Motor Having Both Linear And Rotary Movement Patents (Class 310/12.14)
  • Patent number: 8350420
    Abstract: An electric motor 1 includes a rotor core 22 having n pieces of teeth T arranged in the circumferential direction around which a coil wire 23 is wound, a commutator 24 having n pieces of segments 24a 24b, and 24c, and the coil wire 23 having a connecting wire portion 23a that connects the teeth T and the segments 24a, 24b, and 24c and a crossover portion 23b that interconnects the segments 24a, 24b, and 24c at the opposite pole positions of the commutator 24 around a shaft 23. The crossover portion 23b that connects the i-th (i=1 to n) and the (i+n/2)th of the segments 24a, 24b, and 24c is wound prior to the connecting wire portion 23b that connects the teeth T connected with the i-th segment 24a, 24b, 24c and the (i+1)th segment 24a, 24b, 24c, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kimura, Takahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8314518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the output of an electromechanical actuator of the rotary-linear type in order to detect a gradual seizing thereof, wherein said method comprises: measuring the intensity, representative of the motor torque, of the electrical current powering an induction winding of the actuator and the axial stress undergone by an actuator rod; calculating the ratio (axial stress undergone by an actuator rod/motor torque) representative of the global output of the actuator and of its present state; and generating an evaluation of the present condition of the actuator based on its present state and optionally on previous stored states and on outer parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Daniel Hors, Francis Lepore, Jean-François Weibel
  • Patent number: 8283813
    Abstract: A drive section for a substrate transport arm including a frame, at least one stator mounted within the frame, the stator including a first motor section and at least one stator bearing section and a coaxial spindle magnetically supported substantially without contact by the at least one stator bearing section, where each drive shaft of the coaxial spindle includes a rotor, the rotor including a second motor section and at least one rotor bearing section configured to interface with the at least one stator bearing section, wherein the first motor section is configured to interface with the second motor section to effect rotation of the spindle about a predetermined axis and the at least one stator bearing section is configured to effect at least leveling of a substrate transport arm end effector connected to the coaxial spindle through an interaction with the at least one rotor bearing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulysses Gilchrist, Martin Hosek, Jairo Terra Moura, Jay Krishnasamy, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20120222526
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving an object is provided, having a cutting blade for slicing food products. The apparatus includes an electric drive motor that is configured to drive the object to make rotational movements about an axis, and to make axial movements generally parallel to the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventor: Günther Weber
  • Patent number: 8253281
    Abstract: An energy harvesting apparatus, for deployment on a vehicle, comprises a vehicle shock absorber including a dust tube, and a damper tube telescopically mounted within the dust tube and configured for oscillating translational movement with respect thereto. A magnet is fixedly coupled to one of the dust tube or the damper tube, and a coil is fixedly coupled to the other of the dust tube or the damper tube to achieve relative translational movement between the magnet and the coil to induce a current in the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Yunjun Li, Timothy J. Talty, Robert B. Elliott, Nancy McMahon
  • Publication number: 20120119592
    Abstract: An actuator is provided, which includes a main shaft having a first shaft portion for generating a magnetic field in a linear direction and a second shaft portion for generating a magnetic field in a rotational direction, and a coil wound around an outer peripheral surface of the main shaft. The actuator performs both a rotational driving function and a straight driving function via a single unit to improve the positional accuracy and provide spatial efficiency, thereby improving the merchantable quality of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyung Min Lee
  • Publication number: 20120110856
    Abstract: An electric motor for an electric appliance having a rotor, a stator, and a coil for the generation of a magnetic field. The motor has a first magnet arrangement having a first permanent magnet which, by interaction with a magnetic field generated using the coil, generates a force for the excitation of a rotary movement of the rotor. A second magnet arrangement may also be provided which has at least one second permanent magnet is arranged such that a translatory oscillatory movement of the rotor is effected by the Lorentz force acting in the field of the second permanent magnet on the conductors of the coil through which current flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Frank Kressmann, Uwe Schober, Alexander Doll
  • Patent number: 8149520
    Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a multi-polar magnet, in which north and south poles are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction, the multi-polar magnet being shaped into one of a circular ring and a circular arc member; and a coil body having coils which are provided around the multi-polar magnet to be capable of moving in the circumferential direction of the multi-polar magnet, each of the coils substantially lying on a plane that extends in a radial direction of the multi-polar magnet and orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the multi-polar magnet. The north and south poles of the multi-polar magnet are positioned apart from each other by a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction. Dimensions of each coil are predetermined so that length of each coil in the circumferential direction is associated with the predetermined interval. Predetermined currents are passed through the coils in a properly phased manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20120043832
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a compact linear actuator having an improved rotary mechanism are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the linear actuator comprises a spline bearing for guiding the shaft of the actuator as it is linearly actuated. A rotor positioned around the spline bearing rotatably engages the spline bearing when magnetically actuated by a surrounding stator. A rotational lock connected to the piston assembly may be used to prevent the piston assembly from rotating during operation. Optionally, a rotary scale may be attached to the spline bearing in order to indicate how far the shaft has rotated. Since the shaft does not bear the mass of the rotary mechanism, linear performance of the actuator is substantially improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Edward A. NEFF, Toan M. Vu
  • Publication number: 20120038228
    Abstract: To further reduce force ripple of a linear motor, a primary part has a plurality of windings sequentially arranged in an axial direction and subdivided in the axial direction into groups having an identical number of windings. The sequence of the association of the windings with the phases of a multi-phase system is not repeated at least in a group of windings within the primary part as long as the winding sense of the corresponding windings in the group is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: ROLF VOLLMER
  • Patent number: 8106545
    Abstract: Provided is a linear actuator unit that includes: a guide shaft formed of a magnetic body that is formed into a tubular shape while having a hollow portion therein, and has one linear opening portion formed thereon along an axial direction thereof; a slide member capable of reciprocating motion freely along the guide shaft; a magnet rod supported at both ends thereof in the hollow portion of the guide shaft; a forcer arranged on a periphery of the magnet rod in the hollow portion of the guide shaft, constitutes a linear motor together with the magnet rod, and is joined to the slide member while interposing the opening portion of the guide shaft therebetween; and a rod correction plate that is formed of a magnetic body, and juts out from the slide member forward and backward in a movement direction thereof so as to close the opening portion of the guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Homma, Akihiro Unno
  • Publication number: 20120017539
    Abstract: A drive unit, which has a first motor and a second motor, for rotationally and linearly moving a working element with respect to a first housing element. In order to permit a design and a mounting and to reduce the required axial installation space and cost, the drive unit has bearing arrangement which, in the case of a linear movement of the working element with respect to the first housing element, permits a primary part and a secondary part of the first motor and/or of the second motor to be arranged in an axially non-displaceable fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicants: INA DRIVES & MECHATRONICS GMBH & CO. KG, SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Neufeld, Guenter Schmid, Ralf Schueler
  • Publication number: 20120001499
    Abstract: An actuator according to an embodiment includes support mechanisms that are disposed in plural places of an output shaft in a longitudinal direction and support the output shaft in a linear direction and a rotation direction, a motor portion that is disposed in a longitudinal direction of the output shaft and drives the output shaft in the linear direction and the rotation direction, a first detecting portion that detects an angle of a rotation direction of the output shaft, and a second detecting portion that detects displacement of the direct direction of the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shogo MAKINO, Toru Shikayama, Haruki Yahara
  • Patent number: 8089188
    Abstract: A generator includes a coil of conductive material. A stationary magnetic field source applies a stationary magnetic field to the coil. An internal magnetic field source is disposed within a cavity of the coil to apply a moving magnetic field to the coil. The stationary magnetic field interacts with the moving magnetic field to generate an electrical energy in the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas George Thundat, Charles W. Van Neste, Arpad Alexander Vass
  • Patent number: 8084897
    Abstract: A micro stage with 6 degrees of freedom used in super-precise processing and sensing equipment fields is disclosed. The micro stage has three sets of electromagnetic driving units arranged in a horizontal plane for driving the micro stage to obtain movements within the horizontal plane with 3 degrees of freedom in X, Y and ?z directions and three electromagnetic driving units arranged in a vertical direction for driving the micro stage to obtain additional movements with 3 degrees of freedom in Z, ?x and ?y directions. Direct driving by electromagnetic force is used in the invention. The invention is also applicable in super-precise processing and sensing fields for achieving 6 degree-of-freedom motions. The micro stage, which operates on the basis of Lorentz Law, provides a linear relation between the output pushing force and the input electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Yu Zhu, Jinsong Wang, Ming Zhang, Guang Li, Dengfeng Xu, Wensheng Yin, Guanghong Duan, Kaiming Yang
  • Patent number: 8084898
    Abstract: A magnetic actuator includes a housing; a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet placed in the housing and being relatively rotatable in a plane including a magnetization direction; a magnetic-field generating unit outside of the housing, the magnetic-field generating unit generating a magnetic field that relatively rotates the first permanent magnet and/or the second permanent magnet in a direction such that the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet generate a repulsive force against each other; and a first guiding portion provided in the housing to regulate a direction in which the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet relatively move by the generated repulsive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Miho Katayama
  • Patent number: 8076804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a primary component (2) for an electric motor (1), said primary component (2) being formed from at least one bundle of laminations (3) and comprises at least one flux guiding element (10) on one or both front faces (S1, S2) to reduce the ripple effect, said primary component (2) being separated from a secondary component (7) by a first air gap (?1). The primary component (2) has at least one section (?2) in the region of the flux guiding element (10), said section (?2) being electrically non-conducting (Kel=0) and having a negligibly low magnetic permeability (?r?1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Zeljko Jajtic, Christian Volmert
  • Publication number: 20110298921
    Abstract: A rotational driving device has a rotation body and a plurality of magnetic rotation drivers so as to rotate the rotation body by generating a magnetic force in a rotation direction. Provided in an area formed between the magnetic rotation drivers are a first magnetic sensor that detects a position of the rotation body in a radial direction; a second magnetic sensor that detects a position of the rotation body in an axial direction; a first electromagnet that controls the position of the rotation body in the radial direction by generating a radial-direction magnetic force; and a second electromagnet that controls the position of the rotation body in the axial direction by generating an axial-direction magnetic force. The rotational driving device is capable of providing a long-term dependability, inhibiting vibration, as well as using space effectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinori OSADA, Yuuji TOYOMURA, Nobuhiro TUCHIHASHI
  • Patent number: 8062200
    Abstract: A tool-changing device includes a tool gripper and a stroke and pivoting actuator for operating the tool gripper. The stroke and pivoting actuator can be driven by a first direct drive for producing a linear movement and by a second direct drive for producing a rotational movement, wherein the first and the second direct drives have a common rotor which serves as the stroke and pivoting actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Zeljko Jajtic, Maximilian Klaus
  • Patent number: 8063517
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to create a combined linear-rotary drive that has a compact, simple, and inexpensive design. Said aim is achieved by a combined drive comprising a linear driving device (3) and a rotary driving device (11), at least one of the two driving devices being provided with a hybrid reluctance motor. It is particularly advantageous to embody both driving devices as hybrid reluctance motors such that the rotor (4) can be produced at a low cost without permanent magnets in addition to ensuring that the drive has a very compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Bott, Matthias Braun, Detlef Potoradi, Holger Schunk, Rolf Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20110254385
    Abstract: A direct acting rotation actuator includes a motor unit, an output shaft, a detector unit, and a bearing portion. The motor unit includes a field magnet portion which includes a permanent magnet or a core tooth, a first armature winding which generates a rotation magnetic field in the rotation direction, and a second armature winding which generates a traveling magnetic field in the direct acting direction. The output shaft is attached to the field magnet portion of the motor unit. The detector unit includes a direct acting detector and a rotation detector respectively detecting a position in the direct acting direction and an angle in the rotation direction of the output shaft. The bearing portion includes a direct acting bearing and a rotation bearing respectively supporting the output shaft in the direct acting direction and the rotation direction. The motor unit is disposed on an anti-load side of the output shaft, and the detector unit is disposed on a load side of the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shogo Makino, Toru Shikayama
  • Patent number: 8026640
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric machine which comprises a first machine part (30), comprising a stator element (31) and a rotor element (32) and being configured as a rotary actuator which interacts with a rotary movement of the rotor element (32). The electric machine (40) also comprises a second machine part (20), comprising a primary part (1) and a secondary part (2) and being configured as a linear actuator which interacts with a linear movement of the secondary part (2). The rotor element (32) of the first machine part (30) and the secondary part (2) of the second machine part (20) are interlinked. The secondary part (2) of the second machine part (20) can be rotated and is configured as an external rotor. Such a secondary part (2) allows to generate a higher power of a secondary machine part (20) acting as the linear motor. The secondary part (2) is mounted in the center thereof in relation to the primary part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Bott, Rolf Vollmer, Matthias Braun, Holger Schunk
  • Patent number: 8022580
    Abstract: A plastics injection-molding machine is to be equipped with a more compact drive that undergoes less wear. For this purpose, it is envisaged to integrate the direct rotational drive into the direct linear drive. Accordingly, the electric linear motor has a pot-shaped external rotor (13), in the inner space of which the main part of a hollow-cylindrical stator (16) of the linear motor is arranged and which is firmly connected to the output shaft (10). The rotary drive has a stator (18), which is mounted on the inner wall of the hollow-cylindrical stator (16) of the linear motor, and a rotor, which is firmly coupled to the output shaft (10) within the stator (18) of the rotary electric motor. This direct drive produces a very compact type of construction and it is possible to dispense with easily wearing threaded spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Budde, Mykhaylo Toldonov
  • Patent number: 8008813
    Abstract: An improved linear motor is provided useful in conjunction with audio equipment for reduced distortion audio output at high voice coil displacements. The improved linear motor may include a yoke, a gap plate which forms an air gap with the yoke, magnets coupled to the yoke and the gap plate, a former, and a voice coil coupled to the former. The magnets generate a magnetic field across the air gap, which is relatively narrow. The former and coil fit in the air gap and may move in a vertical direction. The voice coil includes more than one segment, each having differing electrical resistance. The differing resistances cause the force on the voice coil to be uniform regardless of displacement of the voice coil vertically within the air gap. Resistance differences between the segments may be caused by differing the wire lengths making up each segment of the coil. Likewise, each segment may be made of differing material to vary resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Kyle Lee Keating
  • Patent number: 8001865
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shifting device for a transmission (1) with an electronic control unit (22) and toothed gear wheels (6, 7), which are mounted to rotate on a transmission shaft (2) about an axis (3). To implement a gear stage, the toothed gear wheels can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the transmission shaft by moving a shifter pawl (4) axially along the axis. The shifter pawl is moved axially along the axis by a linear motor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Bernd Müller
  • Publication number: 20110181129
    Abstract: Provided is a linear and rotary actuator capable of bearing moment and load from a movable body and downsizing its radial dimension. A spline shaft is held in housings to be movable linearly in the axial direction and rotatable about the axis. The spline shaft is connected to a mover shaft of a linear motor. The spline shaft is surrounded with a hollow rotor of a rotary motor. The rotor is connected to a spline nut which transmits rotation of the rotor to the spline shaft by rotating together with the rotor and allows linear movement of the spline shaft. The rotor of the rotary motor is rotated by a stator of the rotary motor. The spline nut, the stator of the rotary motor and a stator of the linear motor are arranged in this order from an end of the spline shaft and mover shaft along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Aso, Shuhei Yamanaka, Takayuki Kuze
  • Patent number: 7973435
    Abstract: An electrical linear drive device comprises an outer housing consisting of a housing tube and two housing covers disposed at the ends thereof The outer housing defines in the interior thereof a receiving space, into which the drive part of a drive unit in the form of an electrodynamic linear direct drive like a cartridge is placed, and an output drive rod extends outward through the front housing cover. From a drive coil arrangement of the drive unit an electrical operation cable extends to an central electrical interface means. The electrical interface means is disposed laterally on the housing tube and the operation cable and the signal cable extend in a cable channel formed in the wall of the housing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Finkbeiner, Jurgen Guckel
  • Publication number: 20110080123
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an actuator includes a plurality of stator windings adapted to produce a first stator magnetic field that translates along a stator axis, and to produce a second stator magnetic field that rotates around the stator axis. In addition, the actuator includes a rotor, coupled to a shaft, and positioned within a central stator channel. The rotor is adapted to produce a first rotor magnetic field that translates along a shaft axis and to produce a second rotor magnetic field that rotates around the shaft axis. An actuator system includes an actuator and an actuator controller unit, which is adapted to produce actuator inputs. An embodiment of a method for controlling the actuator includes providing actuator inputs to produce a translating magnetic field in the stator, a translating magnetic field in the rotor, a rotating magnetic field in the stator, and a rotating magnetic field in the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: James J. Sheahan, JR., Charles E. Morris, Paul Kersens
  • Publication number: 20110074227
    Abstract: An acceleration generator 20 includes: a moving member (21, 25) that performs a periodic translational motion along a particular straight line; a first operating part (24) that applies a first force that varies in magnitude depending on the relative position thereof with respect to the moving member to the moving member in a direction parallel to the particular straight line; and a second operating part (27) that applies a second force that varies in magnitude depending on the relative position thereof with respect to the moving member to the moving member in a direction parallel to the particular straight line. The moving member performs a translational motion in which the acceleration thereof in the positive direction and the acceleration thereof in the negative direction are asymmetric in one period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORP.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Amemiya, Hideyuki Andou, Tarou Maeda
  • Patent number: 7898120
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an actuator includes a plurality of stator windings adapted to produce a first stator magnetic field that translates along a stator axis, and to produce a second stator magnetic field that rotates around the stator axis. In addition, the actuator includes a rotor, coupled to a shaft, and positioned within a central stator channel. The rotor is adapted to produce a first rotor magnetic field that translates along a shaft axis and to produce a second rotor magnetic field that rotates around the shaft axis. An actuator system includes an actuator and an actuator controller unit, which is adapted to produce actuator inputs. An embodiment of a method for controlling the actuator includes providing actuator inputs to produce a translating magnetic field in the stator, a translating magnetic field in the rotor, a rotating magnetic field in the stator, and a rotating magnetic field in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Sheahan, Jr., Charles E. Morris, Paul Kersens
  • Patent number: 7884326
    Abstract: A manipulator for use in e.g. a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) is described, said manipulator capable of rotating and translating a sample holder (4). The manipulator clasps the round sample holder between two members (3A, 3B), said members mounted on actuators (2A, 2B). Moving the actuators in the same direction results in a translation of the sample holder, while moving the actuators in opposite directions results in a rotation of the sample holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: FEI Company, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeroen van de Water, Johannes van den Oetelaar, Raymond Wagner, Hendrik Nicolaas Slingerland, Jan Willem Bruggers, Adriaan Huibert Dirk Ottevanger, Andreas Schmid, Eric A. Olson, Ivan G. Petrov, Todor I. Donchev, Thomas Duden
  • Patent number: 7880345
    Abstract: A linear actuator system is described that includes a linear actuator, a first motor, and a second motor. The linear actuator is configured to transmit rotational motion to linear motion. The first motor is operatively connected to the linear actuator. The second motor is also operatively connected to the linear actuator. The first motor is configured to provide a different amount of force and a different speed to the linear actuator than the second motor. Methods of operating a linear actuator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Exlar Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Ralph Hoffmann, William Joseph Zerull, Richard Harley Welch, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110005328
    Abstract: A biaxial electromagnetic actuator for a materials testing apparatus comprises a first electromagnetic actuator for imparting a linear force to an output shaft and a second, direct drive electromagnetic actuator for imparting a rotational force to the shaft. The shaft is mounted in two combination bearings which permit the shaft to move axially and rotationally. One of the bearings is located within a hollow cylindrical member which constitutes the armature of the direct drive actuator in order to provide a compact and symmetrical arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: ITW LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Hayford, Graham Mead, Benjamin Jeppesen, Thomas Bachmann, Christoph Scherer, Thomas Maier
  • Publication number: 20110006617
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a cost-effective, easily regulated rotary-linear drive. Therefore, the invention provides for the rotary-linear drive to connect a rotary drive (10) to a linear drive module (11). The linear drive module (11) comprises a rotatable drive-side receiving device for receiving a torque from the rotary drive (10). Additionally, the linear drive module has a linear motor, the armature (15) of which is rotatable, is rotated by a stator (14), and comprises an output element for the purpose of driving the shaft (12) in a rotary-linear fashion. To this end, the linear drive module (11) also comprises a coupling device (16) that couples the receiving device and the armature (15) in a rotationally secure but not linear fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Budde, Aziz Inalkac, Mykhaylo Toldonov, Rolf Vollmer
  • Patent number: 7851769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motorized manipulator for positioning a TEM specimen holder with sub-micron resolution parallel to a y-z plane and rotating the specimen holder in the y-z plane, the manipulator comprising a base (2), and attachment means (30) for attaching the specimen holder to the manipulator, characterized in that the manipulator further comprises at least three nano-actuators (3a, 3b, 3c) mounted on the base, each nano-actuator showing a tip (4a, 4b, 4c), the at least three tips defining the y-z plane, each tip capable of moving with respect to the base in the y-z plane; a platform (5) in contact with the tips of the nano-actuators; and clamping means (6) for pressing the platform against the tips of the nano-actuators; as a result of which the nano-actuators can rotate the platform with respect to the base in the y-z plane and translate the platform parallel to the y-z plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Andreas Karl Schmid, Nord Andresen
  • Patent number: 7847442
    Abstract: In a linear motor (1) having a stator (2) and an armature (3), the stator (2) comprises a winding former (21) and a drive winding (22) provided on the winding former (21). Further, means are provided for preventing any contact between the drive winding (22) and the armature (3) in case the armature (3) penetrates through the winding former (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: NTI AG
    Inventors: Ronald Rohner, Marco Hitz, Daniel Ausderau
  • Publication number: 20100303571
    Abstract: A motor-driven working spindle for a machine tool has a casing in which a shaft is mounted for rotation. The shaft has a receptacle for a tool arranged at its front end. A spindle rotary drive is provided in the casing. Furthermore, a spindle advancing drive coupled with the shaft is provided in the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Huller Hille GmbH
    Inventor: Gunther Spath
  • Patent number: 7808132
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve the precision of measuring leakage field sensitive sensors on electric machines. According to the invention, the electric machine comprises a sensor device (4) which is sensitive to magnetic leakage fields mounted on one of the two active parts (1) or in a defined relative position in relation to the active parts. A magnetic screening device is arranged between the sensor device (4) and one of the two active parts (1). Also, the magnetic leakage fields no longer have an influence on the sensor device such that measuring precision is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Knorr, Georg Schlatterer, Dominik Schury
  • Patent number: 7800262
    Abstract: A combined centrifugal fan and valve to exhaust air outside of a building when running and to prevent air from escaping when not running. The electrical motor design is to allow the rotating parts of the motor to slide along the motor shaft axis. The vertical position of the motor will allow the sliding capacity of the motor to utilize the weight of the fan, motor shaft and motor armature to hold the base plate of the fan tightly against the inlet opening when the motor is not running and lift the fan, motor shaft and motor armature when running by the magnetic forces of the motor windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: John Leo Larson
  • Patent number: 7800063
    Abstract: A manipulator for use in e.g. a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) is described, said manipulator capable of rotating and translating a sample holder (4). The manipulator clasps the round sample holder between two members (3A, 3B), said members mounted on actuators (2A, 2B). Moving the actuators in the same direction results in a translation of the sample holder, while moving the actuators in opposite directions results in a rotation of the sample holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: FEI Company, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeroen van de Water, Johannes van den Oetelaar, Raymond Wagner, Hendrik Nicolaas Slingerland, Jan Willem Bruggers, Adriaan Huibert Dirk Ottevanger, Andreas Schmid, Eric A. Olson, Ivan G. Petrov, Todor I. Donchev, Thomas Duden
  • Patent number: 7798783
    Abstract: Valveless piston pumps are disclosed that are magnetically driven, thereby eliminating a troublesome dynamic seal used on conventional valveless piston pumps. An exemplary embodiment includes a housing defining a bore having a bore axis. A piston is situated in the bore so as to be movable in the bore in a reciprocating manner along the bore axis and in a rotational manner about the bore axis. A magnet is situated in the bore and is coupled to the piston. The magnet is engageable magnetically with a magnet-driving device configured to cause the magnet, and thus the piston, to move in the reciprocating manner and in the rotational manner. An exemplary magnet-driving device is a stator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Micropump, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Burns, Jeffrey Glenn Barton, Charles F. Carr
  • Publication number: 20100201209
    Abstract: An improved linear motor is provided useful in conjunction with audio equipment for reduced distortion audio output at high voice coil displacements. The improved linear motor may include a yoke, a gap plate which forms an air gap with the yoke, magnets coupled to the yoke and the gap plate, a former, and a voice coil coupled to the former. The magnets generate a magnetic field across the air gap, which is relatively narrow. The former and coil fit in the air gap and may move in a vertical direction. The voice coil includes more than one segment, each having differing electrical resistance. The differing resistances cause the force on the voice coil to be uniform regardless of displacement of the voice coil vertically within the air gap. Resistance differences between the segments may be caused by differing the wire lengths making up each segment of the coil. Likewise, each segment may be made of differing material to vary resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Kyle Lee Keating
  • Patent number: 7728463
    Abstract: A system and method for a multiple degrees of freedom motor includes an output shaft. A stator is provided having at least a first lamination stack. Each lamination stack has an interior curved surface. The lamination stacks are disposed adjacent the output shaft. A rotor is fixed to the output shaft and movably supported adjacent the stator with an air gap disposed between the rotor and the stator. The rotor includes at least one magnet disposed thereon. The magnet is movable along the interior curved surface of the lamination stacks in directions defining at least a first degree of freedom. The rotor is biased toward a base position along at least one degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cope, Andrew M. Wright, Christopher J. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7699737
    Abstract: A drive unit for transmitting power to wheels of a motor vehicle includes an input driveably connectable to a first power source, a final drive gear set driveably connectable to the wheels, a motor/generator including a stator and a rotor arranged about an axis, the rotor being able to rotate about the axis and to move along the axis relative to the stator, a gear unit arranged about the axis and driveably connected to the gear set for driving the gear set at a speed that is less than a speed of the rotor, and a coupler secured to the rotor for alternately coupling the rotor and the gear unit mutually and transmitting power therebetween and decoupling the rotor and the gear unit mutually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Tekletsion Berhan
  • Publication number: 20100060086
    Abstract: A driving mechanism comprises a fixed housing, a movable housing on which an object to be driven is mounted and a driving motor which is operative to drive the movable housing to move linearly as well as to rotate relative to the fixed housing. An inductance-type encoder determines both linear and rotary displacement of the movable housing relative to the fixed housing, whereby to provide closed-loop control of the position of the object in both linear and rotary directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Wai Chuen GAN, Gary Peter WIDDOWSON, Shiqiang YAO, Siu Yan HO, Hon Yu Peter NG
  • Publication number: 20100026103
    Abstract: The electric machine of the invention operates in a synchronous manner based on the principle of reluctance variation. It comprises the following combination: a fixed portion (1) with notches (11) for receiving armature coils (12) connected in series by phase, wherein the successive windings as wound in opposite directions; a mobile portion (4) with teeth (6) facing the notches (11), wherein to a tooth of the mobile portion corresponds a number M×(2P) of notches in the fixed portion, M being an integer and P the number of phases; an excitation portion (15) with a coil or a permanent magnet for generating a continuous magnetic flow between the fixed (1) and mobile (4) portions. The invention can be used in the production of rotary or linear synchronous electric motors and in the production of alternators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: DELTY
    Inventor: Dominique Sabadie
  • Publication number: 20100001592
    Abstract: A magnetic actuator includes a housing; a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet placed in the housing and being relatively rotatable in a plane including a magnetization direction; a magnetic-field generating unit outside of the housing, the magnetic-field generating unit generating a magnetic field that relatively rotates the first permanent magnet and/or the second permanent magnet in a direction such that the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet generate a repulsive force against each other; and a first guiding portion provided in the housing to regulate a direction in which the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet relatively move by the generated repulsive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hironao KAWANO, Miho KATAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20090309427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a primary part (1) for an electric linear motor comprising motor windings, which are embedded in a casting compound, and a housing (2), which surrounds the primary part (1), wherein the housing (2) comprises an insertion opening (3) for receiving a connection module (10), wherein the connection module (10) has contact elements (11, 12), which are provided for the connection of the motor winding and the connection of at least one feed cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Menhart
  • Patent number: 7633187
    Abstract: A stator for a reciprocating motor includes a coil winding in which a coil is wound plural times, and fixed and insulated with a bonding material distributed between gaps of the wound coil, an insulation band formed in a circular band shape along an outer circumferential surface of the coil winding, an annular bobbin coupled to both side surfaces of the coil winding and covering the coil winding together with the insulation band, a plurality of core blocks coupled on the bobbin in a circumferential direction, and an inner core inserted with a certain interval from the circular inner circumferential surface formed by the bobbin and the plurality of core blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Jong Kim, Sang-Sub Jeong
  • Publication number: 20090295236
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric machine which comprises a first machine part (30), comprising a stator element (31) and a rotor element (32) and being configured as a rotary actuator which interacts with a rotary movement of the rotor element (32). The electric machine (40) also comprises a second machine part (20), comprising a primary part (1) and a secondary part (2) and being configured as a linear actuator which interacts with a linear movement of the secondary part (2). The rotor element (32) of the first machine part (30) and the secondary part (2) of the second machine part (20) are interlinked. The secondary part (2) of the second machine part (20) can be rotated and is configured as an external rotor. Such a secondary part (2) allows to generate a higher power of a secondary machine part (20) acting as the linear motor. The secondary part (2) is mounted in the center thereof in relation to the primary part (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Bott, Rolf Vollmer, Matthias Braun, Holger Schunk