Rotary actuator

Claim 2

A rotary actuator for rotatingly driving a rotatable member for controlling a shock absorber in a vehicle, comprising: a rod member connected to a rotatable member for rotation therewith; a rotor assembly including a permanent magnet having a first pole at first side and a second pole at second side thereof, said permanent magnet being associated with said rod member for rotatingly drive the latter according to angular displacement thereof; a stator assembly provided essentially in alignment with said rotor assembly along the axis of said rod member and opposing to said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly including a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnet with a predetermined clearance in a direction of the axis of said rod member, and each electromagnet of said plurality of pairs being placed symmetrically opposite each other in relation to the axis, each of said electromagnets being adapted to be energized to have a second pole at the side adjacent said permanent magnet and a first pole at the side remote from said permanent magnet; and switch means for selectively energizing one pair of said electromagnets for rotatingly driving said permanent magnet with said rotatable member via said rod member in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 3

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotor assembly includes a plurality of permanent magnets respectively having first poles at said first sides and second poles at said second sides, and said electromagnets of said stator assembly forms groups, said electromagnets in each group being oriented at angular positions to be placed in alignment with the corresponding one of permanent magnets when one of the electromagnets in the same group is axially aligned with one of said permanent magnets.

Claim 4

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 2, wherein said groups of electromagnets are respectively arranged at predetermined angular positions corresponding to the desired angular positions of said rotatable member.

Claim 5

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotor assembly further comprises an auxiliary permanent magnet having said second pole at its first side and said first pole at its second side, said auxiliary permanent magnet being arranged at the angular position circumferentially shifted from said permanent magnet having first pole at said first side and second pole at said second side for creating rotational torque for driving said rotatable member via said rod member by repulsion between the second pole of said first side thereof and said second pole of the energized electromagnet.

Claim 6

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electromagnets are designed to be controlled electric current flow direction by said switch means in such a manner that when one of said electromagnets is energized to form said second pole at the side adjacent said rotor assembly and first pole at the side remote from said rotor assembly, the other electromagnet located adjacent said one of electromagnets is energized to have first pole at the side adjacent said rotor assembly and second pole at the side remote from said rotor assembly.

Claim 7

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said electromagnets are connected to an electric power source via said switch means at one terminal and are commonly connected to the ground at the other terminal.

Claim 8

A rotary actuator for rotatably driving a rotary member for controlling a shock absorber in a vehicle, comprising: a rotor assembly including a permanent magnet having a first pole at a first side and a second pole opposite to said first pole at a second side opposite to said first side; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing to said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnet with a predetermined clearance in the axial direction, and each electromagnet of said plurality of pairs being placed symmetrically opposite each other in relation to the axis of said rotor assembly, each of said electromagnets being connected to a direct current to be energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnet for generating circumferentially directed torque; and switching means for selectively energizing one pair of said electromagnets for rotatingly driving said rotor assembly with said permanent magnet for driving said rotary member in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 9

A rotary actuator for rotatably driving a rotary member for controlling a shock absorber in a vehicle, comprising: a rotor assembly including a permanent magnet having a first pole at a first side and a second pole opposite to said first pole at a second side opposite to said first side; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing to said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnet with a predetermined clearance in the axial direction, and each electromagnet of said plurality of pairs being placed symmetrically opposite each other in relation to the axis of said rotor assembly, each of said electromagnets being connected to a direct current to be energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnet for generating circumferentially directed torque; and switching means for selectively energizing one pair of said electromagnets for rotatingly driving said rotor assembly with said permanent magnet for driving said rotary member in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 10

A rotary actuator for rotatingly driving a rotary member for controlling a shock absorber in a vehicle, comprising: a rotor assembly carrying a first permanent magnet having a first pole at a first side and a second pole opposite to said first pole at a second side opposite to said first side, and a second permanent magnet having a second pole at said first side and a first pole at said second side; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing to said first side of said permanent magnets, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnets with a predetermined clearance in an axial direction, said electromagnets comprising a first electromagnet connected to a direct current source so as to be energized for forming a polarity matching said first pole at an end proximate said first side of said permanent magnets and a second electromagnet connected to said direct current source so as to be energized to from a polarity matching said second pole at an end proximate with said first side of said permanent magnets, each of said electromagnets being connected to said direct current source to receive therefrom a direct current to be selectively energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnets for generating circumferentially directed torque; and switching means for selectively energizing one of said first and second electromagnets for generating magnetic driving torque for rotatingly driving said rotary member via said rotor assembly in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 11

A rotary actuator for rotatingly driving a rotary member for controlling a shock absorber in a vehicle, comprising: a rotor assembly carrying a first permanent magnet having a first pole at a first side and a second pole opposite to said first pole at a second side opposite to said first side, and a second permanent magnet having a second pole at said first side and a first pole at said second side; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing to said first side of said permanent magnets, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnets with a predetermined clearance in an axial direction, said electromagnets comprising a first electromagnet connected to a direct current source so as to be energized for forming a polarity matching said first pole at an end proximate said first side of said permanent magnets and a second electromagnet connected to said direct current source so as to be energized to from a polarity matching said second pole at an end proximate with said first side of said permanent magnets, each of said electromagnets being connected to said direct current source to receive therefrom a direct current to be selectively energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnets for generating circumferentially directed torque; and switching means for selectively energizing one of said first and second electromagnets for generating magnetic driving torque for rotatingly driving said rotary member via said rotor assembly in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 12

A rotary actuator for rotatably controlling a variable damping force shock absorber for a vehicle, comprising: a rotor assembly including a permanent magnet having a first pole at a first side and a second pole opposite to said first pole at a second side opposite to said first side; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnet with a predetermined clearance in an axial direction, and each electromagnet of each pair of said plurality of pairs being placed symmetrically in opposite each other respectively in relation to said stator's rotational axis, each of said electromagnets being connected to a direct current source to receive therefrom a direct current to be energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnet for generating circumferentially directed torque; switching means for selectively energizing one pair of said electromagnets for rotatingly driving said rotor assembly with said permanent magnet for driving said shock absorber in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions; and said shock absorber being rotatably positionable in one of first, second, or third positions.

Claim 13

A rotary actuator for rotatably controlling a variable damping force shock absorber for a vehicle, comprising: a rotor assembly including a permanent magnet having a first pole at a first side and a second pole opposite to said first pole at a second side opposite to said first side; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnet with a predetermined clearance in an axial direction, and each electromagnet of each pair of said plurality of pairs being placed symmetrically in opposite each other respectively in relation to said stator's rotational axis, each of said electromagnets being connected to a direct current source to receive therefrom a direct current to be energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnet for generating circumferentially directed torque; switching means for selectively energizing one pair of said electromagnets for rotatingly driving said rotor assembly with said permanent magnet for driving said shock absorber in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions; and said shock absorber being rotatably positionable in one of first, second, or third positions.

Claim 14

A rotary actuator for rotatably controlling a variable damping force shock absorber for a vehicle, comprising: a rotor actuator for rotatably controlling a variable having a first pole at a first side and a second pole at a second side, said first side situated opposite said second side, a second pair of permanent magnets having first and second sides corresponding to said sides of said first pair of permanent magnets and of magnetic polarity opposite thereto; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnets with a predetermined clearance in an axial direction, said electromagnet pairs including a first pair connected to a direct current source so as to be energized for forming a polarity matching said first pole at ends proximate said first side of said permanent magnets and a second pair connected to said direct current source so as to be energized to form a polarity opposite said first pole at ends proximate said first side of said permanent magnets, said electromagnet pairs being connected to said direct current source to receive therefrom a direct current to be selectively energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnets for generating circumferentially directed torque; and switching means for selectively energizing one of said electromagnet pairs for generating magnetic driving torque for rotatingly driving said shock absorber via said rotor assembly in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 15

A rotary actuator for rotatably controlling a variable damping force shock absorber for a vehicle, comprising: a rotor actuator for rotatably controlling a variable having a first pole at a first side and a second pole at a second side, said first side situated opposite said second side, a second pair of permanent magnets having first and second sides corresponding to said sides of said first pair of permanent magnets and of magnetic polarity opposite thereto; a stator assembly provided essentially in axial alignment with said rotor assembly and opposing said first side of said permanent magnet, said stator assembly mounting a plurality of pairs of electromagnets which are arranged in axially spaced apart relationship with said permanent magnets with a predetermined clearance in an axial direction, said electromagnet pairs including a first pair connected to a direct current source so as to be energized for forming a polarity matching said first pole at ends proximate said first side of said permanent magnets and a second pair connected to said direct current source so as to be energized to form a polarity opposite said first pole at ends proximate said first side of said permanent magnets, said electromagnet pairs being connected to said direct current source to receive therefrom a direct current to be selectively energized for forming a magnetic field across said permanent magnets for generating circumferentially directed torque; and switching means for selectively energizing one of said electromagnet pairs for generating magnetic driving torque for rotatingly driving said shock absorber via said rotor assembly in a stepwise manner sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions.

Claim 16

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 10, wherein said actuator is movable between a set number of fixed positions.

Claim 17

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 11, wherein the set number of fixed positions is three.

Claim 18

A rotary actuator as set forth in claim 10, wherein one pair of electromagnets is provided for each position of said actuator.