Split Magnetic Pole Layout for Precise Steel Plate Lifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lifting magnets in steel mills face inefficiencies when lifting thin steel materials, as they often attract unnecessary plates due to magnetic flux saturation, leading to reduced work efficiency and challenges in automating crane operations, particularly due to difficulties in controlling the number of plates lifted and varying magnetic characteristics of steel materials.

Innovation Solution

A lifting-magnet attachment magnetic pole unit with split magnetic poles, where the inner and outer poles are branched to distribute magnetic flux evenly, preventing saturation and allowing precise control over the number of plates lifted by adjusting the magnetic field circuit, thereby maintaining lifting force and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a large magnetic flux is applied from one point to lift thin steel materials, then the lifting force is sufficient, but magnetic flux saturation occurs in the uppermost piece causing unnecessary plates to be attracted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting forceVSAvoidcontrol precision of attracted plates
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic pole is divided into multiple segmented poles arranged in an array. Each segmented pole independently applies magnetic flux to a specific region of the steel material, preventing magnetic flux saturation in any single location and enabling precise control over which plates are attracted without unnecessarily attracting additional plates underneath.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If current control is used to adjust the number of plates attracted, then the number of plates can be controlled, but the operation requires significant operator skill and reduces work efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of controlling plates to be liftedVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the magnetic pole have different local properties through the segmented pole configuration. Each segmented pole can be independently controlled or has different magnetic characteristics, allowing localized adjustment of magnetic flux distribution. This enables automatic control systems to precisely determine and control the number of plates to be attracted without requiring operator skill for current adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Force

If a single large coil is used to produce sufficient magnetic flux, then the lifting force is adequate, but the coil generates significant heat and consumes high power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic flux outputVSAvoidpower consumption and heat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The single large coil is replaced with multiple smaller coils, each associated with a segmented pole. This distributes the power consumption and heat generation across multiple smaller coils rather than concentrating it in one large coil, reducing the thermal load on any single coil while maintaining the total magnetic flux output required for lifting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution prevents magnetic flux saturation in thin steel materials, enabling accurate control over the number of plates lifted, even when stacked, and maintains the lifting force and power efficiency comparable to traditional magnets, while avoiding weight and heat generation issues.

Implementation Method 1

an iron core (inner pole) 101 is mounted inside the coil 103 and a yoke (outer pole) 102 for transmitting a magnetic field is mounted outside the coil 103. By bringing the inner pole 101 and the outer pole 102 into contact with a steel material, with the coil 103 being in an energized state, a magnetic field circuit is formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

A lifting-magnet attachment magnetic pole unit with split magnetic poles, where the inner and outer poles are branched to distribute magnetic flux evenly, preventing saturation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic flux distribution: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3718946B1Attachment magnetic pole for lifting magnet, lifting magnet having magnetic pole for hoisting steel material, method for conveying steel material, and method for manufacturing steel plate
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 JFE STEEL CORP
  • EP3718946B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP3718946B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP3718946B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object is to provide a lifting-magnet attachment magnetic pole unit, a lifting magnet, a steel material conveying method, and a steel plate manufacturing method with which only one or a desired pieces of steel materials can be held. The present invention is a lifting-magnet attachment magnetic pole unit for a lifting magnet used to lift and convey a steel material with magnetic force. The lifting-magnet attachment magnetic pole unit includes a first split magnetic pole that is in contact with an iron core of the lifting magnet and has a branched structure, and a second split magnetic pole that is in contact with a yoke of the lifting magnet and has a branched structure. The first and second split magnetic poles are alternately arranged.