Selective magnetic lifting system
First Claim
1. A method of assembling a first magnetic member on a second magnetic member utilizing an electromagnet and a separable permanent magnet, comprising the steps of contacting said first member with said permanent magnet held by said electromagnet with said electromagnet being energized at a first current level to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, moving said electromagnet, said permanent magnet and said first member as a unit to shift said first member into engagement with said second member, reversing the polarity of said electromagnet while energizing it at a second current level to separate said electromagnet from said permanent magnet while leaving said permanent magnet in magnetic engagement with said first and second members, moving said electromagnet away from said permanent magnet, securing said first and second members together by means independent of any magnetic force, moving said electromagnet back into engagement with said permanent magnet, energizing said electromagnet at a third current level to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, and thereafter moving said electromagnet and said permanent magnet as a unit away from said first and second members.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for assembling magnetic serpentine coils on a magnetic sheet includes a carriage movable vertically and horizontally and supporting on its lower side a plurality of elongated electromagnets. Permanent magnets are arranged to have an upper surface engageable with the electromagnet and a lower surface having indentations to conform with the tubing. The movement of the carriage and the energization of the electromagnet are controlled so that the electromagnet is energized with a first polarity to attract the permanent magnet members and the serpentine tubing to lift the tubing from a predetermined position and, by movement of the carriage, pick up the tubing, transfer it horizontally to the sheet, and vertically deposit it on the sheet. The electromagnets are then reversed in polarity to cause the permanent magnets to separate from the electromagnets and clamp the tubing on the sheet so that the tubing can be fastened by other methods. After the fastening is complete, the electromagnets are moved into engagement with the permanent magnets and energized to the original polarity to attract the permanent magnets and lift them off the assembled tubing and sheet.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A method of assembling a first magnetic member on a second magnetic member utilizing an electromagnet and a separable permanent magnet, comprising the steps of contacting said first member with said permanent magnet held by said electromagnet with said electromagnet being energized at a first current level to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, moving said electromagnet, said permanent magnet and said first member as a unit to shift said first member into engagement with said second member, reversing the polarity of said electromagnet while energizing it at a second current level to separate said electromagnet from said permanent magnet while leaving said permanent magnet in magnetic engagement with said first and second members, moving said electromagnet away from said permanent magnet, securing said first and second members together by means independent of any magnetic force, moving said electromagnet back into engagement with said permanent magnet, energizing said electromagnet at a third current level to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, and thereafter moving said electromagnet and said permanent magnet as a unit away from said first and second members.
- 6. A method of manufacturing a heat exchange member of a refrigeration cabinet of the type having a magnetic sheet metal panel and a magnetic metal tube secured thereto in heat transferring relationship utilizing an electromagnet and a separable permanent magnet, comprising the steps of forming the panel, forming the tube to have a predetermined configuration, placing the tube in a fixture holding the tube in said predetermined configuration, engaging the tubing at a plurality of points with said permanent magnet held by said electromagnet with said electromagnet being energized at a first current level to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, moving said electromagnet, said permanent magnet, and said tube as a unit to shift said tube into engagement with said panel, securing said tube and said panel together by means independent of any magnetic force, energizing said electromagnet at a second current level to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, and thereafter moving said electromagnet and said permanent magnet as a unit away from the assembled tube and panel.
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8. A method of manufacturing a heat exchange member of a refrigeration cabinet of the type having a magnetic sheet metal panel and a magnetic metal tube secured thereto in heat transferring relationship utilizing an electromagnet and a separable permanent magnet, comprising the steps of forming the panel, forming the tube to have a predetermined configuration, placing the tube in a fixture holding the tube in said predetermined configuration, engaging the tubing at a plurality of points with said permanent magnet held by said electromagnet with said electromagnet being energized to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, moving said electromagnet, said permanent magnet, and said tube as a unit to shift said tube into engagement with said panel, reversing the polarity of said electromagnet to separate said electromagnet from said permanent magnet while leaving said permanent magnet in magnetic engagement with said tube and said panel, moving said electromagnet away from said permanent magnet, securing said tube and said panel together by means independent of any magnetic force, moving said electromagnet back into engagement with said permanent magnet, energizing said electromagnet at said original polarity to reinforce the field of said permanent magnet, and thereafter moving said electromagnet and said permanent magnet as a unit away from the assembled tube and panel.
- 9. A magnet system for assembling first and second magnetic articles comprising a permanent magnet member having first and second pole plates, said pole plates defining a first set of magnetic poles for gripping at least one of said articles, said pole plates also defining a second set of magnetic poles, an electromagnet member having first and second pole plates defining a third set of poles engageable with said second set of poles, means for energizing said electromagnet member with one polarity causing said second and third sets of poles to attract each other, and means for energizing said electromagnet member with a reverse polarity to cause said second and third sets of poles to repel each other to separate said permanent magnet member from said electromagnet member.
Specification