System and method using internal cancellation magnets to control magnetic wheel adhesion

A wheel having an axle and configured to adhere magnetically to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:

• a first annular disc composed of a non-magnetic material and having:
• a first outer circumferential periphery;
• a first central axial bore configured to retain the axle;
• a first plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the first central axial bore and configured to retain a first plurality of magnets;
• and
• a second plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential periphery and configured to retain a second plurality of magnets;
• and
• a second annular disc composed of a ferromagnetic material and disposed on one side of the first annular disc, with the outer annular disc having:
• a second outer circumferential periphery;
• a second central axial bore configured to retain the axle;
• an inner circumferential periphery disposed adjacent to the second central axial bore;
• and
• an isolator ring composed of a non-magnetic material and defining a plurality of curves extending in a serpentine manner circumferentially around the inner circumferential periphery intermediate of the second outer circumferential periphery and the second central axial bore, with the serpentine curves of the isolator ring disposed between the inner circumferential periphery and the second outer circumferential periphery,
• wherein in a first configuration, the serpentine curves of the isolator ring are disposed in a first position relative to the second plurality of magnets to isolate the first plurality of magnets from the second plurality of magnets, thereby generating a first magnetic flux between the second plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to increase the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface, and
• wherein in a second configuration, the second annular disc is rotated about the axle relative to the first annular disc to dispose the serpentine curves of the isolator ring in a second position relative to the second plurality of magnets to allow magnetic interaction between the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets, thereby generating a second magnetic flux between the second plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface,
• wherein the second magnetic flux is less than the first magnetic flux.

A method of adhering a wheel magnetically to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:

• providing a wheel having an axle, a first annular disc, and a second annular disc, wherein the first annular disc is composed of a non-magnetic material and having:
• a first outer circumferential periphery;
• a first central axial bore configured to retain the axle;
• a first plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the first central axial bore and configured to retain a first plurality of magnets;
• and
• a second plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential periphery and configured to retain a second plurality of magnets;
• and
• wherein the second annular disc is composed of a ferromagnetic material and disposed on one side of the first annular disc, with the outer annular disc having:
• a second outer circumferential periphery;
• a second central axial bore configured to retain the axle;
• an inner circumferential periphery disposed adjacent to the second central axial bore;
• and
• an isolator ring composed of a non-magnetic material and defining a plurality of curves extending in a serpentine manner circumferentially around the inner circumferential periphery intermediate of the second outer circumferential periphery and the second central axial bore, with the serpentine curves of the isolator ring disposed between the inner circumferential periphery and the second outer circumferential periphery;
• disposing the first and second annular discs in a first configuration wherein the serpentine curves of the isolator ring are disposed in a first position relative to the second plurality of magnets;
• isolating the first plurality of magnets magnetically from the second plurality of magnets;
• and
• generating a first magnetic flux between the second plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface thereby increasing the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface.