Apparatus and Method for Connecting Magnetic Tubes to Fluid Magnetic Separators

A magnetic separator for removing magnetic contaminants from process fluids, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet adaptable for communicating the process fluids through the housing;
• a removable structure removably connected to and enclosing the housing, and the removable structure having a main plate and a radius plate;
• the main plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein for receiving a plurality of magnetic tubes wherein one of the plurality of magnetic tubes extends into each of the plurality of apertures and wherein the plurality of magnetic tubes are connected to the main plate;
• the radius plate connected to the main plate and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and coaxially aligned with the plurality of apertures in the main plate for receiving one of the plurality of magnetic tubes in each of the plurality of apertures in the radius plate;
• a plurality of dimples formed about the circumference of each of the plurality of apertures in the radius plate;
• and
• the plurality of magnetic tubes welded to the plurality of dimples to connect the plurality of magnetic tubes to the radius plate to further support the connection between the plurality of magnetic tubes and the removable structure, wherein the plurality of magnetic tubes are disposed within the housing for adaptably attracting the magnetic contaminants from the process fluids.

A method of fabricating a magnetic separator for separating magnetic contaminants from process fluids, comprising:

• providing a housing having an inlet and an outlet adaptable for communicating process fluids through the housing;
• providing a removable structure having a main plate and a radius plate wherein the removable structure may be removably connected to the housing for enclosing the housing;
• forming at least one aperture in the main plate;
• forming at least one aperture and at least one of dimple in the radius plate wherein the at least one dimple is formed about a circumference of the at least one aperture in the radius plate;
• connecting the main plate to the radius plate such that the at least one aperture in the main plate are coaxially aligned with the at least one aperture in the radius plate;
• inserting at least one magnetic tube into the at least one of aperture in the main plate and through the at least one aperture in the radius plate;
• connecting the at least one magnetic tube to the main plate;
• and
• connecting the at least one magnetic tube to the at least one dimple on the radius plate.