KR-102962553-B1 - Solenoid actuator control method with fast return response

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solenoid actuator that utilizes the principle of an electromagnet installed in automobiles or various mechanical/electronic devices to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, and is characterized by eliminating the polarity remaining in the armature and housing 1 through a control method of applying a constant reverse current for a short period before the current OFF to eliminate the residual magnetic flux between the armature and housing 1 when a current OFF command is applied.

Inventors

• 최병선

Assignees

• 주식회사 신라공업

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20250331

Claims (3)

1. In a solenoid actuator in which a coil is configured inside housing 1 and housing 2, and an armature is configured on one side of housing 2, and when current is applied to the coil by a controller (20), the armature moves to one side, Power is supplied to the solenoid by the control algorithm of the controller (20) for solenoid operation, When the controller (20) applies current to the coil (4), the armature (3) is operated in such a way that current is supplied by connecting the '+' of the controller (20) to terminal 1 and connecting to the '+' of the solenoid (10) and connecting the '-' of the controller (20) to terminal 2 and connecting to the '-' of the solenoid (10) in the polarity connection between the solenoids (10). When a command to turn off the solenoid (10) is received after the purpose of operation is achieved by the armature operation, the controller (20) goes through a process of checking the applied current status of the solenoid (10). When a command to turn OFF the above solenoid (10) is received, if it is determined that current is not being applied to the solenoid (10) (zero A), the operation is immediately terminated with the completion of OFF. When it is confirmed that the power is being applied, the polarity connection between the controller (20) and the solenoid (10) is switched so that the '+' of the controller (20) is connected to terminal 2 and connected to the '-' of the solenoid (10), and the '-' of the controller (20) is connected to terminal 1 and connected to the '+' of the solenoid (10) so that current is supplied, thereby applying a reverse current, and then the power supply to the solenoid is stopped upon completion of the reverse current OFF. If the solenoid (10) does not turn OFF after applying reverse current, the process of applying reverse current again and undergoing a reconfirmation procedure is performed. Accordingly, a solenoid actuator control method having a fast return response characterized by the elimination of residual magnetic flux and rapid return of the armature.
2. In paragraph 1, A solenoid actuator control method having a fast return response characterized by the magnitude of the reverse current being between 0.01A and 10A.
3. In paragraph 1, A solenoid actuator control method having a fast return response characterized by the application time of the reverse current being 5ms to 50ms.

Description

Solenoid actuator control method with fast return response The present invention relates to a solenoid actuator that utilizes the principle of an electromagnet to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, installed in automobiles or various mechanical/electronic devices. More specifically, it relates to a technology that prevents the accumulation of residual magnetic flux by applying an instantaneous reverse current when the current is cut off to return the armature after the armature has been driven by applying current to the solenoid actuator. Generally, a solenoid actuator is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, or reciprocating kinetic energy, by applying it to a coil. It utilizes the principle that when a coil is wound in a circle and current is passed through it, a magnetic field is created inside the circle, and when a magnetic material (such as iron) is brought close to it, it moves instantaneously to the center of the circle. These solenoid actuators are very useful for automobiles and various mechanical/electronic devices. However, in conventional solenoid actuators, when the current is cut off to return the armature after solenoid operation, a phenomenon occurs in which a weak polarity due to residual magnetic flux remains between the upper housing and the armature, which were close to each other, as shown in the example of Fig. 2. Consequently, there is a problem where the mechanically required rapid return does not occur, leading to unclear operation in various devices that require rapid return, which can subsequently result in malfunction of interconnected devices. In order to achieve the rapid return of such an armature, conventional methods have relied on forcibly returning it using large external forces such as return springs. Consequently, the reality is that the volume and weight of the actuator and the system to which it is applied inevitably increase, as additional means for rapid armature return—such as increasing the size of the return spring and reinforcing the actuator's magnetic force to overcome the increased external force—must be provided. Furthermore, repeated continuous ON/OFF operation leads to the continuous accumulation of residual magnetic flux, ultimately resulting in a problem where the external force required for the armature's return must also increase in proportion to the magnitude of the residual magnetic flux. Figure 1 is an example diagram showing the operating state of a typical solenoid actuator. FIG. 2 is an example diagram showing the residual magnetic flux state of a conventional solenoid actuator. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a power supply control method for a solenoid actuator according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence and current supply graph explaining the control process of a solenoid actuator according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how residual magnetic flux is eliminated according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the ‘method for controlling a solenoid actuator having a fast return response’ of the present invention will be described in detail. This description is based on an embodiment for implementing the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical concept pursued by the present invention to the form described in the embodiment described in this document, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention relates to a solenoid actuator comprising a housing 1 (1) that encloses the upper and side surfaces of a coil (4) as shown in FIG. 1, a housing 2 (2) that encloses the bottom surface and part of the inner surface of the coil, and an armature (3) that operates by moving upward in accordance with the application of current to the solenoid and coming into close contact with the bottom surface of the housing 2 (2). The invention is characterized by eliminating the residual magnetic flux between the armature (3) and the housing 1 (1) through a control method in which a controller (20) applies a constant reverse current for a short time before the current OFF to eliminate the residual magnetic flux between the armature (3) and the housing 1 (1) when a current OFF command is applied. More specifically, as can be seen in the upper figure of FIG. 3, when the controller (20) applies current to the coil (4) to operate the solenoid, power is supplied to the solenoid (10) by the control algorithm of the controller (20), and the armature (3) is operated in such a way that current is supplied by connecting the polarity between the controller (20) and the solenoid (10), where the ‘+’ of the controller (20) is connected to terminal 1 and connected to the ‘+’ of the solenoid (10), and the ‘-’ of the controller (20) is connected to terminal 2 and connected to the ‘-’ of the solenoid (10). When looking at the control process thereafter, after the pur