Patent ID: 8584863

Claim:
A separating device for separating magnetizable particles and non-magnetizable particles transported in a suspension flowing through a separating channel, the separating device comprising: a yoke arranged at least partially around the separating channel, the yoke including: a first yoke portion adjacent to a first side of the separating channel; a second yoke portion adjacent to a second side of the separating channel opposite the first side; wherein the first yoke portion, but not the second yoke portion opposite the first yoke portion, supports at least one permanent magnet; wherein the at least one permanent magnet is configured to cooperate with the second yoke portion to define a magnetic field passing through the separating channel; wherein the at least one permanent magnet comprises at least one surface facing the second yoke portion; wherein the second yoke portion comprises at least one surface facing the first yoke portion; and wherein the at least one surface of the second yoke portion is larger than the at least one surface of the at least one permanent magnet, such that the magnetic field passing though the separating channel is asymmetric about a plane perpendicular to a direction extending from the at least one permanent magnet to the second yoke portion.