Patent ID: 8766496

Claim:
Linear electric motor comprising: a housing ( 2 ); and a first armature movable on a first essentially linear path with respect to the housing, and a second armature movable on second essentially linear path with respect to the housing, the first armature mounted to the housing by a first mounting spring, the first armature and the second armature coupled to each other by a coupling spring, wherein the second armature is mounted to the housing by a second mounting spring; and a coil comprising by the first armature, the second armature or the housing, wherein the first armature and the second armature are in electromagnetic communication with the coil, and wherein the first mounting spring and the second mounting spring are configured to transmit opposite forces to the housing such that the opposite forces cancel at least a portion of each other out; wherein one of the first and second armatures includes at least a permanent magnet; and wherein the first mounting spring and the second mounting spring function as a spring in a direction parallel to the linear paths of the first and second armatures while providing a rigid support in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of the path; and wherein the first mounting spring includes a spring constant in a direction parallel to the first essentially linear path smaller by at least a factor of 10 than a spring constant in at least one direction perpendicular to the first essentially linear path, and wherein the second mounting spring includes a spring constant in a direction parallel to the second essentially linear path smaller by at least a factor of 10 than a spring constant in at least one direction perpendicular to the second essentially linear path.