Solenoid And Core Type Patents (Class 310/14)
  • Patent number: 11728050
    Abstract: Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through secured magnetic elements subject to magnetic fields. Induction coils may generate magnetic fields and be moveable across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. A motor may spin a linear screw to move the induction coils on a vertical travel nut. A control rod assembly may house the magnetic elements and directly, removably join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Operation includes moving the induction coils with a linear screw to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization. No direct connection may penetrate the isolation barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Morgan, David L. Major, Randy M. Brown, Gerald A. Deaver
  • Patent number: 11566612
    Abstract: A linear compressor includes a casing, a cylinder forming a compression chamber inside the casing, a piston reciprocating to compress a fluid of the compression chamber, a mover having a movable magnet and reciprocating on the basis of a predetermined reference position to drive the piston, and a stator generating a thrust pushing the mover in the reciprocating direction and a restoring force pushing the mover in a direction toward the reference position according to an interaction with the movable magnet, wherein the stator includes a mover air gap formed to accommodate the mover and a magnetoresistive air gap formed in a position spaced apart from the mover air gap to change magnetic resistance of a magnetic circuit formed along the stator. According to this, a magnetic resonance spring with increased restoring force may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangsub Jeong
  • Patent number: 11381147
    Abstract: A driving mechanism for driving an optical element is provided, including a holder unit, a base unit, and a magnetic element. The holder unit is used to hold the optical element, and the base unit includes a metal substrate and a circuit structure formed on the metal substrate, wherein the circuit structure includes a driving coil. The magnetic element is disposed on the holder unit and corresponds to the driving coil for driving the optical element to move relative to the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Ichitai Moto, Shih-Ting Huang, Haruo Taguchi, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11211860
    Abstract: A tubular linear switched reluctance machine includes a segmented translator having a non-magnetic material body and ring segments of magnetic material axially separated from each other and provided on the body. The ring segments are distributed along the axial direction of the body. The machine also includes a stator arranged to electromagnetically interact with the segmented translator, wherein the stator has a plurality of coaxially arranged annular modules, and a respective annular non-magnetic spacer arranged between each pair of subsequently arranged modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Minos Beniakar
  • Patent number: 11075566
    Abstract: An electric motor having a rotor having permanent magnets and a first gear arranged on an inner surface of the rotor, a stator having electromagnetic coils wound around sections of the rotor, a shaft arranged to be rotatably supported in the electric motor, the shaft having a second gear arranged on an outer surface of the shaft, and at least one rotary gear member arranged in a space between the first gear and the second gear. A number of the permanent magnets is the same as a number of the electromagnetic coils, and both the permanent magnets and the electromaqnetic coils are evenly spaced apart in a circumferential manner. The rotor further having a plurality of non-magnetic sections positioned between the plurality of permanent magnets to form an outermost layer of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ARRIVAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Alexey Bikmukhametov
  • Patent number: 11031855
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a linear vibration motor, including a substrate having an accommodation space, a vibration system accommodated in the accommodation space, an elastic member fixing and suspending the vibration system in the accommodation space, and a driving system fixed on the substrate and driving the vibration system to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to a horizontal direction. The vibration system includes a magnet; the driving system includes an iron core fixed on the substrate, a first coil and a second coil that are sleeved over and fixed on the iron core and that are stacked with each other, and an auxiliary magnet covering an end of the iron core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Lubin Mao
  • Patent number: 11004642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device (10) of a starting device for an engine, comprising: —two terminals (11, 12) of a supply electrical circuit of a motor; a solenoid device (13) having an axis (14) and comprising: —a solenoid coil (16) wound around said axis (14); —a plunger (17) which is partially housed in the solenoid coil (16) and which includes a core (18) and a contact plate (21); wherein, when electric current passes through the solenoid coil (16), the plunger (17) is caused to move axially from an inactive position to an active position, thereby moving a pinion gear of the motor into engagement with a ring gear of the engine, in which active position the contact plate (21) is in contact with the terminals (11,12) for closing the motor supply circuit; —a relay (30) having an axis and comprising: —a relay coil (36); —a movable member (31) which, when electric current passes through the relay coil (36), is caused to move from an open position in which electric current cannot pass through the sol
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yann Boete
  • Patent number: 10971982
    Abstract: A moving core type reciprocating motor is provided that may include a stator on which a coil may be wound and having an air gap; a magnet fixed to the stator; and a mover that includes a moving core disposed to face the magnet in the air gap and reciprocates with respect to the stator. The magnet may have a first pole and a second pole that are different poles arranged in a reciprocation direction of the mover, and a length of the first pole may be larger than a length of the second pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangsub Jeong, Jaebeum Kim, Susok Lee
  • Patent number: 10938266
    Abstract: An electrical machine comprises a polymeric housing formed by a polymeric material and constructed to house components of the electrical machine, structurally support the electrical machine and react torque loads generated by the electrical machine; a stator overmolded into and partially encapsulated by the polymeric housing, the stator including a laminated stator core and a plurality of stator windings, the stator windings including a winding overhang extending from the laminated stator core; a rotor in magnetic communication with the stator; and a cooling channel disposed within the polymeric material forming the housing and encapsulated by the polymeric material and positioned adjacent to the laminated stator core, wherein the cooling channel is constructed to pass a fluid for cooling the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Colin E. Tschida, Sheng Zhong, Darren D. Tremelling, Dariusz Bednarowski
  • Patent number: 10876551
    Abstract: A robotic joint that includes a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator includes a hollow tube that has a first opening at a first end of the hollow tube and that has a second opening at a second end of the hollow tube. The hollow tube contains hydraulic fluid. A moveable magnet moves within hollow tube as a result of a magnetic field within the hollow tube. A magnetic field source located outside the hollow tube creates the magnetic field within the hollow tube. When the moveable magnet moves to the first end of the hollow tube, a first piston pushes hydraulic fluid out of the first opening. When the moveable magnet moves to the second end of the hollow tube a second piston pushes hydraulic fluid out of the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: William Davis Simmons
  • Patent number: 10872703
    Abstract: Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through secured magnetic elements subject to magnetic fields. Induction coils may generate magnetic fields and be moveable across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. A motor may spin a linear screw to move the induction coils on a vertical travel nut. A control rod assembly may house the magnetic elements and directly, removably join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Operation includes moving the induction coils with a linear screw to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization. No direct connection may penetrate the isolation barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Morgan, David L. Major, Randy M. Brown, Gerald A. Deaver
  • Patent number: 10693359
    Abstract: A technology for improving a device structure so that an external impact does not occur in a coil in order to solve a problem in that several attachments, such as coil, included in a linear vibration generator are separated or broken due to a small impact test or drop test on the linear vibration generator. The attachments, such as coil, included in the linear vibration generator can be prevented from being disconnected, separated or broken due to the execution of a small impact test and drop test on the linear vibration generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: MPLUS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seuk Hwan Chung, Nam Sock Kim
  • Patent number: 10686355
    Abstract: A mover for a linear motor system includes a magnet subassembly. The mover includes a magnetic structure disposed on at least one side of the magnet subassembly and creating with the magnetic subassembly a resultant magnetic field. The magnetic structure being centered on a detected center of the resultant magnetic field. The mover includes a body structure mounted on or with reference to the magnetic structure to position a physical center of the body structure at approximately the detected center of the resultant magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MagneMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Malyarov, Baris Yagci
  • Patent number: 10671166
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a haptic actuator. The haptic actuator may include a haptic actuator housing, at least coil carried by the haptic actuator housing, and a Halbach array of permanent magnets movable within the haptic actuator housing responsive to the at least one coil. The electronic device may also include a controller coupled to the at least one coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Arman Hajati
  • Patent number: 10619735
    Abstract: An exemplary energy delivery system includes a housing. The housing includes a linear motor including a translational member and an electromagnetic field generating member. Energization of the electromagnetic field generating member induces translation of the translational member along a longitudinal axis of the linear motor. The housing further includes a first cylinder including a first chamber and a movable first piston and a second cylinder including a second chamber and a movable second piston. The first and second cylinders are coupled in-line with the linear motor within the housing and translation of the translational member along the longitudinal axis translates the first piston within the first chamber in a first direction and translates the second piston within the second chamber in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Saylor, Matthew G. Kowal
  • Patent number: 10581355
    Abstract: A double-fed oscillating linear alternator is provided that includes two concentric Halbach type arrays, one stationary and one movable, that do not require magnets or iron laminations to create a strong magnetic field between the two arrays where the movable array oscillates in a linear motion with respect to the stationary array. The two arrays are manufactured from magnet-less and iron-less conductive material using additive manufacturing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Rodger W. Dyson
  • Patent number: 10566124
    Abstract: A metering valve comprising a solenoid having: a coil mounted on a core; and an armature moveable axially with respect to the core and against a return bias in response to a current in the coil; a variable capacitor having a first plate mounted for movement with the armature and a second plate fixed with respect to the core. The metering valve comprises an electronic feedback loop which is used to adjust the current in the coil based on a feedback signal derived from of the capacitance of the variable capacitor. A reference capacitor may be provided having opposing third and fourth plates at a set separation. A valve body may house the solenoid, the variable capacitor and the reference capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wojciech Plucinski
  • Patent number: 10510224
    Abstract: A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Heng Sen, Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz
  • Patent number: 10510451
    Abstract: A mounting assembly that has no threaded connections. A rod with pins or machined features radially extending from a distal end is configured to rotate until the pins align with grooves in a hole through a base plate. The rod is inserted through the hole until the pins are through an opposite surface of the base plate, compressing spring components on the rod. Then the rod is rotated until the pins are aligned with slots that partially extend through the second side of the base plate and the pins become seated in the slots. To remove the rod a tool that engages an articulated feature on the distal end of the rod is installed. The tool rotates the rod until the pins are disengaged from the slots, aligned with the through grooves and passed through the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. McCarty, Jason R. Moore, Nathan J. Payne
  • Patent number: 10472965
    Abstract: A rotary-vane internal combustion engine of the cat and mouse or scissor type with coordinated rotation of two co-axial shafts with position sensors creating chambers of variable volume for intake, compression, power and exhaust strokes. A reversible electric generator motor on at least one of the shafts with an electronic control system for current, an energy storage unit and electrical load. The total work done and angular speed is calculated or empirically determined while an alternating accelerating or decelerating torque is applied for a continuous, uniform rotation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventors: Anatoli Galin, Oleksandr Galin, Natalia Galin, Volodymyr Galin
  • Patent number: 10410755
    Abstract: A control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) includes a lifting rod supporting a control rod and a holding mechanism comprising an electromagnetic circuit with magnetic poles drawn together when the electromagnetic circuit is energized to hold the lifting rod. The hold is released upon de-energizing the electromagnetic circuit. A translation mechanism linearly translates the lifting rod held by the holding mechanism. The holding mechanism may include a non-magnetic spacer between the magnetic poles that defines a gap between the drawn together magnetic poles. The translation mechanism may include latches configured to engage an upper end of the lifting rod, and the holding mechanism draws the magnetic poles together to hold the latches engaged with the upper end of the lifting rod. A four-bar cam assembly may be used to cam the latches closed in response to a vertical actuation force applied to the cam bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: BWXT mPower, Inc., BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. DeSantis, Kevin J. Stambaugh, Brett T. Goodyear, Michael J. Edwards, Matthew W. Ales
  • Patent number: 10109939
    Abstract: An electronic system includes first and second circuit boards and a flexible circuit connector. The flexible circuit connector is configured to electrically connect the first and second circuit boards. The flexible circuit connector includes first and second connectors and a spiral portion. The first connector is configured to connect to the first circuit board. The second connector is configured to connect to the second circuit board. The spiral portion is connected between the first and second circuit boards and includes a circumferential portion that extends around the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Neal R. Whatcott
  • Patent number: 10014966
    Abstract: A linear fader includes a slider that is configured to slide along a rail. The slider includes a magnet. The linear fader also includes a plurality of coils spaced along a length of the rail, one or more sensors configured to detect a position of the slider along the rail, and control circuitry operatively coupled to the plurality of coils and the one or more sensors. The control circuitry is configured to receive a signal corresponding to a first location of the slider from at least one of the one or more sensors, receive a desired location of the slider, and cause a first electrical current to pass through the plurality of coils, thereby generating a force on the slider in a direction toward the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sound Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Matt Anderson, Steven Popovich, Paul Isaacs, Jason McDonald
  • Patent number: 9969023
    Abstract: Solder housed in flow tank 20 is ejected from nozzle 22 by a pump provided inside flow tank 20. Jet motor 26 that drives the pump is provided outside flow tank 20, and cooling device 30 is provided between flow tank 20 and jet motor 26. Cooling device 30 includes cooling pipe 52 that is formed folded back on itself. Nitrogen gas is supplied from an upper end of cooling pipe 52, flows along cooling pipe 52, and flows out of a lower end of cooling pipe 52 so as to be supplied to flow tank 20. The temperature of the nitrogen gas increases due to heat dissipated from jet motor 26, thus lowering the temperature of jet motor 26. Heat is transferred from jet motor 26 to the nitrogen gas, and jet motor 26 is cooled satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Katsunori Tanaka, Mitsuhiro Nishibori
  • Patent number: 9912277
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit for a linear vibration motor may be configured to drive the linear vibration motor to vibrate using a closed loop run mode followed by an open loop run mode, and may be configured to control the linear vibration motor to stop vibrating using an anti-drive signal wherein the frequency is adjusted to be near to an estimated value of the natural frequency of the linear vibration motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Tsutomu Murata
  • Patent number: 9899132
    Abstract: An actuator can include a housing, core assembly, and first and second electromagnets. The housing can have a first pole piece, second pole piece, and central pole piece disposed between the first and second pole pieces. The central pole piece can have a central body and a bridge. The bridge can be between the first and second pole pieces and axially movable relative thereto. The core assembly can be received in the housing. The core assembly can be movable along a first axis between a first core position and a second core position. The core assembly can include a permanent magnet, a first core, and a second core. The first and second cores can be coupled to the permanent magnet for common axial movement. The first and second electromagnets can be spaced axially apart by the central body and can have opposite polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Curt D. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 9857972
    Abstract: An operation device for performing an operation input on a play machine has an operation unit, a support that rotatably supports the operation unit, a first magnetic member that rotates integrally with the operation unit, a second magnetic member in which a magnetic force acts between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member, and a switching unit that switches a distance between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 9837884
    Abstract: A linear motor includes an excitation unit including a shaft and a plurality of permanent magnets located in the shaft, and an armature including a plurality of coils surrounding the excitation unit and a magnetic cover covering the coils. The plurality of coils of the same phase group are continuously wound over a plurality of insulative bobbins. A tap conductor, a jumper wire between the coils, and a terminal wire of the coils in different phase groups that are continuously wound are separately disposed in different corner portions in the magnetic cover, and the terminal wire of each phase is connected to a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuqi Tang, Takashi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9787169
    Abstract: An embodiment of an electromagnetic actuator, such as a moving magnet actuator (MMA), includes a back iron, a first coil winding, a second coil winding, a mover, and a permanent magnet. The first and second coil windings are connected to the back iron, and have generally annular shapes. The mover moves relative to the back iron during use of the MMA. The permanent magnet is connected to the mover and moves with the mover during use of the MMA. The permanent magnet has a generally annular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: David Hiemstra, Gaurav Parmar, Cory Welch, Shorya Awtar
  • Patent number: 9711245
    Abstract: A magnetic jack type control element drive mechanism for precision position control of a control element assembly, satisfies the following conditions: D1=D2=P+D5; D3=P×2; D4=D3×(N?½), (N is an arbitrary natural number), wherein D1 represents a lift gap of the upper motor assembly; D2 represents a lift gap of the lower motor assembly; D3 represents a space width between tips of adjacent teeth of the drive shaft; D4 represents a gap between an upper latch and a lower latch; P represents pitch that is a distance of ascent or descent of the drive shaft; and D5 represents a margin which is a separation space between the teeth and the upper latch or the lower latch when the upper latch or the lower latch is inserted into the teeth of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: KEPCO ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jin Seok Park, Yong Tae Jang, Myoung Goo Lee, Sang Gyoon Chang, Dae Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9653980
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a cheap, efficient and polyvalent energy harvesting system able to exploit several energy sources. The invention proposes an energy harvesting system (100) including a frame, at least one permanent magnet (101) having a North/South direction, and at least one winding (107, 108) wound according to a winding direction around a core (103a-103b) including a high magnetic permeability material, at least said at least one permanent magnet being mounted on the frame to be able to oscillate relatively to the winding, characterized in that the system includes a magnetic flux divider arranged between said at least one permanent magnet and said at least one winding in order to concentrate the magnetic flux at discrete positions of maximum magnetic flux then forming equilibrium positions where the winding faces one of the said discrete positions of maximum magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
    Inventor: Philippe Laurent
  • Patent number: 9584000
    Abstract: A method and device of torque generation based on electromagnetic effect is provided. An electromagnetic torque whose direction is opposite to the motor driving direction is generated in a magnetic field when a motor-drive armature winding is adopted based on the electro-magnetic induction principle. Meanwhile, a reverse electromagnetic torque which is reverse to the armature winding with the same magnitude, is applied on a magnet set and is transmitted to an underactuated system so as to provide required torque for the underactuated system. Advantageously, the provided torque is in direct ratio to speed, difficulty in control is significantly reduced, two-stage electromagnetic variable speed can be achieved, the design of the system is simple and reliable with a concise and clear structure, and the device may be employed in a wide variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xiaogang Ruan, Xiaoqing Zhu, Rongyi Sun, Ruoyan Wei, Naigong Yu, Daoxiong Gong, Guoyu Zuo
  • Patent number: 9478339
    Abstract: An actuator can include a housing, plunger, core assembly, biasing member, and first and second electromagnets. The housing can have two end poles, and a central pole therebetween. The plunger can be configured for axial translation relative to the housing. The core assembly can move between first and second positions and can be coupled to the plunger. The core assembly can include first and second cores spaced apart by a permanent magnet. The first and second electromagnets can be spaced apart by the central pole and can have opposite polarities. The biasing member can bias the plunger toward a first plunger position when the core assembly is in the first position, and can bias the plunger toward a second plunger position when the core assembly is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Curt D. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 9455076
    Abstract: A solenoid locking mechanism connects a solenoid body to a male coupling member. The male coupling member surrounds a housing at the end of the solenoid. A pair of ball bearings is retained in the housing and extends into the coupling member. Movement of the ball bearings by the plunger control locking or releasing the coupling member. In an alternate embodiment the solenoid locking mechanism secures the coupling mechanism to a lockable rod that has a ball nose at one end. The locking mechanism has a locking chamber or socket with a ball bearing mounted in the chamber wall. The ball bearing is moveable between a position in which it extends into the locking chamber or can be moved out from the locking chamber. The movement of the ball bearing is controlled by a plunger in the solenoid body. The ball nose is selectively locked in the locking chamber or released from the locking chamber depending on the position of the plunger which controls the position and movement of the ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Magnet-Schultz of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Cascolan
  • Patent number: 9424972
    Abstract: A solenoid for a vehicle starter includes at least one coil with a passage extending through the coil in an axial direction. The solenoid further includes a plunger configured to move in the axial direction within the passage. The plunger includes a cylindrical outer surface with a substantially uniform diameter and a circumferential notch. The cylindrical outer surface includes a first portion with a first diameter on one side of the circumferential notch, and a second portion with the first diameter on an opposite side of the circumferential notch. The circumferential notch includes a portion with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen P. Santichen, Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 9407129
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor comprises a plurality of magnets positioned at a distance from one another on a circular structure, and a plurality of solenoids provided each around a static solenoid housing, wherein said solenoid housing is structured with a void portion through which said plurality of magnets can pass when the circular structure comprising said plurality of magnets rotates around its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: VASTECH HOLDINGS LTD.
    Inventors: Victor Shlakhetski, Alexander Mostovoy, Sergey Zatsarinin, Simen Shoikhedbrod
  • Patent number: 9373993
    Abstract: A haptic actuator (20(X)) provides compact mounting for a haptically-actuated assembly by mounting at least a portion of the haptically-actuated assembly to magnetic circuit members of the haptic actuator. The haptic actuator comprises a first magnetic member (62); a second magnetic member (60); a field generator (30); and a resilient connector (70). The first magnetic member (62) is configured to have a driven part (124) of the haptically-actuated assembly mounted to the first magnetic member (62). The second magnetic member (60) is selectively separated by at least one air gap from the first magnetic member (62) and is configured to have a stationary part of the haptically-actuated assembly (122) connected to the second magnetic member (62). The second magnetic member (60) is positioned at least partially within the field generator (30) and the first magnetic member (62) is positioned externally to the field generator (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SAIA-BURGESS, INC.
    Inventor: James C. Irwin
  • Patent number: 9343218
    Abstract: An assembly includes an electromagnetic actuator (80) and a voltage response arrangement (26) to enable the position of the armature (1) within the actuator to be monitored. The actuator includes two coils (4) joined together in series, the armature being switchable between at least two magnetically latched stable rest positions by passing a current pulse through the coils, and an output contact (82) electrically coupled to the junction (24) between the coils to facilitate monitoring of the voltage at the junction. The voltage response arrangement (26) is electrically coupled to the output contact (82) so as to provide an output signal giving an indication of the position of the armature (1) in response to the voltage generated on the output contact when a current pulse is passed through the coils (4). A method of monitoring the armature position is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Camcon Oil Limited
    Inventor: Ian Lamprell
  • Patent number: 9323023
    Abstract: A lens focusing device includes a lens holder, a winding fitted around the lens holder, and an outer case enclosing the lens holder therein. The outer case includes an outer wall portion, and multiple inner wall portions connected to the outer wall portion via multiple connecting portions. The inner wall portions are located between the lens holder and the winding, and respectively include an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first and a second side surface. The lens holder is formed on an outer face with confining areas, each of which includes a main surface and a first and a second raised side surface respectively facing against the inner surface and the first and second side surfaces, so that the inner wall portions are limited to move relative to the lens holder only within the confining areas. Therefore, the lens focusing device is impact-resistant and undue-twisting protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shang-Yu Hsu, Kun-Shih Lin, Fu-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 9260954
    Abstract: A method for pumping production fluid from a wellbore includes deploying a downhole assembly of an artificial lift system (ALS) into the wellbore. The downhole assembly includes a linear electric motor (LEM) and a pump. The method further includes operating the LEM, thereby reciprocating the pump and lifting production fluid from the wellbore to surface. The LEM includes a stator and a reciprocating head having permanent magnets. The production fluid leaks through an interface formed between the head and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Oilfield Equipment Development Center Limited
    Inventors: Alexandr Vasilievich Filippov, Salikhyan Shakirianovich Sharipov, Vladimir Iosifovich Sagalovskiy, Andrei Vladimirovich Sagalovskiy
  • Patent number: 9172291
    Abstract: A vertical actuator drive having gravity compensation has a first subassembly and a second subassembly, one of the two subassemblies being stationary and the other of the two subassemblies being movable in the vertical direction. The first subassembly has a first magnetic yoke provided with a coil, and the second subassembly has a second magnetic yoke provided with at least one magnet which is oriented toward the coil. A horizontal gap between the first and second magnetic yoke in the region of the at least one magnet is variable in the vertical direction, so that a reluctance force acts between the first and second subassemblies in an operating range of the actuator drive, the reluctance force opposing the weight force of the movable one of the two subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ETEL S.A.
    Inventor: Vincent Cardon
  • Patent number: 9048718
    Abstract: A linear vibrator is disclosed. The linear vibrator includes a housing having a base and a cover, a number of elastic members connected to the housing, a vibrating unit suspended in the housing by the elastic members, and a coil positioned in the housing. The vibrating unit includes a pole plate received in a recess formed in the vibrating unit, and a damper positioned on the pole plate by magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., AMERICAN AUDIO COMPONENTS INC.
    Inventor: Yu-Qing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9035502
    Abstract: A multifunctional voice coil motor is disclosed, the motor including a rotor including a bobbin and a plurality of magnets arranged at a periphery of the bobbin, a stator including a housing wrapping each magnet and a plurality of coil blocks each arranged at a position corresponding to that of each magnet, a base coupled to the housing, and an elastic member elastically supporting the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sangok Park
  • Patent number: 9025796
    Abstract: A vibration generator includes a coil arranged to generate magnetic fields, a ring-shaped yoke arranged to amplify an electromagnetic force generated by the magnetic fields in cooperation with the coil, a vibrating body arranged radially inward of the coil to move in a thrust direction, a ring-shaped magnet arranged in an outer peripheral portion of the vibrating body and opposed to the coil, and a spring arranged to support the vibrating body on at least one side of the vibrating body in thrust-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Seimitsu Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Furuichi, Tomohiro Akanuma
  • Patent number: 8994235
    Abstract: An electric motor for operating a small electric device is disclosed. The electric motor includes at least one first oscillatory motor component; an inductor for producing a magnetic field; and a first magnet arrangement including a first permanent magnet that generates a force for activating a rotatory oscillating movement (R) of the at least one first oscillatory motor component around a rotating axis (z). The at least one first oscillatory motor component and the first magnet arrangement are configured such that a magnetic reluctance torque acting between the first oscillatory motor component and the first permanent magnet operates as a righting moment for the rotatory oscillating movement (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Doll, Uwe Schober, Frank Kressman
  • Publication number: 20150076930
    Abstract: An inner diameter of a third stator core is greater than an inner diameter of a second stator core. When a first stator core, the second stator core, and the third stator core are placed in an inner periphery of a coil, a jig is inserted from an inner-periphery opening of a first end side of the third stator core into the third stator core to directly position the first stator core, the second stator core, and the third stator core in a radial direction. Therefore, a side force generated by an axis deviation between the first stator core, the second stator core, and the third stator core can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Jiro KONDO
  • Publication number: 20150061417
    Abstract: A device for powering interactive appliances in moving playground equipment includes an electrical generator mounted onto the moving element of the playground equipment, characterized by the design of the electrical generator, which includes a case (1) inside of which there is fixed a tube (7) made out of insulating material, on the tubes periphery surface there are fixed n number of coils (4). n is greater or equal to one. The coils (4) are divided from each other by separating insolating elements (3). Inside the tube it is placed a permanent cylindrical magnet (5) allowing for its sidestep movement along the tube. At the two ends of the tube (7) there are fixed rebound elements (6) The terminals of single coils or a group of connected coils (4) are terminals of the powering device, connected to the interactive appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: PLAYGROUND ENERGY LTD
    Inventors: Hristo Buryanov Aleksiev, Ilian Vladimirov Milinov
  • Patent number: 8957558
    Abstract: A linear vibration generator is disclosed. The linear vibration generator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a stationary part, which has a polygonal-prism-shaped coil and in which the polygonal-prism-shaped coil induces a magnetic field by having an electric current supplied, a vibrating part, which has a polygonal-prism-shaped magnet and in which a portion of the polygonal-prism-shaped magnet is inserted into the coil, an elastic member, which is coupled to the stationary part and elastically supports the vibrating part such that the vibrating part can move linearly, and a lubricating band, which is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Kun Choi
  • Patent number: 8946947
    Abstract: A linear stepper motor is used for the displacement of an armature parallel to a stator having N steps. The stator includes (N+2) stator pole pieces which are enclosed by a magnetic guiding element and are each approximately the same distance from neighboring stator pole pieces. Furthermore, at least one coil is located between two stator pole pieces. The armature is enclosed by the stator in the radial direction and has a permanent magnet magnetized parallel to the stator which is disposed between two armature pole pieces. As a result of the reluctance forces, the armature occupies stable idle positions inside the stator in which the stator pole pieces lie opposite the armature pole pieces. By energizing the coils with a short current pulse, the armature can be displaced inside the stator between the different stable idle positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kelp
  • Patent number: 8922069
    Abstract: Provided is a linear motor actuator capable of oscillating a mover without using mechanical resilience of an elastic body. A first permanent magnet 3a and a second permanent magnet 3b magnetized in an axis direction are disposed in a mover 4 in the direction of the axis. A first coil 1a and a second coil 1b are disposed in a stator 2 so as to surround the first permanent magnet 3a and the second permanent magnet 3b, respectively. Alternating currents having the same phase are applied to the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b such that the phase of thrust generated in the first coil 1a and that of thrust generated in the second coil 1b are shifted from each other. At this moment, a center-to-center pitch LC1 between the center of the first coil 1a and that of the second coil 1b in the axis direction differs from a pole-to-pole pitch LM1 of the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichiro Iwaki