Considerations of a short-stroke linear actuator

This paper outlines a study of a short-stroke rectilinear version of the Laws´ relay actuator, for use in reciprocating electromechanical systems. Finite element analysis provides the static characteristics of the device, and the analysis is coupled to a nonlinear state-variable time domain simulation to determine the dynamic performance. Dimensional changes arising from a parametric study, together with the use of alternative magnetic materials, lead to a much improved performance. A comparison between simulated and measured results illustrates the accuracy of the modelling process