Magnetically levitated force/weight measurement system
First Claim
1. A mass-levitating system, comprising:
- a mass containing means for generating a first magnetic field, the mass being in a stationary levitated position during equilibrium of said system;
means for generating a second magnetic field, said second magnetic field generating means containing electric currents disposed in a manner that impinges on said first magnetic field to produce a force needed to levitale the mass;
position detecting means for generating a signal indicative of a change in position of the mass; and
signal processing means for transforming said signal into alterations in said electric currents, so as to restore the mass to said stationary position in response to said signal;
wherein operation of said means for generating a first magnetic field and said means for generating a second magnetic field obviates the need for cryogenic temperatures.
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Abstract
A magnetically levitated force/weight measurement apparatus includes a system core with a plurality of layered circular segments having apertures that define an internal chamber. The segments include, inter alia, upper and lower magnetic bearing segments, a coil segment and an optical detector segment, each of which cooperate to generate magnetic fields for levitating a mass disposed within the chamber. Levitation magnets, rigidly disposed within the mass along a center axis, are arranged such that similar poles are in facing relation. This novel arrangement generates a static magnetic field that radiates orthogonally and symmetrically from the mass and generates a force vector for levitating the mass along the center axis. Bearing magnets, disposed within the magnetic bearing segments, i.e., core bearing magnets, and the spool, i.e., spool bearing magnets, are also arranged such that the polar axes of the core bearing magnets are aligned in the same direction as the polar axes of their corresponding spool bearing magnets. A self-dampening optical and current feedback system ensures that, upon displacement of the spool along the center axis, the spool returns to a stable equilibrium position.
24 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A mass-levitating system, comprising:
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a mass containing means for generating a first magnetic field, the mass being in a stationary levitated position during equilibrium of said system; means for generating a second magnetic field, said second magnetic field generating means containing electric currents disposed in a manner that impinges on said first magnetic field to produce a force needed to levitale the mass; position detecting means for generating a signal indicative of a change in position of the mass; and signal processing means for transforming said signal into alterations in said electric currents, so as to restore the mass to said stationary position in response to said signal; wherein operation of said means for generating a first magnetic field and said means for generating a second magnetic field obviates the need for cryogenic temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A mass-levitating system, comprising:
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first magnetic field generating means for generating a first magnetic field that levitates a mass along arm axis of the mass, the mass being in a stationary levitated position during equilibrium of said system; second magnetic field generating means for generating a second magnetic field that stabilizes the mass in..a plane transverse to said axis; position detecting means for generating a signal indicative of a change in position of the mass; signal processing means for transforming said signal into alterations in said first magnetic field so as to restore the mass to said stationary position in response to said signal, wherein the mass is radially symmetric about a central axis of said system and wherein said first magnetic field generating means expels said first magnetic field from a surface of the mass in a direction generally orthogonal to said central axis, said first magnetic field generating means comprising electric currents disposed orthogonally to said central axis and to said expelled magnetic field, thereby producing an axial force on the mass needed for levitation with minimal applied current; and magnetic bearing means, situated within said first and second magnetic field generating means, for generating magnetic fields that stabilize the mass relative to said central axis. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A device for measuring force and acceleration, said device comprising:
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a housing with a central axis; a mass radially symmetric about said central axis, said mass containing first means to generate a magnetic field which leaves the surface of said mass in a direction generally orthogonal and radial to said central axis, said mass having an operating position coaxial with said central axis and levitated within said housing; second means for generating a magnetic field, said second means disposed in a radially symmetric manner around said central axis and containing conducting means arranged orthogonal both to the magnetic field generated by said first means and to said central axis, thereby rendering maximal axial force on said mass when a current is passed through said conducting means; position detecting means for generating a signal indicative of the position of said mass; feedback means for converting said signal into a current in said conducting means to provide the force on said mass needed to maintain the axial component of said mass in said operating position; secondary feedback means for preventing oscillations in said feedback means, thereby levitating said mass without positional oscillation in said operating position; magnetic bearing means within said first and second means for producing magnetic fields that coaxially align said mass with said central axis, and measurement means for converting the response of said feedback means to a force applied to said mass into a measurement of the magnitude of that force, the operation of said device not requiring cryogenic temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification