Valves and valve actuation – Permanent or constantly energized magnet actuator
Patent
1981-07-29
1988-06-07
Schwadron, Martin P.
Valves and valve actuation
Permanent or constantly energized magnet actuator
2511291, 251337, 335266, F16K, F16K, F16K 3102
Patent
active
047491671
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mechanisms and specifically those mechanisms which have only two defined rest positions, but do not exercise rigid control over the motion of the member which is moved from one rest position to the other. For convenience, such mechanisms will hereafter be referred to as binary mechanisms.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Some examples of binary mechanisms are: electric relays, solenoid actuators, manually operated electric switches, and thermally actuated electric switches utilising differential expansion of metals. In each case, there has to be provided a means for applying a force or forces to the said moving member, hereafter referred to as the oscillator, and for removing this force or forces. This force or forces may be generated mechanically or electromagnetically, by the action of fluid pressure or vacuum, manually or inertially.
The great variety of modes of operation of binary mechanisms is also reflected in the great diversity of their application and for this reason, a functional rather than operational definition is found convenient.
It is a feature of binary mechanisms that, as the motion of the oscillator is not under rigid control, there is a degree of impact as the oscillator changes over from one rest position to the other. The combination of short change-over time and substantial oscillator mass leads to excessive impacts and an excessive requirement of energy for generating the said force or forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to minimize the severity of the said impacts and also to minimize the said energy requirement.
In the present invention, the oscillator is suspended from a spring or spring system so arranged that, during the early part of the change-over, spring forces act to accelerate the oscillator, while during the latter part of the change-over, they act to decelerate the oscillator. By this means, the greater part of the energy associated with the change-over is released and stored again in the spring or spring system, and only energy losses incurred during the change-over need to be supplied.
To hold the oscillator at either of the said fixed positions, against the pull of the spring or spring system, capture/release mechanisms are provided at each of the fixed positions, able to exert short range forces exceeding the spring forces; by means of which the oscillator, when approaching the fixed positions, is attracted to and held at the fixed positions. To release the oscillator from the fixed positions at any time, the short range force is temporarily suppressed, whereupon the spring force sets the oscillator into motion, causing it to execute a half cycle of oscillation which brings it into the vicinity of the opposite fixed position, where it is again captured and held until released in the aforesaid manner.
In various embodiments of this invention, the said spring or spring systems may comprise elastic solids or suitablcontained fluids. The said capture/release mechanisms may exert mechanical forces; forces due to pressure or vacuum; or forces due to magnetic fields. The best method of performing this invention known to me embodies springs of suitably formed elastic solids, and capture/release mechanisms exerting forces due to permanent magnets which are neutralised and amplified by means of suitable electric current carrying coils to effect release and capture respectively .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent as the invention becomes more fully understood from the detailed description below, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout and in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view showing a first embodiment of a two position mechanism according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention including a provision for imparting additio
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