IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0449486
(2003-05-30)
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우선권정보 |
GB-9821842(1998-10-08); GB-9907552(1999-04-01); GB-9912518(1999-05-29); GB-9914330(1999-06-21); GB-0212656(2002-05-31); GB-0215465(2002-07-04); GB-0310835(2003-05-10); GB-0311879(2003-05-23) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
0 |
초록
▼
A magnetic device is formed from a permanent magnet generating magnetic flux, an armature which can occupy two positions between four poles and an electromagnet winding to which current can be supplied to produce a magnetic flux in one direction or the other, the flux from the winding causing the ar
A magnetic device is formed from a permanent magnet generating magnetic flux, an armature which can occupy two positions between four poles and an electromagnet winding to which current can be supplied to produce a magnetic flux in one direction or the other, the flux from the winding causing the armature to move into one position and continue to remain in that position after the current flow ceases. The device can be incorporated into a fluid valve to act as a drive for opening and closing the valve. It may also serve as the drive for opening and closing electrical contacts. Monostable operation can be achieved by locating a magnetic flux shunt at one end of the armature travel. A holding solenoid may be incorporated. A pivoting armature in a fluid tight chamber comprises a fluid flow controlling device. It can adopt either of two home positions in contact with two magnetic poles and is retained by magnetic flux from a permanent magnet. Fluid can flow into and out of the chamber via a first passage. A second passage extends through one of the poles to an opening in the pole face which is covered by the armature when the latter occupies one home position but is uncovered when the armature occupies its other home position. A third fluid passage extends through and leads to a second opening in another pole, which is covered when the armature occupies its said other home position. Passages in the poles house energy storing springs each of which is compressed as the armature approaches the pole. A push rod can extend through a passage in one of the poles for conveying armature movement externally of the device.
대표청구항
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I claim: 1. A magnetic drive for a fluid flow control valve comprising permanent magnet means generating magnetic flux between pairs of poles, an armature mounted for movement enabling said armature to occupy either a rest position in a first air gap between one pair of poles in which the flux is i
I claim: 1. A magnetic drive for a fluid flow control valve comprising permanent magnet means generating magnetic flux between pairs of poles, an armature mounted for movement enabling said armature to occupy either a rest position in a first air gap between one pair of poles in which the flux is in one direction, or a rest position in a second air gap between another pair of poles in which the flux is in the opposite direction, with a region of flux cancellation between the two air gaps, and at least one electromagnet winding having an axis generally perpendicular to the path of movement of the armature to which current can be supplied to produce a magnetic flux in said one direction or the other, depending on the direction of the current, the flux from the winding increasing the flux density in the other air gap, thereby effectively shifting the flux cancellation region towards or into one of the two air gaps so as to produce a flux density gradient extending from one air gap to the other which will cause the armature to move into (or remain in) the air gap having the higher flux density, in which the armature will continue to remain after the current flow ceases, and wherein energy storing means is provided engagable by the armature at one end of the armature travel which is only engaged as the armature approaches said armature's rest position, thereby to absorb energy from the final movement of the armature into said armature's rest position at that end, of said armature's travel. 2. A magnetic drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy storing means engagable by the armature only as said armature approaches its rest position, is located at both ends of the armature travel. 3. A magnetic drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein in use the winding both polarizes the armature and changes the magnetic flux in the air gaps. 4. A magnetic drive as claimed in claim 1, which further includes low reluctance flux concentrating means external to the electromagnet winding which provides a low reluctance external path for returning flux from one end to the other thereof when the winding is energized, thereby to increase the flux produced by the winding when energized, so as to magnify the magnetic flux available to effect movement of the armature. 5. A magnetic drive as claimed in claim 1 when located within a housing containing a fluid tight chamber and at least one fluid flow control valve operated between open and closed positions by movement of the armature for controlling the flow of fluid through the chamber. 6. A magnetic drive as claimed in claim 5 in where the valve is adapted to control the flow of a liquid or a gas or air. 7. A magnetic drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein magnetic poles are located at opposite ends of the drive with a gap between the two pairs of opposed magnetic pole faces, the armature includes a magnetisable part which will just fit in the gap between the pair of opposed pole faces at opposite ends of the drive, said magnetisable part of the armature being secured to one end of a low mass connecting rod which extends through an end of the magnetic drive to terminate externally thereof. 8. A fluid flow control valve comprising a fluid tight chamber to which or from which fluid can flow via a first passage, an elongate magnetic armature which constitutes the fluid flow controlling device and is movable between two home positions between two pairs of magnetic poles, and which in doing so passes through a mid position between the two home positions, a permanent magnet the flux from which links the armature and the poles in each home position and will cause the armature to move towards and remain between two of the poles in each home position, an electromagnet which when energized by an appropriate flow of current will alter the magnetic flux to cause the armature to be repelled from two poles between which said armature extends and to move through said armature's mid position and thereafter towards the other two poles defining the other home position, a second fluid passage which is open to convey fluid into and out of the chamber when the armature occupies one home position but is closed by the armature when said armature occupies said armature's other home position, and energy storage means which has no effect of the armature in or near said armature's mid position, but is engaged by the armature as said armature approaches each of said armature's two home positions and resists the final movement of the armature into each home position. 9. A valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the chamber is formed at least in part from plastics or glass or quartz. 10. A valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the valve is adapted to control the flow of a liquid or a gas or air. 11. A fluid flow control valve in which an armature is mounted for pivoting in a fluid tight chamber to which or from which fluid can flow via a first passage, and the armature comprises the fluid flow controlling device and can adopt either of two home positions in each of which said armature is held in contact with two magnetic poles by magnetic flux provided by a permanent magnet, wherein the armature is caused to pivot from one home position to the other by temporarily altering the magnetic flux linking the armature and the poles so that the armature is repelled from poles with which said armature is in contact and attracted to poles defining the other home position, and wherein a second fluid passage is provided through one of the poles which communicates with an opening in the pole face, which opening is covered by the armature so as to prevent fluid flow between the second passage and the chamber when the latter is in one of said armature's two home positions but is uncovered to permit fluid flow through the second passage when the armature occupies the other home position. 12. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein a third fluid passage leading to a second opening in another pole is provided which second opening will be covered when the armature occupies said armature's said other home position. 13. A valve as claimed in claim 11 comprising four similar pole-pieces arranged in two pairs, associated with opposite ends of the armature, each pair presenting a North and South pole to the armature, and the two pairs are arranged symmetrically about the central pivoting axis of the armature. 14. A valve as claimed in claim 13 wherein at least one permanent magnet is linked to the pole-pieces to provide a permanent magnetic flux so that the two poles on one side of the armature have the same magnetic polarity as do the two poles on the other side of the armature. 15. A valve as claimed in claim 13 wherein the poles are linked by magnetic material to form a flux path between the poles on one side and the poles on the other side of the armature, and the armature includes at least one permanent magnet to provide a permanent magnetic flux and create a North pole at one end and a South pole at the other end of the armature. 16. A valve as claimed in claim 13 wherein all four poles have a similar passage therein so as to have a similar magnetic cross-section. 17. A valve as claimed in claim 16 in which two of the passages house resiliently deformable energy storing means each of which will be deformed to store energy as the armature approaches the pole containing the energy storing means, but from which the armature becomes disengaged as it moves away towards the other pole. 18. A valve as claimed in claim 17 wherein a thrust member is provided in each passage between the resilient means and the open end of the passage which protrudes beyond the open end of the passage to be engaged by the armature as the latter moves towards and into contact with the pole, for transmitting armature movement to the resilient means. 19. A valve as claimed in claim 18 wherein the thrust member is held captive in the passage but is slidable therein. 20. A valve as claimed in claim 17 wherein each energy storing means comprises a spring. 21. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein a closed flux path for the permanent flux is created when the armature occupies either of its two home positions. 22. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein the armature is mounted for rocking about a ridge defining a fulcrum, or between an opposed pair of such ridges or for pivoting about an axis defined by a pin about which the armature can rotate. 23. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein the armature extends in an axial sense through an electromagnet having a winding through which electric current can flow and is polarized magnetically in one sense when a current flows in one direction in the winding and in an opposite sense when a current flows in the opposite direction. 24. A valve as claimed in claim 15 wherein the magnetic material linking the poles comprises at least in part the core of an electromagnet having a winding through which current flow in one sense will alter the magnetic flux so as to reverse the polarity of the poles created by the permanent magnet flux. 25. A valve as claimed in claim 23 wherein the residual permanent magnet flux linking the armature in each home position is sufficient to hold the armature in that home position, so that the device has a bistable characteristic, and causing a pulse of current to flow in the electromagnet winding in the appropriate direction, causes the armature to move from one home position to the other, where said armature will remain due to the residual permanent magnet flux linking said armature to the other poles to which said armature has moved. 26. A valve as claimed in claim 24 wherein the residual permanent magnet flux linking the armature in each home position is sufficient to hold the armature in that home position, so that the device has a bistable characteristic, and causing a pulse of current to flow in the electromagnet winding in the appropriate direction, causes the armature to move from one home position to the other, where said armature will remain due to the residual permanent magnet flux linking said armature to the other poles to which said armature has moved. 27. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein the movement of the armature is employed to open or close a second valve external to the device, or to open and close an electrical switch or perform a mechanical function externally of the device. 28. A valve as claimed in claim 27 wherein armature movement is transmitted to an external device by means of a push rod. 29. A valve as claimed in claim 28 wherein the push rod extends through a passage in one of the poles. 30. A valve as claimed in claim 28 wherein the push rod extends through one or other of the poles containing a fluid conveying passage. 31. A valve as claimed in claim 28 wherein the push rod extends through a passage containing an energy storing spring. 32. A valve as claimed in claim 31 wherein the push rod is linked to the spring to be urged by the spring towards the armature, and stop means prevents the push rod from following the armature all the way to its mid position between the poles so that the armature is free of spring influence over part of its travel from between the poles. 33. A valve as claimed in claim 11 in which the actuator is bi-stable in that after the permanent magnetic flux is altered to produce the pivoting see-saw action of the armature, the magnetic flux linking the armature and poles in the low reluctance path now established, is sufficient to cause the armature to remain in that position in contact with those poles, and will remain there until the magnetic flux linking the armature and the poles is altered, so as to cause the armature to disengage from those two poles and transfer to the other two. 34. A valve as claimed in claim 33 wherein the flux alteration is effected by moving a magnet into proximity with the device so as to at least temporarily reduce the permanent magnet holding flux, to cause the armature to move to its other home position. 35. A valve as claimed in claim 33 wherein the magnet reverses the flux linking the armature. 36. A valve as claimed in claim 33 wherein the flux alteration is achieved by causing an electric current to flow in a winding of an electromagnet surrounding the armature. 37. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein the magnetic flux change to cause the armature to move to the other home position is sufficient to oppositely magnetically polarize the armature. 38. An actuator comprising an elongate magnetisable armature which is pivotable in a see-saw manner between two home positions in contact with poles of magnetic material and in doing so passes through a mid position equidistant from the poles, but will remain in one home position or the other due to magnetic attraction between said armature and two of the poles, wherein a closed low reluctance path for magnetic flux is created by the armature making contact with two of the poles when in each home position and the low reluctance path includes at least one permanent magnet the flux from which creates the force of attraction between the armature and the home position poles with which said armature is in contact, thereby maintaining the armature in that home position, an electromagnet having a winding through which electric current can flow, and which, when energized by an appropriate current flow, will alter the magnetic flux so as to cause the armature to be repelled from the poles with which the armature is in contact and be attracted to, and caused to transfer to the other two poles, and further comprising resilient energy storage means disposed at the poles, which has no effect on the armature in or near said mid position but as the armature approaches the poles, resists the final movement of the armature towards the poles. 39. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the or each permanent magnet comprises part of the armature. 40. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the or each permanent magnet comprises part of the low reluctance path external to the armature. 41. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein each resilient energy storage means is selected so that said storage means will exert an increasing force on the armature as said armature moves towards the pole which will decelerate the armature as said armature approaches the pole but is insufficient to overcome the increasing force of magnetic attraction between the armature and the pole as the former closes on the latter, thereby to reduce the impact force as the armature contacts the pole and to store energy from the deceleration of the armature which energy is available to accelerate the armature away from the pole if the magnetic flux attracting the armature to the pole is subsequently reduced. 42. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the armature is mounted for pivoting about a ridge which constitutes a fulcrum or a fixed axis defined by a pin. 43. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the permanent magnet, pole pieces and electromagnet, are contained within a housing. 44. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the resilient energy storage means acts between the armature and a fixed point. 45. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the resilient energy storage means is carried by and extends from the armature or is attached to and extends from at least one of the poles. 46. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein the resilient energy storage means is housed in recesses in two of the poles. 47. An actuator as claimed in claim 46 wherein a thrust member is housed in each recess and protrudes from the face of the pole, which will be engaged by the armature and pushed into its recess to compress the resilient energy storage means therein as the armature approaches the pole. 48. An actuator as claimed in claim 38 wherein movement of the armature is transmitted externally of the housing. 49. An actuator comprising a bi-stable rocking armature which is movable between two home positions each defined by a pair of poles, by altering magnetic flux created by at least one permanent magnet and linking the armature and the poles when said armature occupies one of said armature's home positions, so as to cause the armature to rock like a see-saw into the other of said armature's two home positions, in each of which a closed low reluctance path for the magnetic flux linking the armature and two of the poles is created, the permanent magnetic flux alone which links the armature in either home position, being sufficient to cause the armature to remain in that position in contact with those two poles until the flux linking the armature to those two poles is altered so as to cause the armature to disengage therefrom and see-saw over to the other two poles, where said armature will remain due to the closed low reluctance path now established with these other two poles, and further comprising compressible energy converting and storing means disposed at the poles, which in use during the final movement of the armature into contact with the poles is compressed and converts some of the kinetic energy of the armature into potential energy and stores the potential energy while the armature remains in contact with the poles in either home position, to be available to exert an accelerating force on the armature in a direction away from that home position towards said armature's other home position when the magnetic flux linking the armature is altered to allow this to happen. 50. An actuator as claimed in claim 49 wherein the deformable energy converting and storing means comprises two resiliently deformable devices one of which is deformed in use to store energy therein as the armature moves into engagement with one pair of poles, and the other of which is deformed in use to store energy therein as the armature moves into engagement with the other pair of poles. 51. An actuator as claimed in claim 50 wherein the energy converting and storing means is housed in recesses in two of the poles. 52. An actuator as claimed in claim 51 wherein a thrust member is housed in each recess and protrudes from the face of the pole, which in use will be engaged by the armature and pushed into its recess to compress the resiliently deformable energy converting storing means therein as the armature approaches the pole. 53. An actuator as claimed in claim 49 wherein movement of the armature is transmitted in use externally of the housing. 54. An actuator as claimed in claim 53 wherein the armature movement is transmitted by means of push rod means which is engageable by the armature during movement of the latter, and extends through one or more passages in the poles. 55. An actuator as claimed in claim 54 wherein a passage containing the push rod means also contains a compressible spring, and the push rod means extends through and is linked to the spring to be urged by the spring towards the armature, and stop means prevents the push rod means from following the armature in use all the way to its mid position between the poles so that the armature is free of spring influence over part of its travel between poles. 56. An actuator as claimed in claim 55 wherein the compressible spring serves as a deformable energy converting and storing means. 57. An actuator as claimed in claim 49 in which the or each permanent magnet forms part of the armature. 58. An actuator as claimed in claim 49 in which the or each permanent magnet forms part of the low reluctance path out with the armature. 59. An actuator as claimed in claim 54 wherein the flux alteration required in use to effect the changeover of the armature from one pole to the other is effected by causing a short pulse of current to flow through an electromagnet winding which influences the flux linking the armature and the poles, the direction of the current in each pulse to effect each changeover being selected accordingly. 60. An actuator as claimed in claim 59 wherein the permanent magnet, armature, pole pieces and electromagnet, are contained within a housing. 61. An actuator as claimed in claim 60 wherein the housing is formed from magnetisable material and comprises part of the magnetic flux path. 62. An actuator as claimed in claim 49 wherein the energy converting and storing means acts between the armature and a fixed point in the housing. 63. An actuator as claimed in claim 49 wherein the energy converting and storing mean as acts between the armature and at least one of the poles.
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