Electromagnetic inertial actuator

• US 9,404,549 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Badre-Alam, Askari, Janowski, Michael D., Trull, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US12/774,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20110033310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,281 Days
• Field of Search: 310/36, 310/51, 188/378, 248/550, 248/638
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/185 characterised by shape or design of individual leaves F16F1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/20 with layers, e.g. anti-friction layers, or with rollers between the leaves
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/03 using magnetic or electromagnetic means F16F9/53, F16F15/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/12 the steel spring being in contact with the rubber spring F16F1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/1011 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/104 the inertia member being resiliently mounted F16F7/1022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49609 Spring making

Abstract

An electromagnetic inertial actuator includes a support base and a parallel arrangement of a first flexure part, a voice coil motor part, and a second flexure part. The parallel arrangement is cantilevered from the support base.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic inertial actuator (1) in electronic communication with a controller (65), comprising:

a support base (3);

a parallel arrangement of a first flexure part (7), a voice coil motor part (9), and a second flexure part (11), the parallel arrangement being cantilevered from the support base (3), the first flexure part (7) and the second flexure part (11) each comprise an upper and lower flexure part (7, 11), wherein the first upper and lower flexure parts (7) are each comprised of a first flexure stack (50) and the second upper and lower flexure parts (11) are each comprised of a second flexure stack (50);

a first clamp (58) engaged with the first end (8) of the first flexure stack (50) and a second clamp (58) engaged with the first end (12) of the second flexure stack (50), each of the first clamp (58) and the second clamp (58) being attached to the support base (3) at a plurality of points, thereby coupling first ends (8, 12) of the first and second flexure parts (7, 11) to the support base (3);

a third clamp (58) engaged with a second end (10) of the first flexure stack (50) and a fourth clamp (58) engaged with the second end (14) of the second flexure stack (50), each of the third clamp (58) and the fourth clamp (58) being attached to a yoke (39) at a plurality of points, thereby coupling the second ends (10, 14) of the first and second flexure stacks (50) to the yoke (13);

a yoke (49) coupled to a magnet part (13) and to the second end (10) of the first flexure stack (50) and a second end (14) of the second flexure stack (50), thereby coupling second ends (10, 14) of the of the flexure parts (50) to the magnet part (13);

wherein the voice coil motor part (9) comprises the magnet part (13) and a coil part (15), the magnet part (13) comprising a plurality of permanent magnets (17, 19, 21, 23), the coil part comprising a coil (41);

wherein each of the upper and lower flexure parts (7, 11) has opposing first (8, 12) and second ends (10, 14), the first ends (8, 12) being coupled to the support base (3), the second ends (10, 14) being coupled to the magnet part (13);

wherein the magnet part (13) further comprises ferromagnetic material (31, 33, 35, 37, 39) disposed adjacent to each of the permanent magnets (17, 19, 21, 23);

wherein the permanent magnets (17, 19, 21, 23) define at least one gap (25, 27) for receiving the coil (41);

wherein distal ends of the magnet part (13) and coil (41) define an adjustable gap (47) to accommodate arc motion of the parallel arrangement relative to the support base (3) when the electromagnetic inertial actuator (1) is driven; and

wherein the controller (65) is configured to communicate an electronic signal to the electromagnetic inertial actuator (1) and thereby drive the voice coil (9) magnet part (13) to move relative to base (3) and create a vibration.

2. The electromagnetic inertial actuators of claim 1, wherein each of the permanent magnets is flat.

3. The electromagnetic inertial actuator of claim 1, wherein each of the permanent magnets has a rectangular or triangular cross-section.

4. The electromagnetic inertial actuator of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnets define two parallel gaps for receiving the coil.

5. The electromagnetic inertial actuator of claim 1, wherein the first flexure part comprises a plurality of first flexure stacks and the second flexure part comprises a plurality of second flexure stacks with said yoke in between said first flexure stacks and in between said second flexure stacks.

6. The electromagnetic inertial actuator of claim 1, wherein each of the first flexure stack and second flexure stack comprises a plurality of flexures interleaved with a plurality of shims.

7. The electromagnetic inertial actuator of claim 6, wherein the flexures are composite flexures and the bonded elastomeric end shims are configured to inhibit fretting.

8. The electromagnetic inertial actuator of claim 1, wherein the coil is physically grounded to the support base.