A magnetically-coupled torque assist apparatus includes a movable (rotor) magnet configured to rotate about a rotor magnet axis extending through the rotor magnet, and a stationary (stator) magnet. The rotor magnet and the stator magnet have a gap therebetween. There is an equilibrium state position (ESP) of the rotor magnet where forces acting on the rotor magnet are balanced such that the rotor magnet is stationary about the rotor magnet axis. And when the rotor magnet is rotated from the equilibrium state position (ESP) to an elastically stressed state position (SSP), magnetic fields of the rotor magnet and the stator magnet generate a resultant magnetic force on the movable magnet that biases the movable magnet towards the equilibrium state position. In some embodiments, the stator and rotor magnets are configured to create a Halbach-effect magnetic field bloom, which contributes to the magnetic forces.

The present invention discloses a stiffness-adjustable electromagnetic spring. The spring includes a central shaft, an intermediate electromagnetic force control component, and two end electromagnetic force control components, where the two end electromagnetic force control components are located on both sides of the intermediate electromagnetic force control component, the two end electromagnetic force control components and the intermediate electromagnetic force control component are both sleeved on the central shaft, and the intermediate electromagnetic force control component is coaxial with the two end electromagnetic force control components. The stiffness of the electromagnetic spring can be controlled online and the nonlinearity can be adjusted. The spring disclosed in the present invention can generate adjustable negative stiffness to decrease the dynamic stiffness without reducing the static stiffness, thus break through the limitation of carrying capability of the spring on the vibration isolation performance, and has characteristics of compact structure, fast response, and easy control.

The present invention discloses a stiffness-adjustable electromagnetic spring. The spring includes a central shaft, an intermediate electromagnetic force control component, and two end electromagnetic force control components, where the two end electromagnetic force control components are located on both sides of the intermediate electromagnetic force control component, the two end electromagnetic force control components and the intermediate electromagnetic force control component are both sleeved on the central shaft, and the intermediate electromagnetic force control component is coaxial with the two end electromagnetic force control components. The stiffness of the electromagnetic spring can be controlled online and the nonlinearity can be adjusted. The spring disclosed in the present invention can generate adjustable negative stiffness to decrease the dynamic stiffness without reducing the static stiffness, thus break through the limitation of carrying capability of the spring on the vibration isolation performance, and has characteristics of compact structure, fast response, and easy control.

An electromagnetic damper 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first tubular member 111, a second tubular member 121, a rod 123, a plurality of electromagnetic coils 113, permanent magnets 125, and a short circuit 130. The second tubular member 121 is mounted on the first tubular member 111 and is configured to be capable of being relatively displaced in one axis direction with respect to the first tubular member 111. The rod 123 extends in the one axis direction and is, at one end, fixed to the second tubular member 121. The plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 are disposed in either one of an inside of the first tubular member 111 or the rod 123. The permanent magnet generates induced electromotive force in the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 by relative displacement with respect to the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 and are disposed in the other of the inside of the first tubular member 111 or the rod 123. The short circuit 130 is connected to the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 and shorts the terminals of the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 to each other.

An electromagnetic damper 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first tubular member 111, a second tubular member 121, a rod 123, a plurality of electromagnetic coils 113, permanent magnets 125, and a short circuit 130. The second tubular member 121 is mounted on the first tubular member 111 and is configured to be capable of being relatively displaced in one axis direction with respect to the first tubular member 111. The rod 123 extends in the one axis direction and is, at one end, fixed to the second tubular member 121. The plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 are disposed in either one of an inside of the first tubular member 111 or the rod 123. The permanent magnet generates induced electromotive force in the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 by relative displacement with respect to the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 and are disposed in the other of the inside of the first tubular member 111 or the rod 123. The short circuit 130 is connected to the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 and shorts the terminals of the plurality of electromagnetic coils 113 to each other.

The application relates to a magnetic biasing assembly. The magnetic biasing assembly comprises an outer part, having a first permanent magnet and an outer ferromagnetic annulus disposed radially outwardly of the first permanent magnet; and an inner part, having a second permanent magnet and an inner ferromagnetic annulus disposed radially inwardly of the second permanent magnet. The outer and inner parts are rotatable relative to each other about an axis to move the inner and outer parts into and out of an equilibrium position with each other. When the inner and outer parts are moved out of the equilibrium position, the first and second permanent magnets are arranged to generate a magnetic restoring moment between the inner and outer parts in a direction towards the equilibrium position.

A stability control system that detects a change in a vehicle operating characteristic and sends a stabilizing command to an actuator system based on identifying the change is described. The actuator system applies a first magnetic field having a predetermined strength to an electropermanent magnet for a predetermined duration based on receiving the stabilizing command. The first magnetic field transitions the electropermanent magnet from a first state to a second state. The electropermanent magnet generates a second magnetic field in the second state. The second magnetic field modifies at least one of a spring constant or a mechanical resistance of a suspension component within a suspension system of the vehicle, and the electropermanent magnet retains the second state after the predetermined duration in absence of the first magnetic field.

An eddy current damper includes a screw shaft, first permanent magnets, second permanent magnets, a cylindrical magnet holding member, a cylindrical conductive member, and a ball nut meshing with a screw shaft. The screw shaft is movable in the axial direction. The first permanent magnets are arrayed along the circumferential direction around the screw shaft. The second permanent magnet is arranged between the first permanent magnets, wherein the arrangement of magnet poles is inverted between the second permanent magnet and the first permanent magnet. The magnet holding member holds the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet. The conductive member is opposed to the first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets with a gap therebetween. The ball nut is disposed inside the magnet holding member and the conductive member, and is fixed to the magnet holding member or the conductive member.

There have been many types of sports shoes varying in design and material. The market-leading sports shoes are Nike and Asics. Nike is famous for its patented Air Max technology and Asics for its unique liquid cushioning element technology. These are excellent shoes in its own category. Yet, sports players are also looking for a shoe that can switch between the hi-rebound high performance sports mode and soft-cushioned regular mode conveniently. Our new design of the shoe sole tackles this task with a unique approach. We design the shoe sole into three zones according to its dynamic feature and fill the corresponding zones with different foaming material and an interchangeable compact MagLev module. This new design meets the challenge and opens up a new way for shoe manufacturing.

A magnetically-coupled torque assist apparatus includes a movable (rotor) magnet configured to rotate about a rotor magnet axis extending through the rotor magnet, and a stationary (stator) magnet. The rotor magnet and the stator magnet have a gap therebetween. There is an equilibrium state position (ESP) of the rotor magnet where forces acting on the rotor magnet are balanced such that the rotor magnet is stationary about the rotor magnet axis. And when the rotor magnet is rotated from the equilibrium state position (ESP) to an elastically stressed state position (SSP), magnetic fields of the rotor magnet and the stator magnet generate a resultant magnetic force on the movable magnet that biases the movable magnet towards the equilibrium state position. In some embodiments, the stator and rotor magnets are configured to create a Halbach-effect magnetic field bloom, which contributes to the magnetic forces.