Magnetic anchorage equipment with a self-test unit

• US 8,390,271 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tecnomagnete S.P.A. (Autoblok SpA)
• Original Assignee: Tecnomagnete S.P.A. (Autoblok SpA), Politecnico di Milano
• Inventors: Cardone, Michele, Cosmai, Giovanni, Faranda, Roberto, Giglio, Antonino
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, SON T
• Application Number:
  US12/599,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 324/205, 335/209, 335/220, 335/285
• US Class Current: 324/205
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/154 Stationary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/002 Magnetic work holders
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/04 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/065 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/208 combined with permanent magnets
• 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

The present invention relates to magnetic anchorage equipment comprising a frame able to contain a plurality of polar units, each of the plurality of polar units having a ferromagnetic polar element which identifies an anchorage surface and a self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment. The magnetic anchorage equipment is characterized in that the self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment is at least partly integrated in the frame.

Claims

1. Magnetic anchorage equipment comprising:

a frame containing at least one polar unit having a ferromagnetic polar element which identifies an anchorage surface;

a self-testing unit for checking the magnetic equipment comprising data acquisition means, said data acquisition means being able to acquire a plurality of signals each of which identifies one of a plurality of characteristic parameters of the magnetic anchorage equipment;

and at least one housing;

the self-testing unit comprising a checking section for checking said plurality of characteristic parameters, said checking section being contained in said at least one housing, said at least one housing being defined in said frame;

wherein the data acquisition means comprise first acquisition means which are able to acquire a first signal identifying a first characteristic parameter (P3) of the magnetic equipment, the first characteristic parameter (P3) being proportional to the instantaneous value of the current flowing in the at least one polar unit identifying the anchorage surface.

2. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition means second comprise acquisition means which are able to acquire a first signal identifying a second characteristic parameter (P1) of the magnetic equipment, the second characteristic parameter (P1) being proportional to the value of the force developed by the magnetic equipment.

3. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 2, wherein the second acquisition means comprise a first coil positioned along the perimeter of the at least one polar unit forming the anchorage surface.

4. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 3 wherein the magnetic equipment is electropermanent magnetic equipment and the self-testing unit comprises a checking and control section, a power section, a communication section, the checking and control section, the power section and the communication section being contained in the at least one housing.

5. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 4, wherein the fifth acquisition means coincide with the first and/or the second coil.

6. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 4, wherein the average temperature of the anchorage surface is proportional to a predetermined current flowing inside the first and/or the second coil.

7. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition means comprise a Hall effect sensor.

8. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic equipment is a permanent-magnet equipment and the self-testing unit comprises a power supply section and a display section, said power supply section said display section being contained in said at least one housing.

9. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 8, wherein the display section comprises a screen electrically connected to the checking section, the screen being attached to the frame.

10. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 8, wherein the data acquisition means comprise third acquisition means which are able to acquire a second signal identifying a third characteristic parameter (P2) of the magnetic equipment, the third characteristic parameter (P2) being proportional to the weight of a lifted load.

11. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 10, wherein the checking section is able to compare the second characteristic parameter (P1) with the third characteristic parameter (P2) in such a way that the display section displays the value resulting from that comparison.

12. Anchorage equipment according to claim 11, wherein the screen is able to display the value of the second characteristic parameter (P1) and/or able to display the value of the third characteristic parameter (P2) and/or the result of the comparison between the second characteristic parameter (P1) and the third characteristic parameter (P2).

13. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic equipment is electropermanent magnetic equipment and the self-testing unit comprises a checking and control section, a power section, a communication section, the checking and control section, the power section and the communication section being contained in the at least one housing.

14. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 13, wherein the display section comprises a screen electrically connected to said checking and control section and to the data acquisition means, the screen being able to display the value of the second characteristic parameter (P1).

15. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 13, wherein the checking and control section is able to compare the second characteristic parameter (P1) with a predefined value, and if the second characteristic parameter (P1) is greater than the predefined value, then at least one polar unit is activated, otherwise if the second characteristic parameter (P1) is less than the predefined value, then at least one polar unit is not activated.

16. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 13, wherein the second acquisition means comprise a second coil which turns out to be positioned along the perimeter of at least one polar unit in order to sense the second characteristic parameter (P1).

17. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 16, wherein the data acquisition means comprise fifth acquisition means which are able to acquire a fifth signal identifying a fifth characteristic parameter (P5) of the magnetic equipment, the fifth characteristic parameter (P5) being proportional to the average temperature of the anchorage surface.

18. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 13, in which the checking section and/or the checking and control section comprises at least a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

19. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 10, wherein the data acquisition means comprise fourth acquisition means which are able to acquire a fourth signal identifying a fourth characteristic parameter (P4) of the magnetic equipment, the fourth characteristic parameter (P4) being representative of the presence and/or absence of a mould near the anchorage surface.

20. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 19, wherein the fourth acquisition means comprises one or more proximity sensors.

21. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 19 wherein the data acquisition means comprise fifth acquisition means which are able to acquire a fifth signal identifying a fifth characteristic parameter (P5) of the magnetic equipment, the fifth characteristic parameter (P5) being proportional to the average temperature of the anchorage surface.

22. Magnetic anchorage equipment according to claim 21, in which the display section comprises a screen electrically connected to the self-testing unit, the screen being able to display the value of the first, third, fourth and/or fifth characteristic parameter, P3, P2, P4, P5).