Multi stage electromagnetic jack assembly

An electromagnetic jack assembly. The jack has a first inner jack member having vertical walls, configured to slide within the base, the first inner jack member being nested within the base and having at least two walls connected to respective inside faces of the vertical walls of the base; a first linear magnetic drive assembly, comprising: a magnetic coil; and a magnet track, mounted on the base and the magnetic coil mounted on the first inner jack member or vice versa. The magnetic drive assembly forms the connection between the base and the first inner track. A second inner jack member nested within the first inner jack member and has a second linear magnetic drive assembly. The magnetic drive assembly forms the connection between the first and second inner track members.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to jacks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the need for a jack capable of lifting weights and/or be used as a press lifting between (0-40 thousand pounds) with a high degree of accuracy in positioning. (Each inside surface of the jack housing can encompass a coil assembly which will increase the lifting capacity by a factor of 4. However, the electric controls for each of the coil assemblies need to be synchronized.)

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, an telescopic jack comprises: a base having vertical side walls having inside faces with a pair of parallel opposite faces; a first inner jack member having vertical walls, configured to slide within the base, the first inner jack member being nested within the base and having at least two walls connected to respective inside faces of the vertical walls of the base; a first linear magnetic drive assembly, comprising: a magnetic coil; and a magnet track, mounted on the base and the magnetic coil mounted on the first inner jack member or vice versa. The magnetic track has a mechanical locking mechanism configured to prevent retraction of the drive assembly when the track reaches a predetermined extension. The magnetic drive assembly forms the connection between the base and the first inner track. A second inner jack member has vertical walls, and is configured to slide within the first inner jack member. The second inner jack member is nested within the first inner jack member and has at least two walls connected to respective inside faces of the vertical walls of the first inner jack member. A second linear magnetic drive assembly comprises: a magnetic coil; a magnet track, mounted on the first inner jack member and the magnetic coil mounted on the second inner jack member or vice versa. The magnetic track has a mechanical locking mechanism configured to prevent retraction of the drive assembly when the track reaches a predetermined extension. The magnetic drive assembly forms the connection between the first and second inner track members.

In a variant of the telescopic jack, the jack has a plurality of stages, each comprising progressively smaller inner jack members connected to other jack members which encompass them, via a linear magnetic drive assembly.

In another variant, the jack assembly has an outside structure having structural sides and an inside structure having structural sides. The structures are oriented in parallel and in close proximity wherein the outside and inside structures support slide assemblies comprising: rails attached to the structures; a magnetic track; and a coil. A movement system is associated with the slide assemblies with attached rails and coil.

In a further variant, the jack assembly comprises a plurality of telescoping stages, each stage having rail and slide assemblies and a magnetic drive and coil. The jack assembly is adjustable to a desired height via the rail and slide assemblies and magnetic drive and coil at each stage.

In still another variant, the jack is connectable to an overhead structure relative to the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein in terms of example environments. Description in terms of these environments is provided to allow the various features and embodiments of the invention to be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different and alternative environments.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a magnetic jack assembly10. In a variant, referring toFIG. 1, a magnetic coil assembly12comprises a linear motor15vertically mounted on a first frame20having sides, and on a magnet track40and a coil30mounted to a second frame35positioned 0.038 mm or 0.015 inches apart from each other30,40. The magnetic track travels the length of the coil on THK slides45and rails25which is determined by the chosen stroke, based on the desired height of the jack in its extended configuration. The jack comprises a minimum of one assembly or more depending on the load expected to be carried. The magnetic coil assemblies12comprise the coil30mounted to the inside of the structure and controlled by an electromagnetic pulse (Electric Controls) driving the magnetic track40that is attached to the structure being lifted. The magnetic track40and slides45are combined into one ridged unit and the coil30and rails are combined into another ridged unit which when assembled together provide the required gap between both units.

The magnetic coil assemblies12can be located on each of the sides which are mounted to the base. In one example magnetic jack assembly, one slide assembly is provided with a magnetic attraction force (Magnetic to Coil) of 45,000 Newton's (10,125 pounds). This is the clamping force between the magnetic and coil.

In the first stage125of the jack assembly, which is similar to all stages, power is only needed when a load is being lifted. When the first extension of the telescopic jack is fully extended, the first20and second frames35mechanically lock in place, and power may be transferred to the second stage which travels to its configured height and a third frame50locks in place and so forth with subsequent stages. The last stage may not need to be extended fully and a locking mechanism may be provided in the last stage. For holding and positioning the desired height of the jack, a sealed absolute linear encoder may be provided on opposite sides of the frame20. Accuracies within 5 microns may be obtained.

In a variant, referring toFIG. 10, a telescopic jack100comprises a base105having vertical side walls110having inside faces115with a pair of parallel opposite faces115. A first inner jack member125has vertical walls130configured to slide within the base105. The first inner jack member125is nested within the base105and has at least two walls135connected to respective inside faces115of the vertical walls of the base.

The jack100has a first linear magnetic drive assembly140. The drive assembly140comprises a magnetic coil150and a magnet track145. The magnet track145is mounted on the base and the magnetic coil mounted on the first inner jack member or vice versa. The magnetic track has a mechanical locking mechanism155configured to prevent retraction of the drive assembly when the track reaches a predetermined extension. The magnetic drive assembly forms the connection between the base and the first inner track.

In another variant, the jack has a second stage. Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, a second inner jack member160has vertical walls configured to slide within the first inner jack member. The second inner jack member is nested within the first inner jack member and has at least two walls connected to respective inside faces of the vertical walls of the first inner jack member. A second linear magnetic drive assembly is provided on the second stage. The drive assembly comprises a magnetic coil and a magnet track. The magnet track is mounted on the first inner jack member and the magnetic coil mounted on the second inner jack member or vice versa. The magnetic track has a mechanical locking mechanism configured to prevent retraction of the drive assembly when the track reaches a predetermined extension. The magnetic drive assembly forms the connection between the first and second inner track members.

In a further variant, the telescopic jack has a plurality of stages, each comprising progressively smaller inner jack members connected to other jack members which encompass them, via a linear magnetic drive assembly.

In yet another variant, a jack assembly comprises an outside structure having structural sides and an inside structure having structural sides, the structures oriented in parallel and in close proximity wherein the outside and inside structures support slide assemblies. The slide assemblies comprise rails attached to the structures, a magnetic track and a coil. A movement system is associated with the slide assemblies. The movement system has attached rails and a coil.

In still a further variant, the jack assembly comprises a plurality of telescoping stages, each stage having rail and slide assemblies and a magnetic drive and coil. The jack assembly is adjustable to a desired height via the rail and slide assemblies and magnetic drive and coil at each stage. The telescopic jack is connectable to an overhead structure relative to the ground.

For example,FIGS. 6-9illustrate a four stage jack assembly. Referring toFIGS. 6-9, the four stage jack assembly comprises first125, second160, third200and fourth205stages. Each stage has a magnetic coil assembly12comprising a linear motor15vertically mounted on a previous stage's frame's20side walls, and on a magnet track40and a coil30mounted to a second frame35positioned 0.038 mm or 0.015 inches apart from each other25,30. The magnetic track travels the length of the coil on THK slides45and rails25which is determined by the chosen stroke, based on the desired height of the jack in its extended configuration. The magnetic/coil assemblies12comprise the coil mounted to the inside of the structure and controlled by an electromagnetic pulse (Electric Controls) driving the magnetic track that is attached to the structure being lifted. The magnetic track40and slides45are combined into one ridged unit and the 15 magnetic track and rails are combined into another ridged unit which when assembled together provide the required gap between both units. The magnetic coil assemblies12can be located on each of the sides which are mounted to the base. In one example magnetic jack assembly, one slide assembly is provided with a magnetic attraction force (Magnetic to Coil) of 45,000 Newton's (10,125 pounds). For holding and positioning the desired height of the jack, a sealed absolute linear encoder may be provided on opposite sides of the frame20.

The linear motor is a force producer, similar to a conventional rotary motor, and comprises wire coils and magnets. The motor coil is positioned over the magnets, and, as the current is fed through the motor coils, it interacts with the magnetic field and produces an electromotive force.

Linear motor coils are supported by the linear rails of the machine bed and the slide of the machine tool. The magnets may be placed on the jack frames. The coil may be placed on the inside of the frame adjacent the frame supporting the magnets

In one embodiment, the motor coil is directly connected to a standard three-phase motor driver amplifier and slide position feedback is sent to the jack machine.

Linear motors can provide higher throughput, with little required maintenance. There are no drive components, such as ball screws or couplings, between the motor and the slide to introduce inaccuracies and wind-up errors. Accuracy is dependent only on the feedback device and the controller. Because each coil can be controlled independently from its own encoder, multiple slides can run on the same rails over the same magnetic track. The linear motor is not affected by travel. Unlike a ball screw, it has no critical rotational speed, making it ideal for long travel, high performance.