# US 5,704,613 A · Methods for sealing and unsealing using a magnetically permeable solid-based medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,613 A - Document ID: US5704613A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/729,706 - Filed: 1996-10-07 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-09-23 - Inventors: William H. Holtkamp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704613A ## CPC - H04R 9/022: {Cooling arrangements} - C09K 3/10: {Materials in mouldable or extrudable form} for sealing or packing joints or covers (filling pastes C09D5/34) - F16J 15/43: kept in sealing position by magnetic force - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS ## Abstract Devices and methods employ a solid-based medium that serves as a magnetic sealant, a lubricant, a bearing, an electrical or thermal conductor, singly or in combination. Included are devices wherein the solid-based medium is retained in a selected position using a magnetic field. In particular, the solid-based medium is either magnetically coupled to the magnetic field or is contained within a cavity sealed by a magnetic seal. In one group of embodiments, the solid-based medium comprises molecules having a molecular structure wherein one element of the structure is a cage or tube, as in fullerenes or met-cars. Such molecules are particularly useful in all of the devices of the present invention because of their exceptional stability and resilience. These properties ensure good performance in corrosive and/or vacuum environments and over a longer lifetime than is possible with conventional media. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for unsealing and resealing a gap between a magnet and a member having a surface facing the magnet in a closely spaced, noncontacting relationship, comprising: (a) providing an assembly including (i) the magnet; and (ii) the member, wherein the member is movable between a first position and a second position, relative to the magnet, in said assembly; (b) providing (i) a first, magnetically permeable region on the surface of the member; and (ii) a second, magnetically nonpermeable region on the surface of the member, the member occupying a first position, wherein the first region is proximal to the magnet; (c) retaining a solid-based medium in contact with the magnet, the member contacting the solid-based medium when the member is in the first position; (d) moving the member from the first position to a second position, wherein the second region is proximal to the magnet, thereby removing the contact between the member and the solid-based medium; and (e) moving the member from the second position back to the first position, thereby reestablishing the contact between the member and the solid-based medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid-based medium is selected from the group consisting of a solid-based magnetic sealant, solid-based lubricant, a solid-based bearing, a solid-based electrical conductor, a solid-based electrical insulator, and a solid-based thermal conductor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid-based medium comprises magnetically permeable, free-spinning molecules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid-based medium is a medium comprising a fullerene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the fullerene is C.sub.60. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid-based medium is a medium comprising a metallo-carbohydrene or a derivative thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid-based medium comprises magnetically permeable molecules, a portion of said molecules each including a carbon atom and having a molecular structure wherein one element of the structure is selected from the group consisting of a cage and a tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the magnetically permeable molecules each comprise at least one metal atom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said portion of the magnetically permeable molecules comprises metallo-fullerene complexes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metallo-fullerene complexes comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the member is a rod-like member and the magnet is an annular magnet encircling the rod-like member. ### Claim 12 A method for unsealing and resealing a gap between a magnetically permeable pole piece element and a member having a surface facing the pole piece element, comprising: (a) providing an assembly including (i) a magnet; and (ii) the magnetically permeable pole piece element; wherein a first end of the pole piece element is in a magnetic-flux relationship with the magnet; and (iii) the member, wherein the member is movable between a first position and a second position, relative to a second end of the pole piece element, in said assembly; (b) providing (i) a first, magnetically permeable region on the surface of the member; and (ii) a second, magnetically nonpermeable region on the surface of the member, the member occupying a first position, wherein the first region faces a second end of the pole piece element in a closely spaced, noncontacting relationship; (c) retaining a solid-based medium in contact with the second end of the pole piece element and the first region of the member when the member is in the first position; (d) moving the member from the first position to a second position, wherein the second region faces the second end of the pole piece element in a closely spaced, noncontacting relationship, thereby removing the contact between the member and the solid-based medium; and (e) moving the member from the second position back to the first position, thereby reestablishing the contact between the member and the solid-based medium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the member is a rod-like member, the magnet is an annular magnet encircling the rod-like member, and the pole piece element is an annular pole piece element encircling the rod-like member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the solid-based medium comprises magnetically permeable molecules, a portion of said molecules each including a carbon atom and having a molecular structure wherein one element of the structure is selected from the group consisting of a cage and a tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the solid-based medium is selected from the group consisting of a solid-based magnetic sealant, solid-based lubricant, a solid-based bearing, a solid-based electrical conductor, a solid-based electrical insulator, and a solid-based thermal conductor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the solid-based medium comprises magnetically permeable, free-spinning molecules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the solid-based medium is a medium comprising a fullerene. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the fullerene is C.sub.60. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the solid-based medium is a medium comprising a metallo-carbohydrene or a derivative thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the magnetically permeable molecules each comprise at least one metal atom. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said portion of the magnetically permeable molecules comprises metallo-fullerene complexes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the metallo-fullerene complexes comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel.