Magnetic Levitation Gravity Compensation Device

Abstract

The disclose provides a magnetic levitation gravity compensation device, including: a first magnetic steel, which is cylindrical; a second magnetic steel, which is cylindrical, arranged in the first magnetic steel and radially spaced from the first magnetic steel; and at least one end magnetic steel, which is cylindrical, and is located on at least one of two axial ends of the second magnetic steel and axially spaced from the two axial ends of the second magnetic steel, a center line of the end magnetic steel is configured to coincide with a center line of the second magnetic steel, and a cylinder wall thickness of the end magnetic steel is smaller than that of the second magnetic steel, wherein a magnetization direction of the first magnetic steel is a radial direction, and a magnetization direction of the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel is an axial direction.

Claims

1. A magnetic levitation gravity compensation device, comprising: a first magnetic steel, the first magnetic steel is cylindrical; a second magnetic steel, the second magnetic steel is cylindrical, and is arranged in the first magnetic steel and radially spaced from the first magnetic steel; and at least one end magnetic steel, the at least one end magnetic steel is cylindrical, and is located on at least one of two axial ends of the second magnetic steel and axially spaced from the two axial ends of the second magnetic steel, a center line of the end magnetic steel is configured to coincide with a center line of the second magnetic steel, and a cylinder wall thickness of the end magnetic steel is smaller than a cylinder wall thickness of the second magnetic steel, wherein a magnetization direction of the first magnetic steel is a radial direction, and a magnetization direction of the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel is an axial direction.

2. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first supporting member, the first supporting member is used for fixing the first magnetic steel; and a second supporting member, the second supporting member is used for fixing the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel, wherein the first supporting member and the second supporting member may axially move relative to each other.

3. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 2, wherein the first supporting member is cylindrical, and the first magnetic steel is embedded in an inner peripheral surface of the first supporting member.

4. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 2, wherein the second supporting member is columnar, and the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel are embedded in an outer peripheral surface of the second supporting member.

5. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein a spacing distance between the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel is 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm.

6. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic steel consists of an even number of radial magnetic steel blocks which are radially spaced from each other. and a pole-arc coefficient of single radial magnetic steel block ranges from 0.75 to 0.98.

7. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein each of two ends of the second magnetic steel is provided with one end magnetic steel.

8. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the second magnetic steel is provided with two or more end magnetic steels.

9. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the end magnetic steel is not smaller than an inner diameter of the second magnetic steel, and an outer diameter of the end magnetic steel is not larger than an outer diameter of the second magnetic steel.

10. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 2, wherein lengths of the first magnetic steel, the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel are La, Lb and Lc respectively, wherein Lb>Lc.

11. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the second magnetic steel and an inner diameter of the end magnetic steel are Db and Dc respectively, and γl=Db/Dc, and γ1 ranges from ⅛ to 1.

12. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 10, wherein a stroke of the first supporting member and the second supporting member axially moving relative to each other is S, λ1=La/Lb, λ2=Lc/Lb, and λ1 ranges from ¼ to 1+2λ2−2S/Lb.

13. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 10, wherein a stroke of the first supporting member and the second supporting member axially moving relative to each other is S, λ2=Lc/Lb, and λ2 ranges from ¼ to ⅜.

14. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1, wherein a spacing distance between the first magnetic steel and the second magnetic steel is Rg, and Rg is not smaller than ten times a spacing distance between the second magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel.

15. A workbench, comprising a workbench body, wherein a cavity is provided below the workbench body, and is configured for accommodating the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to claim 1.

16. The workbench according to claim 15, wherein a number of the cavities is three or four.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a sectional schematic diagram of a magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to the disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a structural schematic diagram of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to Embodiment 1 of the disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional schematic diagram of a magnetization direction and a size of magnetic steel of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to the disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a magnetic line of force of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to the disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a curve of a magnetic levitation force of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to the disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a structural schematic diagram of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to Embodiment 2 of the disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a curie of fluctuation of the magnetic levitation force according to Embodiment 2 of the disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram according to Embodiment 3 of the disclosure, wherein a cylinder bisecting a cylinder thickness of mover magnetic steel in a radial direction coincides with a cylinder bisecting a cylinder thickness of the end magnet steel in a radial direction.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram according to Embodiment 4 of the disclosure, wherein inner diameters of the mover magnetic steel and the end magnetic steel are equal.

[0038] FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of the number of the end magnetic steel two according to Embodiment 5 of the disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 11 shows a single-point layout according to Embodiment 6 of the disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 12 shows a three-point layout according to Embodiment 6 of the disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 13 shows a four-point layout according to Embodiment 6 of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings so as to better describe objects, features and advantages of the disclosure. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are not to limit the scope of the disclosure, but only to describe the spirit of the technical solution of the disclosure.

[0043] In the following description, in order to describe various disclosed embodiments, certain specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the related art will recognize that embodiments may be implemented without one or more of these specific details. In other cases, well-known devices, structures and techniques associated with the disclosure may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0044] Unless the context has other requirements, in the whole specification and claims, the word “including” and its variants, such as “comprising” and “having”, should be understood as an open and inclusive meaning, that is, should be interpreted as “including but not limited to.”

[0045] References to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” throughout the specification mean that a particular characteristic, structure or feature described in conjunction with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” in various positions throughout the specification need not all refer to the same embodiment. In addition, specific characteristics, structures, or features may be combined in any mode in one or more embodiments.

[0046] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a” and “the” include meanings of plural referents unless there are clear and additional stipulations herein. It should be pointed out that the term “or” is usually used in its meaning including “and/or”, unless there are clear and additional stipulations herein.

[0047] In the following description, in order to clearly show the structure and working mode of the disclosure, many directional words will be used to describe it, but words such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “outside”, “inside”, “outward”, “inward”, “on” and “under” should be understood as convenient words, but should not be understood as limiting words.

[0048] It should be noted that relational terms in the claims and specification of the disclosure such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation without necessarily requiring or implying any actual relation or order between such entities or operations.

[0049] The disclosure aims to overcome defects of a short stroke and a complex structure of a traditional magnetic levitation gravity compensation device, and provides a magnetic levitation gravity compensation device, which has a long stroke so as to provide a high-amplitude magnetic levitation force with small fluctuation, thus being applied to a workbench requiring high-precision vertical movement. With reference to the drawings, a magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to the disclosure is described below.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows sectional schematic diagram of a magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 100 according to the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the device 100 includes: a first magnetic steel 101, a second magnetic steel 102, and end magnetic steels 103a and 103b. Wherein the first magnetic steel 101 is cylindrical, and the second magnetic steel 102 is also cylindrical and sleeved with the first magnetic steel 101 and is radially spaced from the first magnetic steel 101 by a certain distance. Both of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are cylindrical and located in two axial ends of the second magnetic steel 102 respectively, and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are axially spaced from the two axial ends of the second magnetic steel 102 by a certain distance respectively. By additionally arranging the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b at the two axial ends of the second magnetic steel 102, distribution of a magnetic line of force between the first magnetic steel 101 and the second magnetic steel 102 may be adjusted, so that a magnetic levitation force with small fluctuation in a long stroke of the first magnetic steel 101 and the second magnetic steel 102 axially moving relative to each other is achieved. It should be understood that only one axial end of the second magnetic steel 102 may be provided with the end magnetic steel 103a or 103b without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Center lines of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b coincide with a center line of the second magnetic steel 102, and cylinder wall thicknesses of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are smaller than a cylinder wall thickness of the second magnetic steel 102. Wherein a magnetization direction of the first magnetic steel 101 is a radial direction, and magnetization directions of the second magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are an axial direction. The above magnetic steel arrangement and magnetization direction may generate a magnetic levitation force when the first magnetic steel 101 moves relative to the second magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b.

[0051] In order to achieve the above arrangement, a first supporting member and a second supporting member are arranged, wherein the first supporting member is used for fixing the first magnetic steel 101; and the second supporting member is used for fixing the second magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b, the first supporting member and the second supporting member may be capable of axially moving relative to each other. In practice, one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member is fixed relative to the workbench, while the other one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member is fixed relative to a bracket of the workbench, so that when the workbench is driven by a driving device to move vertically relative to the bracket, a weight of the workbench and a supporting body thereof may be compensated by means of the magnetic levitation force generated between the first magnetic steel 101 and the second magnetic steel 102 as well as the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b, that is, between the first supporting member and the second supporting member, thus achieving more precise control over vertical movement of the workbench. Hereinafter, the disclosure is described by taking as an example that the first supporting member is fixed relative to the bracket of a workbench and the second supporting member is fixed relative to the workbench. It should be understood that an embodiment, in which the second supporting member is fixed relative to the support of the workbench and the first supporting member is fixed relative to the workbench, is also within the scope of the disclosure.

[0052] Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the first magnetic steel 101 is referred to as stator magnetic steel 101 and the second magnetic steel 102 is referred to as mover magnetic steel 102. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first supporting member is a stator base 104, the second supporting member is a mover shaft 105. The stator base 104 is cylindrical, the stator magnetic steel 101 is embedded in an inner peripheral surface of the stator base 104, and the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are embedded in an outer surface of the mover shaft 105, and the stator magnetic steel 101 and the mover magnetic steel 102 are spaced from each other without mechanical connection therebetween. Wherein the mover shaft 105 may be of an integrated structure, or may be assembled from a mover shaft first portion 105a and a mover shaft second portion 105b as shown in FIG. 1, wherein a longitudinal section of the mover shaft first portion 105a is T-shaped, and the mover shaft second portion 105b and the mover shaft first portion 105a are assembled by means of threads. The assembling structure makes it possible to install or remove the end magnetic steel 103b as required, a magnetization direction of the stator magnetic steel 101 is a radial direction, and magnetization directions of the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are an axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3, an arrow direction in FIG. 3 represents a magnetization direction of magnetic steel, the magnetization direction of the stator magnetic steel 101 is radially outward, and the magnetization directions of the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are consistent and axially downward; and in the same way, accordingly, the magnetization direction of the stator magnetic steel 101 may also be radially inward, while the magnetization directions of the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are axially upward.

[0053] In addition, a certain spacing distance 6 is provided between the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b, which facilitates adjustment on fixing and assembling of a mover magnetic field and the magnetic steel. Wherein a value of spacing distance δ is selected depending on a stroke, and preferably ranges from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm in general.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a structural schematic diagram of Embodiment 1 of the disclosure. In FIG. 2, each of the stator magnetic steel 101, the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b is of a cylindrical structure, and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are equal in shape and size. As shown in FIG. 3, lengths of the stator magnetic steel 101, the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are La, Lb and Lc respectively, a mover magnetic steel outer diameter 1021 and an end magnetic steel outer diameter 1031 are represented by Dob and Doc respectively, a mover magnetic steel inner diameter 1022 and an end magnetic steel inner diameter 1032 are represented by Db and Dc respectively, and a unilateral air gap between the stator magnetic steel 101 and the mover magnetic steel 102 is represented by Rg. Axial lengths Lb and Lc of the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are unequal, and generally Lb>Lc.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, radial thicknesses of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are smaller than a radial thickness of the mover magnetic steel 102. A radial position relation between the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b and the mover magnetic steel 102 is that outer diameters of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b may be slightly larger than a outer diameter of the mover magnetic steel 102, while inner diameters of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b may be slightly smaller than a inner diameter of the mover magnetic steel 102. In an embodiment, the outer diameters of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are not larger than the outer diameter of the mover magnetic steel 102, while the inner diameters of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b are not smaller than the inner diameter of the mover magnetic steel 102.

[0056] The radial position relation generally has three solutions: (1) the mover magnetic steel outer diameter 1021 and the end magnetic steel outer diameter 1031 are equal, and the mover magnetic steel inner diameter 1022 and the end magnetic steel inner diameter 1032 are unequal; (2) the mover magnetic steel outer diameter 1021 and the end magnetic steel outer diameter 1031 are unequal, and the mover magnetic steel inner diameter 1022 and the end magnetic steel inner diameter 1032 are equal; (3) the mover magnetic steel outer diameter 1021, the mover magnetic steel inner diameter 1022, the end magnetic steel outer diameter 1031 and the end magnetic steel inner diameter 1032 are unequal, and a distance between the inner diameter of the mover magnetic steel 102 and the inner diameter of the end magnetic steel 103 is equal to a distance between the outer diameter of the mover magnetic steel 102 and the outer diameters of the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b, that is, a cylinder bisecting a cylinder thickness of the mover magnetic steel 102 in a radial direction coincides with a cylinder bisecting a cylinder thickness of the end magnetic steel in a radial direction.

[0057] In addition, it should be understood that the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b may also be different from each other, for example, one or more of the outer diameters, the inner diameters, the cylinder thicknesses or heights thereof may be different from each other.

[0058] It should be noted that in an embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the mover magnetic steel outer diameter 1021 and the end magnetic steel outer diameter 1031 are equal, while the mover magnetic steel inner diameter 1022 and the end magnetic steel inner diameter 1032 are unequal.

[0059] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, three size ratios are defined as λ1=La/Lb, λ2=Lc/Lb, γ1=Db/Dc, which relate to the fluctuation of the magnetic levitation force and also change with a stroke and an amplitude of a magnetic levitation device. Assuming that a total stroke of the magnetic levitation device is S, a value range of λ1 is preferably [¼, 1+2λ2−2S/Lb] according to the stroke; and a value of λ2 relates to the number Nt of blocks (as described below) of the end magnetic steel, when Nt=1, a value range of λ2 is preferably [¼, ⅜]. Generally, a value of γ1 relates to the fluctuation of the magnetic levitation force, and considering processing difficulty and an assembly process of the magnetic steel, a value range of γ1 is preferably [⅛, 1]. In addition, the unilateral air gap Rg between the stator magnetic steel 101 and the mover magnetic steel 102 also affects strength of a magnetic field to a certain extent, and further affects an amplitude and fluctuation degree of the magnetic levitation force. Generally, a value of the unilateral air gap Rg varies with the amplitude of the magnetic levitation force, and the value of the unilateral air gap Rg is preferably larger than or equal to 10δ.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a magnetic line of force of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device of the above embodiment. According to a distribution track of the magnetic line of force and a principle that like magnetic poles repel each other, it may be inferred that gravity of the mover shaft 105 and a carrier thereof as well as the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b is compensated by the magnetic levitation force generated by magnetic field interaction among the mover magnetic steel 102, the end magnetic steels 103a and 103b and the stator magnetic steel 101, and radial thrust generated by the stator magnetic steel 101 against the mover magnetic steel 102 and the end magnetic steel 103a and 103b is a group of forces with equal amplitudes and uniformly distributed along a circumference, so the mover shaft 105 may always float in a center of the stator magnetic steel 101 by means of the magnetic levitation force. Through electromagnetic simulation, a curve of the magnetic levitation force generated by interaction between a magnetic field of the mover magnetic steel and a magnetic field of the stator magnetic steel may be obtained. As shown in FIG. 5, an amplitude of the magnetic levitation force in FIG. 5 ranges from 38.13 N to 38.97 N with the small fluctuation of 1.08% in a stroke range of 25 mm, which is basically close to a fluctuation degree of a traditional magnetic levitation gravity compensation device in the stroke range of ±2 mm.

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a structural schematic diagram of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the disclosure. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 200 includes a stator magnetic steel, a mover magnetic steel 202, and end magnetic steels 203a and 203b. The embodiment is basically consistent with Embodiment 1 except that considering magnetization of the stator magnetic steel and difficulty of a processing technology, the stator magnetic steel may be replaced with a group of blocky radially magnetized magnetic steels 201a, 201b, 201c and 201d in a circumferential direction. In order to eliminate a radial unbalanced force in the embodiment, the number N of blocks of the stator magnetic steels is usually even, and N=4 in the embodiment. It should be noted that a value of N is not limited to a value in the embodiment, but may also be extended to other even numbers, such as six and eight, according to the inner and outer diameters of the stator magnetic steel.

[0062] An pole-arc coefficient α of the radially magnetized magnetic steels 201a, 201b, 201c and 201d is a ratio of a polar arc length to a polar distance, and experience shows that the pole-arc coefficient α of the stator magnetic steels 201a, 201b, 201c and 201d generally ranges from 0.75 to 1.0, and the pole-arc coefficient α of the stator magnetic steel 201a may be equivalently represented by a pitch angle θ between the stator magnetic steel 201a and the stator magnetic steel 201b. When N takes different values, a value range of the pitch angle θ is generally [0°, 30°]. The pole-arc coefficient α of each block of magnetic steels may be adjusted by adjusting the pitch angle θ of adjacent blocks of magnetic steels in a circumferential direction, so as to increase or decrease a total volume of the stator magnetic steel and adjust the amplitude of the magnetic levitation force.

[0063] In the embodiment, considering the amplitude and the fluctuation of the magnetic levitation force comprehensively, a group of optimal topological structures are recommended, wherein the number N of circumferential blocks of the stator magnetic steel is 4, the pitch angle θ of the magnetic steel is 5°, and the pole-arc coefficient α of the magnetic steel is 17/18. A curve of the fluctuation of the magnetic levitation force obtained through simulation is shown in FIG. 7. It may be seen from FIG. 7 that the amplitude of the magnetic levitation force of Embodiment 2 fluctuates from 36.13 N to 36.91 N in the stroke range, with a very small fluctuation rate of 1.09%.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows a structural schematic diagram of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 300 according to Embodiment 3 of the disclosure. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 300 includes a stator magnetic steel (not shown), a mover magnetic steel 302 and an end magnetic steel 303a. In the embodiment, the cylinder bisecting the cylinder thickness of the mover magnetic steel 302 in the radial direction coincides with the cylinder bisecting the cylinder thickness of the end magnet steel 303a in the radial direction.

[0065] FIG. 9 shows a structural schematic diagram of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 400 according to Embodiment 4 of the disclosure. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 400 includes a stator magnetic steel (not shown), a mover magnetic steel 402 and an end magnetic steel 403a. Wherein an end magnetic steel inner diameter 4032 and a mover magnetic steel inner diameter 4022 are equal, and an end magnetic steel outer diameter 4031 and a mover magnetic steel outer diameter 4021 are unequal.

[0066] FIG. 10 shows a structural schematic diagram of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 500 according to Embodiment 5 of the disclosure. The magnetic levitation gravity compensation device 500 includes a stator magnetic steel (not shown), a mover magnetic steel 502, and end magnetic steels 503a and 503c, wherein the end magnetic steel at one axial end of the mover magnetic steel 502 is axially blocky. According to the stroke of the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device and the fluctuation of the magnetic levitation force, the number Nt of unilateral blocks may be adjusted. In the above embodiments, Nt=1, but Nt is not limited to 1, and may also be larger than 1. Generally, the more the number Nt of unilateral blocks of the end magnetic steel, the more uniform distribution of a magnetic field provided by the mover magnetic steel 502 and the end magnetic steel, and the more stable the curve of the magnetic levitation force. In the embodiment, a solution that the number Nt of blocks of the end magnetic steel is 2 is shown. In addition, in the embodiment, an end magnetic steel inner diameter 5032 and a mover magnetic steel inner diameter 5022 are unequal, and an end magnetic steel outer diameter 5031 and a mover magnetic steel outer diameter 5021 are equal. It should be understood that the other axial end of the mover magnetic steel 502 may also be provided with a single block of end magnet steel or axially blocky end magnetic steel. Other radial position relations between the end magnetic steel and the mover magnetic steel 502 may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0067] FIGS. 11-13 show a bottom view of a workbench using the magnetic levitation gravity compensation device according to the disclosure. A cavity is provided below the workbench body, and is used for accommodating a magnetic levitation gravity device according to the disclosure. Wherein a number of the cavity below the workbench may be one, as shown in FIG. 11, may also be three for regular triangle arrangement for example to form a three-point layout, and, as shown in FIG. 12, may also be four for square arrangement to form a four-point layout.

[0068] The exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that aspects of the embodiments may be modified to provide additional embodiments by using aspects, features and concepts of various patents, applications and publications, if necessary.

[0069] In view of the above detailed description, these and other changes may be made to the embodiments. Generally speaking, terms used in the claims should not be regarded as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be understood as including all possible embodiments together with all the equivalent ranges of these claims.