WO2007089058A1

WO2007089058A1 - Vibratory moving apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007089058A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001752
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hong-Gyun Oh
Original assignee: Hong-Gyun Oh
Priority date: 2006-02-03
Filing date: 2006-05-11
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: KR100697838B1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit. The vibratory unit includes a sun magnet. A first yoke is provided on the upper portion of the sun magnet. A second yoke has a holding part, and a hollow portion to receive the first yoke therein, thus defining a magnet gap between the first yoke and an inner wall. At least two planetary magnets are held in the holding part of the second yoke, have a polarity arrangement for generating a DC magnetic field between the first and second yokes, and are arranged radially around the sun magnet. A vibration member having a bobbin and a coil wound around the bobbin is positioned in the magnet gap to generate an AC magnetic field. The AC magnetic field interacts with the DC magnetic field, thus vertically moving the vibration member.

Description

VIBRATORY MOVING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a vibratory moving apparatus, which is used in a machine requiring vibratory motion, such as an aerobic vibration exercising machine, a physical therapy machine, a solid-liquid separator, or various kinds of sorters, and, more particularly, to a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which uses the principle of a speaker, which is constructed so that a vibration member (a bobbin around which a voice coil is wound) is moved up and down by the interaction between a DC magnetic field formed by a permanent magnet and an AC magnetic field formed by the vibration member having a bobbin and a coil, and which is assembled such that no problem is caused by strong attractive force or repulsive force, even if a magnet is made of neodymium, which is strongly magnetic. Background Art

[2] Vibratory moving apparatuses, which have been applied to exercising machines and physical therapy machines, are typically classified into seesaw-type vibratory moving apparatuses and cam-type vibratory moving apparatuses. However, the conventional vibratory moving apparatuses are problematic in that they generate a lot of noise and frequently break down due to impacts. In order to solve the drawbacks of the cam-type vibratory moving apparatus, a vibratory moving apparatus using a magnet has come onto the market.

[3] A conventional vibratory moving apparatus using a magnet is disclosed in Korean

Patent No. 0493512, which was registered on May 26, 2005, and is entitled 'Vibratory Exercising Machine'. According to the cited document, the vibratory exercising machine uses the repulsive force between two permanent magnets having different polarities in response to a current signal input from a control unit. However, the vibratory exercising machine has a drawback in that a lot of power is consumed in order to ensure sufficient vibratory force.

[4] Meanwhile, Korean Patent No. 0491094, which was registered on May 13, 2005 and is entitled 'Vertical Exercising Machine Using Magnetic Gap,' discloses a vibratory moving apparatus which is constructed so that a bobbin coil coupled to a diaphragm is disposed in a magnetic gap using an electromagnet. However, the vertical exercising machine has a problem in that power consumption is high so as to ensure the desired level of vibratory force.

[5] A general speaker is constructed so that a single magnet having an annular shape is installed in a yoke, or is installed at a position outside the yoke, and a bobbin around which a voice coil is wound is provided in a magnet gap. A DC magnetic field, formed in a magnetic circuit by the magnet, interacts with an AC magnetic field, formed in the voice coil according to Fleming's left-hand rule, thus generating attractive force or repulsive force. Due to the attractive or repulsive force, the voice coil, especially the bobbin, moves up and down, and thus a diaphragm coupled to the bobbin is operated in conjunction with the bobbin. Thereby, a sound is generated.

[6] However, in the case of the general speaker, it is difficult for a permanent magnet having a general size to have a magnetic force of a DC magnetic field having about 5,000 gauss or more. Thus, if the general speaker is applied to the vibratory moving apparatus, it is difficult to obtain sufficient vibratory force. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention provides a vibratory moving apparatus, which uses the principle of a speaker and provides sufficient vibratory force.

[8] An object of the present invention is to provide a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which includes a sun magnet, a first yoke provided on the upper portion of the sun magnet, a plurality of planetary magnets arranged radially around the sun magnet, a second yoke holding the planetary magnets and defining a magnet gap between the first yoke and the second yoke, and a vibration member positioned in the magnet gap and comprising a bobbin, around which a coil is wound, thus ensuring a line of magnetic force of a DC magnetic field that is intensified by the interaction of the sun magnet with the plurality of planetary magnets, compared to the case of using a single annular permanent magnet in a general speaker, therefore providing sufficient vibratory force.

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which has a structure capable of enhancing ease of assembly such that no problem results from the strong attractive force or repulsive force of a magnet, even if a neodymium magnetic material having a magnetic flux density much higher than that of a general ferrite magnetic material is used, and thus adopts a direct magnetizing method, in which the assembly of the components is conducted after magnetization has been completed, in place of an indirect magnetizing method, in which magnetization is conducted after the assembly of the components has been completed, therefore reducing manufacturing costs.

[10] A further object of the present invention is to provide a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which further includes an elastic member and a guide means so as to provide stable vertical movement to an upper plate coupled to a vibration member of the vibratory unit. Technical Solution

[11] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, the vibratory unit a sun magnet; a first yoke provided on an upper portion of the sun magnet; a second yoke having a holding part between an outer wall and an inner wall, and having a hollow portion surrounded with the inner wall to receive the first yoke therein, thus defining a magnet gap between the first yoke and the inner wall; at least two planetary magnets held in the holding part of the second yoke, and having a polarity arrangement for generating a DC magnetic field between the first yoke and the inner wall of the second yoke, the planetary magnets arranged radially around the sun magnet; and a vibration member having a bobbin and a coil wound around the bobbin, and positioned in the magnet gap to generate an AC magnetic field in response to an electric driving signal, the AC magnetic field interacting with the DC magnetic field generated in the sun magnet and the planetary magnets, thus vertically moving the vibration member.

[12] The vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention is constructed so that each planetary magnet of the vibratory unit has different polarities on inner and outer portions thereof. In this case, the magnitude of repulsive force between the sun magnet and each planetary magnet is small compared to the case where the planetary magnet has different polarities on upper and lower portions thereof, so that it is easy to assemble. In accordance with one pole (e.g.: N-pole) of each planetary magnet, the outer wall of the second yoke is magnetized to have the same polarity (e.g.: N-pole), so that the inner wall of the second yoke having the opposite polarity (e.g.: S-pole) is surrounded with the outer portion of each planetary magnet and the outer wall 41 having the opposite polarity (e.g.: N-pole). Thus, the leakage of magnetic flux is prevented, and the driving force for a vibration system is increased, by which magnetic efficiency is increased.

[13] Further, the vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention is constructed so that the sun magnet and the planetary magnets of the vibratory unit are made of a neodymium magnet material which has a magnetic flux density which is 11.5 times as high as that of a ferrite magnet material. Thereby, even if the allowable input to the coil of the vibration member is increased, the vibration system can respond sufficiently, thus ensuring sufficient vibratory force.

[14] Moreover, the vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention further includes a support plate under the sun magnet of the vibratory unit, so that an edge of the support plate engages with the outer wall of the second yoke. [15] The vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention includes an upper plate coupled to the vibration member of the vibratory unit, and a lower plate provided under the sun magnet of the vibratory unit, wherein at least one vibratory unit is arranged between the upper plate and the lower plate.

[16] The vibratory moving apparatus further includes between the upper plate and the lower plate an elastic member and a guide means having a female member and a male member, thus realizing stable vibratory motion.

Advantageous Effects

[17] As described above, the present invention provides a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which includes a sun magnet, a first yoke provided on the upper portion of the sun magnet, a plurality of planetary magnets arranged radially around the sun magnet, a second yoke holding the planetary magnets and defining a magnet gap between the first yoke and the second yoke, and a vibration member positioned in the magnet gap and comprising a bobbin, around which a coil is wound, thus ensuring a line of magnetic force of a DC magnetic field that is intensified by the interaction of the sun magnet with the plurality of planetary magnets, compared to the case of using a single annular permanent magnet in a general speaker, therefore providing sufficient vibratory force. Further, the present invention provides a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which has a structure capable of enhancing ease of assembly such that no problem results from the strong attractive force or repulsive force of a magnet, even if a neodymium magnetic material having a magnetic flux density much higher than that of a general ferrite magnetic material is used, and thus adopts a direct magnetizing method, in which the assembly of the components is conducted after magnetization has been completed, in place of an indirect magnetizing method, in which magnetization is conducted after the assembly of the components has been completed, therefore reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, which further includes an elastic member and a guide means so as to provide stable vertical movement to an upper plate coupled to a vibration member of the vibratory unit. Therefore, the vibratory moving apparatus of the present invention can be widely used in various fields, such as an aerobic vibration exercising machine, a physical therapy machine, a solid-liquid separator, or various kinds of sorters. Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] FIGS. Ia, b, and Ic are a perspective view, a sectional view, and an exploded perspective view showing a vibratory unit of a vibratory moving apparatus, according to the present invention; and

[19] FIGS. 2a and 2b are a front view and a plan sectional view showing the vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention.

[20]

[21] <Description of reference characters of important parts>

[22] A: vibratory moving apparatus V: vibratory unit

[23] G: magnet gap B: bolts

[24] 10: sun magnet 11: support plate

[25] 11a: locking holes 20: first yoke

[26] 30: planetary magnets 40: second yoke

[27] 41: outer wall 42: coupling part

[28] 43: inner wall 45: holding part

[29] 50: vibration member 51: bobbin

[30] 53: coil 60: upper plate

[31] 70: lower plate 80: elastic member

[32] 81: spring 83: guide pipe

[33] 90: guide means 91: male member

[34] 93: female member 91a, 93a: flanges

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[35] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[36] The direction of a vibratory moving apparatus A according to the present invention is specified with reference to FIGS. Ib and 2a. That is, a vibration member 50 of a vibratory unit V is set as an upper portion, while the opposite side is set as a lower portion. Further, a portion at which a sun magnet 10 is located is set as an inner portion, while a portion around a second yoke 40, which is opposite the sun magnet, is set as an outer portion.

[37] As shown in FIGS. Ia to Ic, the vibratory unit V, which is the core of the vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention, includes the sun magnet 10 which is made of a neodymium magnet material having a magnetic flux density 11.5 times as high as that of a ferrite magnet material. In order to afford ease of assembly, the sun magnet is seated on a support plate 11, and a first yoke 20 is placed on the sun magnet 10.

[38] The reason why the sun magnet 10 or a planetary magnet 30 is made of the neodymium magnet material (Nd-Fe-B magnet) is because it is cheaper than a samarium magnet material (Sm-Co magnet) or an alnico magnet material (Al-Ni-Co magnet) which have magnetic flux density higher than the ferrite magnet material, and has high magnetic flux density, thus being suitable for embodying the vibratory moving apparatus. [39] Both the support plate 11 and the first yoke 20 are magnetic substances. A cavity 21 is defined in the center of the first yoke 20 to reduce the amount of material that is used. The cavity 21 reduces the weight of the first yoke 20, thus allowing thermal capacity to be reduced, and is capable of efficiently radiating heat resulting from the large amount of current that is applied to a coil 53 of the vibration member 50 so as to ensure high output.

[40] Further, a plurality of planetary magnets (four planetary magnets are shown in the drawing) is arranged radially relative to the sun magnet 10. Preferably, each planetary magnet is also made of a neodymium material. Each planetary magnet may have various shapes, but preferably has the shape of a square pillar so as to afford convenient manufacture and ease of assembly.

[41] The second yoke 40, which secures the planetary magnets 30 to the vibratory unit V and defines a magnet gap G between the first yoke 20 and the second yoke, has a holding part 45 between an outer wall 41 and an inner wall 43 of the second yoke, so that the planetary magnets 30 are held in the holding part. A hollow portion 44 is surrounded with the inner wall 43, so that the sun magnet 10 and the first yoke 20 are positioned in the hollow portion.

[42] The outer wall 41 and the inner wall 43 are coupled to each other via a coupling part 42, which is provided on the upper ends of the outer and inner walls. A stepped seat 41b is provided on the lower portion of the outer wall 41, so that the outer wall engages with the support plate 11 for supporting the sun magnet 10 via the stepped seat. Such a structure for coupling the outer wall with the support plate may be variously changed.

[43] Holes 41a are formed in the outer wall 41 of the second yoke 40 having a cylindrical shape, at angular intervals of 90 degrees, thus allowing the arrangement of the planetary magnets 30 to be confirmed. The holes allow the four planetary magnets to be symmetrically arranged at angular intervals of 90 degrees, and allow a person to more easily check the angles between the planetary magnets when the planetary magnets, which have high magnetic force, are secured. The number of holes may be appropriately changed to correspond to the number of planetary magnets that are used.

[44] Meanwhile, three locking holes 42a are formed in the coupling part 42 at angular intervals of 120 degrees, and three locking holes 1 Ia are formed in the support plate 11. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, support rods 71 arranged on a lower plate 70 constituting the vibratory moving apparatus A, the second yoke 40 and the support plate 11 of the vibratory unit V, can be more easily assembled with each other using bolts B.

[45] In the second yoke 40, which is a magnetic substance, the inner wall 43 is shorter than the outer wall 41. Such a construction allows the planetary magnets 30 to be easily attached to or detached from the holding part 45, and allows the inner wall 43 of the second yoke to face the wall 23 of the first yoke 20 and to have the same height, thus maximizing the magnitude of input that can be applied to the coil 53 of the vibration member 50, therefore increasing the sound pressure level (SPL), a term which is generally used when describing speakers.

[46] Moreover, the vibration member 50, which is positioned in the magnet gap G defined between the wall 23 of the first yoke 20 and the inner wall 43 of the second yoke 40 includes a bobbin 51 which is generally made of Al or brass, and the coil 53 which is wound around the bobbin and serves as a voice coil of the speaker.

[47] An AC magnetic field is formed in the coil 53 of the vibration member 50 in response to an electric driving signal. The AC magnetic field interacts with a DC magnetic field, which is formed in a magnetic circuit due to the sun magnet 10 and the planetary magnets 30, thus generating attractive force or repulsive force according to Fleming's left-hand rule, therefore vibrating the vibration member 50 in a vertical direction.

[48] The structure of each component 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 of the vibratory unit V, which is constructed as described above, enables convenient assembly. In order to embody the vibratory moving apparatus, the neodymium material is required as the material for the components 10 and 30. When the neodymium material is applied to the vibratory moving apparatus, the present invention may adopt a direct magnetizing method, in which the assembly of the components is conducted after magnetization has been completed, in place of an indirect magnetizing method, in which magnetization is conducted after the assembly of the components has been completed, so that it is not necessary to use expensive magnetizing equipment which is needed in the indirect magnetizing method. Therefore, the cost and time required for magnetization can be remarkably reduced, manufacturing costs can be reduced, and productivity can be increased.

[49] As in a general speaker, the polarity of the sun magnet 10 is set such that the S-pole is provided on the lower portion of the sun magnet, and the N-pole is provided on the upper portion of the sun magnet. Thereby, the wall 23 of the first yoke 20 is magnetized and is thus an N-pole. In this case, the inner wall 43 of the second yoke 40, which is opposite the wall 23 while being spaced apart therefrom by the magnet gap G, must be magnetized to be an S-pole. Thus, the polarity of the portion of each planetary magnet 30 that is adjacent to the inner wall 43 must be an S-pole. However, the poles may be arranged to be opposite to the above-mentioned arrangement.

[50] In order to provide the S-pole to the portion of each planetary magnet 30 adjacent to the inner wall, each planetary magnet may be shaped such that different polarities are provided to the upper and lower portions of the planetary magnet or the inner and outer portions of the planetary magnet.

[51] Preferably, different polarities are provided on the inner and outer portions of each planetary magnet 30 of the vibratory unit V. Such a construction reduces the magnitude of repulsive force between the sun magnet 10 and the planetary magnets, compared to the case where different polarities are provided on the upper and lower portions of each planetary magnet.

[52] That is, due to the S pole provided on the lower portion of the sun magnet 10, the support plate 11 is magnetized to have the S pole (because the sun magnet is larger than the planetary magnets, or more specifically, the magnetic force of one sun magnet is larger than the sum of the magnetic forces of all of the planetary magnets).

[53] If different polarities are provided on the upper and lower portions of each planetary magnet, the N-pole must be positioned on the lower portion of the planetary magnet, so that repulsive force is generated between the support plate and the second yoke. Thus, it is impossible to assemble the second yoke 40 with the support plate 11, or parts may fly because of the strong repulsive force, so that a worker may be injured or the assembly equipment or the vibratory unit V may be damaged. However, when different polarities are provided on the inner and outer portions of each planetary magnet, repulsive force can be reduced somewhat.

[54] Due to the N-pole provided on the outer portion of each planetary magnet 30, the outer wall 41 of the second yoke 40 is magnetized to have the N-pole. Thus, the inner wall 43 of the second yoke 40 having the S -pole is surrounded with the outer portion of each planetary magnet having the N-pole and the outer wall 41, so that the leakage of magnetic flux is prevented, and driving force for a vibration system is increased, and thereby magnetic efficiency is increased.

[55] Meanwhile, in the case of a single annular magnet, like a conventional speaker, magnetic flux density is high at a position which is near the magnet, whereas magnetic flux density is low at a position which is distant from the magnet, so that the attractive force and repulsive force acting on the voice coil (in the present invention, the coil 53 of the vibration member) are not constant. However, the present invention has the sun magnet 10 and the plurality of planetary magnets 30, so that the line of magnetic force can be more uniformly distributed around the magnet gap G, and thus the linear response of the vibration system is improved.

[56] The operation of the vibratory unit V of the vibratory moving apparatus according to the present invention is the same as the driving principle of a speaker. That is, when a sine wave driving signal having a periodically changing polarity is applied to the coil 53 of the vibration member 50, the AC rotating magnetic field of the coil interacts with the DC magnetic field of the magnet gap G, so that the vibration member 50 is vertically vibrated in the magnet gap G according to Fleming's left-hand rule. [57] In the vibratory unit V, which is operated as such, the region of the magnet gap G may be lengthened. The amount of the coil 53 wound around the bobbin 51 of the vibration member 50 is sufficiently increased (e.g.: four or more layers), so that the allowable input is increased, and the vibration system is sufficiently vibrated in response to the input signal without limitation. Thereby, a high-output magnetic circuit can be realized, and vibratory force suitable for the vibratory moving apparatus is ensured.

[58] Next, referring to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b (representing a section along line S-S of FIG.

2a), which show the aerobic vibration exercising machine, the vibratory moving apparatus A using the above vibratory unit V includes an upper plate 60 which is coupled to the vibration member 50 of the vibratory unit V, and a lower plate 70 which is positioned under the sun magnet 10 of the vibratory unit, particularly, under the support plate 11.

[59] At least one vibratory unit V (two vibratory units are shown in the drawing) may be provided between the upper plate 60 and the lower plate 70. The number of vibratory units may be appropriately selected according to the capacity of the vibratory unit or the kind of apparatus in which the vibratory unit is used.

[60] Each vibratory unit V, which has a height lower than the interval between the upper plate and the lower plate, is installed as follows. That is, the second yoke 40 and the support plate 11 are fastened to the support rods 71 arranged on the lower plate 70 by tightening the bolts B into the locking holes 42a and 1 Ia, so that the vibratory unit contacts the upper plate 60. Three support rods 71 are arranged relative to one vibratory unit at angular intervals of 120 degrees. A disc-shaped spacer 61 is further provided on the upper portion of the bobbin 51 of the vibration member 50 of each vibratory unit V, and allows the vibratory unit to be arranged to be suitable for the height of members maintaining the interval between the upper plate 60 and the lower plate 70, that is, elastic members 80 and guide means 90, in addition to the support rods 71.

[61] Further, the elastic members 80 (four elastic members are shown in the drawing) are located between the upper plate 60 and the lower plate 70, so that the vibration member 50 of each vibratory unit V is spaced apart from the support plate 11 and is movable in the magnet gap G even when the vibration member is not operated. Two elastic members are provided at respective ends of the upper plate 60 to elastically support the upper plate. Each elastic member 80 includes a guide pipe 83 which is secured to the lower plate 70, and a coil spring 81 which is supported at both ends thereof to the upper plate and the lower plate.

[62] The guide means 90, each having a male member 91 and a female member 93, are provided between the upper plate 60 and the lower plate 70, thus allowing the upper plate 60 to stably move up and down when the vibration member 50 of each vibratory unit V moves up and down. The male member 91 and the female member 93 are secured to the upper plate 60 and the lower plate 70 by tightening bolts B into flanges 91a and 93a which are provided on the upper end of the male member and the lower end of the female member, respectively.

[63] An elastic means (e.g.: coil spring, pneumatic spring, or hydraulic support structure) for elastically supporting the male member 91 may be provided in each female member 93.

[64] As shown in FIG. 2b in detail, two sets of support rods 71 are asymmetrically provided for two vibratory units V in such a way as to be positioned between the upper plate 60 and the lower plate 70. In this case, one set of support rods comprises three rods. Further, two sets of guide means 90 are asymmetrically provided for two vibratory units V. Each set, comprising three guide means, is asymmetrical with the corresponding set of support rods 71. Four elastic members 80 are provided on both sides of the upper plate and the lower plate.

[65] The construction of the vibratory moving apparatus A, the number, position, and interval of parts arranged between the upper plate and the lower plate, and the method of fastening the parts may be variously changed.

[66] The mechanism related to the driving principle of the speaker, the construction of a magnetic circuit, magnetic flow, and other known technologies have not been described herein, but those skilled in the art will be familiar with them.

[67] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[68]

[69]

Claims

[1] A vibratory moving apparatus having a vibratory unit, the vibratory unit comprising: a sun magnet; a first yoke provided on an upper portion of the sun magnet; a second yoke having a holding part between an outer wall and an inner wall, and having a hollow portion surrounded with the inner wall to receive the first yoke therein, thus defining a magnet gap between the first yoke and the inner wall; at least two planetary magnets held in the holding part of the second yoke, and having a polarity arrangement for generating a DC magnetic field between the first yoke and the inner wall of the second yoke, the planetary magnets arranged radially around the sun magnet; and a vibration member having a bobbin and a coil wound around the bobbin, and positioned in the magnet gap to generate an AC magnetic field in the coil in response to an electric driving signal, the AC magnetic field interacting with the DC magnetic field generated in a magnetic circuit due to the sun magnet and the planetary magnets, thus vertically moving the vibration member.

[2] The vibratory moving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the planetary magnets of the vibratory unit has different polarities on inner and outer portions thereof.

[3] The vibratory moving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the sun magnet and the planetary magnets of the vibratory unit is made of a neodymium magnetic material.

[4] The vibratory moving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a support plate provided under the sun magnet of the vibratory unit, an edge of the support plate engaging with an outer wall of the second yoke.

[5] The vibratory moving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: an upper plate coupled to the vibration member of the vibratory unit; and a lower plate provided under the sun magnet of the vibratory unit, wherein at least one vibratory unit is arranged between the upper plate and the lower plate.

[6] The vibratory moving apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an elastic member provided between the upper plate and the lower plate.

[7] The vibratory moving apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: guide means provided between the upper plate and the lower plate, and comprising a female member and a male member.