US 2020/0323113 A1Published application

Magnetic circuit and method for use

OwnerRobert Carl Shieldsinventor

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining whether a conductive ring is attached to an electrically conductive shaft. The body of the apparatus includes an electrical contact and at least one magnet in a magnet recess. The at least one magnet may include a first and second conductive region, where the first conductive region is a fixed, first radial distance from a center point of the inner cavity and the second conductive region is a second radial distance from the center point of the inner cavity. A shaft recess of the conductive shaft aligns with the magnet recess when the conductive shaft is inserted into the inner cavity and an electric circuit detects whether a metal ring is secured around the conductive shaft in response to simultaneous contact between: the metal ring and the at least one magnet and the conductive shaft and the electrical contact.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a body having an open end and an at least partially cylindrical inner cavity defined by an inner surface having an inner side surface and an inner end surface opposite the open end, wherein the inner cavity is to receive an at least partially electrically conductive shaft;
an electrical contact positioned on the inner surface to contact the conductive shaft when the conductive shaft is inserted into the inner cavity;
at least one magnet disposed in a magnet recess in the inner side surface of the body;
wherein the at least one magnet further includes a first conductive region and a second conductive region;
wherein the first conductive region is a fixed, first radial distance from a center point of the inner cavity and the second conductive region is a second radial distance from the center point of the inner cavity;
wherein a shaft recess of the conductive shaft aligns with the magnet recess in the inner side surface when the conductive shaft is inserted into the inner cavity;
and
an electric circuit that detects whether a metal ring is secured around the conductive shaft at the shaft recess of the conductive shaft in response to simultaneous contact between:
the metal ring and the at least one magnet;
and
the conductive shaft and the electrical contact.

8 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a body having an open end and an at least partially cylindrical inner cavity defined by an inner surface having an inner side surface and an inner end surface opposite the open end, wherein the inner cavity is to receive an at least partially electrically conductive shaft;
an electrical contact positioned on the inner surface to contact the conductive shaft when the conductive shaft is inserted into the inner cavity;
one or more first side magnets and one or more second side magnets, each of which are disposed in a magnet recess in the inner side surface of the body;
wherein the one or more first side magnets are disposed in the magnet recess at a first radial distance from a center point of the inner cavity and the one or more second side magnets are disposed in the magnet recess at a second radial distance from the center point of the inner cavity;
wherein a shaft recess of the conductive shaft aligns with the magnet recess in the inner side surface when the conductive shaft is inserted into the inner cavity;
and
an electric circuit that detects whether a metal ring is secured around the conductive shaft at the shaft recess of the conductive shaft in response to simultaneous contact between:
the metal ring and the one or more first side magnets or the one or more second side magnets;
and
the conductive shaft and the electrical contact.

7 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a body having an open end and an at least partially cylindrical inner cavity defined by an inner surface having an inner side surface and an inner end surface opposite the open end, wherein an at least partially electrically conductive shaft is receivable by the inner cavity;
an electrical contact positioned on the inner surface such that the conductive shaft is in contact with the electrical contact when the conductive shaft is inserted into the inner cavity;
at least one magnet disposed in a magnet recess in the inner side surface of the body, wherein the at least one magnet includes a conductive movable rod;
wherein in a retracted position the conductive movable rod is substantially flush with or retracted into the at least one magnet;
and
wherein in an extended position the conductive movable rod extends into the inner cavity;
an electric circuit that detects whether a metal ring is secured around the conductive shaft at a shaft recess of the conductive shaft in response to simultaneous contact between:
the metal ring and at least portion of the at least one magnet;
and
the conductive shaft and the electrical contact.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/904,078Filed 17 Jun 2020
Priority: 3 Oct 2017
Published: 8 Oct 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H05K 13/08
Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components: monitoring manufacture of assemblages
G01R 1/0408
Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals: test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets
G01R 31/54
Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections: testing…
H01F 7/0205
Permanent magnets [PM]: magnetic circuits with PM in general

Family

Application15/723,847Continuation in part · filed 3 Oct 2017
Application16/904,078Continuation in part
US 10,721,850 B2Related patent
US 11,291,150 B2Related patent
US 2019/0104657 A1Published application
US 2020/0323113 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.