NON-CONTACT MAGNETIC STEERING

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A magnetic steering apparatus, 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, wherein each magnetic rotor of the first and second rotor sets intersects a plane perpendicular to a direction of travel of a moving metal strip, and wherein each of the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are 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 changing magnetic fields proximate the 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 moving magnetic field.