Method and apparatus for the pressing and alignment of radially oriented toroidal magnets

Apparatus for pressing magnetic material into a substantially toroidal shape and producing a radially-aligned magnetic field therein comprising:

• a magnetic flux carrying solenoid rod;
• a first solenoid positoned over a portion of said solenoid rod;
• a second solenoid positioned over another portion of said solenoid rod and having a winding opposite to that of said first solenoid;
• a magnetic flux carrying first arm magnetically coupled to an end of said solenoid rod and extending generally perpendicular thereto;
• a magnetic flux carrying second arm magnetically coupled to the other end of said solenoid rod and extending generally parallel and opposite to said first arm;
• a magnetic flux carrying die rod magnetically coupled and demountably attached between the other ends of said first and second arm opposite said solenoid rod;
• a nonmagnetic first die body having a central bore coaxially positioned around a portion of said die rod;
• a nonmagnetic second die body having a central bore coaxially positioned around another portion of said die rod;
• a magnetic flux carrying yoke member having a bore on one end, the bore being coaxially positioned around said die rod between said first and second die bodies, and the other end of said yoke member being magnetically coupled to said solenoid rod between said first and second solenoids;
• a nonmagnetic cylindrical punch having a central bore coaxially slidably mounted on said die rod and having an outside diameter slidably engaging the central bore of said first die body;
• a nonmagnetic cylindrical anvil having a central bore coaxially slidably mounted on said die rod and having an outside diameter slidably engaging the central bore of said second die body;
• and
• means, attached to said punch and said anvil, for applying on axial force whereby said punch and said anvil are forced axially toward each other compressing the magnetic material.

A method of pressing and radially aligning magnetic material into a toroidal shape, which comprises the steps of:

• forming the magnetic material in the toroidal shape;
• generating a magnetic flux through the axial center of the toroidal shape of magnetic material and then radially through the toroidal shape of magnetic material;
• compressing the magnetic material;
• and
• terminating said generating of the magnetic flux.