Monocoil reciprocating permanent magnet electric machine with self-centering force

A linear reciprocating machine has a tubular outer stator housing a coil, a plunger and an inner stator. The plunger has four axially spaced rings of radially magnetized permanent magnets which cooperate two at a time with the stator to complete first or second opposite magnetic paths. The four rings of magnets and the stators are arranged so that the stroke of the plunger is independent of the axial length of the coil.