Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator is provided. The electromagnetic actuator includes a planetary roller screw and at least two motor assemblies disposed on opposing sides of the roller screw. The planetary roller screw includes a shaft linearly translatable between an extended position and a retracted position, a nut rotatable about the shaft, and a plurality of rollers coupling the nut to the shaft. A spur gear is fixedly connected to the nut. Each motor assembly includes a DC motor having an output shaft, a planetary gear head coupled to the DC motor output shaft and having an output shaft, and a pinion gear coupled to the spur gear and fixedly connected to the planetary gear head output shaft.

Abstract: An electric motor may include a plurality of stationary field coils. The field coils are disposed so that they are overlap and are nested with adjacent field coils. A portion of each coil is disposed above a portion of an adjacent coil, and a portion of each coil is disposed beneath another adjacent coil. The average radial distance of the coils from the rotational center of the motor rotor is substantially the same. This arrangement of coils facilitates rotation of the rotor at relatively high speed for applications such as flywheel storage batteries because it reduces or eliminates variations in the torque produced by the coils. In an embodiment, the coils are bent so that they are nested. By bending the coils, the coils overlap and the air gap within the motor is minimized.

Abstract: A presently-preferred magnetic bearing comprises a rotor disk having a first plurality of concentric teeth extending from a surface thereof, and a stator disk having a second plurality of concentric teeth extending from a surface thereof. The first and the second plurality of concentric teeth are spaced apart by a gap that permits a primary magnetic flux to flow between the first and the second plurality of concentric teeth substantially in a first direction. Then magnetic bearing also comprises a plurality of flux focusing magnets fixedly coupled to at least one of the surface of the rotor disk and the surface of the stator disk. The flux focusing magnets produce a secondary magnetic flux that flows substantially in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration damping and isolation apparatus having a passive damping mechanism. The passive damping mechanism includes a piston and first and second elements of magnetic material with a shaft extending therebetween. The piston and shaft are linearly movable relative to one another upon application of forces to the damping apparatus. The shaft is spaced from an axial bore of the piston by a restrictive fluid flow annulus that is filled with a viscous fluid. A resilient seal mechanism, having a static stiffness, couples the first and second elements to the piston to define first and second viscous fluid filled chambers in fluid communication with the annulus. Shearing of the fluid as it is displaced through the annulus dissipates the forces. A magnetic mechanism generates magnetic forces that act on the first and second elements to destiffen the static stiffness of the resilient seal mechanism to improve vibration damping and isolation at low frequencies.