Trans-Permanent Magnetic Actuation
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Date
2003-09-08
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Abstract
The demands for an actuator to deploy, position and shape large spaced-based structures form a unique set of design criteria. In many applications it is desirable to hold displacements or forces between two points to within specified requirements (the regulation problem) and to periodically to change position (the tracking problem). Furthermore, the interest generally lies in satisfying the dynamic performance requirements while expending minimal power, while meeting tight tolerances and while experiencing little wear and fatigue. The actuator must also be able to withstand a variety of operational conditions such as impacts and thermal changes over an extended period of time.
Current trends in large-scale structures have addressed the demands by using conventional actuators and motors, along with elaborate linkages or mechanisms to shape, position, protect and deploy. The developed designs use unique characteristics of permanent magnets to create simple direct-acting actuators and motors very suitable for space based structures.
The developed trans-permanent magnetic (T-PM) actuators and motors are systems consisting of one or more permanent magnets, some of whose magnetic strengths can be switched on-board by surrounding pulse-coils. The T-PM actuator and motors expend no power during regulation. The T-PM can periodically change or remove the strength of its own magnets thereby enabling both fine-tune adjustments (microsteps) and large-scale adjustments (rotation). The fine (microstep) adjustments are particularly helpful in thermally varying space environments. The large-scale adjustments (rotation) are particularly helpful in deployment where the structure or antenna must experience large-angle rotations and/ or large displacements. T-PM concepts are illustrated in direct acting actuators and built into stepper motor and permanent magnet motor applications. Several examples of design, analysis and testing are developed to verify the technology and supporting equipment. Also discussed is the convergence of technology that has made this technology timely and practical.
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Keywords
permanent magnet, magnetic, magnet, motor, Actuator, space structures, regulation, tracking, pulse coil
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Degree
PhD
Discipline
Mechanical Engineering
