Samuel D Sherman

US Patent:

20230034504, Feb 2, 2023

Filed:

Jul 29, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/876992

Inventors:

- Menlo Park CA, US
Neil Watters - Redwood City CA, US
Samuel Sherman - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew Svrcek - Redwood City CA, US
David DeGraaff - Mountain View CA, US

International Classification:

H02K 5/167
H02K 7/18
F16C 32/06

Abstract:

A bearing assembly for a linear electromagnetic machine includes a sleeve having a surface configured to provide a bearing between the surface and a translator, a front plate coupled to the sleeve, a support block, and a plurality of flexures coupled to the support block. Each flexure is coupled between the support block and one of the front plate or a stator. For example, a load path extends from a stator to the support block via a first set of flexures of the plurality of flexures, from the support block to the front plate via a second set of flexures of the plurality of flexures, and from the front plate to the sleeve. In the example of four flexures, two flexures are affixed to the support block and front plate, while two other flexures are affixed to the support block and the stator.

US Patent:

20210288570, Sep 16, 2021

Filed:

Apr 9, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/226582

Inventors:

- Menlo Park CA, US
John Powers - Menlo Park CA, US
Scott Coakley - Belmont CA, US
Alan Crapo - San Jose CA, US
David DeGraaff - Mountain View CA, US
Christopher David Gadda - Palo Alto CA, US
Andrew Hancock - Fremont CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Samuel Sherman - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew Svrcek - Redwood City CA, US
Kevin Walters - Redwood City CA, US

International Classification:

H02K 33/18
H02K 7/08
F16C 32/06
F02B 71/04
H02K 7/18

Abstract:

A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.

US Patent:

20200036273, Jan 30, 2020

Filed:

Jul 24, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/521541

Inventors:

- Menlo Park CA, US
John Powers - Menlo Park CA, US
Scott Coakley - Belmont CA, US
Alan Crapo - San Jose CA, US
David DeGraaff - Mountain View CA, US
Christopher David Gadda - Palo Alto CA, US
Andrew Hancock - Fremont CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Samuel Sherman - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew Svrcek - Redwood City CA, US
Kevin Walters - Redwood City CA, US

International Classification:

H02K 33/18
H02K 7/08
H02K 7/18
F02B 71/04
F16C 32/06

Abstract:

A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.