Patent attributes
A magnetically-coupled torque assist apparatus includes a movable (rotor) magnet configured to rotate about a rotor magnet axis extending through the rotor magnet, and a stationary (stator) magnet. The rotor magnet and the stator magnet have a gap therebetween. There is an equilibrium state position (ESP) of the rotor magnet where forces acting on the rotor magnet are balanced such that the rotor magnet is stationary about the rotor magnet axis. And when the rotor magnet is rotated from the equilibrium state position (ESP) to an elastically stressed state position (SSP), magnetic fields of the rotor magnet and the stator magnet generate a resultant magnetic force on the movable magnet that biases the movable magnet towards the equilibrium state position. In some embodiments, the stator and rotor magnets are configured to create a Halbach-effect magnetic field bloom, which contributes to the magnetic forces.
