With Armature-locking Means Patents (Class 335/233)
  • Patent number: 8339225
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuating device (1) having a housing (2) and two actuator pins (3, 4) that are supported in the housing so as to be movable independently of each other between a retracted rest position and an extended working position, and locking pins (7, 8) that hold the actuator pins in the rest position via locking mechanisms and that can be moved relative to the actuator pins in the movement direction of the actuator pins. A force is applied to the locking pins in the extension direction by further spring elements (15), and the locking pins are moved in the retraction direction by electromagnetic force application in order to unlock the locking mechanisms. The actuating device is an electromagnet (22) associated with the locking pins in common and having a reversible direction of the magnetic field, and the end sections (19) of the locking pins facing away from the actuator pins are provided with bipolar permanent magnets (20, 21) that are oriented with opposite polarities in the movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Nendel
  • Patent number: 7602270
    Abstract: An actuating magnet is disclosed comprising an actuating means (2) for exerting a tensile or pressure force on a target element that is to be moved, switched, or latched or unlatched, and comprising a latching means for latching the actuating means (2) in a desired position, the latching means having a locking magnet (11) for locking and unlocking the actuating means (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenbach GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Reiner Krause
  • Patent number: 7518479
    Abstract: An inline electromagnetic tool actuator incorporates an actuator housing, an elongated armature, a tool assembly, spaced-apart return magnets, at least one drive magnet, and at least one magnet wire. The elongated armature is located inside the housing, and is adapted for reciprocating linear movement along a notional assembly axis. The tool assembly is operatively attached to the armature. The return magnets are located inside the housing, and are coaxially aligned with the armature. The return magnets have respective inward facing surfaces defining respective magnetic poles. The drive magnet is affixed to the armature, and is arranged between the return magnets. The drive magnet has opposing outward facing surfaces each of like polarity to adjacent inward facing surfaces of the return magnets. The magnet wire is coiled about the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Mask, Mark Evans
  • Patent number: 6229421
    Abstract: An autosecuring solenoid utilizes an interposing device that restrains the solenoid plunger when the solenoid is de-energized and/or energized, effectively preventing undesired movement of the plunger. When a voltage is applied across the coil, the flowing current creates an magnetic field. This field causes the plunger to slide within the solenoid cavity, unless restrained. This field also causes displacement of a movable magnet in the interposing device. The direction of motion of the movable magnet will depend on the magnetic field orientation of the movable magnet with respect to the magnetic field. Thus, the interposing device may move either toward or away from the plunger. Additionally, if using two interposing devices, one device could move away from the plunger and the second device could move toward the plunger. The second interposing device could even permit the plunger to move until the second interposing device engaged a recess or notch in the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Mas-Hamilton Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy Floyd, John Passafiume, Joseph Luciano, Tommy Lowe
  • Patent number: 5896076
    Abstract: An electromagnetic active vibration actuator configuration combines two modes of operation to obtain the advantages of long stroke and linearity of voice coil type actuators and high efficiency of dual-gap solenoid type actuators. A coaxial stator shell surrounds an axially vibratable armature. Either the stator or the armature can carry one or more coils and/or permanent magnets, however usually the magnets are located on the armature for their contribution to vibrating mass. Alternate coils and alternate magnets are made opposite in polarity, the stator armature pole pieces being held symmetrically staggered relative to the stator pole pieces by end springs or flexures that allow axial vibration when AC is applied to the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Frederik T. van Namen
  • Patent number: 5883557
    Abstract: A magnetically latching solenoid apparatus is characterized by a non-magnetic armature carrying a permanent magnet having poles aligned with the throw axis of the device. The poles of the magnet are substantially aligned with corresponding pole pieces and define respective variable air gaps therebetween. The apparatus assumes one of two bistable magnetically latched states according to the one of the air gaps across which the magnetic attractive force exceeds the magnetic attractive force across the other of the air gaps. Single or dual winding coils temporally excitable unidirectionally or bidirectionally and, in the case of dual winding coils mutually exclusively or contemporaneously, to cause the latch state to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Andrzej Marian Pawlak, Chi Hung Leung
  • Patent number: 4620173
    Abstract: A magnetically driven and latched actuator includes an armature, at least a part of which is of a ferromagnetic material, mounted for reciprocating travel between two spaced apart limit positions. An electrical coil is operative upon the ferromagnetic material to drive the armature alternately back and forth between the limit positions, and a pair of auxiliary ferromagnetic bodies are fixed, each adjacent to a respective one of the limit positions. The auxiliary bodies and the ferromagnetic portion of the armature are mutually magnetically attracted to each other so that the armature becomes magnetically latched at the limit position to which it is last driven by the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Robert K. O'Brien
    Inventor: Robert B. O'Brien