US 12,459,293 B2
System and method for actuation to control magnetic wheel adhesion
Fadl Abdellatif, Thuwal (SA); Hesham Jifri, Thuwal (SA); Abdulwahab Halawani, Thuwal (SA); Ahmed Al Brahim, Thuwal (SA); and Ali J. Alrasheed, Thuwal (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,550.
Prior Publication US 2023/0339262 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B60B 19/00 (2006.01); B60F 5/02 (2006.01); B62D 57/024 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 19/006 (2013.01) [B62D 57/024 (2013.01); B60F 5/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuation system coupled to a wheel having an inner annular disc and an outer annular disc and configured to adhere magnetically to a metallic surface, wherein at least one of the inner annular disc and the outer annular disc has a magnetic element, comprising:
a motor configured to rotate a first disc of the inner annular disc or the outer annular disc, and to not rotate a second disc of the inner annular disc or the outer annular disc,
wherein in a first configuration, the motor rotates the first disc relative to the second disc by a predetermined rotational angle in a first rotational direction, thereby generating a first magnetic flux between the metallic surface and one of the first disc and the second disc to increase the adhesion of the wheel to the metallic surface, and
wherein in a second configuration, the motor rotates the first disc relative to the second disc by a predetermined rotational angle in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, thereby generating a second magnetic flux between the metallic surface and the one of the first disc and the second disc to decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the metallic surface,
wherein the second magnetic flux is less than the first magnetic flux.