APPARATUS FOR TREATING OBJECTS WITH PARTICLES MOVED BY MAGNETIC FORCE

• US 3,848,363 A
• Filed: 02/20/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James F. Feldhaus, William R. Lovness
• Original Assignee: James F. Feldhaus, William R. Lovness
• Inventors: Lovness, William R., Feldhaus, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Donald G.
• Application Number:
  US05/334,000
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 51/7,17,26,163,313-318 259/1,DIG.46
• US Class Current: 451/36
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 31/102 using an alternating magnetic field

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a device for generating a rotating magnetic field, small magnetic particles capable of being moved by the rotating magnetic field, and a surface or container to confine the moving particles to a predetermined area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating objects with particles moved by magnetic force comprising in combination:

a. means for generating a rotating magnetic field, b. magnetic particles which are capable of being rotated by the magnetic field, and c. means confining the rotating magnetic particles to a predetermined area within the effective influence of said magnetic field, wherein said means for generating a rotating magnetic field comprises at least four overlapping coils that are arranged in a generally circular pattern of opposed pairs and that are energized with two or more out of phase sources of alternating current so that opposed coils are of opposite magnetic polarity and of the same phase, and generation of said rotating magnetic field causes rotation of the magnetic particles on their axes and also causes their rotation in an orbital path about the axis of rotation of the rotating field and objects placed in their path are subjected to aggressive surface treatment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic particles have a magnetization of about 50 gauss/gm. and a magnetic coercivity of at least 100 oersteds.

3. Method for treating objects with particles moved by magnetic force comprising:

confining magnetic particles to a predetermined area, generating a rotating magnetic field with a single axis of rotation within said predetermined area, said magnetic field comprising at least four overlapping coils that are arranged in a generally circular pattern of opposed pairs that are energized with two or more out of phase sources of alternating current so that opposed coils are of opposite magnetic polarity and of the same phase, said magnetic field being of sufficient intensity to cause rotation of the magnetic particles on their axes and also to cause their rotation in an orbital path about the axis of rotation of the rotating field, and placing the object to be treated within the path of said rotating magnetic particles for a period of time sufficient to cause surface treatment thereof.

4. An apparatus for treating objects with particles moved by magnetic force comprising in combination:

a. means for generating a rotating magnetic field, b. magnetic particles which are capable of being rotated by the magnetic field, and c. means confining the rotating magnetic particles to a predetermined area within the effective influence of said magnetic field, wherein said means for generating a rotating magnetic field comprises overlapping coils that are arranged about said predetErmined area and that are energized with two or more out of phase sources of alternating current which will produce a rotating magnetic field having a single axis of rotation within said predetermined area, and generation of a rotating magnetic field causes rotation of the magnetic particles on their axes and also causes their rotation in an orbital path about the axis of rotation of the rotating field and objects placed in their path are subjected to aggressive surface treatment.

5. Method for treating objects with particles moved by magnetic force comprising:

confining magnetic particles to a predetermined area, generating a rotating magnetic field with a single axis of rotation within said predetermined area by use of a generating device therefor comprising overlapping coils that are arranged about said predetermined area and that are energized with two or more out of phase sources of alternating current, said magnetic field being of sufficient intensity to cause rotation of the magnetic particles on their axes and also to cause their rotation in an orbital path about the axis of rotation of the rotating field, and placing the object to be treated within the path of said rotating magnetic particles for a period of time sufficient to cause surface treatment thereof.