Ferromagnetic Material Removing Device and Method for Removing Ferromagnetic Material from a Fluid

Abstract

A ferromagnetic material removing device for removing ferromagnetic material from a fluid containing ferromagnetic material is disclosed. The device comprises at least one carrier encasing a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in an inner space of the carrier. The outside of the carrier is configured to collect ferromagnetic material that is attracted by the magnets. The carrier is ring-shaped and rotatably mounted and the device comprises a removing portion arranged and configured to remove the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier and a driving assembly arranged to rotate the carrier.

Claims

1. A ferromagnetic material removing device for removing ferromagnetic material from a fluid containing ferromagnetic material, wherein the device comprises: at least one carrier encasing a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in an inner space of the carrier, wherein an outside of the carrier is configured to collect ferromagnetic material that is attracted by the permanent magnets, wherein the carrier is rotatably mounted; a removing portion arranged and configured to remove the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier; and a driving assembly arranged to rotate the carrier, wherein the carrier is ring-shaped, the carrier comprises a magnet free zone.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet free zone extends 25 degrees or more.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises several carriers arranged adjacent to each other.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving assembly comprises one or more rotatably mounted engagement members brought into engagement with the outside of the carrier.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the driving assembly comprises one or more adjustment structures arranged and configured to increase a force with which the one or more rotatably mounted engagement members press towards the outside of the one or more carriers.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving assembly comprises two spaced apart rotatably mounted engagement members.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the driving assembly comprises one or more adjustment structures arranged and configured to increase a force with which the one or more rotatably mounted engagement members press towards the outside of the one or more carriers.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving assembly comprises an electromagnet arranged and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field that causes the carrier to rotate.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a drawer arranged and configured to collect ferromagnetic material removed from the outside of the carrier by the removing portion.

10. A method for removing ferromagnetic material from a fluid containing ferromagnetic material using a ferromagnetic material removing device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: submerging a carrier into the fluid, wherein said carrier encases a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in an inner space of the carrier, wherein an outside of the carrier is configured to collect ferromagnetic material that is attracted by the magnets; and releasing the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier, wherein the carrier is rotatably mounted and a removing portion is arranged and configured to remove the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier while rotating the carrier; wherein the carrier is ring-shaped and the carrier comprises a magnet free zone.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the magnet free zone extends 25 degrees or more.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the device comprises several carriers arranged adjacent to each other.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier is released into a collecting structure that is arranged below the removing portion.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the carrier is ring-shaped and has a circular cross-section.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the rotation of the carrier is carried out by a driving assembly that comprises one or more rotatably mounted engagement members that are brought into engagement with the outside of the carrier.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the rotation of the carrier is carried out by a driving assembly that comprises an electromagnet arranged and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field that causes the carrier to rotate.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the rotation of the carrier is carried out by a driving assembly that comprises an electromagnet arranged and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field that causes the carrier to rotate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] Devices and methods will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative. In the accompanying drawings:

[0063] FIG. 1A shows a perspective, top view of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0064] FIG. 1B shows a side view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 1A;

[0065] FIG. 2A shows a prior art apparatus for removing ferromagnetic material from a liquid;

[0066] FIG. 2B shows the apparatus shown in FIG. 2A in another configuration;

[0067] FIG. 3A shows a top view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 1A;

[0068] FIG. 3B shows a front view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 1A and in FIG. 3A;

[0069] FIG. 4A shows a first schematic view of the working principle of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0070] FIG. 4B shows a second schematic view of the working principle of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 4A;

[0071] FIG. 4C shows a first schematic view of the working principle of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0072] FIG. 4D shows a second schematic view of the working principle of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 4C;

[0073] FIG. 5A shows a side view of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0074] FIG. 5B shows a close-up view of a portion of the carrier of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 5A;

[0075] FIG. 6A shows a side view of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0076] FIG. 6B shows a front view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 6A;

[0077] FIG. 6C shows a perspective view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 6A;

[0078] FIG. 7A shows a plate member of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0079] FIG. 7B shows an end view of an engagement member of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0080] FIG. 7C shows a cross-sectional view of the engagement member shown in FIG. 7B;

[0081] FIG. 8A shows a cross-sectional view of an engagement member that is brought into engagement with a carrier of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment;

[0082] FIG. 8B shows a portion of a carrier of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment; and

[0083] FIG. 8C shows a portion of another carrier of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the present devices and methods, a ferromagnetic material removing device acco 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0085] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective, top view of a ferromagnetic material removing device 2 according to an embodiment. The device 2 is designed to remove ferromagnetic material from a fluid (such as a water containing liquid) that contains ferromagnetic material. The device 2 comprises four modules that each comprise a carrier 4, 4, 4, 4. Each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 encases a plurality of permanent magnets (see FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 4D, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C. The permanent magnets are arranged in an inner space of the carrier.

[0086] The outside of each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 is configured to collect ferromagnetic material that is attracted by the magnets by magnetic attraction.

[0087] Each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 is ring-shaped and rotatably mounted.

[0088] Each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 is connected to a corresponding removing portion 12 arranged and configured to remove the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier 4, 4, 4, 4.

[0089] The device 2 comprises a driving assembly 22 arranged to rotate the carriers 4, 4, 4, 4. Accordingly, when operated, each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 is driven by the driving structures of the driving assembly 22. Each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 is mounted in a corresponding driving member 21, 21, 21, 21 of the driving assembly 22. The four driving members 21, 21, 21, 21 are arranged side by side and constitute the driving assembly 22.

[0090] The device 2 comprises a frame 18 to which the driving assembly 22 is attached. The frame 18 comprises two parallel longitudinal bars 56, 56 and two lateral bars 58, 58 connecting the longitudinal bars 56, 56.

[0091] The longitudinal bars 56, 56 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the device 2. The lateral bars 58, 58 extend parallel to the lateral axis Y of the device 2. The frame 18 is configured to be mounted to structures that allow the lower half of each carrier 4, 4, 4, 4 to be submerged in a liquid containing ferromagnetic material to be removed by the device 2. Accordingly, holes for attachment are provided in the longitudinal bars 56, 56 and in the lateral bars 58, 58.

[0092] In another embodiment, the driving assembly 22 may comprise fewer or more driving members 21, 21, 21, 21 arranged side by side and constituting the driving assembly 22. The number of driving members 21, 21, 21, 21 required to, in a sufficient manner, remove ferromagnetic material from the liquid depends on the width of the structure (not shown) through which the liquid containing ferromagnetic material flows.

[0093] The device 2 comprises a drawer 20 arranged and configured to collect ferromagnetic material that is removed from the outside of the carriers 4, 4, 4, 4 by the removing portions 12. The drawer 20 is detachably attached to the lateral bars 58, 58 of the frame 18. This is established by bringing slot structures in drawer 20 into engagement with corresponding plate structures of the lateral bars 58, 58. Accordingly, the drawer 20 is restricted from moving along the longitudinal axis X of the device 2. The drawer 20 comprises a handle 60 attached to the end portion of the drawer 20.

[0094] The driving assembly 22 is detachably attached to the frame 18.

[0095] FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 shown in FIG. 1A. It can be seen that the carrier 4 comprises two halves that are joined to form a ring-shaped carrier 4. By having two halves it is possible to manufacture the carrier 4 by inserting permanent magnets into each of the two semicircular halves before joining said halves.

[0096] The drawer 20 comprises a front plate having an arched top portion extending between two side portions having different heights H.sub.1, H.sub.2. Hereby, the drawer 20 is adapted to fit the circular arched shape of the carrier 4.

[0097] A removing portion 12 is arranged and configured to remove the ferromagnetic material from the outside of the carrier 4. The removing portion 12 encircles a portion of the carrier 4 by having a geometry (a circular opening) that fits the cross-sectional area of the carrier 4. In practice, the circular opening of the removing portion 12 is slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the carrier 4 to allow for tolerances of the carrier 4.

[0098] The removing portion 12 is arranged in the top section of the device 2 and the carrier 4 is arranged in such a manner that the removing portion 12 encircles the top portion of the carrier 4. Since the drawer 20 is arranged below the removing portion 12, gravity will cause ferromagnetic material attached to the outside of the carrier 4 to fall into the drawer 20.

[0099] In an embodiment, the carrier 4 comprises a magnet fee zone as shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C and FIG. 5A. The magnet free zone will facilitate the process of releasing the ferromagnetic material attached to the outside of the carrier 4 so that said ferromagnetic material will fall into the drawer 20.

[0100] The device 2 comprises an end structure 62 arranged adjacent to the driving assembly 22.

[0101] The driving member 21 is provided with a slot 28. An adjustment structure 24 formed as a screw extends through the slot 28. The adjustment structure 24 comprises a threaded portion that engages with a corresponding threaded portion in the driving member 21. The adjustment structure 24 is arranged and configured to regulate the force with which an engagement member (see FIG. 8A) pushes against the carrier. Hereby, it is possible to ensure that the engagement member pushes against the carrier with a sufficiently large force even when the engagement member is subjected to wear during use.

[0102] In an embodiment, the adjustment structure 24 is spring loaded (a spring is arranged to provide a force towards the screw).

[0103] FIG. 2A illustrates a prior art apparatus for removing ferromagnetic material from a liquid. The prior art apparatus comprises a permanent magnet 30 slidably arranged in a sleeve 32.

[0104] In FIG. 2A, the sleeve 32 is partly submerged in a liquid 6 of a container 36. The liquid 6 contains ferromagnetic material 8. It can be seen that ferromagnetic material is attached to the outside surface of the sleeve 32 by magnetic attraction.

[0105] FIG. 2B illustrates the apparatus shown in FIG. 2A in another configuration, in which the permanent magnet 30 has been displaced axially along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 32. Hereby, the permanent magnet 30 has been partly retracted from the sleeve 32. Consequently, the ferromagnetic material 8 no longer is attached to the outside surface of the sleeve 32. Therefore, the ferromagnetic material 8 falls into a tray 34 arranged below the sleeve 32.

[0106] The prior art apparatus is designed and configured to be manually operated. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an alternative suitable for being operated automatically.

[0107] FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 1A. It can be seen that the carriers 4, 4, 4, 4 are arranged parallel to each other and extend along the lateral axis Y. The drawer 20 has a handle 60 at each end.

[0108] FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the ferromagnetic material removing device shown in FIG. 1A and in FIG. 3A.

[0109] FIG. 4A illustrates a first schematic view of the working principle of a ferromagnetic material removing device 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 4B illustrates a second schematic view of the working principle of the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 shown in FIG. 4A.

[0110] The device 2 comprises a carrier 4 that encases a plurality of permanent magnets 10 arranged in an inner space 16 of the carrier 4. The lower half of the carrier 4 is submerged in a liquid 6 that contains ferromagnetic material 8. The outside of the carrier 4 has collected ferromagnetic material 8 through magnetic attraction. The carrier 4 is ring-shaped rotatably mounted in a removing portion 12 that is arranged and configured to remove the ferromagnetic material 8 from the outside of the carrier 4.

[0111] The device 2 comprises a driving assembly (not shown) arranged to rotate the carrier 4.

[0112] For illustrative purposes a cross-sectional view of the carrier 4 is shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. The carrier 4 comprises a magnet free zone 14, wherein no magnets are placed. In FIG. 4A, the magnet free zone 14 is approaching the removing portion 12 so that the free zone 14 is placed adjacent to the removing portion 12.

[0113] The carrier 4 is moved anticlockwise (indicated by the solid arrow). In FIG. 4B, the carrier 4 has been rotated about 90 degrees and the removing portion 12 sweeps or scrapes off the ferromagnetic material 8 from the outside of the carrier 4. Accordingly, the ferromagnetic material 8 is released from the outside surface of the carrier 4 and collected by the drawer 20.

[0114] FIG. 4C illustrates a first schematic view of the working principle of a ferromagnetic material removing device 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 4D illustrates a second schematic view of the working principle of the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 shown in FIG. 4C. For illustrative purposes a cross-sectional view of the carrier 4 is shown in FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D so that the permanent magnets 10 encased by the carrier 4 are visible.

[0115] The permanent magnets 10 in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D are relatively long. The length and shape of the permanent magnets 10 may however, be selected differently. FIG. 4C illustrates the carrier 4 as shown in FIG. 4A arranged in a driving assembly 22. Likewise, FIG. 4D illustrates the carrier 4 as shown in FIG. 4B arranged in a driving assembly 22.

[0116] FIG. 5A illustrates a side view of a ferromagnetic material removing device 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 5A basically corresponds to the device 2 shown in FIG. 4C. It can be seen that the driving assembly 22 comprises a driving member 21 that is covered by an end structure 62 arranged adjacent to the driving member 21. The driving member 21 comprises a housing 26 that is provided with a slot that has received an adjustment member 24. The adjustment member 24 comprises a threaded screw portion brought into engagement with a corresponding threaded portion of a threaded bore. The adjustment member 24 comprises a finger screw member arranged in the distal end of the adjustment member 24.

[0117] FIG. 5B illustrates a close-up view of a portion of the carrier 4 of the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 shown in FIG. 5A. For illustrative purposes a cross-sectional view of the carrier 4 is shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. Accordingly, the permanent magnets 10 encased by the carrier 4 are visible. It can be seen that the magnets 10 have a north pole N and a south pole S. The magnets are arranged with alternating polarity so that adjacent magnets have poles of different polarity arranged adjacent to each other.

[0118] It can be seen that the permanent magnets 10 are arranged in an inner space 16 of the carrier 4.

[0119] FIG. 6A illustrates a side view of a ferromagnetic material removing device 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 6B illustrates a front view of the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C illustrates a perspective view of the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 shown in FIG. 6A. The device 2 comprises only a single module (a carrier 4 and a corresponding driving assembly 22). The carrier 4 comprises two halves that are attached to each other to constitute a ring. The carrier 4 is rotatably mounted on the driving assembly 22 by two engagement members 50 corresponding to the one shown in FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C and FIG. 8A.

[0120] In FIG. 6B one of the engagement members 50 is visible. It can be seen that the engagement member 50 is rotatably attached to two spaced apart plate members 44, 44 of the driving assembly 22. In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6C it can be seen that a first end member 40 and a second end member 40 are used to mount corresponding shafts of the engagement members 50 to the plate members 44, 44 of the driving assembly 22. The engagement member 50 may be driven by an external motor (not shown). In an embodiment, the engagement member 50 is driven by an electric motor. In an embodiment, the ferromagnetic material removing device 2 comprises several carriers 4, wherein each carrier 4 is driven by a single motor.

[0121] The driving assembly 22 comprises a single driving member 21 provided with a slot and an adjustment structure 24 formed as a screw that extends through the slot. The adjustment structure 24 comprises a threaded portion that engages with a corresponding threaded portion in the driving member 21. Hereby, the adjustment structure 24 can be used to regulate the force with which an engagement member pushes against the carrier 4. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure that the engagement member pushes against the carrier with a sufficiently large force to drive the carrier.

[0122] FIG. 7A illustrates a plate member 44 of a ferromagnetic material removing device 2 according to an embodiment. The plate member 44 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C. The plate member 44 comprises two mounting bores 46, 46 arranged to receive the first end member 40 and the second end member 40 shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6C. The plate member 44 comprises an elongated slot 28 and a bore 48.

[0123] FIG. 7B illustrates an end view of an engagement member 50 of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the engagement member 50 shown in FIG. 7B (the section line is indicated in FIG. 7B). The engagement member 50 is formed as a pulley and comprises a concave engagement surface 52 configured to be brought into engagement with a carrier having a portion that has a semi-circular cross section. This means that the engagement surface 52 is configured to be brought into engagement with a carrier having a circular cross section such as the carrier shown in FIG. 8A.

[0124] The engagement member 50 is provided with a through bore having a spline profile. The engagement member 50 comprises cylindrical holes 42 provided in each end section.

[0125] FIG. 8A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an engagement member 50 that is brought into engagement with a carrier 4 of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment. The engagement member 50 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C. The carrier 4 has a circular cross-section and is brought into engaging contact with the engagement surface 52 of the engagement member 50. A shaft 38 extends through the engagement member 50. The shaft 38 may be connected to a motor that is used to drive the one or more driving members of the ferromagnetic material removing device.

[0126] In an embodiment, a single shaft 38 extends through all engagement members 50 of the ferromagnetic material removing device. Hereby, it is possible to drive all engagement members 50 by a single motor.

[0127] FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional view portion of a carrier 4 of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment. The carrier 4 comprises a plurality of permanent magnets 10 arranged next to each other. The carrier 4 is ring-shaped and comprises a circular cross-section. The permanent magnets 10, however, are cylindrical with a circular cross-section. Accordingly, even when adjacent permanent magnets 10 are arranged as close as possible to each other, there will be a gap between adjacent end sides of adjacent permanent magnets 10. The north pole N and the south pole S of the permanent magnets 10 are indicated.

[0128] FIG. 8C illustrates a portion of another carrier 4 of a ferromagnetic material removing device according to an embodiment. The carrier 4 comprises a plurality of permanent magnets 10 arranged next to each other. The carrier 4 is ring-shaped and comprises a circular cross-section. The permanent magnets 10, are shaped to fit the inside geometry of the carrier 4. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce or even eliminate the gap between adjacent end sides of adjacent permanent magnets 10. The north pole N and the south pole S of the permanent magnets 10 are indicated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0129] 2 Ferromagnetic material removing device [0130] 4, 4, 4, 4 Carrier [0131] 6 Fluid [0132] 8 Ferromagnetic material [0133] 10 Permanent magnet [0134] 12 Removing portion [0135] 14 Magnet free zone [0136] 16 Inner space [0137] 18 Frame [0138] 20 Drawer [0139] 21, 21 Driving member [0140] 21, 21 Driving member [0141] 22 Driving assembly [0142] 24 Adjustment structure (e.g. screw) [0143] 26 Housing [0144] 28 Slot [0145] 30 Permanent magnet [0146] 32 Sleeve [0147] 34 Tray [0148] 36 Container [0149] 38 Shaft [0150] 40, 40 End member [0151] 42 Hole [0152] 44, 44 Plate member [0153] 46, 46 Mounting bore [0154] 48 Bore [0155] 50 Engagement member [0156] 52 Engagement surface [0157] 54 Spline profile [0158] 56, 56 Longitudinal bar [0159] 58, 58 Lateral bar [0160] 60 Handle [0161] 62 End structure [0162] N North pole [0163] S South pole [0164] X Longitudinal axis [0165] Y Lateral axis [0166] Z Transversal axis [0167] H.sub.1, H.sub.2 Height