Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, linear stepper motor, comprising; an annular stator structure; an axially extending, cylindrical, permanent magnet shaft extending coaxially through said annular stator structure; and the axially extending, cylindrical, permanent magnet shaft having a smooth external surface along a portion thereof with axially alternating N and S poles defined circumferentially in an outer periphery of the portion of the axially extending, cylindrical, permanent magnet shaft. The present invention also provides a method of magnetizing the shaft of such a motor and a fixture and method of manufacturing the fixture therefor.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear actuator, including: front and rear end bells; a stator structure; a rotor structure having first and second bearings journaled, respectively, in cavities formed in inner surfaces of the front and rear end bells; a captivation sleeve having its proximal end threadedly inserted in a cavity formed in an outer surface of the front end bell; and all foregoing elements being coaxially aligned to permit the insertion therethrough of a lead screw.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear/rotary motor, including: first and second stator structures, having magnetically coupled thereto, respectively, first and second rotors; a first, externally threaded shaft fixedly attached to the first rotor and extending axially therefrom, such that rotation of the first rotor causes rotation of the first, externally threaded shaft; a second shaft, having a splined external surface, extending through a complementarily shaped opening defined through the second rotor, and axially movable with respect thereto, such that rotation of the second rotor causes rotation of the second shaft; and the second shaft including threaded apparatus cooperatively engaging the first, externally threaded shaft, such that rotation of the first, threaded shaft can cause linear motion of the second, cylindrical shaft. The motor can be operated to provide rotary, linear, or simultaneous rotary and linear motion of the second shaft.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear/rotary motor, including: a housing; an output shaft extending from the housing; a rotary motor disposed within the housing, the output shaft being given rotational motion by the rotary motor; a linear motor disposed within the housing; a linear shaft axially moveable by the linear motor; and a coupling to join the linear shaft and the output shaft to permit transfer of axial motion from the linear shaft to the output shaft but to isolate rotational motion of the output shaft from the linear shaft.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an actuator, including: a shaft (34); a solenoid (24), having a coil (40) and a core (42), disposed at a first selected position on the shaft, with the core being fixedly attached to the shaft such that energization of the coil will cause the shaft to move axially; and a rotary motor (22), having a stator (30) and a rotor (32), disposed at a selected second position on the shaft, with the shaft passing through the rotor, an external surface of the shaft and an internal surface of the rotor having complementary engaging surfaces such that rotation of the rotor will cause rotation of the shaft and axial motion of the shaft will be isolated from the rotor.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear/rotary electromagnetic device, including: a housing (20); first and second stators (22 and 40) disposed in the housing, first and second rotors (24/26 and 42/44) disposed in the housing and magnetically interacting, respectively, with the first and second stators; the first stator and the first rotor comprising a rotary motor; the second stator and the second rotor comprising an electromagnetic brake; a shaft (28) extending through a portion of the housing and axially through the first and second rotors, the shaft having a threaded portion (50) extending through a complementary threaded portion (44) of one of the first and second rotors; whereby; when the electromagnetic brake is locked and the rotary motor is rotated in a first direction, the shaft will move axially in a first direction; when the electromagnetic brake is locked and the rotary motor is rotated in the second direction, the shaft will move axially in a second direction; and when the electromagnetic brake is r

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a stepper motor control, including: a driver to drive the stepper rotor; a detector to detect a commanded step rate signal provided to the driver and to provide an output signal proportional thereto; a power control, responsive to the output signal, to provide driving power to the driver, and to increase voltage to the driver in proportion to an increase in magnitude of the output signal; and an over-current protection circuit that becomes active above a predetermined motor current level and above a predetermined commanded step rate. Voltage control can be effected either on the drive board or by controlling the power supply. An additional feature provides over-current protection for the stepper motor during a lock rotor (stall) condition. The stepper motor control produces very low levels of EMI/RFI as compared with PWM current control (chopper) drives.

Abstract: A flexible joint for first and second rotating members, including: a hub fixedly connected to a proximal end of the first rotating member at a first end of the hub; the hub being constructed for the insertion in a second, opposite end of the hub of a proximal end of the second rotating member, the proximal end of the second rotating member being moveable within the hub such that a distal end of the second rotating member may move axially with respect to the first rotating member and/or may move radially away from a major axis of the first rotating member; and a spring disposed between an end face of the proximal end of the second rotating member and an inner face of the hub to bias the second rotating member axially away from the hub and the first rotating member, strength of the spring determining the ease with which the distal end of the second rotating member may move.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a hermetically sealed electrical switch, including: a housing; a bellows having a closed end and an open end, with the open end sealingly attached to the housing such that a first volume defined by interior surfaces of the housing and exterior surfaces of the bellows is hermetically sealed from external environment and such that a second volume defined at least in part by interior surfaces of the bellows is in communication with the external environment; switching apparatus disposed in the first volume; switch actuator apparatus at least partially disposed in the second volume; and wherein depression of the switch actuator apparatus against the closed end of the bellows causes the closed end of the bellows to press against and actuate the switching apparatus.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear positioning device, including: a frame member; an electric motor disposed to selectively move axially back and forth in the frame member; carriage apparatus attached to the electric motor; and apparatus to guide the motor in axial movement and to prevent radial movement thereof. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a frame for a linear positioning device, including: a horizontal base plate; vertical end plates for attachment to ends of the base plate; the base plate including a first groove defined in the surface thereof for the mounting therein of a guide rail for a moving member; and the base plate is cut from an extrusion which includes the first groove, without the machining thereof. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided, in a linear positioning device, having the front end plate of an electric motor as an end plate of the device.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, in an electric motor of the type including a cup-shaped housing and a housing mounting plate, the improvement comprising: providing said cup-shaped housing and said housing mounting plate as a monolithic part. In another embodiment, an electric motor, including: first and second stator coils wound, respectively, on first and second bobbins; first and second stator poles closely engaging, respectively, slots defined in the first and second bobbins to radially align, respectively, the first and second stator poles with respect to the first and second bobbins; a central pole structure having formed thereon poles extending in proximity to the first and second bobbins; and alignment structure extending between the first and second bobbins and through the central pole structure to radially align the poles on the central pole structure with respect to the first and second bobbins and the first and second poles.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a suction punch forceps, including: a body; a hollow tube attached to the body at the proximal end of the hollow tube and extending therefrom; a shaft disposed within the hollow tube for axial back-and-forth movement therein; a punch member rotatably attached to the distal end of the hollow tube and attached to the shaft such that each back-and-forth movement cycle of the shaft will cause the punch to make a cutting motion to cut tissue which is in contact with the punch member; and an electric motor attached to drive the shaft in the back-and-forth movement,

Abstract: A horizontally adjustable microphone support, including: a vertical support; a generally horizontal cross member attached to the vertical support; a microphone and a counterweight attached to the horizontal cross member on opposite sides of the vertical support; and apparatus to simultaneously move the microphone and the counterweight selectively inwardly toward or outwardly away from the vertical support so as to prevent the microphone support from tipping over. The horizontal cross member includes first and second telescoping tube pairs. The proximal ends of the inner tubes of the telescoping tube pairs are attached to the electric motor that is mounted in a housing on the distal end of the vertical support. Extending from opposite ends of the electric motor are right-hand and left-hand threaded double-ended shaft sections. Thread followers are attached to inner walls of the inner tube of the telescoping tube pairs surrounding the threaded shaft sections.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, in an electric motor of the type having a housing, a non-metallic bobbin upon which is wound a stator coil, a rotor having a rotor shaft fixedly attached thereto and extending therefrom, the rotor being disposed for rotation axially centrally of the bobbin, the improvement including: a bearing structure, the bearing structure being formed integrally with the non-metallic bobbin and having a central opening for the journalling therein of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an oscillating stepping motor having only one stator phase. What would otherwise be a second stator phase is a magnet fixedly disposed with respect to the rotor to produce a detent position of the rotor. When the stator is energized, the field of the fixed magnet is at least partially overcome and the rotor steps to a first predetermined position. When the stator is de-energized, the rotor returns to the detent position. Alternately energizing and de-energizing the stator causes the rotor to oscillate between the two positions. Alternatively, an angle of oscillation twice that produced above may be provided by reversing the stator field to oscillate the rotor between the first predetermined position and a second predetermined position produced by reversing the stator field.

Abstract: A multi-phase stepper motor in which one or more salient sensor poles and corresponding pick-up windings are employed to sense the actual position of the rotor. The rotor is of annular configuration and includes a first set of nonsalient rotor poles around its outer periphery and a second set of nonsalient rotor poles around its inner periphery, with the outer rotor poles being in magnetic flux relationship with the motor's stator poles and the inner rotor poles being in magnetic flux relationship with the sensor poles. A cylindrical housing of magnetic material surrounds the motor. An energizing circuit is provided to apply successive direct current pulses to the stator windings of the motor, and the pick-up windings are connected in a feedback circuit to adjust the applied pulses in accordance with the desired position of the rotor.

Abstract: A multi-phase stepper motor having an annular permanent magnetic rotor and a plurality of matingly engageable stator phase assemblies around the rotor. Each of the phase assemblies comprises a pair of annular pole pieces including interleaved salient stator poles. The stator pole pieces in each pair are mated together in an opposed relationship to form an annular space between them to receive an energizing winding, and the winding for each pair is of a different phase. Depending upon the number of phase assemblies, the machine can operate in more than two phases. The diameter of the rotor is between about 55 percent and about 75 percent of the motor diameter, and approximately 40 percent more torque is produced than with equivalent sized conventional motors.

Abstract: An upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a platform parallel to the base for the exerciser to stand on, chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame, a system to oscillate the platform vertically between a lower position and an upper position while maintaining the platform parallel to the base and while avoiding any angular displacement, a pneumatic cylinder for providing a force to the oscillating system which is opposite the weight of the exerciser, and a control and monitor whereby the force is controlled and the oscillation of the platform is monitored.

Abstract: An upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a platform parallel to the base for the exerciser to stand on, chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame, a system to oscillate the platform vertically between a lower position and an upper position while maintaining the platform parallel to the base and while avoiding any angular displacement, a pneumatic cylinder for providing a force to the oscillating system which is opposite the weight of the exerciser, and a control and monitor whereby the force is controlled and the oscillation of the platform is monitored.