Magnet movable electromagnetic actuator

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6667677
  • Patent Number
    6,667,677
  • Date Filed
    Monday, July 9, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 23, 2003
    20 years ago
Abstract
The invention includes an annular exciting coil 10, a main yoke 12 surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil and having polar teeth 12a and 12b disposed to face each other on opposite end sides of a central hole 11 of the exciting coil, and a cylindrical permanent magnet 13 disposed in the central hole of the exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of the hole and polarized in a radial direction.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates to a magnet movable electromagnetic actuator for moving and positioning an object with satisfactory responsivity.




PRIOR ART




Conventionally, an electromagnetic solenoid (actuator) in which voltage is applied to an exciting coil to apply a linear motion to a movable core by a magnetic force is well known as a reciprocation apparatus for magnetically moving an object. Although a structure of this electromagnetic solenoid is simple, the electromagnetic solenoid includes a core inside the coil. Therefore, it is difficult to improve electrical responsivity. Moreover, because thrust cannot be generated when a current is not passed, uses of the electromagnetic solenoid are limited.




To cope with these problems, large voltage is applied on startup or positioning in non-energization is carried out by using a spring. Therefore, complication of the structure and increase in the number of parts are inevitable.




DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnet movable electromagnetic actuator for generating steady-state thrust in a short time with satisfactory responsivity without applying large voltage on startup unlike the prior-art electromagnetic solenoid.




It is another object of the invention to provide a magnet movable electromagnetic actuator in which a movable member can be easily retained in non-energization.




It is yet another object of the invention to provide a small-sized and inexpensive magnet movable electromagnetic actuator including the small number of parts, the electromagnetic actuator showing the above-described features by a simple structure in which a cylindrical permanent magnet polarized in a radial direction is used.




To achieve the above object, a first electromagnetic actuator of the invention comprises: an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil and having at a portion of the main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of the exciting coil; and a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed in the central hole of the exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of the central hole and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction.




A second magnet movable electromagnetic actuator of the invention comprises: an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil and having at a portion of the main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of an outer periphery of the exciting coil; and a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed on an outer peripheral side of the exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of the coil and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction.




In the first and second magnetic movable electromagnetic actuators having the above structures, if the exciting coil is energized, the one polar tooth of the main yoke becomes the north pole while the other polar tooth becomes the south pole according to a direction of the current. If the magnetic poles generated in these polar teeth and a magnetic pole of the permanent magnet on a side facing the polar teeth are different from each other, an attracting force acts between them. If they are the same as each other, repulsion acts between them. Therefore, these forces become axial thrust acting on the permanent magnet and the permanent magnet moves in the axial direction in the central hole of the coil or outside the coil. If the exciting coil is energized in a reverse direction, the magnetic poles, i.e., the north pole and the south pole generated in both the polar teeth of the main yoke are reverse to the above-described case. As a result, the thrust acting on the permanent magnet is also in a reversed direction and the permanent magnet moves in a reverse direction.




As described above, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to generate steady-state thrust in a short time with satisfactory responsivity without applying large voltage on startup unlike the prior-art electromagnetic solenoid.




In the invention, a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with the cylindrical permanent magnet may be provided on an opposite side to the exciting coil through the permanent magnet, i.e., inside the permanent magnet in the first electromagnetic actuator and outside the permanent magnet in the second electromagnetic actuator. With this structure, because a magnetic path extending from the one polar tooth through the permanent magnet and the back yoke to reach the other polar tooth can be formed, it is possible to reduce a magnetic reluctance and to further increase thrust and the magnetic adsorbing force of the permanent magnet.




If the back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet, the permanent magnet can be retained in a neutral position by a magnetic force when the exciting coil is not energized. If the back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as not to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet, the permanent magnet can be retained in two positions, i.e., a forward movement end or a rearward movement end by a magnetic force when the exciting coil is not energized.




According to the invention, as a third electromagnetic actuator, there is provided a magnet movable electromagnetic actuator comprising: an annular exciting coil; an annular main yoke surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil and having at a portion of the main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of the exciting coil; a cover and a cap respectively mounted to axial opposite end portions of the main yoke to form a casing with the main yoke; a magnet chamber formed inside the casing and having an outer periphery surrounded by the exciting coil and the pair of polar teeth; a permanent magnet formed in a cylindrical shape, polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction, and disposed in the magnet chamber inside the exciting coil and the polar teeth to be movable in an axial direction of the casing; a magnet holder for holding the per manent magnet and movable with the permanent magnet; and an output shaft passing through a central portion of the magnet chamber to slide in the axial direction of the casing and connected to the magnet holder.




The cylindrical back yoke may be mounted in a fixed manner to the casing to be positioned concentrically with the permanent magnet inside the permanent magnet.




The magnet holder may be repulsed by a spring in a returning direction.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a sectional view of a structure of a first magnet movable electromagnetic actuator according to the present invention in terms of a principle.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view of a structure of a second magnet movable electromagnetic actuator according to the invention in terms of a principle.





FIG. 3

is a sectional view for explaining a switching operation with regard to an example of the first electromagnetic actuator.





FIG. 4

is a sectional view for explaining a switching operation with regard to another example of the first electromagnetic actuator.





FIG. 5

is a diagram showing an operating property in non-energization according to presence or absence of the back yoke.





FIG. 6

is a diagram showing a relationship between a space between polar teeth and thrust in non-energization.





FIG. 7

is a diagram showing an operating property when the thrust in non-energization is minimized throughout a stroke.





FIG. 8

is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the electromagnetic actuator in

FIG. 1

is embodied and showing different operating states in upper and lower half portions.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION





FIG. 1

shows a structure of a first magnet movable electromagnetic actuator according to the present invention in terms of a principle. The first electromagnetic actuator


1


A includes an annular exciting coil


10


, an annular main yoke


12


surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil


10


and having at a portion of the main yoke


12


cylindrical polar teeth


12




a


and


12




b


positioned to face each other at opposite end portions of a central hole


11


of the exciting coil


10


, a cylindrical permanent magnet


13


disposed in the central hole


11


of the exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of the hole and polarized into the north pole and the south pole in a radial direction, and a cylindrical back yoke


14


inside the permanent magnet


13


. The main yoke


12


and the back yoke


14


are respectively made of magnetic material.




A preferable length of the cylindrical permanent magnet


13


is a length with which a gap between both the polar teeth


12




a


and


12




b


is covered and especially such a length that one end of the permanent magnet


13


reaches one movement end in the central hole


11


of the exciting coil when the other end of the permanent magnet


13


partially overlaps the opposite polar tooth or is positioned close to the polar tooth. The back yoke


14


is not necessarily provided. If the back yoke


14


is provided, the back yoke


14


preferably has a length with which most of the permanent magnet


13


is covered wherever the permanent magnet


13


is in movement.




On the other hand, a second magnet movable electromagnetic actuator


1


B of the invention shown in

FIG. 2

includes an annular exciting coil


20


, an annular main yoke


22


surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil


20


and having at a portion of the main yoke


22


cylindrical polar teeth


22




a


and


22




b


positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of an outer periphery of the exciting coil


20


, a cylindrical permanent magnet


23


disposed outside the exciting coil


20


to be movable in an axial direction of the coil and polarized into the north pole and the south pole in a radial direction, and a cylindrical back yoke


24


disposed outside the permanent magnet


23


. Lengths of the permanent magnet


23


and the back yoke


24


and the like are similar to those in the above-described first electromagnetic actuator


1


A.




Because the second electromagnetic actuator


1


B is different from the first electromagnetic actuator


1


A shown in

FIG. 1

only in disposition of the exciting coil, the permanent magnet, and the back yoke and there is substantially no difference between the actuators


1


A and


1


B in terms of functions, only operation of the first electromagnetic actuator


1


A in

FIG. 1

will be described below and description of operation of the second electromagnetic actuator


1


B will be omitted.




In the first electromagnetic actuator


1


A having the above structure, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the permanent magnet


13


is polarized in the radial direction such that an outer side of the permanent magnet


13


is the south pole and an inner side is the north pole. If the exciting coil


10


is energized in a direction shown with symbols in

FIG. 1

in this state, the one polar tooth


12




a


of the main yoke


12


becomes the north pole and the other polar tooth


12




b


becomes the south pole due to this direction of a current. Therefore, an attracting force acts between the north pole generated in the polar tooth


12




a


and the south pole on an outer face side of the permanent magnet


13


facing the north pole and repulsion acts between the south pole generated in the polar tooth


12




b


and the south pole of the permanent magnet. Therefore, these forces generate axial thrust in the permanent magnet


13


and the permanent magnet


13


moves axially (rightward in

FIG. 1

) in the central hole


11


of the coil by the thrust.




If the exciting coil


10


is energized in a reverse direction, magnetic poles of the north pole and the south pole generated in both the polar teeth


12




a


and


12




b


of the main yoke


12


are reverse to the above-described case. As a result, the direction of the thrust generated in the permanent magnet


13


is also reversed (leftward in

FIG. 1

) and the permanent magnet


13


moves in a direction reverse to the above direction.




Here, if the back yoke


14


is provided, because a magnetic path extending from the polar tooth on the north polar side of the main yoke


12


through the permanent magnet


13


to the back yoke


14


and passing through an outside space to reach the other polar tooth is formed, a magnetic reluctance and the like of the magnetic path are adjusted by a magnetic property, a form of disposition, and the like of the back yoke


14


to thereby adjust the thrust and the magnetic adsorbing force of the permanent magnet


13


.




On the other hand, a stop position of the permanent magnet


13


when the exiting coil


10


is not energized changes depending on presence or absence of the back yoke


14


, a magnetic saturation property of the back yoke


14


, and the like. This will be described below.




First, if the back yoke


14


is not disposed or if the back yoke


14


is disposed but is thin-walled to such a degree that the back yoke


14


is magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


13


, the permanent magnet


13


is retained in a neutral position when the exciting coil


10


is not energized. In other words, if energization of the exciting coil


10


is interrupted in a state in which the exciting coil


10


has been energized and the permanent magnet


13


has been moved forward to a stroke end on the polar tooth


12




a


side, because the magnetic reluctance of a magnetic path Sa on the polar tooth


12




a


side is smaller than the magnetic reluctance of a magnetic path Sb on the polar tooth


12




b


side at this forward movement end as shown in

FIG. 3

, magnetic flux Φ b passing through the magnetic path Sb is more than magnetic flux Φ a passing through the magnetic path Sa in magnetic flux generated by the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


13


. As a result, the permanent magnet


13


is attracted and moves toward the polar tooth


12




b


. Then, when the permanent magnet


13


moves to the neutral position, because the magnetic reluctances in the magnetic paths Sa and Sb become equal to each other and a balance is achieved between the magnetic fluxes Φ a and Φ b, the permanent magnet


13


stops in this neutral position. On the other hand, if energization of the exciting coil


10


is interrupted in a state in which the permanent magnet


13


has been moved to a rearward movement stroke end on the polar tooth


12




b


side, the permanent magnet


3


is attracted and moves toward the polar tooth


12




a


in a way reverse to the above case. When the permanent magnet


13


moves to the neutral position, the permanent magnet


13


stops and is retained in the position.




Therefore, if an object to be driven is connected to the permanent magnet


13


and the exciting coil


10


is energized in a normal or reverse direction to move the permanent magnet


13


forward or rearward and then the energization is canceled, the object can be positioned in the neutral position of the permanent magnet


13


. This structure is equivalent to provision of mechanical return springs on opposite sides of the permanent magnet


13


. Therefore, the structure is efficient when it is used to continuously drive the permanent magnet


13


for reciprocation because switching of the permanent magnet


13


is promoted by a resonant phenomenon.




Next, if the back yoke


14


is thick to such a degree that the back yoke


14


is not magnetically saturated by the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


13


, the permanent magnet


13


is retained in two positions, i.e., the forward movement end or the rearward movement end when the exciting coil


10


is not energized. In other words, if energization of the exciting coil


10


is interrupted in a state in which the exciting coil


10


has been energized and the permanent magnet


13


has been moved forward to a stroke end on the polar tooth


12




a


side, a magnetic flux generated from the permanent magnet


13


is divided into a magnetic flux Φ a extending from the north pole through the back yoke


14


and the polar tooth


12




a


to the south pole, a magnetic flux Φ b extending from the north pole through the back yoke


14


and the polar tooth


12




b


to the south pole, and a magnetic flux Φ c extending from the north pole through the back yoke


14


, the polar tooth


12




b


, the main yoke


12


, and the polar tooth


12




a


to the south pole as shown in FIG.


4


. Therefore, the magnetic flux passing through the polar tooth


12




a


and entering the south polar is Φ a+Φ c which is more than Φ b passing through the polar tooth


12




b


and entering the south pole. As a result, the permanent magnet


13


is retained at the forward movement end while being attracted toward the polar tooth


12




a


. This is also true for a case of interrupting energization of the exciting coil


10


in a state in which the permanent magnet


13


has been moved to the stroke end on the polar tooth


12




b


side. In this case, the permanent magnet


13


is retained at the rearward movement end while being attracted toward the polar tooth


12




b.






Therefore, if an object to be driven is connected to the permanent magnet


13


and the exciting coil


10


is energized in a normal or reverse direction to move the permanent magnet


13


forward or rearward and then the energization is canceled, the object can be reliably positioned in two positions, i.e., the forward movement end or the rearward movement end.





FIG. 5

shows a relationship between an operating position of the permanent magnet


13


and magnitude and a direction of the thrust generated by the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


13


itself. In

FIG. 5

, a graphm is a case in which the back yoke


14


is not provided or the back yoke


14


which is thin-walled to such a degree as to be magnetically saturated by the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


13


is provided and a graph n is a case in which the back yoke


14


which is thick to such a degree as not to be magnetically saturated by the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


13


is provided.




The graph m shows a fact that thrust in a minus direction (rearward direction) acts on the permanent magnet


13


when the permanent magnet


13


is at the forward movement end as shown in

FIG. 3

while thrust in a plus direction (forward direction) acts on the permanent magnet


13


when the permanent magnet


13


is at the rearward movement end. Therefore, it is found that the permanent magnet


13


moves to the neutral position and is retained in the neutral position whichever of the forward movement end and the rearward movement end the permanent magnet


13


is at




The graph n shows a fact that thrust in the plus direction (forward direction) acts on the permanent magnet


13


when the permanent magnet


13


is at the forward movement end as shown in

FIG. 4

while thrust in the minus direction (rearward direction) acts on the permanent magnet


13


when the permanent magnet


13


is at the rearward movement end. Therefore, it is found that the permanent magnet


13


is retained in the respective positions. In this case, the thrust does not similarly act on the permanent magnet when the permanent magnet is in the neutral position.




As described above, the magnitude of the thrust acting on the permanent magnet


13


when the exciting coil


10


is not energized can be adjusted freely by changing material and a thickness of the back yoke


14


, a space between the pair of polar teeth


12




a


and


12




b


, the length of the permanent magnet


13


, and the like. As an example of this,

FIG. 6

shows an influence of the space between the pair of polar teeth on the thrust property. From

FIG. 6

, it is found that the thrust reduces as the space between the polar teeth reduces. It is also possible to minimize the thrust acting on the permanent magnet throughout the stroke of the permanent magnet as shown in FIG.


7


. In this case, it is possible to stop and retain the permanent magnet and the object and the like retained on the permanent magnet in an arbitrary position. Because the electromagnetic actuator having such a feature has good controllability, the actuator can be applied to a motor for controlling and the like.





FIG. 8

shows an embodiment in which the first electromagnetic actuator


1


A shown in

FIG. 1

is embodied.




This electromagnetic actuator


1


C includes an annular exciting coil


30


formed by providing winding


32


to a bobbin


31


and an annular main yoke


33


surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil


30


. This main yoke


33


is formed of an outer yoke


34


in which an outer tube portion


34




a


also functioning as an outer wall of a casing and one polar tooth


34




b


are integrated with each other and a bottom yoke


35


in a L-shaped sectional shape having the other polar tooth


35




a


. The outer yoke


34


and the bottom yoke


35


are mounted to each other such that the polar teeth


35




a


and


34




b


in the pair are positioned at opposite end portions of a central hole of the exciting coil


30


to face each other and the outer yoke


34


and the bottom yoke


35


are connected to each other by means such as screwing.




A cover


37


is fixed to axial one end side of the main yoke


33


through a screw


38


and a cap


39


is fixed to the other end side of the main yoke


33


through a C-type snap ring


40


. The casing


41


is formed of the main yoke


33


, the cover


37


, and the cap


39


. In this casing


41


, a magnet chamber


42


an outer periphery of which is surrounded by the exciting coil


30


and the pair of polar teeth


35




a


and


34




b


is formed. In this magnet chamber


42


, a hollow output shaft


45


which passes through a center of the magnet chamber


42


and can slide in an axial direction is provided, a cylindrical magnet holder


46


is mounted around the shaft


45


to move with the shaft


45


, and a cylindrical permanent magnet


47


is mounted to an outer peripheral face of the magnet holder


46


to face the exciting coil


30


and the pair of polar teeth


35




a


and


34




b


inside the coil


30


and the polar teeth


35




a


and


34




b.






The permanent magnet


47


is polarized into the north pole and the south pole in a radial direction and has such a length that a gap between both the polar teeth


35




a


and


34




b


of the main yoke


33


is covered with the permanent magnet


47


and that one end of the permanent magnet


47


reaches a movement end in the central hole of the exciting coil


30


when the other end of the permanent magnet


47


partially overlaps the opposite polar tooth or is positioned close to the polar tooth.




In the permanent magnet


47


, as shown by a chain line in

FIG. 8

, a cylindrical back yoke


48


can be disposed coaxially with the permanent magnet


47


in a fixed manner by mounting the back yoke


48


to the cap


39


. If the back yoke


48


is provided, the back yoke


48


preferably has such a length as to face the permanent magnet


47


wherever the permanent magnet


47


is in movement. As described above, the back yoke


48


is not necessarily provided.




In

FIG. 8

, a reference numeral


50


designates a bearing provided to the cover


37


to support the shaft


45


for sliding,


51


and


52


designate dampers provided to the cover


37


and the cap


39


to stop the magnet holder


46


at stroke ends in a cushioned manner,


53


designates a screw hole for mounting the electromagnetic actuator to a predetermined place, and


55


designates a return spring for returning the shaft


45


to a return position in a non-energized state.




The electromagnetic actuator


1


C having the above structure is used for carrying the object and the like by connecting the object to the shaft


45


. In an operating state in which the shaft


45


is positioned at the left end as shown in a lower half of

FIG. 8

, if the exciting coil


30


is energized and such a current that the one polar tooth


35




a


becomes the north pole and that the other polar tooth


34




b


becomes the south pole is passed, an attracting force acts between the north pole generated in the polar tooth


35




a


and the south pole on the outer face side of the permanent magnet


47


and repulsion acts between the south pole generated in the polar tooth


34




b


and the south pole of the permanent magnet. Therefore, these forces act on the permanent magnet


47


as axial thrust and the permanent magnet


47


moves forward with the shaft


45


to the right end shown in an upper half of FIG.


8


.




If a current in a reverse direction is passed through the exciting coil


30


when the permanent magnet


47


is positioned at the forward movement end, magnetic poles reverse to the above-described case are generated in both the polar teeth


35




a


and


34




b


. Therefore, the permanent magnet


47


and the shaft


45


quickly move rearward to the return ends by the resultant of the thrust due to the magnetic force and a repulsing force of the return spring


55


. Even if energization of the exciting coil


30


is cancelled at the forward movement end, the permanent magnet


47


and the shaft


45


move to the rearward movement end shown in the lower half portion of

FIG. 8

due to the repulsing force of the spring


55


.




As described above, if the return spring


55


is provided, the permanent magnet


47


can be switched to two positions, i.e., the forward movement end and the rearward movement end. If the spring


55


is not provided, different switching operations, i.e., passing a current in a reverse direction through the exciting coil


30


or interrupting energization at each the stroke end are carried out according to conditions such as presence or absence of the back yoke


48


and if the back yoke


48


is magnetically saturated by the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet


47


. Because these switching operations are substantially similar to the case described in regard to the first electromagnetic actuator


1


A, descriptions of them are omitted here.




Because the radially polarized permanent magnet


47


is used in the electromagnetic actuator


1


C, a lateral load acting on a movable portion including the shaft


45


, the magnet holder


46


, and the movable magnet


47


is small. Therefore, the bearing


50


for supporting the shaft


45


may be a simple one and reduction of cost and improvement of durability due to the small lateral load are expected.




Because the number of members made of iron and provided in the exciting coil


30


can be reduced in the electromagnetic actuator


1


C, an inductance of the exciting coil can be reduced. Therefore, rising of a current is satisfactory when step voltage is applied to the coil, electrical responsivity can be improved, and as a result, steady-state thrust can be generated in a short time (about a few ms).




According to the electromagnetic actuator of the invention described above in detail, by simple means in which the cylindrical permanent magnet polarized in the radial direction is used, it is possible to generate steady-state thrust in a short time with satisfactory responsivity without applying large voltage on startup unlike the prior-art electromagnetic solenoid. Furthermore, by the above structure in which the permanent magnet is used, it is possible to reliably retain the object in the desired operating position in non-energization, the number of parts can be reduced to thereby reduce cost, and durability can be improved.




According to the electromagnetic actuator of the invention, based on the above-described structure, it is possible to generate greater thrust than the prior-art electromagnetic solenoid of the same outer dimensions. With the same outer dimensions, it is possible to generate greater thrust. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the outer dimensions to generate the same degree of thrust.



Claims
  • 1. A magnet movable electromagnetic actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed in said central hole of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said central hole and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction such that a first of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an inner periphery side of the radial direction, and a second of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an outer periphery side of the radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil through said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in a neutral position by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 2. A magnet movable electromagnetic actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of an outer periphery of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed on an outer peripheral side of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said coil and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction such that a first of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an inner periphery side of the radial direction, and a second of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an outer periphery side of the radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil over said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in a neutral position by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 3. A magnet movable electromagnet actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed in said central hole of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said central hole and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction such that a first of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an inner periphery side of the radial direction, and a second of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an outer periphery side of the radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil through said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as not to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in two positions, i.e., a forward movement end or a rearward movement end by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 4. A magnet movable electromagnet actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of an outer periphery of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed on an outer peripheral side of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said coil and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction such that a first of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an inner periphery side of the radial direction, and a second of the north pole or south pole is polarized on an outer periphery side of the radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil over said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as not to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in two positions, i.e., a forward movement end or a rearward movement end by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 5. A magnet movable electromagnetic actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; an annular main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of said exciting coil; a cover and a cap respectively mounted to axial opposite end portions of said main yoke to form a casing with said main yoke; a magnet chamber formed inside said casing and having an outer periphery surrounded by said exciting coil and said pair of polar teeth; a permanent magnet formed in a cylindrical shape, polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction, and disposed in said magnet chamber inside said exciting coil and said polar teeth to be movable in an axial direction of said casing; a magnet holder for holding said permanent magnet and movable with said permanent magnet; and an output shaft passing through a central portion of said magnet chamber to slide in said axial direction of said casing and connected to said magnet holder.
  • 6. An electromagnetic actuator according to claim 5, wherein a cylindrical back yoke is mounted in a fixed manner to said casing to be positioned concentrically with said permanent magnet inside said permanent magnet.
  • 7. An electromagnetic actuator according to claim 6, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in a neutral position by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 8. An electromagnet actuator according to claim 6, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as not to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in two positions, i.e., a forward movement end or a rearward movement end by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 9. An electromagnetic actuator according to claim 5, wherein said magnet holder is repulsed by a spring in a returning direction.
  • 10. A magnet movable electromagnetic actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed in said central hole of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said coil and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil through said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in a neutral position by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 11. A magnet movable electromagnetic actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of an outer periphery of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed on an outer peripheral side of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said coil and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil over said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in a neutral position by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 12. A magnet movable electromagnet actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of a central hole of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed in said central hole of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said central hole and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil through said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as not to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in two positions, i.e., a forward movement end or a rearward movement end by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
  • 13. A magnet movable electromagnet actuator comprising:an annular exciting coil; a main yoke surrounding a periphery of said exciting coil and having at a portion of said main yoke a pair of polar teeth positioned to face each other at axial opposite end portions of an outer periphery of said exciting coil; a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed on an outer peripheral side of said exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of said coil and polarized into a north pole and a south pole in a radial direction; and a cylindrical back yoke positioned coaxially with said cylindrical permanent magnet on an opposite side to said exciting coil over said permanent magnet, wherein said back yoke is formed to have such a thickness as not to be magnetically saturated by a magnetomotive force of said permanent magnet so that said permanent magnet is retained in two positions, i.e., a forward movement end or a rearward movement end by a magnetic force when said exciting coil is not energized.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2000-217304 Jul 2000 JP
2001-162717 May 2001 JP
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number Name Date Kind
4703297 Nagasaka Oct 1987 A