US 12,466,015 B2
Magnetic coupling device
David H. Morton, Boulder, CO (US); Thomas D. Squillace, Boulder, CO (US); and Paul J. Karp, Thornton, CO (US)
Assigned to Magswitch Automation Company, Superior, CO (US)
Filed by Magswitch Technology, Inc., Superior, CO (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/737,597.
Application 18/737,597 is a continuation of application No. 18/230,544, filed on Aug. 4, 2023, granted, now 12,017,317.
Application 18/230,544 is a continuation of application No. 17/476,380, filed on Sep. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,772,214, issued on Oct. 3, 2023.
Application 17/476,380 is a continuation of application No. 16/964,005, granted, now 11,780,039, issued on Oct. 10, 2023, previously published as PCT/US2019/015541, filed on Jan. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/623,407, filed on Jan. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0326186 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. B23Q 3/154 (2006.01); B25B 11/00 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC B23Q 3/154 (2013.01) [B25B 11/002 (2013.01); H01F 7/0257 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A magnetic device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic body, comprising:
a housing having an interior defining an axis;
a plurality of pole portions supported by the housing, the plurality of pole portions defining a plurality of spaced apart projections which collectively form a workpiece contact interface of the plurality of pole portions, a first portion of the plurality of spaced apart projections defining a plurality of north pole portions of the workpiece contact interface and a second portion of the plurality of spaced apart projections defining a plurality of south pole portions of the workpiece contact interface;
at least one permanent magnets positionable within the interior of the housing to provide at a first position of the at least one permanent magnet a first level of magnetic flux at the workpiece contact interface and to provide at a second position of the at least one permanent magnet a second level of magnetic flux at the workpiece contact interface; and
at least one sensor supported by the housing, the at least one sensor providing a magnetic characteristic of the magnetic device to determine an operating state of the magnetic device.