Motion Conversion Patents (Class 310/80)
  • Patent number: 5689994
    Abstract: An actuator has a linearly elongate frame, side, end, and top covers detachably and selectively mounted on side surfaces of the frame, a table mechanism displaceable in the axial direction of the frame in response to energization of an electric motor, and a ball screw for transmitting drive forces from the electric motor to the table mechanism. The operator can select various actuator configurations depending on the environment in which the actuator is to be installed and the application in which the actuator is to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Masahiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5679991
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for converting a circular motion into a reciprocating motion, which provides for improved guiding of a drive pin arranged on an eccentric within a slide slot of a drive member. The slide slot is bounded by at least two flexurally elastic portions whose respective first end is not deflectable by the drive pin, whilst the area towards the respective second end is deflectable. The two portions extend parallel to each other in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesllschaft
    Inventor: Jurgen Wolf
  • Patent number: 5677583
    Abstract: A electric motor is capable of increased output torque and efficiency in utilizing magnetic energy. The electric motor includes a plurality of electromagnets arranged annularly, each of the electromagnets having a magnetically permeable armature and a winding therearound, and a rotor formed of magnetic material, the rotor being rotatably supported and surrounded by the annularly arranged electromagnets. An output shaft is fixed to the rotor for outputting rotational motion of the rotor. At least one portion of the outer periphery of the rotor is able to approach or contact an energized one of the electromagnets by attracting force thereof. A current control device energizes the electromagnets in a predetermined sequence and timing. At least one electromagnet, among the annularly arranged electromagnets, which is situated at a downstream or forward side of the closest point to the electromagnets on the outer periphery of the rotor relative to the rotational direction thereof, is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Nihon Riken Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Kawai
  • Patent number: 5668423
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exciter for generating physical vibration in response to the applied electric signal. In this device, a driving coil is attached to the periphery of an inner guide of a lower housing, and a rotor of permanent magnet is provided in the rotor-receiving space of the inner guide, both ends of the rotor being rotatably supported to the inner guide. An upper housing is engaged with the lower housing in such a manner that the upper housing surrounds the driving coil. In this device, the rotation shaft of the rotor is on a shifted state with respect to a center of a gravity of the rotor, by which means the exciter generates vibration through the upper and lower housings when the rotor rotates by the electromagnetic force of the driving coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventors: Dong-Ok You, Ok-Jung You
  • Patent number: 5637940
    Abstract: A motor is integrally mounted on one end of a ball screw over which an engaging block is threaded, and an encoder is integrally mounted on the other end of the ball screw for detecting the rotational speed or angular displacement of the motor. The motor, the ball screw, and the encoder are combined into a unitized assembly as a drive unit. The motor and the encoder are positioned on respective steps of a frame, and detachably fastened to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Tadasu Kawamoto, Masahiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5623176
    Abstract: A high precision linear actuator with low hysteresis has an elongate linearly movable drive shaft for controlling a damper. The drive shaft is connected to a drive pad mounting a rack gear. A motor drive is adapted to receive an input signal in the form of an input voltage and converts the voltage into rotation of a motor drive shaft. A drive means is operatively associated with the motor drive shaft output and is in cooperating contacting relation with the rack gear for linearly translating the drive shaft. A position sensor outputs a signal indicating the linear displacement of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventor: Robert O. Brandt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5614778
    Abstract: Compressed air is introduced into a cylinder chamber to displace a piston closely to a target position. Then, a ball screw shaft is rotated about its own axis by an electric motor to inch the piston to the target position. Upon arrival of the piston at the target position, the ball screw shaft is stopped by a brake mechanism to hold the piston accurately in the target position. The drive shaft of the electric motor extends parallel to the ball screw shaft, thus reducing the entire length of a servo cylinder apparatus. Solenoid-operated directional control valves, for supplying compressed air to the cylinder chamber and the brake mechanism are coupled integrally to a cylinder assembly, so that pipes are shortened for allowing the piston to be displaced and stopped quickly and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Terao, Hiromichi Kajikawa, Kaoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5557154
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically powered linear actuator. An elongated cylinder formed of a magnetic material and having an internally threaded bore is rotatably supported relative to the housing assembly. Magnets are mounted about an outer circumference of the cylinder to form an armature within the motor assembly. The thread engaging portion of the actuator assembly is moved along the threaded extent of the cylinder on rotation of the cylinder. Thus, the cylinder functions as an armature drive cylinder. The actuator assembly further includes a feedback position sensor. This sensor provides output shaft position location information to a controller which, in combination with a servo-amplifier, operates the linear actuator in a closed-loop feedback control environment. Further, such an actuator can be utilized in precision volumetric pump applications. In a volumetric pump application, the output shaft of the actuator includes a cylinder head which travels within a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Exlar Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy A. Erhart
  • Patent number: 5554899
    Abstract: An electric actuator which is used for e.g. an arm of an industrial robot includes a composite shaft having a ball screw groove and a ball spline groove, a hollow motor through which the composite shaft extends, a ball screw nut fitted threadedly about the composite shaft and secured to a motor shaft, and a ball spline nut fitted about the composite shaft and secured to a motor housing. The ball spline nut, ball screw nut, and motor are arranged in the order mentioned as viewed from an attachment for a moving body which is provided at one end of the composite shaft. An angular-contact bearing which supports the motor shaft rotatably is situated closer to the ball screw nut than the motor is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Patent number: 5549015
    Abstract: A shaft rotation driving apparatus for a machine tool having a main spindle for rotating a tool or a workpiece, comprises: a magnetic anisotropic rotor formed integral with the main spindle itself or with a rotary sleeve itself fitted to the main spindle; a stator disposed coaxially along an outer circumference of the magnetic anisotropic rotor; a field winding wound around the stator, for magnetizing the rotor in a predetermined direction; and an armature winding wound around the stator, for providing a rotative force to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyosi Aiso, Sakasi Adati, Tosihiro Igarasi, Sin Tanoue, Satosi Kumamoto, Masanori Wakuda
  • Patent number: 5539267
    Abstract: A motor based on the wobble motor provides pure rotary motion and can be used as a spindle motor for very small disk drives. The primary components of the motor are fabricated using thin film processes. The rotor has inner and outer rings that are interconnected by flexible members, such as semicircularly-shaped spring elements, with the rings and flexible members being formed of the same material. The rotor resides within the wobble motor stator elements that are circumferentially spaced on a substrate. The inner rotor ring is supported by a bearing structure that may be a ball bearing assembly or a pin bearing comprising a post and a restraining cap. The outer rotor ring functions as the wobble motor rotor and rolls around the inside of the stator as the stator elements are sequentially electrostatically activated. The flexible members act as a transmission to convert the wobble motion of the outer rotor ring to pure rotary motion of the inner rotor ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Long-Sheng Fan, Robert E. Fontana, Jr., Archibald C. Munce, Jr., Timothy C. Reiley, Hans H. Zappe
  • Patent number: 5508572
    Abstract: An eccentric-motion motor for driving a utilization mechanism includes a stator defining a closed surface pathway, an armature composed of a permanent magnet rollably disposed on the closed surface pathway, a series of electromagnetic elements disposed in the stator along the closed surface pathway, circuitry for successively energizing the electromagnetic elements to cause them to attract and/or repel the armature so that it rolls along the closed surface pathway, and a coupler mechanism for coupling the armature to the utilization mechanism so that as the armature is caused to roll, the utilization mechanism is powered by the operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Sarcos, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Clark C. Davis
  • Patent number: 5491372
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically powered linear actuator including an actuator assembly (having an actuator rod and a thread engaging portion), a motor assembly (having a stator) and a housing assembly. An elongated cylinder formed of a magnetic material is rotatably supported relative to the housing assembly. Magnets or other elements are mounted about an outer circumference of the cylinder to form an armature within the motor assembly. The elongated cylinder of the armature further includes an internally threaded bore. The thread engaging portion of the actuator assembly is moved along the threaded extent of the cylinder on rotation of the cylinder. Thus, the cylinder functions as an armature drive cylinder. The stator is selectively energized to rotate the armature drive cylinder clockwise or counterclockwise to reciprocally move the thread engaging portion of the actuator assembly and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Exlar Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy A. Erhart
  • Patent number: 5477741
    Abstract: A motion transforming mechanism comprises a plate assembly and a toothed rail. The plate assembly is constituted by at least three rotation plates having a common rotation axis and each having a plurality of teeth, the rotation plates being respectively formed with cranked through bores. The toothed rail is formed with a plurality of teeth held in mesh with the teeth of rotation plates. The motion transforming mechanism further comprises a drive motor assembly constituted by a rotor unit rotatably received in the cranked through bores and a stator unit accommodated in the rotor unit. The rotation plates are rotated with respect to their common rotation axis by the rotation of the rotor unit with respect to stator unit. The motion transforming mechanism thus constructed requires no external electric motor and accordingly is able to be more easily assembled with various systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takenaka, Katumi Mori, Tuyoshi Nachi, Tomohiro Kiriyama, Masanori Hirai
  • Patent number: 5451824
    Abstract: A valve head is actuated by a resetting spring, on one hand, and on the other hand, by the rotor of a motor acting upon a screw and nut assembly. The rotor of the motor is axially coupled to a plunger of an electromagnet. Said valve head, the rotor of the motor, and said plunger of said electromagnet are thus jointly displaceable in the axial direction. In the resting position, or in the case of a power breakdown, said valve is closed by a spring, and said rotor as well as said plunger of said de-energized electromagnet are axially displaced. In the working position, said plunger is attracted and maintained in its working position by a pole piece of said electromagnet, and said rotor is also maintained in its working position in order to regulate the position of said valve head by means of said screw and nut assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Saia AG
    Inventors: Edmond Sieber, Claude Rudaz
  • Patent number: 5448117
    Abstract: A stepper motor includes a stator with magnetic poles extending radially outward from a central core to form segments of an outer stator surface, an armature ring fitting loosely over the stator, and a rotor with a drive plate rotationally driven by rollers extending from the armature ring into apertures in the drive plate. Current is supplied, according to a sequence, through coils surrounding each magnetic pole, so that the armature ring, being sequentially attracted to adjacent magnetic poles, moves around the stator with a modified orbital motion including an orbital motion, in which the ring is translated around a circular path, and a rotational motion. The stepper motor may also include a stationary cam plate with a number of peripheral notches, into which the rollers are moved individually by the orbital motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Consulier Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Hubert A. Elliott
  • Patent number: 5396757
    Abstract: A directly motor-driven spindle assembly in a rotary shaft having one end supported on a bearing and the other end connected to a load a, driving apparatus fixed to the rotary shaft to rotate the rotary shaft, and control apparatus for controlling the movement of the rotary shaft toward the side of the load according to the movement of the rotary shaft from a predetermined position. The control apparatus prevents the jumping motion of the rotary shaft which occurs as the load increases to enable the directly motor-driven spindle assembly to operate at a high rotating speed without the jumping motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kobayashi, Takeshi Obata
  • Patent number: 5391953
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer having a first element movable in relation to a second element, wherein the first and second elements perform a translational movement relative to one another. A transducer element mechanically coupled to the first element and second elements for converting the translational movement into an electrical signal. A transmission element converting the relative translational movement of the first and second elements into a rotating movement of the transducer element so as to produce the electrical signal.Applicant claims, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120, the benefit of priority of the filing date of Jun. 17, 1991, of International Patent Application PCT/NL91/00099, copy attached, filed on the aforementioned date, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Applicant also claims, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119, the benefit of priority of the filing date of Jun. 19, 1990, of Netherlands Patent Application No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Otto Bock Orthopadische Industrie Besitz und Verwaltungs Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: Paul G. van de Veen
  • Patent number: 5315202
    Abstract: A linear motor provides stepwise, incremental advance of a moveable output member. First and second, spaced latches are movably coupled to the output member. A selectively energizable driver engages and moves the first latch into fixed engagement with the output member and continues to move the engaged first latch and output member a predetermined incremental advance distance. The second latch is biased to retain the output member in each successive incremental advance position while the first latch is being reset. In one embodiment, the driver is a motor having a rotatable output shaft with an eccentric cam mounted thereon. The eccentric cam engages the first latch to move the first latch into fixed engagement with the output member and to advance the fixedly engaged first latch and output member an incremental advance distance. A second latch is provided to hold the output member from movement in a direction opposite from the incremental advance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Laurence LaSota
  • Patent number: 5311091
    Abstract: A dual drive motive system used to control the movement or position of another system or structure in a first and second embodiment has two motors, two frame members and a ring moveably mounted between the frame members by means of suitable bearings. One of the motors provides continuous relative motion between the ring and one of the frame members which may be secured to a foundational structure. The other motor provides relative motion between the ring and the other frame member which may be secured to a turret structure. This motion avoids the transient disturbances of lubricants. In a third embodiment, the system includes two armatures which share a common stator. In operation, the armatures and stator which are concentrically positioned rotate relative to each other and in opposite directions. In a fourth embodiment, the armatures share a common stator and the armatures are coaxially positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Inge Maudal
  • Patent number: 5291086
    Abstract: An electrical actuator for actuating a valve or other device includes an electrical motor rotating a rotary member and centrifugal body. The centrifugal body is mounted to the rotary member and is biased to normally assume an inner position with respect to the rotary axis of the rotary member, and to move to an outer position by centrifugal force when the rotary member rotates. An actuator pin is normally biased to a non-actuating position but is movable to an actuating position, to actuate a valve or other device, when the centrifugal body is moved to its outer position by centrifugal force upon the rotation of the rotary member by the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Eureka Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Avraham Shekalim
  • Patent number: 5148067
    Abstract: A linear motor provides stepwise, incremental advance of a moveable output member. First and second, spaced latches are movably coupled to the output member. A selectively energizible driver engages and moves the first latch into fixed engagement with the output member and continues to move the engaged first latch and output member a predetermined incremental advance distance. The second latch is biased to retain the output member in each successive incremental advance position while the first latch is being reset. In one embodiment, the driver is a solenoid having a movable plunger operably coupled to the first latch. In another embodiment, the drive is a motor having a rotatable output shaft with an eccentric cam mounted thereon. The eccentric cam engages the first latch to move the first latch into fixed engagement with the output member and to advance the fixedly engaged first latch and output member an incremental advance distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Laurence LaSota
  • Patent number: 5134902
    Abstract: An auxiliary driving device being attached to a primary driving device of a rolling door and including a gear engaged with a gear wheel of the primary driving device, a motor having an axle, a lower disc with a pinion slidably engaged on the axle, a spring biasing the pinion and the lower disc upward, an upper disc disposed above the lower disc, three balls engaged in the recesses formed in the discs, the pinion moves downward to engage with the gear when the first motor is energized so that the spindle can be driven to rotate by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: Chin S. Hung
  • Patent number: 5130585
    Abstract: A hollow shaft motor which has a ball screw shaft (24) passed therethrough and which drives the ball screw shaft (24) to rotate, wherein provision is made for flow paths (28, 30, 32) for passing compressed air for cooling purposes to one end of the motor so that the heat generated by the motor is not conducted to the ball screw shaft (24) through the ball nut (22) attached to one end of the cylindrical shaft (20) of the through type motor and engaged with the ball screw shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Iwamatsu, Yuichi Endo
  • Patent number: 5103126
    Abstract: A structure which is of the utmost simplicity, rigidity and reliability has a transmission arrangement (1) for converting the rotary movement of a motor into a linear movement of a driven body (21) along a curved path. It is of a configuration that includes a stationarily arranged spindle (2) which is curved to correspond to the shape of the curved path, and at least one thread counterpart portion (4) which is engaged with the thread of the curved spindle and which is rotatable about the spindle, and by virtue of that rotary movement, displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the spindle. The stator (14) of the motor is connected to the driven body and is mounted non-rotatably and longitudinally displaceably with respect to the curved spindle, and the rotor (5, 15) of the motor is non-rotatably connected to the thread counterpart portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: Walter Mehnert
  • Patent number: 5099161
    Abstract: A compact electrically driven linear actuator having an electric motor in a housing. The electric motor has a cylindrically-shaped rotor assembly which is attached to and circumscribes a threaded spindle. A portion of the threaded spindle is received in an axial bore of a non-rotatable extendable arm. A nut attached to one end of the non-rotatable extendable arm is threadably received on the threaded spindle. Rotation of the threaded spindle by the electric motor linearly displaces the nut and the non-rotatable extendable arm along the length of the threaded spindle. In the preferred embodiment, the threaded spindle has a helical ball groove and the nut is a mating ball nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Savair Inc.
    Inventor: Michael H. Wolfbauer, III
  • Patent number: 5063316
    Abstract: An automatic door protective device for returning an overhead door to the open position when it encounters an obstacle as it is closing. The protective device of this invention includes a motor having an output shaft and a driving gear mounted on the shaft. A driven gear is in mesh with the driving gear mounted on a gear shaft which also mounts a worm. A worm wheel is in mesh with the worm which is mounted on a worm wheel shaft, which also mounts a pulley that raises and lowers the door in response to rotation of the output shaft to the motor. The end of the gear shaft is spaced away from a copper leaf spring, and an electrical contact is also provided spaced away from the leaf spring. The spring and the contact are part of an electrical circuit with a signal controller coupled to the motor. When the door encounters an obstacle and the pulley ceases rotation, the torque of the motor causes the gear shaft to displace axially as the worm moves along the worm wheel teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: C. E-Ming
  • Patent number: 5053660
    Abstract: A linear actuator 30 set up as a powered valve comprises a stator 32 secured within a frame 34 and a rotor 38 mounted on a pair of half-shafts 40. Within the rotatable assembly are internally-threaded and oppositely-handed drive nuts 44 and 46 which are each secured to the half-shafts 40 for conjoint rotation with the rotor 38. A pair of driven members 48 and 50 are provided. The driven member 48 is externally threaded to match the internal thread of the driving nut 44, and similarly, the driven member 50 is externally threaded to match the internal thread of the driving nut 46. Since the two sets of corresponding male/female threads are oppositely handed, energization of the stator 32 to turn the rotor 38 will actuate the driven members 48 and 50 in mutually opposite directions and as the adjacent ends of the driven members 48 and 50 are formed respectively as a valve seat 54 and a valve plug 56 the valve can be opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventor: John L. Sneddon
  • Patent number: 5053685
    Abstract: A high precision linear actuator includes high fidelity mechanical linkages between the motor drive and the linear displacement output shaft. Rotational motor drive output is conveyed to a rotatable spindle (20) and lead nut assembly by means of belt driven sprockets. Rotation of the lead nut assembly is converted to linear displacement of a non-rotating lead screw and output shaft. Linear actuators of the present invention also incorporate a feedback control feature employing Moire fringe pattern techniques to continuously monitor the position of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Kensington Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul E. Bacchi
  • Patent number: 5051635
    Abstract: A ball-splined shaft assembly suitable for use in a robot arm or the like is provided. The assembly includes a shaft formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves spaced apart from one another at a predetermined pitch and a pair of longitudinal grooves which are located opposite sides and extend in parallel with the center line of the shaft. An outer sleeve unit fitted onto the shaft includes a pair of endless circulating paths each provided with a plurality of balls. Each of the endless circulating paths includes a load path section where the balls are partly exposed and thus received in the corresponding one of the longitudinal grooves. The outer sleeve unit is mounted on a housing through a pair of ball bearings. Thus, the shaft may rotate together with the outer sleeve unit relative to the housing and the shaft may move in its longitudinal direction relative to the outer sleeve unit and thus the housing. A stepping motor is mounted on the housing and operatively coupled to the outer sleeve unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Kasahara
  • Patent number: 5045741
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing selectively from time to time in the same member 11 either rotary motion 12 about an axis 13 or linear movement 14 in an axial direction from one position to another comprises: an electric motor 15 including a stator 16 comprising a housing 17 and a magnet 18 for providing a first magnetic field therein; a rotor 19 comprising an armature 20, for providing a second magnetic field, on a shaft 11; all of the above being coaxial about the axis 13; and a commutator 21 (mechanical or electronic) and associated circuitry 22 for conducting electrical energy to the motor 15 to provide, selectively, rotation 12 of the shaft 11 in a selected direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) and/or axial translation 14 of the shaft 11 in a selected direction (toward or away from the first magnetic field). For rotation, the magnetic fields are substantially perpendicular; for translation, they are substantially parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: James E. Dvorsky
  • Patent number: 5041748
    Abstract: An actuator (10) comprises a housing having sections (11, 11') joined by a band clamp (12). A high torque, low speed motor (14) is provided in the housing and has a rotor (17) associated with a ballscrew rod (18) which is received in the hollow end of a ballnut/rod (20). The ballscrew rod (18) and the ballnut/rod (20) are provided with grooves (19, 20 respectively) between which ceramic balls (20) are entrained. The rod (20) translates in only a rectilinear direction and the grooves (19) of the ballscrew rod (18) are protected from the environment by the ballnut/rod (20) which covers the free end of the ballscrew rod (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Huber
  • Patent number: 5015897
    Abstract: A geared electric motor is provided with an armature having an armature shaft supported within a motor yoke and a gear casing attached to said motor yoke by a radial ball bearing having an outer ring fixed to the gear casing and an inner ring fixed to the armature shaft of the armature using a stop ring and a push nut. A commutator is mounted on the armature shaft and a plurality of brushes carried by brush holders are in sliding engagement with the commutator. The brush holders are mounted on a brush holder base connected by elastic bushings to a brush holder base setting member which in turn is secured to the gear casing in engagement with the outer ring of the ball bearing to locate the outer ring in the gear casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Atsushi Inagaki, Koh Hiratsuka, Hiroaki Miura, Yasujiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5012147
    Abstract: A domestic vibration apparatus, in particular a dry-shaver or hair trimmer, in which rotary movements of a two-pole permanent magnet (9) forming a rotor are converted into vibratory movements of a vibration tool by means of a lever system (13) which preloads the drive in such a way that the rotor (9) can oscillate about a rest position,t he two-pole permanent-magnet rotor (9) without pole-pieces being arranged in the U-shaped stator of a single-phase synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Bertram, Hugo Schemmann, Romuald L. Bukoschek
  • Patent number: 4998031
    Abstract: A high torque AC stepping motor is provided. The motor includes a stator with six radially spaced coils. Spaced radially extending arms on an armature core are positioned adjacent the coils. The armature is mounted by a torsional shaft assembly including two concentric torque tubes. the torsional action of the tubes serves to return the armature to a home position after each current pulse. A one way sprag clutch is driven by the output shaft connected to the armature to turn an output gear or the like. A timer controls the AC power source to provide the precise rotary output. A system for precisely feeding webs of material for processing utilizing the stepping motor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: Henry L. Griffey
  • Patent number: 4992685
    Abstract: A motor-compressor unit comprising a vibration motor (1) having a single-part magnetizable stator (2) in the form of a W, arcuate air gaps (9, 10) being formed between the peripheral surface (6) of the central limb 3 of the W and each of the outer limbs (4, 5) of the W, and an armature (11) which is reciprocatingly pivotable about a motor shaft (12). The armature comprises at least one permanent magnet pole element (13), at least one coil (16, 17) arranged on the stator, an alternating current through the coil producing an oscillating movement of the armature (11), a compressor (21) having a linearly reciprocating piston (24) which is coupled to the armature (11), the coupling (25) being arranged diametrically opposite the pole element (13) relative to the motor shaft (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Fidelus A. Boon, Evert M. H. Kamerbeek
  • Patent number: 4980590
    Abstract: A flat brushless motor utilizable as a warning means in a portable communication device such as a pocket bell. The flat brushless motor is such that the center of gravity of the back-yoke (5a) is displaced from the center of rotation so that, by the rotation of the unbalanced back-yoke (5a), vibrations can be generated and, by the elimination of a weight or the like for generating the vibrations, the manufacture in a flat and compact size as well as the reduction in number of component parts can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Taniguchi, Miyuki Furuya, Makoto Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4947070
    Abstract: Control apparatus of the kind disclosed in UK patent specification Nos. 2,073,887 and 2,114,717, i.e. in which a movable operating member, arranged to control associated apparatus such as an aircraft engine, is coupled to an electric stepper motor, the motor being energizable to move the operating member and/or to generate a `feel` resistance to, or detents in, the manual movement of the operating member, the apparatus including a ball-screw assembly comprising a lead-screw and ball-nut, one of which is connected to the operating member and, with the operating member, is linearly movable with respect to the other, the stepper motor being coupled to the ball-screw assembly so that rotation of the motor rotor produces, or is produced by, relative rotation of the lead-screw and ball-nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Grayham Hill, Philip Tittler
  • Patent number: 4931680
    Abstract: The output rotary shaft of a starter has a pinion slidably mounted so as to engage with the engine ring gear. The output shaft axis intersects that of the armature rotary shaft of the motor. The two shafts are engaged with each other through bevel gears so that the rotation of the armature rotary shaft is transmitted through the output rotary shaft to the pinion, thereby to rotate the engine ring gear. By this structure, the motor can be positioned farther from the gear box casing without an effect on the starter manufacturing cost and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 4926080
    Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a stepping motor having a hollow motor shaft prevented from moving in a thrust direction and a flange on either shaft end, a screw extending through the hollow shaft, a nut connected to the motor shaft with a coupling and rotated to linearly move the screw. A plate member is mounted upon screw and a bar so as to connect them to each other, said screw and said bar passing through and being supported by a motor flange, said bar moving through a bearing of a holder mounted to the plate member such that the holder is in parallel to the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventor: Satoru Koyama
  • Patent number: 4919523
    Abstract: A motorized drive attachment for mounting on a telescope frame, actuatable, for instance, to rotate a declination shaft in the telescope. The attachment includes a pair of concentric, detachable sleeves, providing for the detachable mounting of the housing of a motor in the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: James D. Burr
  • Patent number: 4920292
    Abstract: A step motor which, in addition to an exciter system for step-by-step movement, is provided with an axial exciter system. As a result of the direct or indirect influence of the magnetic field generated by the secondary exciter system on the rotor which is supported, so as to be able to move in an axial direction with respect to the stator, the rotor can be induced to move in a direction perpendicular to its step-by-step rotary motion, as well. Both exciter systems can be energized independently of one another, so that step-by-step rotary movement can be performed at any axial position of the rotor and the rotor can be made to move in an axial direction during its rotary movement as well as when it is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Papst-Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Albrecht, Helmut Hans, Johann von der Heide, Fritz Schmider
  • Patent number: 4914330
    Abstract: A trochoidal speed reduction mechanism forms an integral part of the stator and rotor of an electric motor so that a slow-speed high-torque output is produced without having any high speed rotating component in the motor. A rotor has an epitrochoidal contour with a predetermined number of lobes. Positioned around the rotor are two non-rotating orbiting stator-rings, phased 180 degrees apart, each provided with a number of rollers equal to the number of lobes on the rotor plus one. The rollers are rotatably mounted on the inner surface of the stator-ring and are in continuous contact with the epitrochoidal contour of the shaft rotor. The non-rotating orbital movement of the stator-rings is produced by magnetic forces from a series of stator windings arranged as magnetic poles around the stator-rings. This action causes the rotor to rotate at a speed equal to the orbiting speed of the stator-rings divided by the built-in speed reduction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Michel Pierrat
  • Patent number: 4868435
    Abstract: An electrically driven vibrating apparatus such as a dry shaver comprises a single-phase synchronous motor having a drive shaft, together with a part to be reciprocated. A cam is rotated by the motor drive shaft, and a lever is journalled about a pivot and is in contact with the part to be reciprocated. A pressure roller is mounted on the lever and is in constant contact with the cam profile. A compression spring acts on the lever to urge the pressure roller towards the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventors: Gerhard Diefenbach, Hugo Schemmann, Romuald L. Bukoschek
  • Patent number: 4865162
    Abstract: This invention provides a roller screw drive mechanism (60) driven by an electric torque motor (50) through a gear drive (58,58',58") associated with either the screw (64,94) or nut (62,92) member of the roller screw drive mechanism. Rotation of the gear drive (58, 58', 58") by the torque motor (50) effectively moves the other member of the roller screw drive mechanism into axial engagement with the brake pressure plate (32) for braking action in response to an electrical control signal fed to the torque motor. A plurality of torque motor driven roller screw drive mechanisms are mounted in a balanced arrangement about the axis of the wheel and brake assembly to effectively apply and release a brake pressure force on the brake pressure plate in response to an electrical control signal to the torque motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Opus Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Morris, Moseley Douglas D., Gary M. Rimlinger, Thomas L. Soldat
  • Patent number: 4831858
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for a vertical rolling mill comprises a vertical electric motor mounted on a frame which has a hollow rotary shaft therein supported by a bearing and surrounding a portion of an intermediate shaft. The upper end of the intermediate shaft extends through the hollow rotary shaft and connects to a first universal joint disposed axially above the motor, and which engages the upper end of the hollow rotary shaft. The torque of the hollow rotary shaft is transmitted to the vertical roll through the first universal joint of the intermediate shaft, and a second universal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignees: FEC Co., Ltd., Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Yoshizawa, Ginjiro Yanai, Seiichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 4816712
    Abstract: A starter of a flat commutator type comprises an electric motor armature on a rotary shaft, a commutator extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and brushes pushing the commutator in the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The center of the field of the electric motor is positional away from the center of the armature in the axial direction thereof, in a direction opposite to that of the pushing force of the brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4810915
    Abstract: A motor-compressor comprising a vibration motor (1) having a rotationally vibrating drive shaft (4) and a compressor (2) having at least one piston (10) which is linearly reciprocated by the motor shaft (4) is suspended in the housing (14) by means of springs (15) so that the points of attachment (17) of the springs are coplanar with and as close as possible to the axis (16) of the rotation, to which the motor- compressor is subjected in operation. This counteracts the imbalance forces to a maximum extent and minimizes the dynamic forces on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Rokus C. D. Lissenburg, Paulus J. M. Verboven
  • Patent number: 4797048
    Abstract: An apparatus which binds a set of sheets by applying a tape having an adhesive thereon to the spine of the set of sheets. A heated plate is resiliently urged into contact with the tape with a force selected to optimize adhesive melt and flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael S. Doery
  • Patent number: 4791327
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a domestic vibration-type apparatus is provided, in which the rotor shaft (19) of a single-phase synchronous motor drives a cam-and-follower mechanism which converts the rotary motion of the rotor into a vibratory motion, the rotor and the stator having a main field direction (22) and (16), respectively. The longitudinal axis of the mirror-symmetrical cam extends at an angle to the main field direction (22) of the rotor. Rollers (31, 31a) which follow the cam (21) are arranged on a pivotal arm which is pivot about its central portion and a vibratory part (39) to be driven is arranged on the driving end (35) of this pivotal arm. As they cooperate with the cam the rollers are constantly in contact with the cam profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventors: Leo Bertram, Hugo Schemmann, Romuald L. Bukoschek