Electromagnetic Actuator Guide Rail Segmentation for Residual Magnetization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic actuators face issues with residual magnetization in guide rails, leading to braking forces opposite to the movement direction, reducing thrust force and positioning accuracy due to high coercive force materials used for hardness.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic actuator design incorporating a low coercive force magnetizable material body between the coil and yoke, and avoiding heat treatment on surfaces facing permanent magnets to minimize residual magnetization, using projections and guide members to facilitate smooth movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the guide rail is fabricated with large hardness through heat treatment, then the hardness and structural integrity are improved, but the coercive force and hysteresis increase, generating residual magnetization that creates braking forces and reduces positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is divided into two distinct regions: a heat-treated region with high hardness for structural integrity and wear resistance, and a non-heat-treated region with low coercive force for minimizing residual magnetization. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific functional requirement without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the guide rail are given different material properties through selective heat treatment. The surface region facing the permanent magnets is left untreated to maintain low coercive force, while other regions receive heat treatment for hardness. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall hardness and localized magnetic properties.
2Strength
If the guide rail is fabricated with large hardness, then the structural integrity is improved, but the coercive force becomes greater, generating residual magnetization that reduces thrust force
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is segmented into heat-treated and non-heat-treated regions, allowing the non-heat-treated region to minimize residual magnetization and braking forces, thereby preserving thrust force, while the heat-treated regions provide the necessary structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying heat treatment only to specific regions not facing the permanent magnets, the guide rail achieves local hardness where structurally necessary while maintaining low coercive force in the critical region, thus preserving both structural integrity and thrust force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design suppresses residual magnetization, enhancing thrust force and positioning accuracy by reducing braking forces and maintaining structural integrity through strategic material selection and heat treatment.
Implementation Method 1
causes relative positional displacement between a first yoke supporting a permanent magnet and a second yoke supporting a coil arranged to confront the permanent magnet, by means of a thrust force that is generated due to a current that flows through the coil
Implementation Method 2
the coercive force as well as hysteresis in the guide rail also becomes greater. As a result, when the permanent magnets move over the guide rail accompanying movement of the slide table, residual magnetization is generated in the guide rail
Data Source
AI summary
The electromagnetic actuator is a linear electromagnetic actuator in which the relative position between a slide table that supports permanent magnets thereon and a guide rail that supports a coil, which is arranged in confronting relation to the permanent magnets, is displaced by means of a thrust force generated by a current flowing through the coil. The coil is disposed on the guide rail through a low coercive force magnetizable material body, the coercive force of which is lower than a predetermined value. Consequently, generation of residual magnetization can be suppressed, and an influence on the thrust force caused by such residual magnetization can also be suppressed.