Holding tools for permanent magnets and methods to use the same

• US 10,573,446 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Smith, Nathan Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Ismail, Shawki S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Homza, Lisa N
• Application Number:
  US15/851,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20180211753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 335289
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/00 Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/12 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/206 Electromagnets for lifting, handling or transporting of magnetic pieces or material electromagnets for guidance of vehicles, workpieces B65G21/2009; for magnetic suspension or levitation H02N15/00

Abstract

A holding tool to handle a first permanent magnet in a stack of permanent magnets is provided. The holding tool comprises a body including a holding portion including an electromagnet, and a switch disposed on the body and electrically connected to an electrical circuit of the electromagnet and configured to energize the electromagnet by connecting the electrical circuit and de-energize the electromagnet by disconnecting the electrical circuit. The holding portion includes a hollow member made of ferromagnetic material and a coil surrounding the hollow member to form the electromagnet and the electromagnet is configured to, when energized in a first current direction, have a polarity opposite to a polarity of the permanent magnets in the stack.

Claims

1. A holding tool to handle a first permanent magnet in a stack of permanent magnets, comprising:

a body including a holding portion, wherein the holding portion includes a hollow member made of ferromagnetic material and a coil surrounding the hollow member, wherein the hollow member and the coil form an electromagnet and the electromagnet is configured to, when energized in a first current direction, have a polarity opposite to a polarity of the permanent magnets in the stack; and

a switch disposed on the body and electrically connected to an electrical circuit of the electromagnet and configured to energize the electromagnet by connecting the electrical circuit and de-energize the electromagnet by disconnecting the electrical circuit;

wherein a current in the coil, size and shape of the hollow member are configured to generate a magnetic field to reduce a net pull force resulting from the first permanent magnet received in the holding portion and the electromagnet to facilitate movement of the holding tool loaded with the first permanent magnet away from the stack.

2. The holding tool of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a handle portion and a loading portion and wherein the loading portion is disposed between the handle portion and the holding portion and configured to preload a fastener.

3. The holding tool of claim 2, wherein the loading portion includes at least one section elastically deformable or includes an accordion-shaped section along a lengthwise direction of the holding tool, and wherein the loading portion deforms when a force applies via the handle portion so that the fastener is capable of being pushed through a hole of the first permanent magnet.

4. The holding tool of claim 2, further comprising a container attached to the fastener and preloaded into the loading portion, wherein the container includes an explosive mixture and an ignition of the mixture pushes the fastener into a hole of the first permanent magnet.

5. The holding tool of claim 2, wherein the handle portion is connected to the loading portion via thread connection and wherein rotation of the handle portion drives the handling portion down against the fastener and pushes the fastener into a hole of the first permanent magnet.

6. The holding tool of claim 2, further comprising a spring between the handle portion and the holding portion and enclosing the loading portion, wherein the loading portion is formed as a thin-walled tube fixed on the holding portion and slidably connected to the handle portion, wherein the handle portion is configured to be capable of sliding down and up along the tube.

7. The holding tool of claim 2, wherein the loading portion includes a plurality of sliders fixed on the holding portion, and each slider has an elongated slot to receive a pin that is connected to the handle portion such that the handling portion is capable of moving up and down via movement of the pins in the slots, and wherein a spring is provided between the handle portion and the holding portion.

8. The holding tool of claim 2, wherein the loading portion includes a plurality of scissors, lower legs of scissors are fixe on the holding portion and each of upper legs of scissors has an elongated slot to receive a pin that is connected to the handle portion such that the handle portion is capable of moving up and down via movement of the pins in the slots, and wherein a spring is provided to return the handle portion to an original position when a force applied by the handle portion is released.

9. The holding tool of claim 2, wherein the loading portion includes a fastener holder to keep the fastener at a position above the holding portion and the fastener is manually loaded on the fastener holder.

10. The holding tool of claim 2, further comprising an automatic fastener loader to feed the fastener via a slot in the loading portion automatically.

11. A holding tool to handle a first permanent magnet from a stack of permanent magnets, comprising:

a DC power supply,

a holding portion to receive and hold the first permanent magnet, including;

a hollow member made of ferromagnetic material and

a coil surrounding the hollow member and forming an electrical circuit with the DC power supply, wherein the hollow member and the coil form an electromagnet and the electromagnet is configured to, when energized at a first current direction, have a polarity opposite to a polarity of the permanent magnets in the stack;

a loading portion connected to the holding portion and configured to preload and hold a fastener above the holding portion;

a handle portion connected to the loading portion and configured to apply a force to the fastener; and

a switch disposed on the handle portion and configured to energize the electromagnet by connecting the electrical circuit and de-energize the electromagnet by disconnecting the electrical circuit.

12. The holding tool of claim 11, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to be capable of delivering a first current at different magnitudes and delivering a second current at a second current direction reversal to the first current direction, wherein the switch includes a plurality of options and each option delivers a specific amount of current so that a net pull force from the electromagnet and the first permanent magnet received in the holding portion is different at the different options.

13. The holding tool of claim 11, wherein the loading portion, the handle portion and the fastener are made from non-ferromagnetic materials.

14. The holding tool of claim 11, wherein the first permanent magnet is a neodymium magnet having a grade greater than N35.