounds the body, and in that the top, bottom and outside surface of the coils are surrounded by components composed of a soft-magnetic material which has a low magnetostriction, in that the two coils are connected in a half-bridge circuit, and in that the center of the layer is between the two coils in a rest position of the body.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the components surrounding the coil arrangement are surrounded by additional components composed of an electrically insulating and non-magnetic material.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said additional components are composed of plastic.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the additional components are furthermore surrounded by fourth components composed of a highly soft-magnetic material having a high electrical resistivity.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the layer is flush with the surface of the body.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein the layer is flush with the surface of the body.

10. A device according to claim 5, wherein the layer is flush with the surface of the body.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein the layer is flush with the surface of the body.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the layer is doped with traces of rare-earth metals.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein fine solid powders are added to the layer.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein layer rings are additionally located on the body at an axial distance from the layer, said layer rings having an identical structure to the layer.

15. A device for determining a position of an axially movable body, comprising:

a coil arrangement coaxially arranged around said body, said coil arrangement having an inductance from which said position of the body is deduced;

a layer having magnetic properties which modify the inductance of the coil arrangement, said layer being deposited on said body by atomic growth in a region electrically interacting with said coil arrangement as said body moves;

wherein an axial movement of said body, to which said layer is joined, modifies a magnetic flux in said coil arrangement comprising at least one coil, and the resulting change in the inductance therefrom is measured in order to allow for the determination of the position of the body; and

wherein said magnetic properties of said layer are obtained by a layer composition comprising 3 to 5% by weight of phosphorous, up to 2% by weight of the element antimony or lead, and up to 5% by weight of the element cobalt or iron, the percentages by weight resulting from the sum being increased up to 100% with nickel.