Systems comprising a mechanically actuated magnetic on-off attachment device
First Claim
1. A magnetic on-off attachment device, comprising:
- a) a first ferromagnetic portion;
b) a second ferromagnetic portion;
c) a magnetic insulator magnetically isolating said first ferromagnetic portion from said second ferromagnetic portion;
d) a dipole magnet movable relative to each of said first and second ferromagnetic portions so as to provide the magnetic on-off attachment device with an on state in which the magnetic on-off attachment device has a maximum magnetic attraction to a ferromagnetic body that is not part of the magnetic on-off attachment device and with an off state in which the magnetic on-off attachment device has a minimum magnetic attraction to the ferromagnetic body; and
e) an actuating mechanism operatively coupled to said dipole magnet so as to move said dipole magnet relative to each of said first and second ferromagnetic portions in response to an actuating signal so as to alternatingly switch the magnetic on-off attachment device between the on state and the off state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic on-off robotic attachment device (MOORAD) (100, 300, 400, 624, 624′, 660, 676, 804) is used to make a number of systems, such as a mobile apparatus (608, 644, 668, 700, 700′), a belt mechanism (800) and a sensor device (504, 508, 656). The MOORAD allows the respective system to be removably magnetically attached to a ferromagnetic structure/object (228, 420, 604, 604′, 720A-B, 720A′-B′, 848). Each MOORAD generally includes a dipole magnet (104, 304A-B, 404) movable relative to first and second ferromagnetic portions (112, 116, 316A-D, 408, 412) that are separated by corresponding magnetically insulating portions (120, 320A-C, 416) so as to change that MOORAD between off and on states.
28 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A magnetic on-off attachment device, comprising:
-
a) a first ferromagnetic portion; b) a second ferromagnetic portion; c) a magnetic insulator magnetically isolating said first ferromagnetic portion from said second ferromagnetic portion; d) a dipole magnet movable relative to each of said first and second ferromagnetic portions so as to provide the magnetic on-off attachment device with an on state in which the magnetic on-off attachment device has a maximum magnetic attraction to a ferromagnetic body that is not part of the magnetic on-off attachment device and with an off state in which the magnetic on-off attachment device has a minimum magnetic attraction to the ferromagnetic body; and e) an actuating mechanism operatively coupled to said dipole magnet so as to move said dipole magnet relative to each of said first and second ferromagnetic portions in response to an actuating signal so as to alternatingly switch the magnetic on-off attachment device between the on state and the off state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A sensor system, comprising:
-
a) at least one sensor operatively configured to convert one or more physical occurrences into a signal; and b) a magnetic on-off attachment device attached to said at least one sensor for releasably magnetically securing said at least one sensor to a ferromagnetic structure, said magnetic on-off attachment device including; i) a first ferromagnetic portion; ii) a second ferromagnetic portion; iii) a magnetic insulator magnetically isolating said first ferromagnetic portion from said second ferromagnetic portion; iv) a dipole magnet movable relative to each of said first and second ferromagnetic portions so as to provide the magnetic on-off attachment device with an on state in which the magnetic on-off attachment device has a magnetic attraction to a ferromagnetic body that is not part of the magnetic on-off attachment device and with an off state in which the magnetic on-off attachment device has substantially no magnetic attraction to the ferromagnetic body; and v) an actuating mechanism operatively coupled to said dipole magnet so as to move said dipole magnet relative to each of said first and second ferromagnetic portions so as to alternatingly switch said magnetic on-off attachment device between the on state and the off state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification