| United States Patent | 5,038,063 |
| Graber, et. al. | Aug. 6, 1991 |
Rotary actuator with limited angular movement
| Inventors: | Graber; David W. (Millington, MI); Pawlak; Andrzej M. (Troy, MI); Zuraski; Jeffery A. (Saginan, MI); Babineau; James W. (Saginan, MI). |
| Assignee: | General Motors Corporation (Detroit, MI). |
| Appl. No.: | 580,989 |
| Filed: | Sept. 12, 1990 |
| Intl. Cl. : | H02K 23/60, B62D 5/04 |
| U.S. Cl.: | 310/115; 180/79.1; 310/116 |
| Current U.S. Class: | 310/115 |
| Field of Search: | 180/79.1, 142; 310/116, 156, 254, 257, 268, 115 |
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4,765,427 | Aug., 1988 | Yonker | 180/143 |
| 4,778,021 | Oct., 1988 | Morishita et al. | 180/79.1 |
| 4,871,040 | Oct., 1989 | Zuraski et al. | 180/79.1 |
| 4,886,138 | Dec., 1989 | Graber et al. | 180/142 |
Foreign Patent Documents
| 74145 | Nov., 1960 | FR | 310/156 |
Primary Examiner: Stephan; Steven L.
Assistant Examiner: Rebsch; D. L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Navarre; Mark A.
Abstract
A homopolar actuator has a permanent magnet disk element rotatably positioned between a pair of toothed pole pieces with mutually offset teeth, an electromagnetic coil and pole elements coupling the coil flux to the pole pieces. The pole pieces may themselves be rotatable or stationary. The permanent magnet circuit attempts to center the disk element relative to the pole pieces, and the electromagnetic circuit, depending on the direction of current in the coil, either reinforces the centering action or overcomes the centering force to displace the elements from center position. The device is used as a two or three position actuator or as an actuator or magnetic spring operating against an external force and seeking a position as a function of current.
13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures
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