Non-contact magnetic steering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10738828-B2
Application number	US-201615176885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

A non-contact steering device includes one or more magnetic rotors positioned near a metal strip. Each rotor includes one or more permanent magnets and rotates to impart a changing magnetic field on the metal strip passing nearby. The magnetic rotors can rotate around an axis of rotation that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of travel of the metal strip. The magnetic rotors can be positioned to impart forces on the strip in any combination of laterally, vertically, or longitudinally. A control mechanism can control the rotor speed, rotor direction, vertical position of the rotors, vertical spacing between rotors, and/or lateral position of the rotors. In some cases, the control mechanism can be coupled to sensors, such as a light curtain and a laser distance sensor, in order to provide closed loop feedback control of a metal strip passing through the non-contact magnetic rotor steering device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic steering apparatus for a moving metal strip, comprising:
a first rotor set comprising at least a first magnetic rotor that rotates about a respective first axis of rotation;
a second rotor set comprising at least a second magnetic rotor that rotates about a respective second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation is not collinear with the second axis of rotation, and wherein each of the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation intersect a plane perpendicular to a direction of travel of the moving metal strip and are laterally offset from a lateral centerline of the moving metal strip at the plane; and
one or more rotor motors coupled to the first and second magnetic rotors to rotate the magnetic rotors and induce a changing magnetic field proximate each of the first and second magnetic rotors, wherein at least one of the changing magnetic fields generates a force in the moving metal strip to steer the moving metal strip as the moving metal strip passes through the at least one changing magnetic field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second magnetic rotors includes one or more permanent magnets.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first axis of rotation is positionable opposite the lateral centerline of the moving metal strip from the second axis of rotation, and wherein the first and the second axes of rotation are laterally spaced apart by a distance that is greater than a width of the moving metal strip.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first rotor set comprises a third magnetic rotor and the second rotor set comprises a fourth magnetic rotor, wherein the first and third magnetic rotors are positioned horizontally opposite the lateral centerline of the moving metal strip from the second and fourth magnetic rotors, wherein the first and third magnetic rotors are vertically spaced apart from one another, and wherein the second and fourth magnetic rotors are vertically spaced apart from one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more actuators coupled to one or more magnetic rotors of the first rotor set and the second rotor set to adjust vertical, horizontal, or vertical and horizontal positioning of the one or more magnetic rotors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a controller coupled to a sensor and the one or more actuators to adjust the vertical, horizontal, or vertical and horizontal positioning of the one or more magnetic rotors in response to a signal from the sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising, for each magnetic rotor of the first rotor set and the second rotor set, a rotor shield surrounding the magnetic rotor, wherein the rotor shield defines an enclosed space.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising, for each magnetic rotor of the first rotor set and the second rotor set, a source of coolant fluidly coupled to the enclosed space for removing heat from the magnetic rotor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third rotor set comprising at least one magnetic rotor that rotates about an axis of rotation which intersects the plane, wherein the axis of rotation of the magnetic rotor of the third rotor set is laterally offset from each of the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation at the plane.

10. A magnetic steering apparatus for a moving metal strip, comprising:
a first rotor set including a first top rotor positioned vertically opposite a desired passline for the moving metal strip from a first bottom rotor, wherein each of the first top rotor and the first bottom rotor includes one or more permanent magnets, and wherein each of the first top rotor and the first bottom rotor are rotatable to induce a changing magnetic field proximate the first top rotor and the first bottom rotor; and
a second rotor set including a second top rotor positioned vertically opposite the desired passline from a second bottom rotor, wherein each of the second top rotor and the second bottom rotor includes one or more permanent magnets, wherein each of the second top rotor and the second bottom rotor are rotatable to induce a changing magnetic field proximate the second top rotor and the second bottom rotor, and
wherein axes of rotation of the first top rotor and first bottom rotor are laterally spaced apart from and located opposite a centerline of the desired passline from axes of rotation of the second top rotor and second bottom rotor such that one or more of the changing magnetic fields generate force in a moving metal strip traveling proximate the first rotor set and the second rotor set to steer a centerline of the moving metal strip towards the centerline of the desired passline.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the first top rotor and the first bottom rotor are coupled to a first vertical support;
the second top rotor and the second bottom rotor are coupled to a second vertical support; and
the first vertical support and second vertical support are both horizontally positionable along a horizontal support.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first top rotor and the second top rotor are horizontally positionable along a top horizontal support, and wherein the first bottom rotor and the second bottom rotor are horizontally positionable along a bottom horizontal support.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first top rotor and the second top rotor are vertically positionable with respect to the top horizontal support, and wherein the first bottom rotor and the second bottom rotor are vertically positionable with respect to the bottom horizontal support.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising, for each rotor of the first rotor set and the second rotor set, a rotor shield surrounding the rotor, wherein the rotor shield defines an enclosed space.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising, for each rotor of the first rotor set and the second rotor set, a source of coolant fluidly coupled to the enclosed space for removing heat from the rotor.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a lateral distance between the axes of rotation of the first top rotor and first bottom rotor and the axes of rotation of the second top rotor and second bottom rotor is within a 5% deviation of a width of the moving metal strip.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the lateral distance between the axes of rotation of the first top rotor and first bottom rotor and the axes of rotation of the second top rotor and second bottom rotor is greater than a width of the moving metal strip.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the lateral distance between the axes of rotation of the first top rotor and first bottom rotor and the axes of rotation of the second top rotor and second bottom rotor is greater than a width of the metal strip by at least a sum of the radii of the first top rotor and the second top rotor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the lateral distance between the axes of rotation of the first top rotor and first bottom rotor and the axes of rotation of the second top rotor and second bottom rotor is greater than a width of the metal strip by at least half of the width of the moving metal strip.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the centerline of the moving metal strip is a lateral centerline of the moving metal strip; and wherein the centerline of the desired passline is a lateral centerline of the desired passline.

Assignees

• Novelis Inc

Inventors

• Kosmicki Michael
• Bommarito Michael
• Gaensbauer David
• Wagstaff Robert Bruce
• Custers David Michael

Classifications

• B21C47/3483 Primary

  Magnetic field · CPC title

• H01F7/0247 Primary

  Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements · CPC title

• H02K7/09

  with magnetic bearings · CPC title

• F16C32/0406 Primary

  Magnetic bearings · CPC title

• H02N15/00

  Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for (electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 {; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00}; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 {; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32}) · CPC title