Magnetic attachment mechanism

A magnetic attachment mechanism adapted for interfacing with the manipulator arm of a remote manipulator system and comprising a pair of permanent magnets arranged in a stator-rotor relationship, one of said magnets constituting a stator magnet having a pair of pole plates extending therefrom in substantially parallel relationship to one another and each of said pole plates includes an adhering surface, the other of said magnets constituting a rotor magnet mounted between said pole plates and journalled for rotation about an axis intermediate its magnetics poles;

• actuator means for selectively rotating the rotor magnet between first and second rotary positions, said first position corresponding to a position wherein each of the poles of the rotor magnet is closely adjacent a one of the said pole plates which is of like polarity whereby the magnetic fields of said rotor and stator magnets are in additive relationship producing a strong magnetic field at said adhering surfaces and a magnetic attractive force for a payload or workpiece having a member of magnetic material;
• said second position corresponding to a position wherein each of the poles of the rotor magnet is disposed closely adjacent a one of said pole places which is of unlike polarity whereby the magnetic fields of said rotor and stator magnets are in cancelling relationship at said adhering surfaces;
• said mechanism being provided with a housing adapted for interfacing with the end of said manipulator arm, cooperable guide means on said housing, and a payload to be attached to said mechanism,
• said payload being provided with a ferrous plate of magnetic material mounted thereon and said guide means are cooperable to effect an optimal rigidized attachment of said mechanism with the payload wherein the adhering surfaces of said stator polar plates are in firm contact with said ferrous plate,
• wherein said housing is provided with rod-like extension members projecting at the end of the housing adjacent the adhering surfaces of said pole plates and said payload is provided with receiving members, each receiving member having a conical surface for receiving one of said housing extension members and guiding the magnetic attachment mechanism to a rigidized optimal connection with the payload.

A magnetic attachment mechanism adapted for interfacing with the manipulator arm of a remote manipulator system and comprising a pair of permanent magnets arranged in a stator-rotor relationship, one of said magnets constituting a stator magnet having a pair of pole plates extending therefrom in substantially parallel relationship to one another and each of said pole plates includes an adhering surface, the other of said magnets constituting a rotor magnet mounted between said pole plates and journalled for rotation about an axis intermediate its magnetic poles;

• said rotor magnet being of elongate form symmetrical about its central longitudinal axis with the magnetic lines of force of its magnetic field passing through the magnet in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a shaft affixed coaxial with respect thereto;
• actuator means comprising a mechanical linkage which includes a crank member coupled to said rotor magnet shaft and an axially movable shaft adapted for coupling to an end effector of said manipulator arm and to said crank member by said linkage whereby the shaft may be moved in a selected axial direction to effect a rotation of said rotor magnet to selected one of said first and said second rotary positions, said first position corresponding to a position wherein each of the poles of the rotor magnet is closely adjacent a one of the said pole plates which is of like polarity whereby the magnetic fields of said rotor and stator magnets are in additive relationship producing a strong magnetic field at said adhering surfaces and a magnetic attractive force for a payload or workpiece having a member of magnetic material;
• said second position corresponding to a position wherein each of the poles of the rotor magnet is disposed closely adjacent a one of said pole plates which is of unlike polarity whereby the magnetic fields of said rotor and stator magnets are in cancelling relationship at said adhering surfaces;
• and
• said actuator means being adapted for interfacing connection with an effector end of said manipulator arm.