Latching sector motor actuator and for a failsafe sector motor actuator having an available operating range not limited to 90°

Abstract

In one embodiment, a latching sector motor actuator includes a housing, a permanent magnet, and a pole piece. The permanent magnet rotates relative to the housing. The pole piece has a polarity and a pair of wound wire coils, is fixedly attached to the housing, and communicates with the permanent magnet to cause the permanent magnet to rotate one of clockwise and counterclockwise, depending upon the polarity of the pole piece. In another embodiment, a failsafe sector motor actuator has a pole piece with a singularly wound wire coil and further includes an auxiliary permanent magnet. The auxiliary permanent magnet is adjustably attached to the housing to extend rotation of the permanent magnet from 80 to 120, depending upon location and magnitude of the auxiliary permanent magnet.

Claims

1. A failsafe sector motor actuator having an available operating range not limited to 90, comprising: a) a housing; b) a permanent magnet; c) a pole piece; d) an auxiliary permanent magnet; and e) an armature shaft; wherein said permanent magnet supported by said armature shaft rotates relative to said housing; wherein said pole piece is fixedly attached to said housing; wherein said pole piece magnetically repels said permanent magnet to cause said permanent magnet to rotate when said pole piece is energized; wherein said auxiliary permanent magnet is adjustably attached to said housing to extend rotation of said permanent magnet from 90 to 120, depending upon location and magnitude of said auxiliary permanent magnet; and wherein said permanent magnet is a toroid-shaped permanent magnet.

2. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 1, further comprising an arm; wherein said arm extends radially from said armature shaft; and wherein said arm rotates with said permanent magnet.

3. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 2, further comprising: a) a first stop; and b) a second stop; wherein said first stop and said second stop are fixedly attached to said housing; and wherein said first stop and said second stop limit rotation of said permanent magnet by being engaged by said arm.

4. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 3, wherein said permanent magnet returns to said second stop from said first stop due to an attraction of a North pole of said permanent magnet to said pole piece and a repulsion of said auxiliary permanent magnet when said pole piece is de-energized.

5. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 2, further comprising an armature; wherein said armature is attached to said housing.

6. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 5, wherein said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet has: a) a central through bore; and b) an outer periphery.

7. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 6, wherein said armature passes through said central through bore of said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet.

8. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 6, wherein said arm is affixed to said armature shaft supporting said permanent magnet; and wherein said arm rotates with said outer periphery of said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet.

9. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 6, wherein said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet is radially magnetized; and wherein said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet is journaled to rotate by said armature.

10. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 3, wherein said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet has a rotating operating range to 90 between said first stop and said second stop, but in combination with said auxiliary permanent magnet has a rotating operating range to 120.

11. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 1, wherein said pole piece is an electromagnetic drive pole piece.

12. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 11, wherein said electromagnetic drive pole piece of said pole piece has: a) a core; and b) a singularly wound wire coil; and wherein said singularly wound wire coil of said electromagnetic drive pole piece of said pole piece is wrapped around said core of said electromagnetic drive pole piece of said pole piece.

13. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 12, wherein said core of said single electromagnetic drive pole piece of said pole piece is a soft iron core.

14. The failsafe sector motor actuator of claim 6, wherein said toroid-shaped permanent magnet of said permanent magnet is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, rare earth, and alnico.

Description

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

(1) The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the latching sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic static torque plot of the latching sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and not energized;

(4) FIG. 3A-3B is a flowchart of counterclockwise rotation of the latching sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the failsafe sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention in the de-energized mode;

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the failsafe sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention in the energized mode; and

(7) FIGS. 6A-6B is a flowchart of rotation of the failsafe sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

(8) A. Introductory. 10 latching sector motor actuator of embodiments of present invention

(9) B. Configuration of Latching Sector Motor Actuator 10. 12 housing 14 permanent magnet 16 pole piece 18 arm 20 first stop 22 second stop 24 flip point between first stop 18 and second stop 22 26 armature shaft 28 toroid-shaped permanent magnet of permanent magnet 14 30 central through bore of toroid-shaped permanent magnet 28 of permanent magnet 14 32 outer periphery of toroid-shaped permanent magnet 28 of permanent magnet 14 34 single electromagnetic drive pole piece of pole piece 16 36 core of single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of pole piece 16 38 pair of wound wire coils of single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of pole piece 16 40 soft iron core of core 36 of single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of pole piece 16

(10) C. Configuration of Failsafe Sector Motor Actuator 110. 110 failsafe sector motor actuator of embodiments of present invention 112 housing 114 permanent magnet 116 pole piece 117 auxiliary permanent magnet 118 arm 120 first stop 122 second stop 126 armature shaft 128 toroid-shaped permanent magnet of permanent magnet 114 130 central through bore of toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of permanent magnet 114 132 outer periphery of toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of permanent magnet 114 134 electromagnetic drive pole piece of pole piece 116 136 core of electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of pole piece 116 138 singularly wound wire coil of electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of pole piece 116 140 soft iron core of core 136 of electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of pole piece 116

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) A. Introductory.

(12) Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the latching sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10.

(13) B. The Configuration of the Latching Sector Motor Actuator 10.

(14) As shown in FIG. 1, the latching sector motor actuator 10 comprises a housing 12, a permanent magnet 14, and a pole piece 16. The permanent magnet 14 rotates relative to the housing 12. The pole piece 16 has a polarity, is fixedly attached to the housing 12, and magnetically communicates with the permanent magnet 14 to cause the permanent magnet 14 to rotate one of clockwise and counterclockwise, depending upon the polarity of the pole piece 16.

(15) The latching sector motor actuator 10 further comprises an arm 18. The arm 18 extends radially from the permanent magnet 14, and rotates therewith.

(16) The latching sector motor actuator 10 further comprises a first stop 20 and a second stop 22. The first stop 20 and the second stop 22 are fixedly attached to the housing 12, and limit rotation of the permanent magnet 14 by being engaged by the arm 18.

(17) As shown in FIG. 2, the latching sector motor actuator 10 has an inherent (magnetic) clockwise static holding torque at the first stop 20, an inherent (magnetic) counterclockwise static holding torque at the second stop 22, and a flip point 24 located equidistantly between the first stop 20 and the second stop 22, all when not energized.

(18) The inherent (magnetic) clockwise static holding torque at the first stop 20 and the inherent (magnetic) counterclockwise static holding torque at the second stop 22 are produced by the permanent magnet 14 seeking a maximum flux.

(19) Returning back to FIG. 1, the latching sector motor actuator 10 further comprises an armature shaft 26. The armature shaft 26 is support by bearings in the housing 12.

(20) The permanent magnet 14 is a toroid-shaped permanent magnet 28, and thereby has a central through bore 30 and an outer periphery 32.

(21) The armature shaft 26 passes through the central through bore 30 of the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 28 of the permanent magnet 14.

(22) The arm 18 is affixed to the armature shaft 26, and rotates therewith.

(23) The toroid-shaped permanent magnet 28 of the permanent magnet 14 is radially magnetized, is journaled to rotate by the armature 26, and, for example, has a rotating operating range of 90 between the first stop 20 and the second stop 22.

(24) The pole piece 16 is a single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34.

(25) The single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 has a core 36 and a pair of wound wire coils 38. The pair of wound wire coils 38 of the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 are wrapped around the core 36 of the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 in opposite directions so when individually energized produces a suitable pole to produce one of clockwise motion and counterclockwise motion.

(26) The core 36 of the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 is a soft iron core 40.

(27) As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, when the permanent magnet 14 is latched to the first stop 20 by static latching torque, and one wire coil of the pair of wound wire coils 38 of the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 that causes counterclockwise motion is energized by a dc current, counterclockwise rotation of the permanent magnet 14 to the second stop 22 is achieved by the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 producing a North pole and overcoming static latching torque of the permanent magnet 14 at the first stop 20.

(28) When the permanent magnet 14 is latched to the second stop 22, and the other wire coil of the pair of wound wire coils 38 of the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 that causes clockwise motion is energized by a dc current, clockwise rotation of the permanent magnet 14 to the first top 20 is achieved by the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 producing a South pole.

(29) The pair of wound wire coils 38 of the single electromagnetic drive pole piece 34 of the pole piece 16 could be wound as a singularly wound wire coil so to be wound in the same direction so as to allow polarity of the pole piece 16 to be determined by polarity of the dc current.

(30) The toroid-shaped permanent magnet 28 of the permanent magnet 14 is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, rare earth, and alnico.sup.1. .sup.1 An alloy used to make high-energy permanent magnets, which contains aluminum, iron, nickel, and either cobalt, copper, or titanium.

(31) C. The Configuration of the Failsafe Sector Motor Actuator 110.

(32) Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the failsafe sector motor actuator of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 110, which has an available operating range not limited to 90.

(33) The failsafe sector motor actuator 110 comprises a housing 112, a permanent magnet 114, a pole piece 116, and an auxiliary permanent magnet 117. The permanent magnet 114 rotates relative to the housing 112. The pole piece 116 is fixedly attached to the housing 112, and magnetically repels the permanent magnet 114 to cause the permanent magnet 114 to rotate when the pole piece 116 is energized.

(34) The auxiliary permanent magnet 117 is adjustably attached to the housing 112 to extend rotation of the permanent magnet 114 to 120, depending upon location and magnitude of the auxiliary permanent magnet 114, yet the failsafe sector motor actuator 110 still functions for lesser ranges.

(35) The failsafe sector motor actuator 110 further comprises an arm 118. The arm 118 extends radially from the armature shaft 126, and rotates therewith.

(36) The failsafe sector motor actuator 110 further comprises a first stop 120 and a second stop 122. The first stop 120 and the second stop 122 are fixedly attached to the housing 112, and limit rotation of the permanent magnet 114 by being engaged by the arm 118.

(37) When the pole piece 116 is de-energized, the permanent magnet 114 returns to the second stop 122 due to an attraction of a North pole of the permanent magnet 114 to the pole piece 116 and repulsion of the auxiliary permanent magnet 117.

(38) The failsafe sector motor actuator 110 further comprises an armature shaft 126. The armature 126 is support by bearings in the housing 112.

(39) The permanent magnet 114 is a toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128, and thereby has a central through bore 130 and an outer periphery 132.

(40) The armature shaft 126 passes through the central through bore 130 of the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114, and supports the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114.

(41) The arm 118 is affixed to the outer periphery 132 of the armature shaft 126, and rotates therewith.

(42) The toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 is radially magnetized, is journaled to rotate by the armature 126, and, for example, has a rotating operating range of 90 between the first stop 120 and the second stop 122, but in combination with the auxiliary permanent magnet 117 has a rotating operating range of 120.

(43) The pole piece 116 is an electromagnetic drive pole piece 134.

(44) The electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of the pole piece 116 has a core 136 and a singularly wound wire coil 138. The singularly wound wire coil 138 of the electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of the pole piece 116 is wrapped around the core 136 of the electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of the pole piece 116.

(45) The core 136 of the electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of the pole piece 116 is a soft iron core 140.

(46) The toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, rare earth, and alnico.

(47) As shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, to actuate the failsafe sector motor actuator 110, dc current is applied to the electromagnetic drive pole piece 134 of the pole piece 116 to overcome an inherent holding torque holding the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 to the second stop 122 to thereby produce clockwise rotation of the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 to the first stop 120 from the second stop 122. A holding current is required to maintain the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 at the first stop 120. To return the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 to the second stop 122 from the first stop 120, the holding current is reduced to zero and the toroid-shaped permanent magnet 128 of the permanent magnet 114 inherently returns by counterclockwise rotation to the second stop 122 from the first stop 120.

(48) D. The Impressions.

(49) It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

(50) While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a latching sector motor actuator and in a failsafe sector motor actuator, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

(51) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.