Abstract: Solenoid actuators comprising an armature mounted along its planar edge by ball bearing elements within a stator frame assembly. The armature and stator frame include opposing grooves at the plane of the armature in which the ball bearing elements are captured. The stator comprises multiple pole pieces having conductive ribbon stock wound therearound for connection to a source of electrical power to move the armature on the ball bearing elements within the frame. Fixed axis, variable position linear actuators, variable axis linear actuators and rotary actuators are disclosed as preferred embodiments. Modified embodiments include a stator assembly wherein opposed stator poles are staggered laterally of the actuator centerline so as to be positioned between adjacent pairs of opposed poles. The armature may be flat or may comprise a juxtaposed spaced pair of armature plates which have internested undulations which project between adjacent pairs of the opposing stator poles.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linearly indexing actuator in which a shaft is mounted for linear motion in the direction of its axis. A pair of electromagnetic stator assemblies are carried in fixed position coaxially spaced from each other in the direction of the shaft axis. Each stator assembly has an associated armature which is slidably carried by the shaft, and a spring for urging each armature away from its associated stator. A latch is pivotally mounted at one end to each armature eccentrically of the shaft axis and has a central aperture which embraces the shaft. The stator assemblies are sequentially and alternately energized, so that the latches alternately grip and move the shaft during motion of the associated armatures. The shaft is returned to its initial position by a return spring, or by an opposing pair of armature and stator assemblies.

Abstract: Solenoid actuators which include a stator assembly comprising a plurality of spaced parallel poles having coplanar end faces and symmetrically spaced side faces. An armature is mounted for attraction to and motion with respect to said stator, at least a component of which is perpendicular to the coplanar stator pole end faces and parallel to the pole side faces. The armature comprises a generally flat plate having a surface in parallel opposition to the pole end faces, and a plurality of integral ribs which extend between adjacent pairs of stator poles and have side faces opposed to and parallel to the pole side faces. Thus, the air gap between the stator and armature has a variable dimension component between the pole end faces and the opposing armature, and a fixed dimension component between the rib and pole side faces. The resulting output power versus stroke characteristic exhibits high output power at the beginning of the stroke, followed by a substantially constant power versus stroke function.