Claims
- 1. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- upper and lower electromagnets each having first and second opposing sides,
- first and second spacers, said first spacer being connected directly to said first sides of said electromagnets and said second spacer being connected directly to said second sides of said electromagnets such that said electromagnets are disposed between said spacers, said spacers being constructed and arranged with respect to said electromagnets to define a space between said electromagnets,
- an armature mounted for movement in said space between said electromagnets, and
- a housing connected to said first and second spacers and being constructed and arranged to mount the actuator to a structure, said housing being generally U-shaped having opposing legs and a connection portion joining said opposing legs such that said legs are disposed generally transversely with respect to an extent of said connection portion, each of said legs being connected to an associated spacer so as to contact an outer surface thereof.
- 2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said housing is of stamped construction.
- 3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said connection portion includes a threaded bore therethrough.
- 4. The actuator according to claim 3, further comprising a shaft assembly operatively associated with said armature, a spring for biasing said shaft assembly and a spring adjustment screw received in said threaded bore for adjusting said spring.
- 5. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said spacers are magnetic sheet steel.
- 6. The actuator according to claim 1 wherein said housing is magnetic sheet steel.
- 7. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes at least one fastener receiving tube to receive a fastener for mounting the actuator to a structure.
- 8. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes mounting flanges extending from said legs, each mounting flange being constructed and arranged to receive a fastener for mounting the actuator to a structure.
- 9. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein each of said electromagnets includes:
- a lamination stack of generally E-shape defining a pair of channels therein, and
- a coil assembly having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side walls being received in said pair of channels.
- 10. The actuator according to claim 9, wherein each of said spacers has an opening therein to receive said end walls of said coil assemblies and each of said spacers has a thickness such that said end walls of said coil assemblies do not extend beyond an outer surface of said spacers.
- 11. The actuator according to claim 10, wherein said housing is generally u-shaped having opposing legs, and each of said legs contacts said outer surface of an associated spacer.
- 12. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a connector housing coupled to said housing so as to cover electrical leads of said electromagnets.
- 13. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- upper and lower electromagnets each having first and second opposing sides,
- first and second steel spacers, said first spacer being connected directly to said first sides of said electromagnets and said second spacer being connected directly to said second sides of said electromagnets such that said electromagnets are disposed between said spacers, said spacers being constructed and arranged with respect to said electromagnets to define a space between said electromagnets,
- an armature mounted for movement in said space between said electromagnets, and
- a stamped, generally U-shaped housing having opposing legs and a connection portion joining the opposing legs such that said legs are disposed generally transversely with respect to an extent of said connection portion, each of said legs being coupled to an associated spacer so as to contact an outer surface thereof, at least one of said legs including a flange constructed ad arranged to mount the actuator to a structure.
- 14. The actuator according to claim 13, wherein said connection portion includes a threaded bore therethrough.
- 15. The actuator according to claim 14, further comprising a shaft assembly operatively associated with said armature, a spring for biasing said shaft assembly and a spring adjustment screw received in said threaded bore for adjusting said spring.
- 16. The actuator according to claim 13, wherein said spacers are stamped from magnetic sheet steel.
- 17. The actuator according to claim 13, wherein said steel of said housing is magnetic.
- 18. The actuator according to claim 13, wherein said housing includes at least one fastener receiving tube to receive a fastener for mounting the actuator to a structure.
- 19. The actuator according to claim 13, wherein each of said electromagnets includes:
- a lamination stack of generally E-shape defining a pair of channels therein, and
- a coil assembly having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side walls being received in said pair of channels.
- 20. The actuator according to claim 19, wherein each of said spacers has an opening therein to receive said end walls of said coil assemblies and each of said spacers has a thickness such that said end walls of said coil assemblies do not extend beyond an outer surface of said spacers.
- 21. The actuator according to claim 20, wherein each of said legs contacts said outer surface of an associated spacer.
- 22. The actuator according to claim 13, further comprising a connector housing coupled to said stamped housing so as to cover electrical leads of said electromagnets.
- 23. The actuator according to claim 13, wherein each of said legs includes a flange.
- 24. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- upper and lower electromagnets each having first and second opposing sides,
- first and second spacers, said first spacer being connected to said first sides of said electromagnets and said second spacer being connected to said second sides of said electromagnets such that said electromagnets are disposed between said spacers, said spacers being constructed and arranged with respect to said electromagnets to define a space between said electromagnets,
- an armature mounted for movement in said space between said electromagnets, and
- a housing connected to said first and second spacers and being constructed and arranged to mount the actuator to a structure,
- wherein each of said electromagnets includes:
- a lamination stack of generally E-shape defining a pair of channels therein, and
- a coil assembly having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side walls being received in said pair of channels.
- 25. An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- upper and louver electromagnets each having first and second opposing sides,
- first and second steel spacers, said first spacer being connected to said first sides of said electromagnets and said second spacer being connected to said second sides of said electromagnets such that said electromagnets are disposed between said spacers, said spacers being constructed and arranged with respect to said electromagnets to define a space between said electromagnets,
- an armature mounted for movement in said space between said electromagnets, and
- a stamped, generally U-shaped housing having opposing legs and a connection portion joining the opposing legs, each of said legs being coupled to an associated spacer, at least one of said legs including a flange constructed and arranged to mount the actuator to a structure,
- wherein each of said electromagnets includes:
- a lamination stack of generally E-shape defining a pair of channels therein, and
- a coil assembly having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side walls being received in said pair of channels.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/069,144 filed Dec. 9, 1997, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
US Referenced Citations (6)