Electromagnet Disk Air Gap Magnetic Shunt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electromagnet devices face challenges in achieving continuous and proportional displacement due to the sharp increase in magnetic force as the air gap decreases, making it difficult to adjust without geometrically enlarging components, and the complexity of implementing an immersion stage with precise guidance to avoid physical contact, which increases manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A disk is arranged in the air gap between the magnet armature and armature counterpart, allowing for physical contact in at least one relative position to create a magnetic shunt, reducing the magnetic force and avoiding the need for precise tolerances, while a spring element counteracts the magnetic force with minimal resistance, maintaining positionability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the air gap is decreased to increase magnetic force, then the magnetic force increases sharply, but continuous and proportional displacement becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic forceVSAvoidcontinuous displacement adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A disk is introduced as an intermediary element in the air gap between the magnet armature and armature counterpart. This disk creates a magnetic shunt when in contact, providing a controlled magnetic path that moderates the magnetic force curve and enables smoother, more continuous displacement control without the extreme exponential force increase associated with small air gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the air gap is increased to flatten the magnetic force curve, then continuous displacement becomes easier, but the magnetic force level decreases and requires larger components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous displacement adjustmentVSAvoidmagnetic force level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the magnetic circuit parameters by introducing a disk with specific magnetic properties into the air gap. This disk modifies the magnetic reluctance and flux distribution, creating a favorable magnetic force curve that maintains adequate force levels while enabling continuous displacement control, avoiding the need to increase component dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If an immersion stage is implemented to avoid physical contact, then magnetic force control is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to precise guidance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic force controlVSAvoidguidance structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The disk is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured with standard tolerances. Rather than implementing complex immersion stage guidance structures, the invention uses this simple disk that naturally provides the necessary magnetic shunt function through contact, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 configuration achieves a favorable magnetic force curve with low production costs, avoiding discontinuities in magnetic force and reducing manufacturing complexity, enabling efficient and cost-effective operation of electromagnet devices.

Implementation Method 1

A disk that can be brought into touching contact at least in regions with the magnet armature end face and the armature counterpart end face is arranged in the air gap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic shunt: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a spring element counteracts the magnetic force with minimal resistance, maintaining positionability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2606496B1Electromagnetic device, and driver assistance device
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2606496B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2606496B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2606496B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an electromagnetic device (1) comprising a magnet armature (2) and a mating armature piece (10) that lies on the end face of the magnet armature (2). The magnet armature (2) and the mating armature piece (10) can be displaced relative to each other, and an air gap (16) is present between a magnet armature end face (14) and a mating armature piece end face (15). A disk (19) that can be brought into physical contact with the magnet armature end face (14) and the mating armature piece end face (15) at least in some regions lies in the air gap (16). The invention further relates to a driver assistance device.