Patent ID: 7495536

Claim:
A magnetic actuator for directly generating rotary actuation of a shaft ( 1 ) with currentless stop position fixation, the magnetic actuator comprising: at least one permanent magnetic anchor ( 2 ) being directly connected to the shaft ( 1 ) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the permanent magnetic anchor ( 2 ) being an annular segment; and at least two electromagnet systems ( 7 , 8 ) each having a coil ( 5 , 6 ) wound around a ferromagnetic core ( 3 , 4 ), the two electromagnet systems ( 7 , 8 ) and the permanent magnetic anchor ( 2 ) are located within a non-magnetic pole conduit ( 10 ) along a circular path and co-axial with respect to the rotating shaft ( 1 ); wherein the permanent magnetic anchor ( 2 ) is arranged between the two electromagnet systems ( 7 , 8 ); and a length of an annular segment of the circular path, between the two electromagnet systems ( 7 , 8 ), is greater than a length of the permanent magnetic anchor ( 2 ), arranged between the electromagnet systems ( 7 , 8 ), in a peripheral direction, so to enable the permanent magnetic anchor ( 2 ) to travel about the circular path between the electromagnet systems ( 7 , 8 ), depending on a flow electrical current.