Rotatable Magnet Plate Separator for Safe Automatic Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic plate separators require significant force to move magnets to the inactive state and fail to automatically switch off when power is lost, posing safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic plate separator design featuring rotatable shafts for the magnets, with a magnetic conductor forming a closed circuit between them, allowing for reduced force to switch off and automatic transition to the inactive state when power is lost, and incorporating springs to ensure magnets rotate to the inactive position even with steel plates present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the magnetic plate separator uses a single rotatable shaft with two permanent magnets, then the device structure is simpler, but the force required to move the magnets to the inactive state is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet assembly is segmented into two independent rotatable shafts instead of a single shaft. Each shaft carries one permanent magnet and can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the magnetic circuit to be optimized separately for each magnet, reducing the force required to switch between active and inactive states while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the permanent magnets remain in the active state or move to the active state when power supply is lost, then the magnetic field is continuously active, but this creates safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The default state of the magnet assembly is inverted: instead of the magnets remaining in the active state when power is lost, they are designed to automatically move to the inactive state when power supply is interrupted. The magnetic circuit is configured so that loss of power causes the magnets to rotate away from the work surface, eliminating the harmful effect of unintended magnetic activation.
3Productivity
If the magnetic field is powerful with deep field effect to magnetically saturate steel plates, then the plates spread effectively in vertical direction, but the force required to switch off the separator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic circuit is segmented with separate paths for each magnet, allowing independent optimization. Each magnet has its own magnetic conductor and circuit configuration that maximizes field strength during operation while minimizing the force required to deactivate. This segmentation enables powerful separation when needed without requiring excessive force to switch off.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic conductors are introduced as intermediaries between the permanent magnets and the steel plates. These conductors concentrate and direct the magnetic field to achieve deep penetration and strong saturation effect during active state, while their geometric configuration (with larger cross-sections at certain positions) facilitates easier deactivation by providing a low-reluctance path that naturally pulls the magnets away when power is lost.
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
Substantially reduces the force required to switch off the separator and ensures safe automatic disengagement when power is lost, minimizing magnetic force on steel plates and preventing accidental activation without steel plates in front of the work surface.
Implementation Method 1
the magnetic field of the permanent magnets is operative beyond the work surface
Implementation Method 2
the steel plates are magnetically saturated over as large a surface as possible
Implementation Method 3
Since like poles repel each other, the plates then spread in vertical direction and stand apart
Implementation Method 4
the other poles of the magnets are magnetically connected to each other via at least one magnetic conductor
Implementation Method 5
Both in the active state and in the inactive state of the magnets the other poles of the magnets are thus present near the magnetic conductor which closes the magnetic circuit
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A magnetic device (1) has a housing (3) provided with an elongated work surface (5) which, during operation, is present next to a stack of plates and is vertically oriented in longitudinal direction, as well as two elongated permanent magnets (9), (11) which are rotatable between an active state, in which the first magnet (9) faces the work surface (5) with the magnetic North Pole 9N and the second magnet (11) faces the work surface (5) with the magnetic South Pole 11Z, and an inactive state in which the North Pole 9N of the first magnet and the South Pole 11Z of the second magnet are facing each other. The other poles 9Z, UN of the magnets are magnetically connected to each other via a magnetic conductor (21). Moving the magnets takes little force and the magnets turn by themselves or possibly assisted by a spring to the inactive state when the power supply is lost.