Patent ID: 6009615
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: H01F,H01H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a bistable permanent magnet actuator comprising the steps of:constructing a magnetic yoke from a plurality of laminations each configured to form a part of a magnetic circuit with at least one permanent magnet and an armature axially reciprocable in a first direction within the yoke;forming the armature in two halves by division of the armature by a plane orthogonal to said first direction;introducing a slug of high permeability material between the two halves of the armature and installing the armature and slug into the yoke;removing the slug and installing an actuator rod adapted to draw together said two armature halves in a direction parallel to said first direction;configuring the actuator to provide a first low reluctance flux path and a first high reluctance path when the armature is in a first position and a second low reluctance flux path and a second high reluctance flux path when the armature is in a second position;providing means to drive the armature between the first and second positions; andusing a predetermined number of laminations to expand the device in a linear direction orthogonal to the plane of the yoke laminations, and increasing the corresponding linear dimension of the at least one magnet and armature in order to increase in the permanent magnet flux flowing through the actuator to achieve the desired specification of actuator.