1. An air-core stepping motor comprising:
a tubular stator including a yoke and a coil;
a tubular rotor including a cylindrical magnet; and
rotor support means for supporting the rotor rotatably with respect to the stator,
the rotor support means including a sleeve fixed to the rotor, a holder fixed to the stator, and a ball held between the sleeve and the holder,
the holder having a first holder member and a second holder member separated in a rotational-axial direction of the motor,
the first holder member and the second holder member being assembled with the first holder member or the second holder member fitted to the sleeve, and being used thereafter with the first holder member or the second holder member disconnected from the sleeve.
2. The air-core stepping motor according to claim 1, wherein ball holding surfaces of the first holder member and the second holder member are tapered surfaces that become wider toward an inside diameter side and face each other, and
the first holder member and the second holder member are fixed with a preload applied in the rotational-axial direction.
3. The air-core stepping motor according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve is provided with a flange portion extending toward an outside diameter,
the flange portion is fitted to the first holder member or the second holder member at a time of coaxial positioning to assemble the first and second holder members and the sleeve, and
after assembling, the fixed first holder member and the second holder member are disengaged from the flange portion in an axial direction.
4. An air-core stepping motor comprising:
a tubular stator including a yoke and a coil, and a housing the yoke and coil accommodated therein;
a tubular rotor including a cylindrical magnet and a cylindrical back yoke, are arranged on an inner periphery side of the stator; and
rotor support means for supporting the rotor rotatably with respect to the stator,
the rotor support means including a sleeve fixed in such a way as to extend from both axial-directional end portions of the back yoke of the rotor in an axial direction, and provided with a flange portion extending outward, a holder fixed to both axial-directional end portions of the yoke of the stator, and having a first holder member and a second holder member separated in the axial direction, opposite surfaces of the first holder member and the second holder member being tapered surfaces that become wider toward an inside diameter side and face each other, and a ball held between the sleeve and the both tapered surfaces of the holder,
the first holder member and the second holder member being assembled with the first holder member or the second holder member fitted to the sleeve, and being used thereafter with the first holder member or the second holder member disconnected from the sleeve.
5. A shaft support structure comprising:
a tubular fixing part;
a tubular rotary body arranged coaxial to the fixing part on an outer periphery or an inner periphery of the tubular fixing part, and being supported rotatably with respect to the fixing part;
a sleeve fixed to the rotary body;
a holder fixed to the fixing part; and
a ball held between the sleeve and the holder,
the holder having a first holder member and a second holder member separated in a rotational-axial direction,
the first holder member and the second holder member being assembled with the first holder member or the second holder member fitted to the sleeve, and being used thereafter with the first holder member or the second holder member disconnected from the sleeve.
6. An air-core stepping motor comprising:
a tubular stator including a yoke and a coil;
a tubular rotor including a cylindrical magnet; and
a rotor support unit configured to support the rotor rotatably with respect to the stator,
the rotor support unit including a sleeve fixed to the rotor, a holder fixed to the stator, and a ball held between the sleeve and the holder,
the holder having a first holder member and a second holder member separated in a rotational-axial direction of the motor,
the first holder member and the second holder member being assembled with the first holder member or the second holder member fitted to the sleeve, and being used thereafter with the first holder member or the second holder member disconnected from the sleeve.
7. An air-core stepping motor comprising:
a tubular stator including a yoke and a coil, and a housing the yoke and coil accommodated therein;
a tubular rotor including a cylindrical magnet and a cylindrical back yoke, are arranged on an inner periphery side of the stator; and
a rotor support unit configured to support the rotor rotatably with respect to the stator,
the rotor support unit including a sleeve fixed in such a way as to extend from both axial-directional end portions of the back yoke of the rotor in an axial direction, and provided with a flange portion extending outward, a holder fixed to both axial-directional end portions of the yoke of the stator, and having a first holder member and a second holder member separated in the axial direction, opposite surfaces of the first holder member and the second holder member being tapered surfaces that become wider toward an inside diameter side and face each other, and a ball held between the sleeve and the both tapered surfaces of the holder,
the first holder member and the second holder member being assembled with the first holder member or the second holder member fitted to the sleeve, and being used thereafter with the first holder member or the second holder member disconnected from the sleeve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A switch assembly comprising:
a mounting base comprising an opening, and
a switch housing at least partially receivable in said opening of said mounting base and axially positionable relative to said mounting base, said switch housing comprising a non-contact switch at least partially disposed in said switch housing; and
a calibration feature configured to move between a first position and a second position to provide an airspace between said switch housing and a target.
2. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said non-contact switch comprises a Hall Effect switch.
3. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said switch housing is movably adjustable relative to said mounting base.
4. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said calibration feature comprises a shim, said shim movable between a first position and a second position relative to said switch body, said shim at least partially extending beyond said switch housing in said first position.
5. A switch assembly according to claim 4, wherein said shim is slidably coupled to said switch housing.
6. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said calibration feature comprises a sleeve at least partially disposed between said switch housing and said mounting base, said sleeve movable between a first position and a second position relative to said mounting base.
7. A switch assembly according to claim 6, wherein said sleeve and said mounting base comprise cooperating cam features configured to move said sleeve relative to said mounting base.
8. A switch assembly according to claim 7, wherein said cooperating cam features move said sleeve relative to said mounting base upon rotation of said sleeve relative to said mounting base.
9. A switch assembly according to claim 6, wherein said switch housing is configured to move with said sleeve relative to said mounting base
10. A method of locating a non-contact switch comprising:
locating a mounting base relative to a target;
providing a switch assembly to said mounting base, said switch assembly comprising a movable calibration feature and a switch housing;
coupling said switch assembly to said mounting base with said calibration feature in a first position; and
moving said calibration feature to a second position to provide an airspace between said switch housing and said target.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said calibration feature comprises a shim, said shim at least partially extending from said switch housing in said first position.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein coupling said switch assembly to said mounting base comprises coupling said switch housing to said mounting base with said shim in said first position at least partially extending from said switch housing, said shim contacting said target.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said calibration feature comprises a sleeve movable between a first position and a second position relative to said mounting base, said switch housing capable of being coupled to said sleeve.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein coupling said switch assembly to said mounting base comprises coupling said switch housing to said sleeve and coupling said sleeve to said mounting base in said first position via cooperating cam features.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein coupling said switch housing to said sleeve comprises positioning said switch housing in contact with said target.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein moving said calibration feature to a second position comprises moving said sleeve to said second position relative to said mounting base via said cooperating cam features, and wherein moving said sleeve to said second position comprises moving said switch housing away from said target.
17. A non-contact sensor comprising:
a magnet;
a first and second pole piece adjacent each pole of said magnet, a first end of said first and second pole pieces extending outwardly from said magnet; and
a magnetic field sensor disposed adjacent to said first pole piece.
18. A non-contact sensor according to claim 17, further comprising a third pole piece extending between said first end of said first and second pole pieces.
19. A non-contact sensor according to claim 18, further comprising a fourth pole piece disposed adjacent to said first pole piece and said magnetic field sensor.
20. A non-contact sensor according to claim 17, wherein said magnetic field sensor comprises a Hall Effect sensor.