A linear actuator includes an electromagnetic coil and a stator cover extending over the electromagnetic coil. A set of magnets are disposed end-to-end to form a ring. The magnets are adjacent the electromagnetic coil but offset from the center of the coil. A ferromagnetic central ring disposed within the coil at the inner diameter thereof and next to the magnets. A non-ferromagnetic ring disposed within the coil at the inner diameter thereof extending between the central ring and the other side of the stator cover. A translator is disposed between the magnets and the central axis. The translator is latchable between two positions within the linear actuator depending on the magnetic flux and the direction in which the electric current is flowing.

An apparatus including a first device configured to support a substrate thereon; a first transport having the first device connected thereto, where the first transport includes: rails or maglev guides; a magnetic system configured to vertically space the first device over the rails or maglev guides with a gap between the first device and the rails or maglev guides, where the magnetic system comprises a first electromagnetic actuator at a first corner of a first side of the first device, a second electromagnetic actuator at a second corner of the first side of the first device, and a third electromagnetic actuator at a second opposite side of the first device, where the third electromagnetic actuator is not located proximate a corner of three sides of the first device; and a linear actuator configured to move the first device along the rails or maglev guides.

A linear propulsion machine and system (10) is disclosed that includes a stator (30) having a plurality of teeth (34) and a mover (32) moveable in a linear direction along the stator (30). The mover may include a plurality of spaced apart ferromagnetic strata (40), a plurality of slots (42), a plurality of wire coils (44), and a plurality of magnet layers (46). Each of the slots (42) may be adjacent to at least one of the strata (40). Each coil (44) may be disposed in a slot (42). Each magnet layer (46) may be sandwiched between strata (40) and disposed inside one of the plurality of coils (44). Each coil (44) is disposed perpendicularly to the direction of magnetic flux of the magnet layer (46) around which the coil (44) is wound. In an embodiment, the teeth (34) or the magnet layer (46) may be disposed at an angle.

A rotary electric machine that includes a rotor; and a permanent magnet, wherein: in an axially orthogonal section orthogonal to a rotational axis of the rotor in an attached state in which the permanent magnet is attached to the rotor, the permanent magnet has an uneven shape, in which both of two magnetic pole surfaces are repeatedly projected and recessed with a curvature that is larger than an average curvature of magnetic pole surfaces.

Disclosed are fault-tolerant permanent-magnet vernier cylindrical electric motors with an electromagnetic suspension and a fault-tolerant vector control method for a short circuit of two adjacent phases. The fault-tolerant permanent-magnet vernier cylindrical electric motor with an electromagnetic suspension and the fault-tolerant vector control method for a short circuit of two adjacent phases suppress motor thrust ripples caused by a fault of two adjacent phases of an electric motor. The dynamic performance and the steady-state performance thereof are consistent with those under a normal state, and the switching frequency of a voltage source inverter is constant.

An elevator and a method for testing an operating condition of two or more elevator car brakes are provided, each of the car brakes including an actuator to control the car brake and each of the car brakes mounted to elevator car and fitted to selectively engage against a guide rail of an elevator car to stop movement of an elevator car or to open to enable movement of an elevator car. The method includes an empty car is kept at a standstill by providing a driving force upwards with all the N movers mounted to the elevator car, and total current Lot of all N movers is determined. One of the car brakes is applied while the others are kept open. The driving current of each of the movers is gradually decreased, and movement of elevator car is observed. When movement of elevator car is detected, the driving current at the moment movement started is recorded, and the recorded current is compared to a reference value, and if the recorded current is higher than the reference value, safety measures with the elevator are performed.

A linear electrical machine (LEM) comprising a stator mounted in a housing, the housing and stator defining a working cylinder, a central core within the working cylinder and defining a cylindrical stator bore cavity therebetween, a hollow translator axially movable within the working cylinder, extending into the stator bore cavity and forming an exterior magnetic circuit airgap between the translator and the stator, at least one fluid bearing between the central core and the translator providing a bearing gap, wherein the central core is axially fixed in relation to the stator, wherein the at least one fluid bearing provides coaxial location of the translator and central core.

A transport device has a stator and at least one transport element. The transport device is designed to transport the transport element in a controlled manner relative to the stator, and the stator or the transport element has multiple movable actuating magnets, each of which is connected to the stator or transport element via an actuating element. The actuating element is designed to change the position and/or orientation of the connected actuating magnet relative to the stator or transport element in a controlled manner. The respective other part has at least two stationary magnets fixedly connected to the respective other part. The stator and the transport element are magnetically coupled by means of the stationary magnets and actuating magnets, and the transport device is designed to transport the transport element relative to the stator by the control positioning and/or orientation of the actuating magnets by means of the actuating magnets.

Drive coils in sections of a linear motor track that are normally used to electromagnetically propel movers along the track when such movers are nearby can be used to generate a mid-bus voltage for the section when not being used to propel movers. Such drive coils not being used to propel movers are considered idle and available for mid-bus voltage generation. The mid-bus voltage, and a full-bus voltage from which the mid-bus voltage is derived, in turn, can be applied across other drive coils that are near movers with varying polarities and magnitudes to propel movers along the track. Track sensors can be positioned along the track to detect presences or absences of movers with respect to drive coils for determining propulsion of such movers or generation of the mid-bus voltage. Accordingly, power supplies can be used more efficiently by not requiring them to generate mid-bus voltages in addition to full-bus voltages and DC references.

An apparatus including a frame, an optical sensor connected to the frame, and an environment separation barrier. The frame is configured to be attached to a housing of a motor assembly proximate an aperture which extends through the housing. The optical sensor comprises a camera. The environment separation barrier is configured to be connected to the housing at the aperture, where the environment separation barrier is at least partially transparent and located relative to the camera to allow the camera to view an image inside the housing through the environment separation barrier and the aperture.