Interaction system of two permanent magnets

Abstract

 Interaction system of at least two permanent magnets in opposed arrangement and operating in one plane or more planes, wherein at least one magnet (10) or magnetic field is V-shaped with N-polarity on one side and S-polarity on the other side facing only one polarity S or N of the opposed magnet (12) or magnetic field, in case of magnet movement on more than one plane N and S polarity on all interacting magnets.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an interaction system of two permanent magnets and their magnetic fields as set forth in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Magnets with opposed polarity tend to attract one another up to maximum possible contact (in-locking); magnets with equal polarity tend to separate to the limit of their opposing magnetic forces (out-locking). While these magnetic qualities are desirable in some applications like in permanent contact (in-locking) or non-contact magnetic rails (out-locking) they are harmful in certain oscillating interactions where permanent magnets come into positions requiring energy to unlock them in or out when operating in one plane.

[0003] Numerous constructions were developed to address said undesirable interactions of permanent magnets. However, they could so far only reduce but not overcome the in- or out-locking effect of permanent magnets.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic interaction system in which the mentioned in-locking and out-locking problems are minimised when operation is in one plane and utilised when operation is in more than one plane.

[0005] According to the invention the drawbacks of the systems known in the art are avoided by an arrangement of the permanent magnets one of which is moving relative to the opposed magnet as described in claim 1, i. e. by using a magnetic field of at least one bi-polar V-shaped permanent magnetic field opposed by a single polarity magnetic field.

[0006] In the modification of claim 6 the magnetic fields of a series of permanent magnets are arranged in a V-form.

[0007] Claim 8 refers to an interaction system of at least two V-shaped magnetic fields having opposing polarities on their V-arms and moving on different planes.

[0008] The invention will now be described in some possible arrangements illustrated in the drawing in which:

figure 1

shows two opposed permanent magnets in a first basic arrangement,

figure 2

shows a schematic view of a modified arrangement,

figure 3

is still a further schematic view of an arrangement similar to figure 2,

figure 4

shows a known combination of two shielded permanent magnets,

figure 5

shows two interacting magnetic fields,

figure 6

shows a possibly shielded magnet,

figure 7

shows two opposed magnets, one of which is partially shielded,

figure 8

shows a further arrangement of magnets according to the invention,

figure 9

shows an arrangement similar to figure 7,

figure 10

shows the arrangement of figure 8 in a modified embodiment and

figure 11

shows two arrangements moving in two different planes.

[0009] As illustrated in the principle of figure 1, two permanent magnets 10 and 12 are in opposing arrangement. The first magnet 10 has a triangular section with N polarity on one side of its V tip 11 and S polarity on the other side assuming that the magnetic fields follow roughly the shape of the magnet 10. The opposing magnet 12 is in the form of a rectangular plate and has N polarity (or S polarity) on its side 13 facing the magnet 10.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a single V-arrangement whereas in figure 2 a double V arrangement is illustrated in which the opposing magnet 12 is also V-shaped. In this arrangement, too, the opposing magnet 12 has only N polarity (or S polarity) on its V-tip 11 facing the first magnet 10 with N polarity on one side and S polarity on the other side.

[0011] Figure 3 shows an arrangement in which one of the interacting magnetic fields is created by a V-shaped series 16 of permanent magnets 12. In such an arrangement one or more of the series 16 of magnets could be electro-magnetic in order to adjust the field shape or to control the interaction of the magnetic fields.

[0012] The opposed single magnet 10 having only N (or S) polarity on its V-tip 11 may be substituted by a series 16 of magnets 12 which, however, is not illustrated.

[0013] The V-shape of the field can not only be formed by exterior shape of a single permanent magnet as shown in figure 1 or by an arrangement of several permanent magnets as illustrated in figure 3. Also magnetic field shaping by means of shielding 18 (fig. 4) or field diversion 20 (fig. 5) are options. In figure 4 the shielding 18 is made up of a film of non-magnetic material like paper or aluminium sandwiched between magnetisable material.

[0014] One preferred option for such shielding is the use of two or more magnetisable layers 18 as illustrated in figures 6 and 7. A preferred method for field diversion is the use of magnetisable layers 18 as illustrated in figure 6 by which the magnetic field can be extended up to the dislocated field centre 20 (left side layer 18 of figure 6) or curved so that the curved field has its disclocated centre 20' as illustrated by the right side layer 18 of figure 6.

[0015] In the example of figure 7, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 12 is partially shielded by at least one layer 18.

[0016] As depicted in figure 5, a further method of magnetic field shaping is the influence of an interacting second magnetic field 20.

[0017] In all mentioned applications V-shape does not necessarily mean straight-line arms of the shaped V. Magnetic fields, by their nature, are often curved. For that reason, the V-shape characteristic is achieved by the connecting line 22 (figure 8) between the most distant points 24 on each arm 22, 22' of the useful fields forming the V-shape. The angle α of the V-shape may be acute or obtuse.

[0018] In figures 9 and 10 a modified arrangement of figure 8 is shown. Here the V-shape is achieved by a magnetic field (in the illustration emanating from a single permanent magnet 10) and the direction of movement u or u' of the opposing magnet (s).

[0019] In the example of figure 9 the opposed polarities are equal - here N-polarity - such that the single permanent magnet 10 with its corresponding field will be moved in the direction u away from the crossing V point. In the example of figure 10, however, the S-polarity of the single permanent magnet 10 faces the opposite polarity N of the series 16 of permanent magnets 12; as a result, the single magnet 10 will move in the opposite direction u' towards the crossing V point.

[0020] Figure 11 shows a series 16 of V-shaped magnets 10 moving in one plane 26 while the opposing V-shaped magnet 10' turns in a plane different from the one of the series 16 of magnets 10. When the opposing magnet 10' rotates on its axis B the series 16 of magnets 10 turns on its axis A. Preferably, the angle between axis A and axis B is of 90°. The series 16 is shown here on a rotating base (plane 26); however, any other line of arrangement for the series 16 of magnets is possible like, for instance, straight-line arrangement and movement.

[0021] The invention may be summarized as the interaction of at least two permanent magnets in opposed arrangement and operating in one or more planes, where at least one magnet or magnetic field is V-shaped with N-polarity on one side and S-polarity on the other side facing only one polarity S or N of the opposed magnetic field, in case of magnet movement on more than one plane N and S polarity on all interacting magnets.

[0022] An advantageous application of V-shaped magnetic field interaction is in rotation where one magnet or line of similar magnets or of similar magnet arrangements is on a rotating base while the opposing magnet or line of magnets or magnet arrangements remain(s) stationary or is in counter-rotation. The purpose of such application could be to enhance efficiency of electric machines or gears.

Claims

1. Interaction system of at least two permanent magnets in opposed arrangement, characterized in that at least one magnet (10) is V-shaped with N polarity on one side and S polarity on the other side facing only one polarity S or N of the opposed magnet (12).

2. Interaction system according to claim 1 wherein the opposed magnet (12) is also V-shaped having equal polarity on both V-sides.

3. Interaction system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the V-shape of the magnetic fields is achieved by a series (16) of magnets (12) mounted in line.

4. Interaction system according to claim 3 wherein at least one magnet (12) is an electro magnet.

5. Interaction system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the opposed magnetic fields is situated on an arm of the V-form arrangement.

6. Interaction system according to any of the preceding claims wherein two permanent magnetic fields are arranged in V-form having two arms one of which is the connecting line (22) of a series (16) of magnets (12) whereas the other arm is the direction of movement (u) of the opposed magnet field.

7. Interaction system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic fields are achieved or enhanced by field shaping via magnetic field shielding and/or field curving and/or field extending.

8. Interaction system of at least two V-shaped magnetic fields having opposing polarities on their V-arms and moving on different planes.

Drawing