Patent ID: 8860273

Claim:
A electromagnetic device, comprising: a plurality of stationary field generator modules arranged along a path of motion, each one of the stationary field generator modules comprising: a central axis extending between first and second opposite ends and lying substantially along the path of motion; and an electric coil arranged to produce a stator magnetic field oriented radially with respect to the path of motion and lying substantially within a field interaction plane that is orthogonal to the path of motion; at least one armature, each of the at least one armature comprising: a base member extending between opposite first and second faces and arranged to partially surround one or more of the plurality of stationary field generator modules as the armature travels along the path of motion; and, an armature field generator module arranged to produce an armature magnetic field comprising magnetic flux oriented radially with respect to the path of motion and lying substantially within the field interaction plane; and, at least one linking member to support and guide a corresponding one of each of the at least one armature along the path of motion in response to thrust on the armature generated in response to interaction of the stator magnetic field and the armature magnetic field in the field interaction plane, wherein when any one of the at least one armature overlaps a stationary field generator module, the overlapped field generator module is maintained in a substantially zero-current state.