Magnetic coupling device with at least one of a sensor arrangement and a degauss capability

A magnetic coupling tool 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;
• 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 tool and a second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces corresponding to a south pole of the magnetic coupling tool;
• a plurality of magnetic field sensors supported by the housing, a first magnetic field sensor of the plurality of magnetic field sensors positioned to monitor a first magnetic flux associated with the first workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces and a second magnetic field sensor of the plurality of magnetic field sensors positioned to monitor a second magnetic flux associated with the second workpiece engagement surface of the plurality of workpiece engagement surfaces;
• and
• a logic control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensors, the logic control circuit configured to determine at least one operating state of the magnetic coupling tool based on an output from at least one of the plurality of magnetic field sensors.