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US3870931A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solenoid servomechanism

Assignee: Sun Chemical Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-04
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1994-02-04
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Abstract

Abstract A solenoid servomechanism comprises an armature and coil means regulable by a command signal to effect a displacement of the armature. Feedback means monitoring the position of the armature relay a signal representative of armature position to the summing point of an operational amplifier where the armature position signal is compared with the command signal. The difference between the command signal and the position signal is amplified and placed in proper phase relationship to correct the difference. The resultant signal is then converted into one or more pulsating or switching mode signals which modulate the duty cycle of one or more power drivers whose outputs are applied to the coil means for correction of the armature position. In a two-coil, one-armature embodiment, the armature is electrically driven on command in either of two directions, the direction determined by the respective duty cycles imposed on power drivers for the two coils, such duty cycles dependent on the difference between the command signal and the position feedback means. In a single coil, one-armature embodiment, the single coil acts in response to a command signal to advance against a resilient load capable of returning the armature in an opposite direction upon relaxation of the command signal. In both of the foregoing embodiments, the command signal may be a signal of unknown value which is measured by the displacement of the armature. Alternatively, the command signal may be of a known or adjusted value whereby the armature may be displaced from a first position to a desired second position.

Inventors

  • 👤 John L Myers

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 00:29
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/12; G05D3/14; G05D3/1409; H; H01; H01F; H01F7/00; H01F7/06; H01F7/08; H01F7/14; H01F7/145; H01F7/16; H01F7/1607; H01F7/18; H01F7/1844; H01F2007/1684

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 189 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, bias means urging said armature in a first direction, electromagnetic means energizable to move said armature in opposition to said bias means, said electromagnetic means producing a magnetic Field attracting said armature into a region in which the attractive force of said magnetic field does not increase, position sensor means to sense the position of said armature or a condition controlled by said armature and provide a first signal representing present armature position, command means providing a second signal directing an armature position or a condition controlled thereby, comparison means comparing said first and second signals and providing an error signal having a magnitude representing a difference between said first and secon signals, a driver circuit coupled to drive said electromagnetic means, control means coupled to said driver circuit and receiving said error signal, said control means generating a pulse modulated signal applied to said driver circuit, said control means including means controlling the pulse width of said pulse modulated signal in relation to the magnitude of said error signal thus to control the duty cycle of said driver circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 189 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, bias means urging said armature in a first direction, electromagnetic means energizable to move said armature in opposition to said bias means, said electromagnetic means producing a magnetic Field attracting said armature into a region in which the attractive force of said magnetic field does not increase, position sensor means to sense the position of said armature or a condition controlled by said armature and provide a first signal representing present armature position, command means providing a second signal directing an armature position or a condition controlled thereby, comparison means comparing said first and second signals and providing an error signal having a magnitude representing a difference between said first and secon signals, a driver circuit coupled to drive said electromagnetic means, control means coupled to said driver circuit and receiving said error signal, said control means generating a pulse modulated signal applied to said driver circuit, said control means including means controlling the pulse width of said pulse modulated signal in relation to the magnitude of said error signal thus to control the duty cycle of said driver circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 189 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, bias means urging said armature in a first direction, electromagnetic means energizable to move said armature in opposition to said bias means, said electromagnetic means producing a magnetic Field attracting said armature into a region in which the attractive force of said magnetic field does not increase, position sensor means to sense the position of said armature or a condition controlled by said armature and provide a first signal representing present armature position, command means providing a second signal directing an armature position or a condition controlled thereby, comparison means comparing said first and second signals and providing an error signal having a magnitude representing a difference between said first and secon signals, a driver circuit coupled to drive said electromagnetic means, control means coupled to said driver circuit and receiving said error signal, said control means generating a pulse modulated signal applied to said driver circuit, said control means including means controlling the pulse width of said pulse modulated signal in relation to the magnitude of said error signal thus to control the duty cycle of said driver circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 189 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, bias means urging said armature in a first direction, electromagnetic means energizable to move said armature in opposition to said bias means, said electromagnetic means producing a magnetic Field attracting said armature into a region in which the attractive force of said magnetic field does not increase, position sensor means to sense the position of said armature or a condition controlled by said armature and provide a first signal representing present armature position, command means providing a second signal directing an armature position or a condition controlled thereby, comparison means comparing said first and second signals and providing an error signal having a magnitude representing a difference between said first and secon signals, a driver circuit coupled to drive said electromagnetic means, control means coupled to said driver circuit and receiving said error signal, said control means generating a pulse modulated signal applied to said driver circuit, said control means including means controlling the pulse width of said pulse modulated signal in relation to the magnitude of said error signal thus to control the duty cycle of said driver circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic means when energized produces a magnetic field attracting said armature into a region in which the attractive force of said magnetic field diminishes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 241 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, first electromagnetic means to attract the armature in one direction, second electromagnetic means to attract said armature in an opposite direction, first control means for said first electromagnetic means and second control means for said second electromagnetic means, said first and second control means adapted to receive a common input signal, first driver means coupled to said first control means to drive said first electromagnetic means, second driver means coupled to said second control means to drive said second electromagnetic means, each of said first and second control means comprising an oscillator circuit including an operational amplifier having respectively inverting an non-inverting inputs and having an output, each of said first and second control means having feedback means connected between the output and the inverting input of its operational amplifier, voltage supply means, said voltage supply means applying a threshold voltage to the inverting input of said first control means, said voltage supply means applying a threshold voltage to the non-inverting input of said second control means, each of said first and second control means including capacitive means connected between the inverting input of its operational amplifier and one side of said voltage supply means, said first control means decreasing the duty cycle of said first driver means as said input signal increases and said second control means increasing the duty cycle of said second electromagnetic means as said input signal increases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 241 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, first electromagnetic means to attract the armature in one direction, second electromagnetic means to attract said armature in an opposite direction, first control means for said first electromagnetic means and second control means for said second electromagnetic means, said first and second control means adapted to receive a common input signal, first driver means coupled to said first control means to drive said first electromagnetic means, second driver means coupled to said second control means to drive said second electromagnetic means, each of said first and second control means comprising an oscillator circuit including an operational amplifier having respectively inverting an non-inverting inputs and having an output, each of said first and second control means having feedback means connected between the output and the inverting input of its operational amplifier, voltage supply means, said voltage supply means applying a threshold voltage to the inverting input of said first control means, said voltage supply means applying a threshold voltage to the non-inverting input of said second control means, each of said first and second control means including capacitive means connected between the inverting input of its operational amplifier and one side of said voltage supply means, said first control means decreasing the duty cycle of said first driver means as said input signal increases and said second control means increasing the duty cycle of said second electromagnetic means as said input signal increases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The solenoid control mechanism of claim 3 wherein said first and second electromagnetic means each attract said armature toward a region thereof in which the attraction for said armature does not increase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 201 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, first electromagnetic means to attract said armature in one direction, second electromagnetic means to attract said armature in an opposite direction, means responsive to armature position to provide an error signal, first control means for said first electromagnetic means and second control means for said second electromagnetic means, said first and second control means each adapted to receive said error signal, said first control means translating said error signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width increases as the error signal increases, said second control means translating said error signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width decreases as said error signal increases, there being an intermediate value of said error signal at which said first and second control means translate said error signal to pulse modulated signals having substantially the same pulse width, first driver means coupled to said First control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said first control means to drive said frist electromagnetic means, second driver means coupled to said second control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said second control means to drive said second electromagnetic means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 201 words
In a solenoid control mechanism, a movably supported armature, first electromagnetic means to attract said armature in one direction, second electromagnetic means to attract said armature in an opposite direction, means responsive to armature position to provide an error signal, first control means for said first electromagnetic means and second control means for said second electromagnetic means, said first and second control means each adapted to receive said error signal, said first control means translating said error signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width increases as the error signal increases, said second control means translating said error signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width decreases as said error signal increases, there being an intermediate value of said error signal at which said first and second control means translate said error signal to pulse modulated signals having substantially the same pulse width, first driver means coupled to said First control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said first control means to drive said frist electromagnetic means, second driver means coupled to said second control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said second control means to drive said second electromagnetic means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 170 words
In a control mechanism, a movable member, first electromagnetic means to bias said member in one direction, second electromagnetic means to bias said member in an opposite direction, third means responsive to the position of said member and providing a control signal, first control means for said first electromagnetic means and second control means for said second electromagnetic means, said first and second control means each receiving said control signal, said first control means translating said control signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width increases as the control signal increases, said second control means translating said control signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width decreases as said control signal increases, first driver means coupled to said first control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said first control means to drive said first electromagnetic means, second driver means coupled to said second control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said second control means to drive said second electromagnetic means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 170 words
In a control mechanism, a movable member, first electromagnetic means to bias said member in one direction, second electromagnetic means to bias said member in an opposite direction, third means responsive to the position of said member and providing a control signal, first control means for said first electromagnetic means and second control means for said second electromagnetic means, said first and second control means each receiving said control signal, said first control means translating said control signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width increases as the control signal increases, said second control means translating said control signal to a pulse modulated signal in which the pulse width decreases as said control signal increases, first driver means coupled to said first control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said first control means to drive said first electromagnetic means, second driver means coupled to said second control means and receiving the pulse modulated signal of said second control means to drive said second electromagnetic means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3436629A Cited
US3745420A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-03-10 1978-09-09 1979-03-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-03-10 1982-09-09 1983-03-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-03-10 1986-09-09 1987-03-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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