Linear actuator

• US 20050212363A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shinano Kenshi Kabushi Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Okubo, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,205,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/0356 moving along a straight path

Abstract

A linear actuator has improved output performance and can be assembled with high precision. The linear actuator includes: a yoke part where yoke components, where a hollow is formed between an outer circumferential surface of a first yoke provided on one side of a ring-shaped permanent magnet and an inner circumferential surface of a second yoke provided on another side of the ring-shaped permanent magnet, are combined on an outer circumference of a guide pipe with end surfaces of the first yokes and/or end surfaces of the second yokes being in contact and magnetic poles formed in facing yoke surfaces having a same polarity; and a shaft-linked part where a coil bobbin, which is disposed in the hollow of the yoke part and around which a coil has been wound, and a shaft inserted into the guide pipe are linked. By switching the direction of the current flowing in the coil, relative movement between the yoke part and the shaft-linked part is reciprocally caused in an axial direction.

Claims

1. A linear actuator that produces thrust in a moving part by electromagnetic force that acts in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a current flowing in a coil and to a magnetic field formed in a yoke-part, the linear actuator comprising:

a yoke part where yoke components, where a hollow is formed between an outer circumferential surface of a first yoke provided on one side of a ring-shaped permanent magnet and an inner circumferential surface of a second yoke provided on another side of the ring-shaped permanent magnet, are combined on an outer circumference of a guide pipe with end surfaces of the first yokes and/or end surfaces of the second yokes being in contact and magnetic poles formed in facing yoke surfaces having a same polarity; and

a shaft-linked part where a coil bobbin, which is disposed in the hollow of the yoke part and around which a coil has been wound, and a shaft inserted into the guide pipe are linked,

wherein by switching the direction of the current flowing in the coil, relative movement between the yoke part and the shaft-linked part is reciprocally caused in an axial direction.

3. A linear actuator according to claim 1,

wherein the shaft-linked part includes one or a plurality of coil supports, one end of each of which passes through openings formed in at least one of the second yokes and is connected to the coil bobbin and another end of each of which is linked to the shaft.

4. A linear actuator according to claim 1,

wherein in the yoke part, yoke components, which have been integrated by magnetic attraction by magnetizing in a coaxially positioned state where the first yoke has been stacked on one end of the permanent magnet and the second yoke has been stacked on another end of the permanent magnet, are combined on the outer circumference of the guide pipe.

5. A linear actuator according to claim 1,

wherein in the yoke part, a first gap is formed between a pipe outer circumferential surface and yoke component inner circumferential surfaces corresponding to a position where the guide pipe and the shaft slide, and second gaps are formed between a pipe inner circumferential surface and the shaft corresponding to positions where the guide pipe and the yoke components make contact.

6. A linear actuator according to claim 1,

wherein magnetic flux acting surface parts, where an outer circumferential surface part that faces the coil is extended toward both sides in the axial direction, are formed in the first yokes.

7. A linear actuator according to claim 1,

wherein a magnetic body is formed in a range of no greater than 180°

about a center of the shaft on a moving part outer circumferential surface that faces the yoke.

2. A linear actuator that produces thrust in a moving part by electromagnetic force that acts in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a current flowing in a coil and to a magnetic field formed in a yoke part,

the linear actuator comprising:

a yoke part produced by combining, on an outer circumference of a guide pipe, yoke components in each of which a first yoke is provided on one side of a ring-shaped permanent magnet and a second yoke with a larger diameter than the first yoke is provided on another surface of the ring-shaped permanent magnet, a hollow being formed between an inner circumferential surface of a tubular third yoke, which is disposed between the second yokes of the yoke components, and outer circumferential surfaces of the first yokes, and magnetic poles formed in end surfaces of the adjacent first yoke surfaces having a same polarity; and

a shaft-linked part where a coil bobbin, which is disposed in the hollow of the yoke part and around which a coil has been wound, and a shaft inserted into the guide pipe are linked,

wherein by switching the direction of the current flowing in the coil, relative movement between the yoke part and the shaft-linked part is reciprocally caused in an axial direction.