Linear or rotary actuator using electromagnetic driven hammer as prime mover

• US 9,941,779 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Structures And Materials, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Structures And Materials, LLC
• Inventors: Paine, Jeffrey S. N., Smith, Byron F., Sesler, Joshua J., Paine, Matthew T., McMahan, Bert K., McMahan, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahmadi, Zakaria
• Application Number:
  US14/707,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20160327137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/0356 moving along a straight path
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/0358 moving along a curvilinear path

Abstract

We claim a hammer driven actuator that uses the fast-motion, low-force characteristics of an electro-magnetic or similar prime mover to develop kinetic energy that can be transformed via a friction interface to produce a higher-force, lower-speed linear or rotary actuator by using a hammering process to produce a series of individual steps. Such a system can be implemented using a voice-coil, electro-mechanical solenoid or similar prime mover. Where a typical actuator provides limited range of motion or low force, the range of motion of a linear or rotary impact driven motor can be configured to provide large displacements which are not limited by the characteristic dimensions of the prime mover.

Claims

1. An actuator comprised of:

an output shaft (7, 11);

an impact collar (4) attached to the output shaft (7, 11);

a friction interface (5, 15) connected frictionally to the output shaft (7, 11); and

a prime mover operably engaged with the output shaft (7, 11), the prime mover comprised of a winding (1, 8) and a permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) positioned adjacent to the winding (1, 8), one of the winding (1, 8) and the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) being attached to the output shaft (7, 11), wherein movement of the winding (1, 8) relative to the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) causes movement of the output shaft (7, 11) relative to the friction interface (5, 15); and

wherein;

the prime mover further comprises a box frame hammer (3) attached to the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b), the box frame hammer (3) having opposing lower and upper faces (3a, 3b); and

the impact collar (4) is attached to the output shaft (7, 11) substantially between the lower and upper faces (3a, 3b) of the box frame hammer (3), whereby movement of the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) relative to the winding (1, 8) causes the box frame hammer (3) to impact the impact collar (4) and impart kinetic energy from the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) to the impact collar (4) and thus shift the output shaft (7, 11) relative to the friction interface (5, 15).

2. The actuator of claim 1 configured having a linear output, and wherein the prime mover is oriented such that the winding (1, 8) and the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) are approximately parallel to the output shaft (7, 11).

3. The actuator of claim 1 configured having a linear output, and wherein the prime mover has a limited stroke to impart kinetic energy to the output shaft (7, 11).

4. The actuator of claim 1 configured having a rotary output, and wherein the prime mover is oriented such that one of the winding (1, 8) and the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) are rotational around the output shaft (7, 11).

5. The actuator of claim 2, 3, or 4 wherein the winding (1, 8) is attached to the output shaft (7, 11) and so defines the output of the prime mover, and wherein the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) moves relative to the winding (1, 8) and the output shaft (7, 11).

6. The actuator of claim 2, 3, or 4 wherein the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) is attached to the output shaft (7, 11) and so defines the output of the prime mover, and wherein the winding (1, 8) moves relative to the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) and the output shaft (7, 11).

7. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the prime mover is selected from the group consisting of a voice coil actuator, a solenoid actuator, an electrostatic actuator, an AC induction actuator, a pneumatic piston device, and a hydraulic actuator.

8. The actuator of claim 1 wherein one of the winding (1, 8) and the permanent magnet assembly (2, 9a, 9b) comprises additional inertial mass.

9. An actuator comprised of:

an output shaft (7) having an impact collar (4) attached thereon;

a friction interface (5) connected frictionally to the output shaft (7); and

a linear prime mover operably engaged with the output shaft (7), the prime mover comprised of a winding (1) and a permanent magnet assembly (2) positioned adjacent to the winding (1), the winding (1) being attached to the output shaft (7), wherein movement of the permanent magnet assembly (2) relative to the winding (1) impacts the impact collar (4) and thus shifts the output shaft (7) relative to the friction interface (5); and

wherein;

the prime mover further comprises a box frame hammer (3) attached to the permanent magnet assembly (2), the box frame hammer (3) having opposing lower and upper faces (3a, 3b); and

the impact collar (4) is attached to the output shaft (7) substantially between the lower and upper faces (3a, 3b) of the box frame hammer (3), whereby movement of the permanent magnet assembly (2) relative to the winding (1) causes the box frame hammer (3) to impact the impact collar (4) and impart kinetic energy from the permanent magnet assembly (2) to the impact collar (4) so as to shift the output shaft (7) relative to the friction interface (5).

10. An actuator comprised of:

an output shaft (11);

a friction interface (15) connected frictionally to the output shaft (11); and

a prime mover operably engaged with the output shaft (11), the prime mover comprised of a winding (8) and a permanent magnet assembly positioned adjacent to the winding (8), the permanent magnet assembly comprising a set of spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b) attached to the output shaft (11) by rigid clamps (12a, 12b), and the winding (8) installed on the output shaft (11) between the spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b) via a bearing (14) so as to allow relative movement between the winding (8) and the output shaft (11), wherein movement of the winding (8) relative to the permanent magnet assembly impacts one of the spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b) and thus shifts the output shaft (11) relative to the friction interface (15); and

wherein;

opposing impact plates (13a, 13b) are formed on the respective spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b); and

opposite hammer pads (10a, 10b) are formed on the winding (8) and configured for selectively impacting the respective opposing impact plates (13a, 13b) so as to impart kinetic energy from the winding (8) to the permanent magnet assembly and thereby shift the output shaft (11) relative to the friction interface (15).

11. The actuator of claim 10 wherein the prime mover is oriented such that the winding (8) and the spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b) are offset from the output shaft (11).

12. The actuator of claim 10 configured having a linear output, and wherein the prime mover has a limited stroke to impart kinetic energy to the output shaft (11).

13. The actuator of claim 10 configured having a rotary output, and wherein the prime mover is oriented such that one of the winding (8) and the spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b) are rotational around the output shaft (11).

14. The actuator of claim 10 wherein the prime mover is selected from the group consisting of a voice coil actuator, a solenoid actuator, an electrostatic actuator, an AC induction actuator, a pneumatic piston device, and a hydraulic actuator.

15. The actuator of claim 10 wherein one of the winding (8) and the spaced-apart permanent magnets (9a, 9b) comprises additional inertial mass.