Patent attributes
An electromagnetic actuator can exert a radial electromagnetic force on a body that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The actuator includes a radial control magnetic pole assembly that includes radial control poles adjacent to and spaced apart by air gaps from the body. The actuator includes a permanent magnet (PM) magnetized along the axis, having one pole in contact with an axial face of the assembly and located proximate to a lateral surface of the body. The PM is magnetically coupled to the body in a non-contact manner resulting in a bias magnetic flux in the air gaps. The actuator includes a control coil around the radial control poles located radially outwards from the PM. Electrical current in the coils generates control magnetic flux in air gaps. The non-uniform net magnetic flux distribution around the body results in a radial electromagnetic force exerted on the body.
