LAUSR

This paper presents the analytic analysis and proof-of-principle prototyping of a new type of magnetic spring with preload and a linear stroke length. An analytic based magnetic charge modeling approach is utilized to investigate design rules that can maximize the magnetic spring’s energy density, stiffness characteristics, and linearity. It is shown that whilst the proposed magnetic spring has a lower mass and energy density than a mechanical spring, the magnetic spring offers several unique characteristics, such as contact-free operation, inherent preload, as well as over-force failure protection. In addition, the operating principle of the presented magnetic spring can be extended to realize both positive and negative variable stiffness adjustment characteristics.