Linear reluctance motor

Abstract

A linear reluctance motor includes a stator with a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth. A shuttle also includes a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth. An active component is associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both. The active component is divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.

1 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle shorter than the stator and also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       2 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle longer than the stator and also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       3 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with the shuttle, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis, wherein the shuttle travels within the stator and is connected to a carriage external to the stator by a cable and pulley subsystem.    
   
   
       4 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth and a reinforcing layer on the outside thereof;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth and a reinforcing layer on the outside thereof; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       5 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a long stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a relatively short shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with the stator, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis,    wherein the blades of the shuttle substantially overlap at least three phases, and the stator has more phases than can be engaged by the shuttle at any given position.    
   
   
       6 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis,    wherein the blades of the shuttle and/or the stator have a thinned blade root or a slotted blade root.    
   
   
       7 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth, the stator defining a housing with a longitudinal slot;    a shuttle including a fin extending through the longitudinal slot and also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       8 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth, the stator defining a channel and further including a sliding shutter for sealing the channel;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       9 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis; and    vacuum compensation means for allowing the shuttle to be actuated without contaminating the blades.    
   
   
       10 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis,    wherein at least one phase is divided into at least two magnetic circuits, each circuit having a coil, a flux-return a blade-set, said flux-returns being inwardly opposed so as to minimize leakage flux.    
   
   
       11 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis; and    conductors for powering the coils, said conductors stationary with respect to the active component.    
   
   
       12 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis, said shuttle and said stator defining inner and outer telescoping tubes, the inner tube connected to the active component and the passive blades connected to a structural beam connected on one end to the outer tube.    
   
   
       13 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator attached to a structural tube and including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a tubular housing external to the structural tube and telescopingly connected to the structural tube;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades connected to a structural beam, said structural beam attached at an end to the tubular housing, and said spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with the stator, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       14 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis,    wherein the interleaved blades define an average gap between the blades and an outer gap, the outer gap larger than the average gap and located between outer blades of the shuttle, which are flexible in lateral bending, and outer blades of the stator.    
   
   
       15 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle including a housing and also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with the stator, the active component divided into at least N phases arranged in series along the actuation axis, each phase including an opposing set of blades, a flux return plate, a housing surrounding the flux return plates and the blades, and a coil between the opposing sets of blades wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis, with the shuttle housing telescopingly received in the stator housing.    
   
   
       16 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator defining a housing with a channel for receiving a shuttle therein, the stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    the shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending into the channel in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    an active component associated with the stator, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase in series along the actuation axis including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis; and    a large gap between the outermost blades of the shuttle and the flux return portion, the large gap effected by tapered side walls of the shuttle housing.    
   
   
       17 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator defining a housing with a channel for receiving a shuttle therein, the stator also including a set of spaced blades each extending into the channel in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    the shuttle including a fin extending through the longitudinal slot of the stator and connected to a driving element located outside the channel, the shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth; and    an active component associated with the shuttle, the active component divided into at least N phases arranged in series along the actuation axis, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis.    
   
   
       18 . A linear reluctance motor having an actuation axis, the linear reluctance motor comprising: 
 a stator including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis, each blade including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth;    a shuttle also including a set of spaced blades each extending in the direction of the actuation axis interleaved with the blades of the stator, each blade of the shuttle also including a plurality of alternating low permeability and high permeability teeth, the interleaved blades defining an average gap between the blades and an outer gap, the outer gap larger than the average gap and in which the outer blades of the shuttle are flexible in lateral bending; and    an active component associated with either the stator, the shuttle, or both, the active component divided into at least N phases, each phase including a set of blades, a flux return portion, and a coil wound to produce flux through the sets of interleaved blades in a direction substantially transverse to the actuation axis, wherein the outer gap is between the outer blades of the stator and the flux return portions, the flux return portions tapering outwardly away from the outer blades.