The present application claims priority from Japanese patent application JP 2022-062245 filed on ______, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
The present invention relates to a magnet holding device, a magnetization device, and a magnetizing method.
A measurement by magnetism can be employed for detecting wall thinning of a pipe caused by corrosion or the like. First, the pipe is magnetized, and its magnetic-flux density before the wall thinning is measured in advance. Afterwards, upon inspection, the magnetic-flux density around the pipe is measured again, and the wall thinning of the pipe can be detected based on a change in the magnetic-flux density.
Since the magnet M1 is used in a size according to a size of the pipe, the magnet M1 having various sizes is required. JP 2019-114696 A discloses a method for manufacturing a large-sized magnet.
However, in the conventional technique, there has been a problem that a magnetization device appropriate for various magnetization requirements is difficult to be provided.
For example, according to a diameter or a required magnetization capability of a pipe, magnets having various configurations are required to be prepared. However, in the method of JP 2019-114696 A, the magnet needs to be remade for each pipe, and it is difficult to flexibly change the configuration of the magnet.
The present invention provides a magnetization device appropriate for various magnetization requirements. In addition, the present invention provides a magnet holding device and a magnetizing method related to the magnetization device.
One example of a magnet holding device according to the present invention is
In one example, the magnet has a columnar shape, and a plurality of the magnets are arrangeable along a circumferential direction of the ring-shaped portion.
In one example,
In one example, a number of the unit components included in the ring-shaped portion is variable to change a size of the ring-shaped portion.
In one example, a magnetization amount by the magnets is changeable by changing a number of the magnets.
In one example, the open/close mechanism includes a coupling component disposed in both ends in the circumferential direction of the ring-shaped portion.
One example of a magnetization device according to the present invention comprises the above-described magnet holding device and a magnet to be arranged in the magnet holding device.
One example of a magnetizing method according to the present invention is a magnetizing method of magnetizing an object using the above-described magnetization device, comprising:
With the magnet holding device, the magnetization device, and the magnetizing method according to the present invention, a magnetization device appropriate for various magnetization requirements can be more easily provided.
The following describes an embodiment of the present invention based on the attached drawings.
The magnetization device 100 includes a magnet holding device 10 and a plurality of magnets M. The magnet holding device 10 is capable of holding the plurality of magnets M, and the magnets M are arranged in the magnet holding device 10. The magnet M is a permanent magnet as an example, and may also be what is called a general-purpose magnet. While the magnet M has a columnar shape in the present embodiment, it may also have another shape.
The magnet holding device 10 includes a ring-shaped portion 20 that is openable/closable. In the present embodiment, the ring-shaped portion 20 is constituted of two layers, and includes an outer ring-shaped portion 20a and an inner ring-shaped portion 20b. The ring-shaped portion 20 includes a plurality of unit components 11, and is configured by the respective unit components 11 being coupled in a ring shape. The unit components 11 can each hold the magnet M. Thus, the magnet M is arrangeable in the ring-shaped portion 20, and particularly, a plurality of the magnets M are arrangeable along a circumferential direction of the ring-shaped portion 20.
Note that, in the present specification, a “circumferential direction,” a “radial direction,” and an “axial direction” respectively corresponds to a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axial direction of a circular ring when the ring-shaped portion 20 is coupled so as to form the circular ring. However, even when the ring-shaped portion 20 does not form a true circle, these directions are appropriately definable. For example, when the ring-shaped portion 20 is arranged so as to form a ring on a planar surface, a direction perpendicular to the planar surface can be assumed to be the axial direction, and the radial direction and the circumferential direction can be defined with a predetermined position (a point inside the ring-shaped portion 20, for example) on the planar surface as reference.
The magnet holding device 10 includes an open/close mechanism. The open/close mechanism includes coupling components 30 (more precisely, in the present embodiment, at least one of the coupling components 30 works as the open/close mechanism). The coupling component 30 is disposed on both ends in the circumferential direction of the ring-shaped portion 20, and is configured to be able to keep the ring-shaped portion 20 in a closed state.
In the examples of
The coupling component 30 may have functions besides as the open/close mechanism. In the present embodiment, a coupling component 30c couples and fixes the outer ring-shaped portion 20a and the inner ring-shaped portion 20b with one another. Moreover, while the coupling component 30a and the coupling component 30b as the open/close mechanism, and the coupling component 30c for coupling the plurality of ring-shaped portions with one another are coupling components having the same structure in the present embodiment, the coupling component 30a, the coupling component 30b, and the coupling component 30c may be coupling components having different structures. That is, the coupling in the circumferential direction and the coupling in the radial direction of the ring-shaped portion can be implemented by coupling components having different structures.
The unit component 11 includes a pedestal 12, a fixed component 13, a hinge 14, and a fixation screw 15. The pedestal 12, the fixed component 13, the hinge 14, and the fixation screw 15 are constituted of a non-magnetic body, for example, and as a specific example, they are constituted of stainless steel. The fixation screw 15 fixes the pedestal 12 and the fixed component 13, and thereby the magnet M is fixed between the pedestal 12 and the fixed component 13.
Note that, when using the magnet M having a column shape, a magnetization direction of the magnet M can be an axial direction of the column. However, it is preferable for the magnetization direction of the magnet M to coincide with the axial direction of the ring-shaped portion 20.
A coupling of adjacent unit components 11 will be described using
As illustrated in
The coupling of the adjacent unit components 11 can be released by detaching the coupling screws 16. Thus, since the respective unit components 11 are detachably coupled, the number of the unit components 11 included in the ring-shaped portion 20 is variable, and thereby the size (diameter, for example) of the ring-shaped portion 20 is changeable.
In the example of
The coupling component 30 includes two coupling screws 31, two supporting members 32, and two opening/closing screws 33. The entire coupling component 30 is constituted of a non-magnetic body, for example, and as a specific example, it is constituted of stainless steel.
The respective opening/closing screws 33 are screwed with the supporting members 32, and relatively fix these supporting members 32. In addition, a coupling screw 31 is insertable through the supporting member 32. As illustrated in
A magnetizing method for magnetizing an object using the magnetization device 100 will be described using
The magnetizing method according to the present embodiment includes each step indicated in
After Step S1, the user attaches the magnetization device 100 to the object 200 by closing the ring-shaped portion 20 using the coupling component 30 (Step S2, attaching step). For example, the two coupling screws 31 of the coupling component 30 are each fastened to a corresponding unit component 11, and these coupling screws 31 are fixed by the two opening/closing screws 33. Note that, an attachment position of the magnetization device 100 can be one end of the marking 201.
After Step S2, the magnetization device 100 is relatively moved by being slid with respect to the object 200 in a state where the magnetization device 100 is attached to the object 200 (Step S3, moving step). A direction of the movement is, for example, an axial direction of the ring-shaped portion 20 or an axial direction of the object 200 (these directions coincide in the present embodiment). This movement is performed up to another end of the marking 201.
Thus, by moving the magnetization device 100 in a predetermined axial direction range along the object 200, the object 200 can be magnetized in the axial direction range. Moreover, by attaching the ring-shaped portion holding the plurality of magnets M such that they are wound along the circumferential direction of the object 200, an approximately uniform magnetization in the circumferential direction of the object 200 is possible.
After Step S3, the user opens the ring-shaped portion 20 by the coupling component 30 (Step S4, opening step). More specifically, the two opening/closing screws 33 or at least one of the coupling screws 31 are detached from the coupling component 30.
After Step S4, the user detaches the magnetization device 100 from the object 200 (Step S5, detaching step). Accordingly, the magnetizing method according to the present embodiment is terminated.
In the present embodiment, the magnets M are arrangeable in the ring-shaped portion 20 as described above, and the number of the magnets M to be arranged is variable and appropriately changeable according to the magnetization requirements. For example, since the number of the unit components 11 included in the ring-shaped portion 20 is variable, when the diameter of the object 200 is large or small, the number of the unit components 11 can be increased or decreased according to the diameter to constitute the magnetization device 100 having a size fit for the object 200.
By changing the number of the magnets M with respect to the object 200 having the same size, the magnetization amount by the magnets M is changeable. For example, when magnetization should be decreased with respect to the object 200 having the same size, by not arranging the magnets M in a part of the multiple unit components 11, the number of the magnets M can be decreased and the magnetization capability of the magnetization device 100 can be weakened.
When the magnetization should be increased with respect to the object 200 having the same size, by coupling the unit components 11 not only in the circumferential direction but also the radial direction, the number of the magnets M can be increased and the magnetization capability of the magnetization device 100 as a whole can be strengthened. In the examples of
As described above, with the magnet holding device 10 and the magnetization device 100 according to Embodiment 1, a magnetization device appropriate for various magnetization requirements can be more easily provided.
A specific example of an effect of the present invention will be described below using
By these results, it can be seen that the magnetization device 100 according to Embodiment 1 has the same degree of magnetization capability as that of the magnetization device 300 according to the comparative example.
By comparing
By comparing
In the above-described Embodiment 1, modification as the following can be further made. In the unit component 11, by attaching a smoothing member to a portion (a surface opposed to the object 200, for example) in contact with the object 200, the contact with the object 200 can be further smoothened. The smoothing member can be constituted of resin, for example, and can be fixed to the unit component 11 using adhesive tape.
The coupling component 30 is not limited to the one using a screw such as the coupling screw 31, and any lock mechanism may be used. For example, a use of a buckle and a hinge is possible.
The structure for coupling the unit component 11 is not limited to the one using the hinge 14. As long as the adjacent unit components 11 can turn or move with respect to one another, any known coupling structure can be used.
The fixing method of the magnets M to the unit component 11 is appropriately changeable. For example, the fixing of the pedestal 12 and the fixed component 13 may be realized without a screw such as the fixation screw 15. Alternately, the pedestal 12 and the fixed component 13 can be constituted of a single component or three or more components.
In Embodiment 1, the respective unit components 11 are configured such that they are each able to hold the maximum of one magnet M. However, as a modified example, it may be configured such that the unit components 11 can each hold a plurality of the magnets M.
A handle may be attached to the magnet holding device 10 or the magnetization device 100. Thus, conveyance and operation become easier. The handle can have a configuration similar to that of the handle 350 illustrated in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2022-062245 | Apr 2022 | JP | national |