"A compound magnet"
The present invention relates to a compound magnet, and in particular to a compound magnet of the type comprising a plurality of magnets located side by side so that the magnets generate a combined predetermined magnetic field. Such compound magnets may be ring magnets and may be of circular shape of otherwise. The magnets making up the compound magnet may be provided by permanent magnets, electro magnets or any other suitable magnets.
Ring magnets, whether of circular, square, rectangular or other shape are commonly used to provide a relatively strong uni-directional magnetic field which acts diametrically across the ring and typically through the centre of the ring. The ring magnet, in general, is formed by a plurality of discrete magnets which are arranged in a carrier ring so that the individual magnetic fields of the magnets which make up the ring combine to form the concentrated uni-directional magnetic field extending diametrically across the ring, and typically through the centre of the ring. However, in order to arrange the magnets of the ring such that the combined effect of their respective magnetic fields acts to form the concentrated uni-directional magnetic field, the magnets have to be secured in the carrier ring with their respective directions of magnetisation appropriately arranged. This, in general, requires that the magnets be arranged in the carrier ring such that components of magnetic fields of adjacent magnets act against each other to the extent that the repulsive magnetic forces between adjacent magnets may be so high as to cause the carrier ring to fracture.
There is therefore a need for a compound magnet which overcomes these problems.
The present invention is directed towards providing such a compound magnet.
According to the invention, there is provided a compound magnet comprising a magnet carrier and a plurality of magnets located in the magnet carrier for generating a predetermined magnetic field, wherein the magnet carrier comprises a plurality of spaced apart discrete magnet receiving segments for receiving the magnets in side by side abutting relationship, each magnet is magnetised in a direction of magnetisation parallel to the abutting side of the magnet, and a plurality of the magnets are located in each magnet receiving segment in side by side abutting relationship with their directions of magnetisation parallel to each other for defining a direction of magnetisation of the corresponding magnet receiving segment parallel to the directions of magnetisation of the magnets therein, the directions of magnetisation of the respective magnet receiving segments being the same or different for generating the predetermined magnetic field.
In one embodiment of the invention the compound magnet generates the predetermined magnetic field of a predetermined direction.
In another embodiment of the invention the directions of magnetisation of adjacent magnet receiving segments is the same or different.
In a further embodiment of the invention the directions of magnetisation of adjacent magnet receiving segments is different.
Preferably, at least some of the magnets are parallel sided for abutting two adjacent magnets on two respective opposite parallel sides thereof. Advantageously, each magnet terminates in at least one end extending perpendicularly to the abutting side for abutting a corresponding end of an adjacent magnet.
Preferably, the magnets of each magnet receiving segment are arranged in end to end abutting relationships. Advantageously, the direction of magnetisation of each magnet extends perpendicularly to the abutting end of the magnet.
In one embodiment of the invention the compound magnet is a ring magnet, and the magnet carrier comprises a ring carrier.
In another embodiment of the invention the carrier ring is a circular ring.
Advantageously, the predetermined magnetic field generated by the compound magnet is a uni-directional magnetic field.
Ideally, the predetermined magnetic field acts diametrically across the carrier ring, and preferably, the predetermined magnetic field acts through the centre of the carrier ring.
In one embodiment of the invention the predetermined magnetic field is a relatively concentrated magnetic field.
In another embodiment the magnets are permanent magnets.
The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that it provides a ring shaped magnet which generates a relatively concentrated uni-directional magnetic field which extends diametrically across the carrier ring through the centre of the ring. The magnetic field is generated effectively and efficiently. In particular, the invention permits the formation of such a unidirectional concentrated field from a plurality of relatively small magnets, and in particular, from a plurality of relatively small permanent magnets. Additionally, by virtue of the arrangement of the magnets in the respective magnet receiving segments the magnetic forces tending to repulse adjacent permanent magnets in the magnet receiving segments is minimised, and indeed, is relatively low. This has the advantage that firstly, assembly of the magnets into the respective magnet receiving segments is a relatively simple and straightforward task, and secondly, the repulsive forces of the magnets tending to urge the magnets apart in the respective magnet receiving segments being relatively low minimises the destructive forces acting on the structure forming the magnet receiving segments, thus minimising any danger of destruction of the structure, and in turn the carrier ring.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a compound magnet according to the invention with a portion of the compound magnet removed,
Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the compound magnet of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a partly cut away top plan view of a portion of the compound magnet of Fig. 1,
Figs. 4(a) and (b) illustrate the arrangement of magnets in the compound magnet of Fig. 1 ,
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the compound magnet of Fig. 1 , and
Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the portion of Fig. 5 of the compound magnet of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a compound magnet, according to the invention which in this case is a compound ring magnet 1 for generating a relatively concentrated predetermined uni-directional magnetic field which is indicated by the arrows A and extends diametrically through the centre of the ring magnet 1. The ring magnet 1 comprises a carrier ring 2 of magnetic grade stainless steel having a bottom ring plate 4. A plurality of T-shaped units 5 are secured to the bottom ring plate 4, and inner plates 6 secured to centre leg plates 7 of the T-shaped units 5 define a plurality of spaced apart discrete magnet receiving segments 9 within which pluralities of permanent magnets 10 are located, see Fig. 4. A plurality of top plates 12 secured to the T-shaped units 5 close the magnet receiving segments 9 for retaining the magnets 10 therein.
At least some of the magnets 10 are parallel-sided magnets having opposite parallel sides 14 and opposite parallel ends 15, and are arranged in the segments 9 in side by side and end to end abutting relationship with each other, the ends 15 being perpendicular to the sides 14. The magnets 10 are magnetised in a direction such that, the direction of magnetisation B of each magnet 10 is parallel to its abutting sides 14, and perpendicular to its ends 15. The magnets 10 which are not parallel sided are magnetised in a direction of magnetisation parallel to their respective abutting sides. The directions of magnetisation B of the magnets 10 in each segment 9 are thus in the same direction and parallel to each other, and define a direction of magnetisation C of the corresponding segment 9 parallel to the direction of magnetisation B of the magnets of that segment 9. However, the magnets 10 in adjacent segments 9 are arranged such that the direction of magnetisation C of the adjacent segments 9 are different to each other, and are arranged for generating the uni-directional concentrated magnetic field A which extends diametrically across and through the centre of the carrier ring 2.
It has been found that by arranging the magnetics 10 in the respective segments 9 with their magnetic fields extending in the same direction and parallel to each other and most importantly parallel to the abutting sides 14 of the magnets 10, the repulsive forces acting between the adjacent magnets 10 within each segment 9 is minimised.
The magnets 10 may be of any suitable hard magnetic material, for example, Nd-Fe- B, Sm-Co, Sm-Fe-N, alnico, MnAI, Pt-Co, Ba-Fe-O, Sr-Fe-O. In the present
embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the ring magnet 1 is 0.6 metres, and is suitable for providing a concentrated uni-directional diametrical magnetic field of strength in the order of 1 millitesla to 2 teslas.
Turning now to the construction of the carrier ring 2, each T-shaped unit 5 comprises a cross plate 17 extending transversally relative to the centre leg plate 7. The cross plates 17 and the leg plates 7 of the T-shaped units 5 are shaped to co-operate with their respective adjacent T-shaped units 5 for forming the magnet receiving segments 9. Ends 18 and 19 of the cross plates 17 are chamfered for co-operating with corresponding ends 19 and 18, respectively, of adjacent cross plates 17 of adjacent T-shaped units 5 for forming a relatively strong rigid structure for containing the magnets 10 therein. Outer plates 20 secured to the outer surfaces of the cross plates 15 overlap the ends 18 of adjacent cross plates 17 of adjacent T-shaped units 5 for further enhancing the strength of the structure forming the magnet receiving segments 9. Screws 22 engage threaded bores 23 in the cross plates 17 for securing the outer plates 20 to the cross plates 17. Threaded bores 24 in the cross plates 17 and leg plates 7 receive screws 25 through the top plates 12 for securing the top plates 12 to the T-shaped units 5. Threaded bores 27 in the leg plates 7 and the cross plates 17 receive screws (not shown) through the bottom ring plate 4 for securing the T-shaped units 5 to the bottom ring plate 4. Threaded bores 28 in the leg plates 7 receive screws 29 through the inner plates 6 for securing the inner plates 6 to the T-shaped units 5.
While the permanent magnets have been described as being of a specific type, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the permanent magnets may be of
any suitable type and material. Indeed, it will also be appreciated that in certain cases the magnets may not be permanent magnets, but rather may be electro magnets or other suitable magnets.
While the compound magnet has been described as being of circular ring shape, the compound magnet could be of any other shape, for example, it could be provided of square ring shape, rectangular ring shape or indeed, any other polygonal ring shape.