Magnetic coupling system and method
First Claim
1. A magnetic coupling system comprising a magnetic assembly having one or more permanent magnets or an electromagnet located proximate to coupling ends of a base structure and tool insert, the magnetic assembly designed to removably combine the base structure and tool insert, wherein the base structure has a transducer which provides vibrational motion that can be transmitted through the magnetic assembly directly to the tool insert.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic coupling system comprising a magnetic assembly for removably combing a base structure and a tool insert is described. This arrangement allows energy from a transducer located in the base structure to be transmitted through the magnetic assembly to the tool insert. In one embodiment, the magnetic assembly comprises one or more magnetic inserts located between the base structure and tool insert and a permanent magnet or an electromagnet located proximate to the one or more magnetic inserts. The permanent magnet can be axially polarized, radially polarized or polarized at any intermediate angle. In one embodiment, the two components being coupled are a wave guide in direct contact with an ultrasonic motor and a dental scaling tool. In this embodiment, vibrational motion is transferred from the acoustic extension to the tool insert.
109 Citations
51 Claims
- 1. A magnetic coupling system comprising a magnetic assembly having one or more permanent magnets or an electromagnet located proximate to coupling ends of a base structure and tool insert, the magnetic assembly designed to removably combine the base structure and tool insert, wherein the base structure has a transducer which provides vibrational motion that can be transmitted through the magnetic assembly directly to the tool insert.
- 20. An apparatus comprising a passive magnetic coupling system having an ultrasonic transducer adapted to couple with a tool insert, the transducer having a permanent magnet with a remanent magnetic field value greater than about 2500 gauss, the permanent magnet located between two magnetic inserts and designed to magnetically attract the transducer and tool insert together, wherein the permanent magnet and magnetic inserts are magnetized prior to placement in a magnetic circuit, further wherein vibrational energy is transferred from the transducer to the tool insert.
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24. A method for removably coupling a base structure and tool insert together, comprising:
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connecting the base structure and tool insert together;
applying a magnetic field to the base structure and tool insert by activating a transducer located in the base structure using power from a power source, the magnetic field produced with a magnetic assembly comprising one or more permanent magnets or an electromagnet located proximate to coupling ends of the base structure and tool insert; and
transferring vibrational energy from the transducer across the magnetic assembly directly to the tool insert. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An apparatus for coupling two components comprising:
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means for applying a magnetic field to the two components, wherein the two components are a wave guide and a tool insert;
means for coupling the wave guide and tool insert with the magnetic field; and
means for transferring sound waves directly from the waveguide to the tool insert, wherein the sound waves cause the tool insert to vibrate. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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- 50. A magnetic assembly having one or more permanent magnets or an electromagnet located proximate to coupling ends of a base structure and a tool insert, the magnetic assembly designed to removably combine the base structure and tool insert, wherein the base structure has an ultrasonic motor capable of operating at frequencies between about 18 kHz and 40 kHz, the ultrasonic motor further having a titanium wave guide in direct contact with the magnetic assembly, wherein the ultrasonic motor provides vibrational energy that can be transmitted through the wave guide and magnetic assembly directly to the tool insert where it is transformed to elliptical or flexural motion.
Specification