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US 12,412,689 B2Granted
Magnetic coupling device
AssigneeMagswitch Automation Company
InventorDavid H. Morton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed. The magnetic coupling devices may include sensors, retractable pins, stationary pins, probes, and/or additional tools. The magnetic coupling devices may include multiple sets of pole portions, a first set may be received in an opening in a first magnet of the magnetic coupling device and a second set may be outside of an envelope of the first magnet.
Claims25
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing;
- a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing including a plurality of permanent magnets, the plurality of permanent magnets including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet movable relative to the first permanent magnet about a first axis of rotation;
- 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 the 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, both the first workpiece engagement surface and the second workpiece engagement surface being closer to the first axis of rotation than the second permanent magnet.
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing;
- a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing including a plurality of permanent magnets, the plurality of permanent magnets including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet movable relative to the first permanent magnet about a first axis of rotation;
- 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 the 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 sensor positioned in a channel between the first workpiece engagement surface and the second workpiece engagement surface and between a lower surface of the first permanent magnet and the upper surface of the second permanent magnet.
1 more element
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing;
- a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing including a plurality of permanent magnets, the plurality of permanent magnets including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet movable relative to the first permanent magnet about a first axis of rotation;
- 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 the 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 tool positioned in a channel between the first workpiece engagement surface and the second workpiece engagement surface and between a lower surface of the first permanent magnet and the upper surface of the second permanent magnet.
1 more element
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing;
- a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing including a plurality of magnets and a plurality of ferromagnetic inserts,
- the plurality of magnets including a first permanent ring magnet having a first outer circumferential surface and a first inner circumferential surface and a second permanent ring magnet having a second outer circumferential surface and a second inner circumferential surface,
- the plurality of ferromagnetic inserts including a first ferromagnetic insert having a first outer arcuate surface positioned adjacent the first inner circumferential surface of the first permanent ring magnet and a second ferromagnetic insert having a second outer arcuate surface positioned adjacent the second inner circumferential surface of the second permanent magnet,
- the switchable magnetic flux having a first configuration wherein a north pole of the second permanent ring magnet is aligned relative to a north pole of the first permanent ring magnet and a second configuration wherein a south pole of the second permanent ring magnet is aligned relative to the north pole of the first permanent magnet;
- and
- a plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces magnetically coupled to the switchable magnetic flux source, the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces adapted to contact the ferromagnetic workpiece,
- a first pole portion including a first workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces, and
- a second pole portion including a second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.