Generating electromagnetic forces in large air gaps
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- an actuator target having a rotational axis, the target comprising;
a target magnetic element arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis and having inner and outer magnetic poles, the inner magnetic pole located closer to the rotational axis than the outer magnetic pole, anda cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece magnetically coupled to the outer cylindrical magnetic pole of the target magnetic element;
an actuator base comprising;
a plurality of radial poles arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced apart from the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece, the plurality of radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece defining radial gaps therebetween, anda plurality of control coils around the plurality of radial poles; and
the plurality of radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, magnetically coupled and defining a plurality of magnetic control circuits, the plurality of control coils configured to produce control magnetic fluxes in the plurality of magnetic control circuits, and the target magnetic element, the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, and the plurality of radial poles magnetically coupled and defining a magnetic bias circuit, the magnetic element configured to produce bias magnetic flux in the magnetic bias circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetic actuator generates electromagnetic forces across large radial gaps to support a body. The actuator has an actuator target having a rotational axis, and a target magnetic element arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis that has inner and outer magnetic poles. A cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole is magnetically coupled to the outer cylindrical magnetic pole of the target magnetic element. An actuator base includes radial poles arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced apart from the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole. The radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole are magnetically coupled and define a plurality of magnetic control circuits. Control coils around the radial poles are configured to produce magnetic fluxes in the magnetic control circuits. The target magnetic element, the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, and the radial poles are magnetically coupled and define a magnetic bias circuit, the magnetic element producing magnetic flux in the magnetic bias circuit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
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an actuator target having a rotational axis, the target comprising; a target magnetic element arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis and having inner and outer magnetic poles, the inner magnetic pole located closer to the rotational axis than the outer magnetic pole, and a cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece magnetically coupled to the outer cylindrical magnetic pole of the target magnetic element; an actuator base comprising; a plurality of radial poles arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced apart from the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece, the plurality of radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece defining radial gaps therebetween, and a plurality of control coils around the plurality of radial poles; and the plurality of radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, magnetically coupled and defining a plurality of magnetic control circuits, the plurality of control coils configured to produce control magnetic fluxes in the plurality of magnetic control circuits, and the target magnetic element, the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, and the plurality of radial poles magnetically coupled and defining a magnetic bias circuit, the magnetic element configured to produce bias magnetic flux in the magnetic bias circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electric machine system comprising:
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a stator; a rotor having a rotational axis configured to move relative to the stator; an electromagnetic actuator sub-assembly comprising; an actuator target coupled to the rotor, the target comprising; a target magnetic element arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis and having inner and outer magnetic poles, the inner magnetic pole located closer to the rotational axis than the outer magnetic pole, and a cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece magnetically coupled to the outer cylindrical magnetic pole of the target magnetic element; an actuator base coupled to the stator, the actuator base comprising; a plurality of radial poles arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced apart from the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece, the plurality of radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole piece defining radial gaps therebetween, and a plurality of control coils around the plurality of radial poles; the plurality of radial poles and the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, magnetically coupled and defining a plurality of magnetic control circuits, the plurality of control coils configured to produce control magnetic fluxes in the plurality of magnetic control circuits, and the target magnetic element, the cylindrical soft-magnetic target pole, and the plurality of radial poles magnetically coupled and defining a magnetic bias circuit, the magnetic element configured to produce bias magnetic flux in the magnetic bias circuit; one or more position sensors configured to sense a position of the body; and at least one control electronics package configured to control the magnetic flux in the plurality of magnetic control circuits. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for exerting a radial force on a body, the body configured to rotate about a rotational axis, the method comprising:
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generating a bias magnetic flux with a target magnetic element mounted on the body circumferentially around the rotational axis and having inner and outer magnetic poles, the inner magnetic pole located closer to the rotational axis than the outer magnetic pole; communicating the bias magnetic flux between a first radial pole assembly, the body, and a second radial pole assembly, the first and second radial pole assemblies magnetically coupled and spaced apart from one another along the rotational axis, the first and second radial pole assemblies each circumferentially arranged around the rotational axis, and the first and second radial pole assemblies separated from the body by an air gap, the bias magnetic flux propagating through the body in a direction parallel to the rotational axis; communicating a first radial control magnetic flux between the first radial pole assembly and a first body pole coupled to the body, the first radial control magnetic flux propagating between a first radial pole of the first pole assembly, the body pole, and a second pole of the first pole assembly, the first radial control magnetic flux propagating in a radial direction orthogonal to the rotational axis; and communicating a second radial control magnetic flux between the second radial pole assembly and a second body pole coupled to the body and spaced apart from the first body pole along the rotational axis, the second radial control magnetic flux propagating between a first radial pole of the second pole assembly, the second body pole, and a second pole of the second pole assembly, the second radial control magnetic flux propagating in a radial direction orthogonal to the rotational axis opposite from the first radial control magnetic flux, the bias magnetic flux and the first and second control magnetic fluxes combining to affect an electromagnetic force on the actuator target. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification