Closed-path linear motor
DCFirst Claim
1. A linear motor comprising:
- a path;
said path including a plurality of armature windings therein;
a plurality of switches, each one of said switches controlling application of power to one of said armature windings;
a linear motor stage movable on said path;
a plurality of motor permanent magnets on said stage facing said path for interaction with said armature windings;
means for controlling actuation only of those of said switches controlling application of power to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said motor permanent magnets;
said path describing a closed path; and
means for permitting said linear motor stage to traverse said closed path.
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Abstract
A linear motor path forms a closed figure. Contactless power control and position feedback permit a linear motor stage to traverse the closed figure without interference from trailing wires. One embodiment of the closed figure includes a racetrack pattern with straight runs joined by curved ends. Axes of armature windings are skewed to lie across the path in the curved ends to maintain force on the linear motor stage. Other embodiments of the invention includes multilevel paths wherein one portion of the path crosses over another portion of the path. Disclosure is made of a linear motor stage supported below the path by magnetic attraction between permanent magnets on the stage and magnetic material in the path.
65 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A linear motor comprising:
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a path; said path including a plurality of armature windings therein; a plurality of switches, each one of said switches controlling application of power to one of said armature windings; a linear motor stage movable on said path; a plurality of motor permanent magnets on said stage facing said path for interaction with said armature windings; means for controlling actuation only of those of said switches controlling application of power to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said motor permanent magnets; said path describing a closed path; and means for permitting said linear motor stage to traverse said closed path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A path for a linear motor comprising:
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a plurality of armature windings in said path; means for controlling application of power to said plurality of armature windings; and said path including at least first and second levels. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A linear motor comprising:
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a path; said path including a magnetic material therein; a movable stage movable on said path; said movable stage including permanent magnets thereon facing said magnetic material; at least a portion of said path placing said movable stage below said path; and said permanent magnets having sufficient magnetic attraction to said magnetic material to retain said movable stage on said path, including said at least a portion.
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Specification