High force density eddy current driven actuator

Intense pulsed magnetic fields can be developed by closing a switch and discharging a bank of capacitors through pancake coil. Eddy currents that flow in an adjacent conducting part constrain the magnetic fields to a thin gap, resulting in intense magnetic pressure. A recoilless 7-kg robotic high force actuator is described that can generate a 65-kN force pulse while returning just 600-N recoil force to the robot arm. The resulting gap induction is in excess of 5 Tesla. The system impedance characteristics have been adjusted to take advantage of low voltage. A similar low-voltage system has been proposed for the deicing of aircraft. The pancake coil is held adjacent to the wind leading edge, and the discharge of capacitors through the coil raps the leading edge, dislodging accumulated ice.< >