Vibration generator

• US 9,325,230 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Seimitsu Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Seimitsu Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Yuuki, Oi, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Kenerly, Terrance
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/116,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 310/15, 310/23, 310/17, 310/81, 310/12.16, 318/114, 318/128, 318/126, 318/127, 318/129
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/045 characterised by their specific shape
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/00 Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with motors H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/06 with polarised armatures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/12 with armatures moving in alternate directions by alternate energisation of two coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system
• 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

Abstract

A vibration generator includes a tubular magnetic case, an end cover holding a first bearing metal, a second bearing metal held in a burring portion of the bottom plate of the case, a non-magnetic movable thrust shaft that is inserted in an axially movable manner spinning the first and second bearing metal, and first to third toroidal coils connected and fixed at the inner circumference of the case. The vibration generator further includes a first annular pole piece fixed to the movable thrust shaft, a first and a second tubular permanent magnet of axial magnetization, a second annular pole piece and third annular pole piece, first and second wight body fixed at both ends of the movable thrust shaft outside the case, a first coil spring between the end cover and the first wight body, and a second coil spring between the bottom plate and the second wight body.

Claims

1. A vibration generator, comprising:

a tubular case made of a magnetic material, the tubular case having a first axial end and a second axial end opposite to the first axial end;

an end cover arranged to close an opening of the first axial end of the tubular case and to hold a first bearing;

a second bearing held at the second axial end of the tubular case;

a movable thrust shaft axially movably inserted through the first bearing and the second bearing and made of a non-magnetic material;

a coil bobbin made of a resin to accommodate a first coil, a second coil and a third coil, the coil bobbin fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the tubular case such that the first coil, the second coil and the third coil are located in an adjoining relationship with each other;

an axially-magnetized first tubular permanent magnet and an axially-magnetized second tubular permanent magnet, each arranged within the tubular case and fixed to the movable thrust shaft extending therethrough, the axially-magnetized first tubular permanent magnet being closer to the first axial end than the axially-magnetized second tubular permanent magnet;

a first annular pole piece arranged within the tubular case and fixed to the movable thrust shaft extending therethrough, the first annular pole piece overlaid on one axial end surface of the first tubular permanent magnet and having an outer peripheral edge facing an inner circumferential surface of the first coil;

a second annular pole piece arranged within the tubular case and fixed to the movable thrust shaft extending therethrough, the second annular pole piece provided between the axially-magnetized first tubular permanent magnet and the axially-magnetized second tubular permanent magnet, the second annular pole piece facing an inner circumferential surface of the second coil;

a third annular pole piece arranged within the tubular case and fixed to the movable thrust shaft extending therethrough, the third annular pole piece overlaid on one axial end surface of the second tubular permanent magnet and having an outer peripheral edge facing an inner circumferential surface of the third coil, and

a spring means arranged to axially bias the movable thrust shaft with respect to the first axial end or the second axial end of the tubular case wherein both end portions of the movable thrust shaft extend outside the tubular case, the vibration generator further comprising;

a first weight body fixed to one axial end portion of the movable thrust shaft outside the tubular case; and

a second weight body fixed to the other axial end portion of the movable thrust shaft outside the tubular case.

2. The vibration generator of claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are formed by winding wires in the mutually opposite directions and serially connecting the wires, and the second coil and the third coil are formed by winding wires in the mutually opposite directions and serially connecting the wires.

3. The vibration generator of claim 1, wherein the tubular case has a bottom plate, and the second bearing is held by the bottom plate of the tubular case.

4. The vibration generator of claim 3, wherein the spring means includes a first spring interposed between the end cover and the first weight body and a second spring interposed between the bottom plate and the second weight body.

5. The vibration generator of claim 1, further comprising:

a metal bracket externally fitted to the tubular case at the other axial end of the tubular case, the metal bracket including a soldering-purpose flat surface.

6. The vibration generator of claim 5, wherein the end cover is one-piece provided with an inner cover portion for closing the opening of the tubular case and an outer cover portion fitted to one axial end opening of the metal bracket.

7. The vibration generator of claim 1, wherein the coil bobbin is of a single piece member to accommodate the first coil, the second coil and the third coil.