Electro permanent magnetic system with magnetic state indicator

• US 9,164,154 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPD S.p.a (Ludwig Schunk Stiftung E.V.), Schunk GmbH & Company KG Spann- und Greiftechnik
• Original Assignee: SPD S.p.a (Ludwig Schunk Stiftung E.V.), Schunk GmbH & Company KG Spann- und Greiftechnik
• Inventors: Filosa, Giuseppe, Obori, Daniele, Cipolla, Matteo, Messinella, Daniele, Parolari, Andrea, Premoli, Albino
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US14/237,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20140202374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0058 using bistable elements, e.g. Reed switches
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0088 use of bistable or switching devices, e.g. Reed-switches
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/028 Electrodynamic magnetometers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/00 Apparatus or processes for magnetising or demagnetising devices for holding workpieces using magnetic or electric force acting directly on the workpieces B23Q3/15 ; for degaussing ships B63G9/06; for clocks or watches G04D9/00; recording or erasing of information on magnetic record carriers G11B5/00 ; demagnetising arrangements for colour television H04N9/29

Abstract

An electro permanent magnetic system (10) for anchoring ferromagnetic material, with magnetic state indicator (14), comprising: an electro permanent magnetic module (12), a control unit (11) for said electro permanent magnetic module (12), an electrical connection system (13) between said control unit (11) and said electro permanent magnetic module (12); a magnetization indicator (14) for said electro permanent magnetic module (12) associated with the electro permanent magnetic module (12); characterized in that said magnetization indicator (14) is a bistable indicator having two stable states; said magnetization indicator (14) not requiring electrical power to remain in one of said stable states; said magnetization indicator (14) being electrically fed only in association with the magnetization or demagnetization of said electro permanent magnetic module (12), to pass from one stable state to the other of said two stable states.

Claims

1. An electro permanent magnetic system (10) for anchoring ferromagnetic material comprising:

an electro permanent magnetic module (12), a control unit (11) for said electro permanent magnetic module (12), an electrical connection system (13) between said control unit (11) and said electro permanent magnetic module (12);

a magnetization indicator (14) able (or storing and showing the information relative to the magnetic state of said electro permanent magnetic module (12);

characterised in that said magnetization indicator (14) is a bistable indicator having two stable states;

said magnetization indicator (14) not requiring electrical power to remain in one or in the other of said two stable states;

said magnetization indicator (14) being electrically powered only in association with the magnetization or demagnetization of said electro permanent magnetic module (12), to pass from one stable state to the other of said two stable states, without requiring energy for its display.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said magnetization indicator (14) is positioned rigid with said electro permanent magnetic module (12).

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said magnetization indicator (14) is of electromechanical type.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said magnetization indicator (14) comprises an electric motor (22, 50) connected to a rotatable two-colour cylindrical wheel (23).

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, characterised by comprising a positioning sensor (53) for said electric motor (50).

6. A method for implementing an electro permanent magnetic system (10) for anchoring ferromagnetic material, with a magnetic state indicator (14) for an electro permanent magnetic module (12), characterised in that said magnetic state indicator (14) is bistable;

and by comprising the stage of electrically powering said electro permanent magnetic module (12) to magnetize or demagnetize said electro permanent magnetic module (12);

electrically powering said bistable magnetic state indicator (14) only in association with the stage of electrically powering said electro permanent magnetic module (12);

said stage of electrically powering said bistable magnetic state indicator (14) comprising the stage of switching said bistable magnetic state indicator (14) from one stable state to the other stable state without requiring energy for its display;

identifying one stable state from the other stable state of said bistable magnetic state indicator (14) by means of a two-colour element.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterised by comprising the step of rigidly associating said magnetic state indicator (14) with said electro permanent magnetic module (12).

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterised by comprising the step of blocking the stage of electrically powering said bistable magnetic state indicator (14) if a malfunction occurs during the stage of electrically powering said electro permanent magnetic module (12).