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US 12,023,770 B2Granted
Magnetic coupling device with at least one of a sensor arrangement and a degauss capability
AssigneeMagswitch Technology, Inc.
InventorsDavid H. Morton, Paul J. Karp, Cengiz Kizilkan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed having magnetic field sensors. The magnetic coupling device may include a calibration module for calibrating the magnetic coupling devices.
Claims37
A magnetic system comprising:
- a machine including a base that is configured to perform an operational cycle;
- at least one magnetic coupling device operatively coupled to the machine at a first end of the machine opposite the base, wherein each magnetic coupling device of the at least one magnetic coupling device comprises:
- a housing including a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing;
- a plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces supported by the housing and magnetically coupled to the switchable magnetic flux source, the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces adapted to contact a ferromagnetic workpiece, a first workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a north pole of the magnetic coupling device and a second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a south pole of the magnetic coupling device;
- and
- at least one magnetic field sensor supported by the housing, wherein a first magnetic field sensor of the at least one magnetic field sensor is positioned to monitor a first magnetic flux associated with the first workpiece engagement surface or a second magnetic flux associated with the second workpiece engagement surface;
- and
- a logic control circuit operatively coupled to the first magnetic field sensor and the machine, the logic control circuit configured to perform a calibration sequence for the at least one magnetic coupling device using an output from the first magnetic field sensor during the operational cycle, wherein to perform the calibration sequence, the logic control circuit is configured to:
- store initial values of minimum and maximum leakage fluxes for the first magnetic flux or the second magnetic flux prior to the machine performing the operational cycle;
- and
- replace the initial values of the minimum and maximum leakage fluxes with updated values of minimum and maximum leakage fluxes sensed by the first magnetic field sensor during the operational cycle.
8 more elements
A magnetic system comprising:
- a machine including a base that is configured to perform an operational cycle;
- at least one magnetic coupling device operatively coupled to the machine at a first end of the machine opposite the base, wherein each magnetic coupling device of the at least one magnetic coupling device comprises:
- a housing including a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing;
- a plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces supported by the housing and magnetically coupled to the switchable magnetic flux source, the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces adapted to contact a ferromagnetic workpiece, a first workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a north pole of the magnetic coupling device and a second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a south pole of the magnetic coupling device;
- and
- at least one magnetic field sensor supported by the housing, wherein a first magnetic field sensor of the at least one magnetic field sensor is positioned to monitor a first magnetic flux associated with the first workpiece engagement surface or a second magnetic flux associated with the second workpiece engagement surface;
- and
- a logic control circuit operatively coupled to the first magnetic field sensor and the machine, the logic control circuit configured to perform a calibration sequence for the at least one magnetic coupling device using an output from the first magnetic field sensor during the operational cycle, wherein the magnetic flux source comprises:
- a second permanent magnet rotatable relative to a first permanent magnet about an axis intersecting with the second permanent magnet to alter a position of the second permanent magnet relative to the first permanent magnet.
6 more elements
A magnetic system comprising:
- a machine including a base that is configured to perform an operational cycle;
- at least one magnetic coupling device operatively coupled to the machine at a first end of the machine opposite the base, wherein each magnetic coupling device of the at least one magnetic coupling device comprises:
- a housing including a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing;
- a plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces supported by the housing and magnetically coupled to the switchable magnetic flux source, the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces adapted to contact a ferromagnetic workpiece, a first workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a north pole of the magnetic coupling device and a second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a south pole of the magnetic coupling device;
- and
- at least one magnetic field sensor supported by the housing, wherein a first magnetic field sensor of the at least one magnetic field sensor is positioned to monitor a first magnetic flux associated with the first workpiece engagement surface or a second magnetic flux associated with the second workpiece engagement surface;
- and
- a logic control circuit operatively coupled to the first magnetic field sensor and the machine, the logic control circuit configured to perform a calibration sequence for the at least one magnetic coupling device using an output from the first magnetic field sensor during the operational cycle, wherein the magnetic flux source comprises:
- a second permanent magnet rotatable relative to a first permanent magnet about an axis in a non-intersecting relationship with the second permanent magnet to alter a position of the second permanent magnet relative to the first permanent magnet.
6 more elements
A magnetic system comprising:
- a machine including a base that is configured to perform an operational cycle;
- at least one magnetic coupling device operatively coupled to the machine at a first end of the machine opposite the base, wherein each magnetic coupling device of the at least one magnetic coupling device comprises:
- a housing including a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing;
- a plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces supported by the housing and magnetically coupled to the switchable magnetic flux source, the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces adapted to contact a ferromagnetic workpiece, a first workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a north pole of the magnetic coupling device and a second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a south pole of the magnetic coupling device;
- and
- at least one magnetic field sensor supported by the housing, wherein a first magnetic field sensor of the at least one magnetic field sensor is positioned to monitor a first magnetic flux associated with the first workpiece engagement surface or a second magnetic flux associated with the second workpiece engagement surface;
- and
- a logic control circuit operatively coupled to the first magnetic field sensor and the machine, the logic control circuit configured to perform a calibration sequence for the at least one magnetic coupling device using an output from the first magnetic field sensor during the operational cycle, wherein the switchable magnetic flux source comprises a magnetic platter including a plurality of permanent magnet portions interposed between a plurality of ferromagnetic pole piece portions, the magnetic platter being linearly translatable within the housing along an axis extending between a first end portion of the housing and a second end portion of the housing to at least each of a first state and a second state, the magnetic platter being arranged adjacent to a ferrous piece such that the magnetic coupling device establishes a first magnetic circuit through the ferrous piece and provides a first magnetic field at a workpiece contact interface of the magnetic coupling device when the magnetic platter is in the first state and the magnetic platter being arranged spaced apart from the ferrous piece such that the magnetic coupling device provides a second magnetic field at the workpiece contact interface when the magnetic platter is in the second state, the second magnetic field being a non-zero magnetic field strength.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.