Permanent magnetic assemblies and methods of assembling same

A magnetic assembly comprising:

• a plurality of magnets arranged in a linear Halbach array having a strong side facing a first direction and a weak side facing a second direction opposite the first direction, each of the plurality of magnets shaped as a radial arc segment having opposing radial end surfaces, wherein an arc length of the Halbach array increases as the Halbach array extends along a longitudinal axis oriented perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, each of the plurality of magnets having a through-hole defined therein extending from one radial end surface to the other radial end surface, wherein each through-hole is longitudinally aligned with a through-hole defined within an adjacent magnet;
• and
• a ferromagnetic pin positioned within each through-hole to connect adjacent magnets, wherein the ferromagnetic pin has a size, a shape, and a magnetic permeability that facilitate a magnetic force between a respective pair of adjacent magnets in the longitudinal direction inducing a magnetic flux path through the ferromagnetic pin such that an apparent magnetic force between each pair of adjacent magnets is one of i) a repelling force less than 5 newtons (N) and ii) an attracting force.

A method of assembling a magnetic assembly including a first magnet and a second magnet arranged in a Halbach array, the method comprising:

• selecting a size of a ferromagnetic pin to connect the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein the size of the ferromagnetic pin is selected based on (i) a reduction in a magnetic repelling force between the first magnet and the second magnet resulting from the ferromagnetic pin and (ii) a reduction in a magnetic field strength of the Halbach array resulting from cavities formed in the first magnet and the second magnet to accommodate the ferromagnetic pin having the selected size;
• and
• inserting the ferromagnetic pin having the selected size into cavities in the first magnet and the second magnet to connect the first magnet and the second magnet.