×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Ring electromagnet flux path

Ring electromagnet flux path

Ring electromagnet flux path

(OP)
First of all, I am a mechanical engineer with very limited electrical or magnetic knowledge so please forgive my basic question.

I wish to build a ring electromagnet as part of a proof-of-concept prototype.  The device I'm building is a clutch similar to an automotive AC compressor clutch.  I have an idea what the geometry needs to be but would like some confirmation.  I think the windings should be cylindrical, like a voice coil only more layers, then inserted into an annular pocket in solid steel with the open side toward what I'm trying to attract.  Can someone point me toward reference material or images of similar designs please?  Thanks in advance.

RE: Ring electromagnet flux path

(OP)
I've done that, that's how I got to the geometry I described above.  Because my application has some unique additional geometry requirements, I need to better understand the magnetic characteristics involved.

RE: Ring electromagnet flux path

Strokersix,

I have designed an electromagnetic clutch for a major OEM A/C supplier.  What you are designing is basically still a solenoid actuator, with some really unusual geometry.  It is not a trivial design task.  To make a functional unit, you could easily do the calulations using a simple sum of the reluctances approximation (i.e. Roter's method) in a spreadhseet.  To do a highly optimized design (lowest mass vs. inexpensive to fabricate components) will require FEA analysis.

Here is a good place to start.  Specifically check out Chapter 11:

http://www.consult-g2.com/


Most of these concepts are covered in the EE curriculum, not the ME, but are relatively straightforward.  Many of the electromagnetic design specialists that I know have a Mechanical instead of Electrical Engineering education.  Design is design.

-Tony Staples
www.tscombustion.com

RE: Ring electromagnet flux path

Oops.  I left off that you need to select the "Course" link on the left hand column once you go to G2 Consulting's home page.

-Tony Staples
www.tscombustion.com

RE: Ring electromagnet flux path

(OP)
TStaples,

Thank you!  That's what I needed.

I figured this was not going to be a trivial design task.  I'm at proof-of-concept stage at this point and just need to understand enough to build a functional prototype.  Detail design, analysis, and optimization will of course follow if we decide to proceed.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources