A multi-degree-of-freedom electromagnetic machine includes a stator, an armature, and a control. The stator includes a first, second, and third stator conductors that follow first, second, and third trajectories that are all different, and that together form a general shape of a surface. The armature is disposed adjacent to, and is movable relative to, the stator, and includes a plurality of spaced-apart armature coils. Each armature coil is configured, upon being electrically energized, to generate a magnetic field. The control is coupled to the first, second, and third stator conductors, and to the armature coils and is configured to: (i) supply DC to the stator conductors, and (ii) supply DC to one or more of the armature coils, to thereby generate one or more magnetic fields that interact with the stator conductors and vary an orientation of the one or more magnetic fields relative to the stator conductors.

An improved torque motor for use in a servovalve is described herein, comprising: first and second pole pieces, having a C-shaped cross-section comprising a ring shaped section extending in a first plane with first and second portions extending perpendicularly away from said plane and inwards towards an armature plate. The perpendicularly extending portions are detachable from and attachable to the ring-shaped section of the pole pieces to allow for easier calibration and adjustment of the air gaps between the pole pieces and the armature plate positioned there between.

An improved torque motor for use in a servovalve is described herein, comprising: first and second pole pieces, having a C-shaped cross-section comprising a ring shaped section extending in a first plane with first and second portions extending perpendicularly away from said plane and inwards towards an armature plate. The perpendicularly extending portions are detachable from and attachable to the ring-shaped section of the pole pieces to allow for easier calibration and adjustment of the air gaps between the pole pieces and the armature plate positioned there between.

One example device includes a rotor platform that rotates about an axis of rotation. The device also includes a ring magnet mounted to the rotor platform to provide a rotor-platform magnetic field. The device also includes a stator platform that includes a planar mounting surface. The device also includes a plurality of conductive structures disposed along the planar mounting surface. The conductive structures remain within a predetermined distance to the ring magnet in response to rotation of the rotor platform about the axis of rotation. The conductive structures are electrically coupled to define an electrically conductive path that at least partially overlaps the ring magnet. The device also includes circuitry that causes an electrical current to flow through the conductive path. The electrical current generates a stator-platform magnetic field that interacts with the rotor-platform magnetic field such that the rotor platform rotates about the axis of rotation.

The torque motor in this patent depends on decreasing the gap between a surface on a fixed part and a corresponding inclined facing surface on a rotating part, where the gap width is proportional to its distance from the angle vertex, in magnifying the electromagnetic force and its resulting torque. Therefore, the surface on the fixed part starts directly ator close toa point in align with the rotating part center of rotation, and hence the gap width is minimum at the start point and increases away from this point due to the inclination angle. The motor may have various features such as utilizing many pairs of facing surfaces, many electromagnetic circuits; arrange the surfaces in pairs for balanced forces, works in one or two directions, the two directions electromagnetic circuits installed in one or two levels. Precautions and ways to avoid magnetic field interference and leakage should be considered.

The torque motor in this patent depends on decreasing the gap between a surface on a fixed part and a corresponding inclined facing surface on a rotating part, where the gap width is proportional to its distance from the angle vertex, in magnifying the electromagnetic force and its resulting torque. Therefore, the surface on the fixed part starts directly ator close toa point in align with the rotating part center of rotation, and hence the gap width is minimum at the start point and increases away from this point due to the inclination angle. The motor may have various features such as utilizing many pairs of facing surfaces, many electromagnetic circuits; arrange the surfaces in pairs for balanced forces, works in one or two directions, the two directions electromagnetic circuits installed in one or two levels. Precautions and ways to avoid magnetic field interference and leakage should be considered.

A bistable relay and a bistable actuator are provided. The bistable actuator includes a magnetic latching mechanism and an electromagnet. The magnetic latching mechanism includes a rotation shaft, a pillar-shaped permanent magnet, a columnar hollow magnetic conductor and two shells, and operates between a first and second stable states. The columnar hollow magnetic conductor surrounds the pillar-shaped permanent magnet wrapping the rotation shaft, and maintains a gap with the pillar-shaped permanent magnet. The electromagnet is connected to the columnar hollow magnetic conductor for driving the pillar-shaped permanent magnet to rotate, so as to switch the magnetic latching mechanism to the stable state. During a process that the magnetic latching mechanism is switched to the stable state, the rotation shaft rotates synchronously along with the magnetic latching mechanism to drive an impact system to move relative to a contact system, so as to contact or disconnect the contact points.

A bistable relay and a bistable actuator are provided. The bistable actuator includes a magnetic latching mechanism and an electromagnet. The magnetic latching mechanism includes a rotation shaft, a pillar-shaped permanent magnet, a columnar hollow magnetic conductor and two shells, and operates between a first and second stable states. The columnar hollow magnetic conductor surrounds the pillar-shaped permanent magnet wrapping the rotation shaft, and maintains a gap with the pillar-shaped permanent magnet. The electromagnet is connected to the columnar hollow magnetic conductor for driving the pillar-shaped permanent magnet to rotate, so as to switch the magnetic latching mechanism to the stable state. During a process that the magnetic latching mechanism is switched to the stable state, the rotation shaft rotates synchronously along with the magnetic latching mechanism to drive an impact system to move relative to a contact system, so as to contact or disconnect the contact points.

A rotating body is rotatably supported on a holding section. The holding section includes a rotation detection unit, a torque-applying unit, and a brake-applying unit. The torque-applying unit includes an A-phase torque-applying coil and a B-phase torque-applying coil, and a resistance torque and a pull-in torque applied to a rotor (magnet) are caused to vary as a result of controlling supply of current to each of the coils. In addition, a braking force can be controlled by supplying current to a brake-applying coil included in the brake-applying unit.

A rotating body is rotatably supported on a holding section. The holding section includes a rotation detection unit, a torque-applying unit, and a brake-applying unit. The torque-applying unit includes an A-phase torque-applying coil and a B-phase torque-applying coil, and a resistance torque and a pull-in torque applied to a rotor (magnet) are caused to vary as a result of controlling supply of current to each of the coils. In addition, a braking force can be controlled by supplying current to a brake-applying coil included in the brake-applying unit.