Lifting and transporting stacks of ferromagnetic plates

US8213149B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Thyssenkrupp Millservices & Systems GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Thomas Pohl · Großenseebach, DE
• Wilhelm Cassing · Werne, DE
• Joachim Hoppen · Gelsenkirchen, DE
• Falk Steger · Oberhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 19, 2010
• Grant date: Jul 3, 2012
• Expiry date: Feb 7, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66C1/08
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A stack of ferromagnetic sheets is gripped, lifted, and transported by first engaging with an uppermost sheet of the stack a plurality of magnet assemblies of a magnetic grab, each assembly having at least one electromagnet, then electrically energizing the electromagnets and lifting the stack with the grab while monitoring a magnetic flux of each electromagnet. A controller then compares the fluxes of the electromagnets, and varies the electrical energization of at least one of the electromagnets such that the fluxes of all the electromagnets are generally equal. The system has at least one flux sensor on each of the magnet assemblies and connected to the controller.