Abstract:
A method and apparatus for ramping current in an electromagnet in which a coil is used to generate the magnetic field provides rapid changes in the generated magnetic field. The method allows a change in current in the coil to be accomplished more rapidly than by applying a step change in voltage, when superconducting coils subject to quenching are used or when nonsuperconducting coils subject to other physical limitations are used. The method requires that both the current I(t) through the coil and the first derivative of the current vary with respect to time t during the ramping period, so that magnitude of the derivative of the current is higher when the magnitude of applied current is lower, lower when the magnitude of the applied current is higher. One variation of this method supplies (or removes) a constant amount of power from the magnetic field of the magnet, while another variation compensates for both self-generated eddy current losses and self-generated high field effects. The method can be used to guide a magnetic seed and in other applications. The apparatus includes, in its most general form, an electromagnetic coil, a generator for applying an initial current to the coil, and a processor controlling the generator that causes the current to ramp from an initial to a final value in accordance with the methods described above.
Abstract:
Pulsed-energy controllers and methods of operation thereof for driving inductive loads such as the actuator coil or coils of electromechanical actuators. The controllers utilize an inductor through which an initial current is established through a first circuit. The inductor is then switched across the actuator coil or other inductive load in a second circuit and the first circuit is opened. The back EMF of the inductor, limited by a high voltage protective device, causes a rapid rise in the current through the actuator coil, the rise being much faster than could be achieved by merely coupling the supply voltage, as used to establish the current in the inductor, directly to the actuator coil. By proper selection of the controller circuit and its parameters, the initial rapid current rise may continue to a current higher than a steady state current, after which the current will decrease to or toward the lower steady state current until the current pulse is terminated. Various embodiments are disclosed.
Abstract:
In a printing device employing a solenoid for driving a printing hammer, provided are switching member for ON/OFF operating electric current flowing through the solenoid coil, voltage generating member for generating voltage in accordance with the electric current, converting member for converting the generated voltage to a digital value, chopping member for comparing the converted digital value with a predetermined comparison value, while for turning on the switching member when the converted value is smaller than the predetermined comparison value and turning off the switching member when the converted value is larger than the predetermined comparison value, detecting member for detecting voltage relating to a driving operation of said solenoid, and controlling member for controlling the predetermined comparison value so as to be varied in an amount based upon the detected voltage. Thus, the current flowed through the solenoid is controlled so as not to be largely varied.
Abstract:
This disclosure relates to a driving circuit for driving a coil of an electromagnet for the actuation of a hammer in a high speed impact printer of data handling systems, which driving circuit includes first switching means upstream of the coil, second switching means downstream of the coil, current sensing means for sensing current in the coil, a closed unidirectional current path including the second switching means, the coil in a diode, first control circuit means for actuating the first switching means in response to an input control signal, second control circuit means for switching on the second switching means in response to the first input control signal and for the entire duration of the input control signal, and a bistable device triggered by the current sensing means to assume one of two electrical states when the sensed current reaches a predetermined value and to provide an output signal corresponding to that one state, the output signal being effective to switch off the first switching means even in the presence of the input control signal.
Abstract:
In a method for actuating a switch element of a valve device between a first end position and a second end position, in a normal mode within a cycle following an end of a first energization, a movement of the switch element in a first direction effected by the loading device is retarded in a first direction by a brief second energization (“braking pulse”) that is introduced within the cycle once a pause period has ended following a characteristic point in time. It is provided that the optimum pause period and/or the optimum variable characterizing the braking pulse be ascertained in an adaptation mode.
Abstract:
A free-wheeling circuit is disclosed for the rapid reduction of a shutdown overvoltage of an inductive load when the latter is shut down. The free-wheeling circuit includes a switching threshold component by which the free-wheeling circuit becomes active more rapidly compared to a free-wheeling circuit without said switching threshold component, thereby ensuring a more rapid reduction of the shutdown overvoltage. If a control voltage provided by a control voltage source falls below a threshold voltage set by the switching threshold component, a capacitive energy accumulator is immediately discharged and not only when the control voltage is reduced to near zero, and the energy accumulator then activates the free-wheeling circuit for reducing the shutdown overvoltage, when in the nearly discharged state.
Abstract:
A machine tool with a tool holder which is equipped to mount a tool, such as a chiseling tool, moveably along a movement axis. A striking mechanism, such as a magnetic-pneumatic striking mechanism, contains a primary drive which is arranged around the movement axis and has in sequence in the impact direction a first magnetic coil, a permanent and radially magnetized annular magnet, and a second magnetic coil. The striking mechanism has a striker and an anvil arranged within the magnetic coils on the movement axis in sequence in the impact direction. In addition, the striking mechanism may have an air spring affecting the striker in the impact direction. The associated inventive control method provides that, during a movement of the striker opposite the impact direction, a measurement is measured for a voltage induced by the first magnetic coil. The controller starts an acceleration phase according to a change in the polarity of the induced voltage. The primary drive accelerates the striker in the impact direction during the acceleration phase.
Abstract:
A print wire driving apparatus for use in a printer having a stabilized power source, a print wire, an urging coil for driving said print wire and a power source including a smoothing capacitor for energizing the urging coil is provided. An accumulating circuit accumulates electro-magnetic energy generated in the urging coil once the current supplied to the urging coil has been turned OFF. A feedback circuit feeds back energy from the accumulating circuit to the smoothing capacitor when the voltage of the accumulating circuit reaches a predetermined level. A regulating circuit maintains the voltage of the accumulating circuit so that the voltage does not fall below the predetermined level, thereby obtaining high power source efficiency and high speed operation of the print wire.
Abstract:
An improved dot matrix actuator is provided which includes a magnetic circuit formed of a yoke assembly and a pivotal armature. The armature is pivotally supported with respect to the yoke by means of a flexure assembly which eliminates the need for a true pivot between the two elements. The elements are shaped so as to maintain a constant small air gap therebetween so as to maximize the magnetic efficiency of the device while eliminating wear. The device is operated just below saturation of the magnetic circuit in order to maximize efficiency. In addition, the actuator includes several features for maximizing its speed and operational efficiency.
Abstract:
A control circuit for momentarily energizing an electromagnetic coil in a teleprinting device recorder has a pair of switching transistors respectively operated by control pulses having a lag between respective switching times and a control transistor biased by a single operating voltage source. When a first of the switching transistors is switched on a rapid current rise in the coil takes place for immediate and rapid activation of the coil plunger which is followed by a maintenance time during which the first switching transistor is either switched off or is in pulsed operation and also during which the energy stored in the electromagnetic coil serves as the maintenance current source, which is followed by switching on of the second control transistor. By the addition of a diode between the coil and the operating voltage source, a feedback circuit is formed so that after disconnection of the electromagnetic coil, the energy stored in the coil is fed back into the operating currents supply network.