Electric actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018166196-A1
Application number	US-201715835201-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2016
Publication date	Jun 14, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electric actuator assembly having a support housing, a first stator magnetic field generating assembly secured to the support housing and a movable armature assembly. The movable armature assembly includes a plate assembly having a center support. The electric actuator assembly also includes a first armature magnetic field generating assembly configured to provide magnetic fields operative with a first stator magnetic field generating assembly to provide linear motion of the movable armature assembly along a reference axis, the first armature magnetic field generating assembly including first and second magnetic assemblies secured to opposite sides of the center support. In another embodiment, the electric linear actuator includes a rotational component coupled to a linear component to move therewith. The rotational component includes an armature magnetic field generating assembly being one of longer or shorter than a stator magnetic field generating assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electric actuator assembly comprising:
a support housing; a first stator magnetic field generating assembly secured to the support housing; a second stator magnetic field generating assembly secured to the support housing; a movable armature assembly comprising:
a first armature magnetic field generating assembly configured to provide magnetic fields operative with the first stator magnetic field generating assembly to provide linear motion of the movable armature assembly along a reference axis; and
a second armature magnetic field generating assembly configured to provide magnetic fields operative with the second stator magnetic field generating assembly to provide rotational motion of at least a portion of the movable armature assembly, the second armature magnetic field generating assembly being one of longer or shorter than the second stator magnetic field generating assembly.

2 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first stator magnetic field generating assembly comprises windings.

3 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first armature magnetic field generating assembly comprises permanent magnets.

4 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the second stator magnetic field generating assembly comprises windings.

5 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the second armature magnetic field generating assembly comprises windings.

6 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first armature magnetic field generating assembly has a cylindrical shape.

7 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first armature magnetic field generating assembly is planar.

8 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 and further comprising bearings rotatably coupling the second armature magnetic field generating assembly to the first armature magnetic field generating assembly.

9 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 8 wherein the bearings comprise a thrust bearing space apart from an additional bearing configured to react lateral loads.

10 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 8 wherein the bearings comprise an angular contact bearing.

11 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 8 wherein the bearings comprise a tapered bearing.

12 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 8 wherein bearings support the second armature magnetic field generating assembly on a shaft extending at least partially into the first armature magnetic field generating assembly.

13 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 12 wherein the shaft extends within a bore extending along a longitudinal length of the first armature magnetic field generating assembly.

14 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first armature magnetic field generating assembly comprises a center support and first and second magnetic assemblies secured to opposite sides of the center support.

15 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 14 wherein the center support is made of material softer than the first and second magnetic assemblies.

16 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 15 wherein the second armature magnetic field generating assembly is secured to center support with a fastener, wherein the second armature magnetic field generating assembly is spaced apart from the center support so as to bear against the first and second magnetic assemblies.

17 . An electric actuator assembly comprising:
a support housing; a first stator magnetic field generating assembly secured to the support housing; a movable armature assembly comprising:
a plate assembly having a center support; and
a first armature magnetic field generating assembly configured to provide magnetic fields operative with the first stator magnetic field generating assembly to provide linear motion of the movable armature assembly along a reference axis, the first armature magnetic field generating assembly comprising first and second magnetic assemblies secured to opposite sides of the center support.

18 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 17 wherein the center support is made of material softer than the first and second magnetic assemblies.

19 . The electric actuator assembly of claim 18 and comprising an end member secured to the center support with a fastener, wherein the end member is spaced apart from the center support so as to bear against the first and second magnetic assemblies.

Assignees

• Mts System Corp

Inventors

• Simon Andrew Gregory
• Reiner Andrew Timothy
• Krueger Paul Martin
• Schulz Bradley Dean

Classifications

• H02K41/03

  Synchronous motors; Motors moving step by step; Reluctance motors (H02K41/035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01F7/1615 Primary

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

• F16C27/08

  primarily for axial load, e.g. for vertically-arranged shafts · CPC title

• H01F7/081

  Magnetic constructions · CPC title

• H02K41/031

  of the permanent magnet type · CPC title