Asymmetrical Magnet Arrays for Local Force Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional systems requiring strong magnetic fields in a defined gap, such as MRI imagers and motors, face challenges with parallel arrays of magnets generating excessive attractive forces, which are typically countered with heavy and cumbersome cantilevers, increasing system weight.
Innovation Solution
A magnet array structure comprising opposing magnetic arrays with alternating widths and/or orientations, transforming attractive forces into shear forces, allowing for local cancellation within a composite magnet rather than relying on the supporting structure, thereby reducing overall system weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If heavy cantilevers are used to oppose attractive forces, then the force balance is improved, but the system weight increases greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cantilever support system with a magnetic field-based force balance mechanism. Instead of using heavy mechanical structures to counteract attractive forces, the system uses carefully designed magnetic field distributions with varying magnetization directions to naturally balance forces, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the magnetic field parameters by varying magnetization directions and strengths across different regions of the magnet array. This parameter optimization allows the magnetic system to self-balance forces without requiring additional heavy mechanical counterweights or support structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively mitigates the attractive forces between magnetic arrays, allowing for the generation of strong magnetic fields without the need for heavy supporting structures, enhancing system efficiency and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnet array including a first repeatable magnet arrangement and second magnet array including a second repeatable magnet arrangement. The first repeatable magnet arrangement includes a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned magnetic elements and the second repeatable magnet arrangement includes a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned magnetic elements
Implementation Method 2
By alternating width and/or orientation of magnets within the MAS, attractive forces between the opposing magnetic arrays are transformed into shear forces
Data Source
AI summary
Magnet array structure includes a first linear magnet array and a second linear magnet array having a first and a second arrangement of magnets, respectively, in which the first and the second arrangement of magnets are repeated along respective lengths of the first and second linear magnet array. The first and second arrangement of magnets include respective individual first and second magnet elements arranged along the respective length of the first and second linear magnet array so that no net magnetic forces parallel to the length of the first and second linear magnet array result on the first and second arrangement of magnets, respectively. The first arrangement of magnets is offset from the second arrangement of magnets so that the first arrangement of magnets and the second arrangement of magnets partially overlap.