Novel and compact thermomagnetic actuator using temperature-sensitive magnetic materials

Abstract

This paper describes the structure and characteristics of a novel compact actuator that uses a combination of temperature-sensitive magnetic materials (TSMMs) and permanent magnets (PMs). The actuator has the potential to generate a large force per volume, while the absence of a coil structure makes it easy to downsize. The structure and driving principles of the actuator were determined to exploit the advantages of this combination, and thrust force characteristics were examined through numerical analysis. The thrust force generated was measured based on the temperature of the TSMMs. The temperature characteristics were investigated experimentally and theoretically. In addition to thrust force, the energy consumption was experimentally examined with respect to the TSMM temperature. The results indicate that the proposed actuator performed better than a conventional electromagnetic actuator in generating a large continuous thrust force.