Ironless magnetic linear motors having levitating and transversal force capacities

Abstract

A ironless magnetic motor ( 21 - 23 ) employs a magnetic track ( 30 ) and a forcer ( 40 ). The forcer ( 40 ) is orientated in relations to a magnetic field (β) across a linear air gap of the magnetic track ( 30 ) to generate a drive force (F X ) parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis in response to a commutation drive current (I X ) and to generate a force (F Z , F Y ) orthogonal to the X drive axis in response to a commutation coil current (I Z , I Y ) being superimposed on and phase shifted from the commutation drive current (I X ). To this end, a set of levitating turns of the coil ( 41 ) parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis may be internal or external to magnetic field (β), and the forcer ( 40 ) may be centered or offset from a center X-Z longitudinal axis (CP) of the linear air gap.

1 . An ironless magnetic motor, comprising:
 a magnetic track generating a magnetic field (β) across a linear air gap having a X drive axis, a Y transversal axis and a Z levitation axis, the X, Y and Z axis being mutually orthogonal; and   a forcer including a coil disposed within the linear air gap, the forcer being positioned in an X-Z plane, and   wherein a first set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is internal to magnetic field (β),   wherein a second set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is external to magnetic field (β),   wherein an opposing set of drive turns of the coil orthogonal to the X drive axis and parallel to the Z levitation axis is substantially internal to magnetic field (β),   wherein a commutation drive current (I X ) is applied to the coil to generate a drive force (F X ) parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis, and   wherein a commutation levitating current (I Z ) is superimposed on and phase shifted from the commutation drive current (I X ) to generate a levitating force (F Z ) orthogonal to the X drive axis and parallel to the Z levitation axis.   
     
     
         2 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 1 , wherein the phase shifting of commutation levitating current (I Z ) from the commutation drive current (I X ) is such that the levitating force (F Z ) is at least substantially decoupled from the drive force (F X ). 
     
     
         3 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 1 , wherein the phase shifting of commutation levitating current (I Z ) from the commutation drive current (I X ) is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 1 , wherein the forcer is centered on a center X-Z longitudinal plane (CP) of the linear air gap. 
     
     
         5 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of levitating turns of the coil is a top set of levitating turns of the coil. 
     
     
         6 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of levitating turns of the coil is a top set of levitating turns of the coil. 
     
     
         7 . An ironless magnetic motor, comprising:
 a magnetic track generating a magnetic field (β) across a linear air gap having a X drive axis, a Y transversal axis and a Z levitation axis, the X, Y and Z axis being mutually orthogonal; and   a forcer including a coil disposed within the linear air gap, the forcer being positioned in an X-Z plane, and   wherein the forcer is offset from a center X-Z longitudinal plane (CP) of the linear air gap,   wherein a commutation drive current (I X ) is applied to the coil to generate a drive force (F X ) parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Y transversal axis, and   wherein a commutation transversal current (I Y ), which is superimposed on and phase shifted from the commutation drive current (I X ), is applied to the coil to generate a transversal force (F Y ) orthogonal to the X drive axis and parallel to the Y transversal axis.   
     
     
         8 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 7 , wherein the phase shifting of commutation transversal current (I Y ) from the commutation drive current (I X ) is such that the transversal force (F Y ) is at least substantially decoupled from the drive force (F X ). 
     
     
         9 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 7 , wherein the phase shifting of commutation transversal current (I Y ) from the commutation drive current (I X ) is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 7 , wherein a first set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is external to magnetic field (β). 
     
     
         11 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 10 , wherein a second set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is external to magnetic field (β). 
     
     
         12 . An ironless magnetic motor, comprising:
 a magnetic track generating a magnetic field (β) across a linear air gap having an X drive axis, a Y transversal axis and a Z levitation axis, the X, Y and Z axis being mutually orthogonal; and   a forcer including a coil disposed within the linear air gap, and   wherein the forcer is offset from a center X-Z longitudinal plane (CP) of the linear air gap,   wherein a commutation drive current (I X ) is applied to the coil to generate a drive force (F X ) parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Y transversal axis, and   wherein a commutation transversal current (I Y ) is superimposed on and phase shifted from the commutation drive current (I X ) to generate a transversal force (F Y ) orthogonal to the X drive axis and parallel to the Y transversal axis.   
     
     
         13 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 12 , wherein the transversal force (F Y ) is at least substantially decoupled from the drive force (F X ). 
     
     
         14 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 12 , wherein the phase shifting of commutation transversal current (I Y ) from the commutation drive current (I X ) is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 12 , wherein a first set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is external to the magnetic field (β). 
     
     
         16 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 15 , wherein a second set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is external to magnetic field (β). 
     
     
         17 . An ironless magnetic motor, comprising:
 a magnetic track generating a magnetic field (β) across a linear air gap having an X drive axis, a Y transversal axis and a Z levitation axis, the X, Y and Z axis being mutually orthogonal; and   a forcer including a coil disposed within the linear air gap, and   wherein a commutation drive current (I X ) is applied to the coil to generate a drive force (F Y ) parallel to the X drive axis, and   wherein the forcer is orientated within the linear air gap to generate a force (F Z , F Y ) orthogonal to the X drive axis in response to a commutation coil current (I Z , I Y ) being superimposed on and phase shifted from the commutation drive current (I X ).   
     
     
         18 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein the force (F Z , F Y ) is a levitating force (F Z ) that is at least substantially decoupled from the drive force (F X ). 
     
     
         19 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein the force (F Z , F Y ) is a transversal force (F Y ) that is at least substantially decoupled from the drive force (F X ). 
     
     
         20 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein the phase shifting of commutation coil current (I Z , I Y ) from the commutation drive current (I X ) is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         21 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein a set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is external to magnetic field (β). 
     
     
         22 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein a set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis is internal to magnetic field (β). 
     
     
         23 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein the forcer is centered on a center X-Z longitudinal plane (CP) of the linear air gap. 
     
     
         24 . The ironless magnetic motor of  claim 17 , wherein the forcer is offset from a center X-Z longitudinal plane (CP) of the linear air gap.