Systems and methods for multi-stable solenoid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11894187-B2
Application number	US-202016999916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2020
Priority date	Aug 22, 2019
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a multi-stable solenoid with one or more magnetic damping rings. In general, the magnetic damping rings provide an increased damping force to an armature of the multi-stable solenoid to ensure efficient operation, reduce detent position overshoot, and reduce an impact force at end positions.

First claim

I claim:

1. A solenoid, comprising:
a wire coil;
an armature including a permanent magnet, wherein the armature is moveable between two or more stable positions in response to selective energization of the wire coil; and
one or more magnetic dampers arranged along a travel path of the armature,
wherein the one or more magnetic dampers are configured to generate a magnetic damping force in a direction that opposes movement of the armature to restrict overshoot when the armature travels to one of the two or more stable positions, wherein the one or more magnetic dampers are electrically conductive and non-ferromagnetic.

2. The solenoid of claim 1 , further comprising a housing.

3. The solenoid of claim 2 , wherein the wire coil is arranged within the housing.

4. The solenoid of claim 3 , wherein the wire coil is formed from a single, continuous coil that is separated into one or more wire coil bays that are axially separated from one another.

5. The solenoid of claim 4 , wherein the housing includes one or more fingers that axially separate the one or more wire coil bays.

6. The solenoid of claim 3 , wherein the wire coil comprises one or more individual wire coils axially separated from one another.

7. The solenoid of claim 6 , wherein the housing includes one or more fingers that axially separate the one or more individual wire coils.

8. The solenoid of claim 2 , wherein the housing is fabricated from a ferromagnetic material.

9. The solenoid of claim 2 , wherein the one or more magnetic dampers are at least partially arranged within the housing.

10. The solenoid of claim 1 , wherein the two or more stable positions include a first end position, a center detent position, and a second end position.

11. The solenoid of claim 10 , wherein the armature is stable in at least one of the first end position, the center detent position, and the second end position with the wire coil de-energized.

12. The solenoid of claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnetic dampers are circumferentially conductive to form a closed conductive path.

13. The solenoid of claim 1 , wherein the armature is comprised of one or more ferromagnetic components in addition to the permanent magnet.

14. The solenoid of claim 1 , wherein a magnitude of the magnetic damping force is dependent on a velocity of the armature.

15. A solenoid, comprising:
a wire coil;
an armature including a permanent magnet, wherein the armature is moveable between two stable positions in response to selective energization of the wire coil; and
two magnetic dampers, each of the two magnetic dampers is arranged along a travel path of the armature at a respective one of the two stable positions,
wherein the two magnetic dampers are configured to generate a magnetic damping force in response to relative movement between the armature and at least one of the two magnetic dampers, and
wherein a direction of the magnetic damping force is opposite to a movement direction of the armature to restrict overshoot when the armature travels to one of the two stable positions.

16. The solenoid of claim 15 , wherein a magnitude of the magnetic damping force is dependent on a velocity of the armature.

17. The solenoid of claim 15 , wherein the two stable positions are two of a plurality of stable positions that includes a first end position, a center detent position, and a second end position, and
wherein the two magnetic dampers are two of a plurality of magnetic dampers.

18. The solenoid of claim 17 , wherein the armature is stable in at least one of the first end position, the center detent position, and the second end position with the wire coil de-energized.

19. The solenoid of claim 15 , wherein the two magnetic dampers are electrically conductive and non-ferromagnetic, and wherein the two magnetic dampers are circumferentially conductive to form a closed conductive path.

Assignees

• Husco Automotive Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wynkoop Trevor

Classifications

• H01F7/1615 Primary

  Armatures or stationary parts of magnetic circuit having permanent magnet · CPC title

• H01F7/088 Primary

  provided with means for absorbing shocks · CPC title

• H01F7/1805

  Circuit arrangements for holding the operation of electromagnets or for holding the armature in attracted position with reduced energising current (for holding relay armature in attracted position with reduced energising current H01H47/04; quick energising of electro-dynamic machines H02P9/08; for quickly de-energising of dynamo-electric generators H02P9/123) · CPC title

• F16F6/00 Primary

  Magnetic springs {(magnetic spring arrangements for the suppression of vibration in systems F16F15/03)}; Fluid magnetic springs {, i.e. magnetic spring combined with a fluid} · CPC title

• H01F7/121

  Guiding or setting position of armatures, e.g. retaining armatures in their end position · CPC title