Abstract:
A rotary magnet switch includes a housing defining a cavity for a rotary magnet having a first section rotatable with respect to a second section. A first registration secures the first magnet section to the housing. An actuator extends from a side wall of the housing. The actuator is secured to the second magnet section and is configured to rotate the second magnetic section with respect to the housing and the first magnet section to switch the magnet on and off.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to switches for magnet assemblies, for example, a switch for a rotary switchable multi-core element permanent magnet-based apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,012,495 and 8,350,663, both incorporated herein by this reference, disclose rotary switchable magnets. The design of the switchable magnet of U.S. Pat. No. 8,350,663 results in a stronger holding force, for example 400 lbs, in a small package. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In order for such switchable magnets to be used, for example, in military applications, a switch housing for the magnet must be developed which also has a small footprint, which is easy to manufacture and use, and which is highly reliable for quick engagement and detachment of systems to a ferromagnetic body. 
         [0004]    In order to reliably secure one component to another component using the rotary magnet and switch, it is preferable that the switch actuator does not interfere with the top or bottom of the switch housing since the top of the housing usually includes a fastener (securing the housing to one component) and the bottom of the housing includes an exposed portion of the rotary magnet (securing the housing to another component). 
         [0005]    Featured is a rotary magnet switch comprising a housing defining a cavity for a rotary magnet having a first section rotatable with respect to a second section. A first registration secures the housing and the first magnet section together. An actuator extends from the housing. A second registration secures the actuator and the second magnet section and is configured to rotate the second magnetic section with respect to the housing and the first magnet section. In some examples, the actuator is slideable with respect to the housing and includes an off axis ear with an orifice therein receiving a pin extending off axis from a bottom surface of the second magnet section. The housing may include a linear track for the actuator. In another design, the actuator includes a slot receiving a pin attached to the housing constraining the actuator to slide linearly. The first registration may include pins extending from a side wall of the first magnet section received in a side wall of the cavity. 
         [0006]    The switch housing may include two sections coupled together. The housing cavity preferably has a configuration (e.g., depth) exposing a top surface of the first magnet section. In one design, the top surface of the first magnet section is flush with the housing. In another design, the top surface of the first magnet section extends beyond the housing. 
         [0007]    The housing may further include a fastener component such as an ear. The switch may include two housings connected via a member. In one example, the actuator extends into both housings via the member. The switch housing can be made of a polymer. Preferably, the actuator extends from a side wall of the housing. 
         [0008]    Also featured is a rotary magnet switch comprising a housing in two portions defining a cavity for a rotary magnet having a first section residing in and locked to the housing first portion as exposed at one housing surface. The second housing portion receives the rotary magnet second section which is rotatably disposed therein. An actuator through a side wall of the second housing portion, extends into the cavity, and is registered with the rotary magnet second section. 
         [0009]    The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic three dimensional top view of an example of a rotary magnet switch in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic three dimensional view showing the bottom of the switch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic three dimensional partially exploded cross sectional view showing an example of a rotary switch in accordance with the invention releasably securing one component to another component; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic three dimensional top view of an example of a rotary magnet in accordance with examples of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic three dimensional bottom view of an example of a switch; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic three dimensional view of an example of a switch actuator; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top view of the switch actuator of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic three dimensional view showing another example of a switch actuator; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a schematic top view showing two switches coupled by a bar member; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a schematic three dimensional top view showing one switch of the assembly of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a schematic three dimensional view showing a plurality of switches in accordance with examples of the invention used in connection with the frame members of a hard point net; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a schematic three dimensional view showing a plurality of switches in accordance with examples of the invention secured to an armor panel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1-2  show an example of a rotary magnet switch  10  with housing  12  in two portions or sections  12   a  and  12   b.  The top surface  14  of housing section  12   a  here includes a fastener component such as ear  16  for a strut (not shown). The bottom surface of  18  of housing section  12   b  includes exposed top surface  20  of first magnet section  22   a,    FIG. 4 . The second magnet section  22   b  resides in housing portion  12   a  and is rotatable therein via actuator  30 ,  FIG. 1-2 , registered to second magnet section  22   b  to switch the magnet on and off. Here, actuator  30  extends from a side wall of housing section  12   a.  In some designs, the top surface  20  of the first magnet section is flush with the bottom surface of the housing. In other designs, top surface  20  extends slightly outward from the bottom surface of the housing. 
         [0025]    In one example, pushing on actuator  30  rotates second magnet section  22   b  40° with respect to first magnet section  22   a  switching the magnet on (e.g., aligning the pole conduits in-phase). Pulling on actuator  30  switches the magnet off (e.g., aligning the pole conduit out-of-phase). See U.S. Pat. No. 8,350,663. 
         [0026]    More generally,  FIG. 3  shows housing  12  with cavity  40  (see also  FIG. 5 ) for magnet sections  22   a  and  22   b.  Fist magnet section  22   a  is registered (e.g., fixed) to the housing using, for example pins  42   a,    42   b  and the like extending from the side of section  22   a  received in corresponding sockets in housing  12 . Actuator  30  extends from housing  12  and is registered to second magnet section  22   b  via pin  44  received in ear  46  of actuator  30 . 
         [0027]    Housing  12  top surface  14  may include a fastener component such as ear  16 ,  FIGS. 1-2  or an eyebolt, velcro, an adhesive, or a tapped hole or holes to receive a threaded fastener or fasteners and thus can be coupled to a first structure  50   a.  Magnet surface  20  is attracted to second structure  50   b  which may include, if necessary, ferromagnetic receiver component  60  adhered or fastened to structure  50   b  and including, in some example, recess  62  for exposed magnet portion  20 . 
         [0028]    In this way, for example, armor can be secured to switch housing surface  14  and then releasably secured to vehicle hull  50   b  via the switchable magnet. If vehicle hull  50   b  is ferrous, receiver  60  may not be needed. In another example, a strut of a hard point net or other structure serves as structure  50   a  and structure  50   b  is a military vehicle. Other examples include releasably attaching armored window frames, sensors, racks, and the like to a vehicle or structure. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows housing  12  cavity  40  with housing section  12   b  including slots such as slot  70  for a side wall pin  42 ,  FIG. 3  of fixed magnet section  22   a.  Housing portions  12   a  and  12   b  can be coupled together using fasteners in order to assemble the magnet sections therein. In other designs, magnet section  22   a  is fixed to the housing using other means such as a press fit, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 6-7  show actuator  30   a  slideable with respect to the housing and extending from the side wall of housing section  12   a.  Actuator  30   a  is constrained to slide linearly in the direction shown by arrow  80  in and out via slot  82  receiving housing pin  84  therein. Off axis ear  86  includes an orifice receiving pin  44  extending off axis from the bottom surface  88  of magnet section  22   b.  In this way, one magnet section is rotated relative to the other via pushing and pulling on actuator  30   a.    
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a design where actuator  30   b  is constrained to slide linearly with respect to housing section  12   a  via a track  90  in the bottom wall of cavity  40 . Offset ear  86  has orifice  92  for receiving pin  44 ,  FIGS. 3-4 , Again, by pushing and pulling on actuator  30   b,  one magnet section is rotated with respect to the other. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 9-10  show two polymer switches  10   a  and  10   b  coupled together via member  100  with a channel therein for the lengthy actuator. The bottom housing portion is shown removed for switch  10   a.  Linear actuator  30   b  extends through member  100  and thus turns both switches on and off simultaneously. 
         [0033]      FIG. 11  shows a hard point net assembly  120  with frame struts  122   a - 122   d  connected to switches  10   a - 10   d.  See U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,042,449 and 8,245,620 incorporated herein by this reference. In this way, hard point net assembly  120  can be removably attached to and removed from a military vehicle in an expeditious manner. 
         [0034]      FIG. 12  shows armor panel  130  adhered to the top surface of switches  10   a,    10   b ,  10   c,  and the like (typically, one switch at each armor panel corner). Foam layer  132  may be included between the bottom surface of panel  130  and the bottom surface of the switches. In this way, the actuators  30  can be used to quickly attach armor panel  130  to a vehicle hull and to quickly remove it therefrom as desired. 
         [0035]    In the preferred embodiments shown, the switches have a small footprint, are fairly easy to manufacture, and easy to use. The switches are highly reliable for quick engagement and detachment of one structure to another. Preferably, nothing interferes with the top or bottom of the switch housing which also serves to protect the switch in harsh environments. 
         [0036]    Specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. 
         [0037]    In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended. 
         [0038]    Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.