METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MAGNETS

Abstract

A method of applying at least one magnet to a surface of a component made of a magnetic material includes placing the at least one magnet in a holding apparatus, and positioning the holding apparatus in the immediate vicinity of the component. A holding element applies a holding force to the at least one magnet to hold it in the holding apparatus. The holding element is deactivated such that the holding force is reduced, and the at least one magnet is transferred to the surface of the component. A holding apparatus for applying at least one magnet to a surface of a component made of a magnetic material includes a surface region for supporting the at least one magnet and at least one deactivatable holding element for applying a force on the at least one magnet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates detail of a holding apparatus.

FIG. 2 a shows a plan view of a holding apparatus.

FIG. 2 b shows a side view of the holding apparatus according to FIG. 2a.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a rotor and the holding apparatus taken along line A-A of FIG. 2a.

FIG. 4 shows magnets mounted on a holding device with another embodiment of “pockets”.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a pocket with a recess for accommodating a guide pin.

Claims

1. Method of applying at least one magnet to a surface of a component made of a magnetic material, comprising: placing the at least one magnet in a holding apparatus,positioning the holding apparatus in an immediate vicinity of the component,holding the at least one magnet in the holding apparatus by a holding element applying a holding force to the at least one magnet, anddeactivating the holding element such that the holding force is reduced and the at least one magnet is transferred to the surface of the component.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein: the component is a rotor of an electric motor,the electric motor includes a stator, andthe surface of the component is a rotor surface facing in a direction of the stator.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet includes a row of magnets.

4. Method according to claim 1, further comprising adhesively bonding the at least one magnet to the surface of the component.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method is executed with assistance of a robot.

6. Holding apparatus for applying at least one magnet to a surface of a component made of a magnetic material, comprising: surface region for supporting the at least one magnet, the surface region complementary to the surface of the component; andat least one deactivatable holding element for applying a force on the at least one magnet to control a transfer of the at least one magnet from the surface region to the surface of the component.

7. Holding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the surface region further comprises a plurality of magnet locations arranged in a row, each magnet location operable to receive a magnet for transfer to the surface of the component; andthe deactivatable holding element further comprises a moveable pin under each magnet location for holding a magnet in the magnet location.

8. Holding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the surface region further comprises at least one guide for guiding a transfer of the at least one magnet from the surface region to the surface of the component.

9. Holding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least the surface region includes a non-magnetic material and the at least one deactivatable holding element includes a magnetic material.

10. Holding apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a sleeve operable to position the holding apparatus on a hub of a rotor such that the holding apparatus does not contact a surface of the rotor.

11. Holding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least a subset of the holding apparatus is operable to be disposed over a surface of a rotor of an electric motor.

12. Holding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the holding apparatus is operable to be positioned directly on an inner or outer contour of a rotor of an electric motor.

13. Method according to claim 2, wherein positioning the holding apparatus further comprises positioning the holding apparatus such that it is complementary to the rotor surface.

14. Method according to claim 3, wherein positioning the holding apparatus further comprises positioning the holding apparatus such that the row of magnets is applied to the surface of the component directly adjacent to a row of magnets previously applied to the surface of the component.

15. Holding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one deactivatable holding element further comprises a moveable pin for holding the at least one magnet to the surface region.

16. Holding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one deactivatable holding element further comprises an ejector for causing a magnet to be transferred from the surface region to the surface of the component.

17. Holding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the row corresponds to a plurality of desired magnet locations on a rotor of an electric motor.

18. Holding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one guide further comprises a plurality of pins.