Rotatable Linear Actuator for 360-Degree Shaft Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear actuators are not designed to accommodate rotations greater than 180 degrees, particularly in applications requiring 360-degree rotations, which limits their flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing and quality control processes.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable linear actuator design featuring a drive shaft with permanent magnets and electric coils that allows for both linear and rotational movement, enabling the actuator to be scaled for various applications without complex designs, including 360-degree rotations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a linear actuator is designed to accommodate 360-degree rotations, then rotational flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to wiring constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical wiring connections with a wireless communication system. The actuator includes a wireless transceiver that communicates with a controller, eliminating the need for physical wiring that would constrain rotational movement. This allows the actuator to perform 360-degree rotations without worrying about wire tangling or connection integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator integrates multiple functions into a single device: it can both rotate (angular positioning) and transmit data wirelessly. The wireless transceiver serves as a universal communication interface that handles both control commands and status feedback, making the actuator adaptable to various rotational applications without requiring separate wiring configurations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the actuator size is reduced for smaller objects, then handling precision is improved, but rotational capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical wiring with wireless communication, the patent removes the physical constraint that would limit rotation in compact actuators. The wireless transceiver allows the actuator to maintain full rotational capability (360 degrees) even when miniaturized for handling small objects like vials or syringes, as there are no wires to restrict movement in the reduced-size design.
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
The rotatable linear actuator provides a simplified and compact design that facilitates both linear and rotational movements, enhancing the flexibility and precision of gripping devices in manufacturing and quality control applications, especially for objects like vials or syringes, and enables efficient object transfer between gripping devices.
Implementation Method 1
one or more electric coils disposed within the actuator body around the one or more permanent magnets and configured to receive an electric current that interacts with a magnetic field of the one or more permanent magnets to generate an axial force to linearly actuate the drive shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable linear actuator comprises an actuator body; a drive shaft arranged within the actuator body, the drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and configured to be linearly actuated along and rotatable around the longitudinal axis within the actuator body, wherein the drive shaft is configured to be coupled at a first end thereof to a linearly actuated component that is configured to receive linear and rotational movement; one or more permanent magnets coupled to the drive shaft and magnetized in a radial direction about the longitudinal axis; and one or more electric coils disposed within the actuator body around the one or more permanent magnets and configured to receive an electric current that interacts with a magnetic field of the one or more permanent magnets to generate an axial force to linearly actuate the drive shaft. Accordingly, the drive shaft is rotatable while being linearly actuated.