Pneumatically actuated magnetic article holder
AssigneeIndustrial Magnetics, Inc.
InventorsMichael W. Stowe, Gerald Thick, Gary R. Blaske
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatically actuated magnetic workpiece/article holder is for use with a lifting assembly. The article holder comprises a housing having a magnetic assembly translationally mounted within the housing. The magnetic assembly comprises two opposed pole pieces and a permanent magnet centered and mounted between the pole pieces. A pneumatic actuator is mounted on the housing and is operatively connected to the magnetic assembly. The article holder may further comprise brackets for operatively mounting the article holder on the lifting assembly. The magnet may be formed from a rare earth metal having very strong magnetic properties, such as neodymium.
Claims14
A pneumatically actuated magnetic article holder for use with a workpiece lifting assembly, the article holder comprising:
- a housing;
- a magnetic assembly translationally mounted within the housing, the magnetic assembly comprising:
- two opposed pole pieces;
- and
- a permanent magnet centered and mounted between the pole pieces;
- a pneumatic actuator mounted on the housing and operatively connected to the magnetic assembly;
- and
- means for operatively mounting the article holder on the lifting assembly comprising;
- an L-shaped angle bracket welded to the housing, the bracket having a first leg and a second leg;
- a first bore defined in the first leg, and a second bore defined in the second leg;
- and
- two pivot pins, one pin mounted within the first bore, and the other pin mounted within the second bore, each of the pivot pins comprising a concave gripping surface and an annular positioning flange;
- wherein the pivot pin is operatively received by the lifting apparatus and allows rotation of the article holder relative to the workpiece.
A pneumatically actuated magnetic article holder for use with a workpiece lifting assembly, the article holder comprising:
- a housing;
- a magnetic assembly translationally mounted within the housing, the magnetic assembly comprising:
- two opposed pole pieces;
- and
- a permanent magnet centered and mounted between the pole pieces, wherein the permanent magnet is formed from a rare earth metal;
- a two position pneumatic actuator mounted on the housing and operatively connected to the magnetic assembly, the pneumatic actuator having a piston operatively disposed therein, the piston being operatively connected to the magnetic assembly so as to translate the magnetic assembly between a first position, away from a gripping position in order to release a workpiece, and a second position, toward the gripping position in order to grip the workpiece;
- and
- means for operatively mounting the article holder on the lifting assembly comprising;
- an L-shaped angle bracket welded to the housing, the bracket having a first leg and a second leg;
- a first bore defined in the first leg, and a second bore defined in the second leg;
- and
- two pivot pins, one pin mounted within the first bore, and the other pin mounted within the second bore, each of the pivot pins comprising a concave gripping surface and an annular positioning flange;
- wherein the pivot pin is operatively received by the lifting apparatus and allows rotation of the article holder relative to the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.