Method of and an apparatus for magnetising a plurality of adjacent portions of magnetisable material

1. A magnetiser ( 100 ) for magnetising successive groups, each of at least one portion ( 210 ) of magnetisable material, the magnetiser ( 100 ) being arranged to magnetise the portions ( 210 ) sequentially, one group after another, the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a field generator ( 142 ) operable to generate a magnetic field, flux of which passes through each portion ( 210 ) in the group that is being magnetised, thereby at least partially magnetising each portion ( 210 ),

characterised by the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a controller ( 142 ) operable to control the magnetic field such that flux thereof follows a preferred path through each portion ( 210 ) that is being magnetised and through the magnetiser ( 100 ) in a substantially closed loop and whereby uncontrolled flux leakage from each portion ( 210 ) and the magnetising means ( 100 ) is minimized,

and wherein the field generator and the controller ( 142 ) include at least one pair of coils ( 142 ) in side-by-side juxtaposition so as to create a series of coils ( 142 ), each coil ( 142 ) being for placing adjacent the surface of a respective one of the portions ( 210 ), the magnetiser ( 100 ) being operable to supply a current to each coil ( 142 ) such that a respective magnetic field is set up therearound that passes through the surface of the respective adjacent portion ( 350 ), thereby at least partially magnetising that portion ( 350 ), the direction of the respective current in each coil ( 142 ) being opposite to the direction of the current in the or each juxtaposed coil ( 142 ) such that flux passes through the or each juxtaposed coil pair in opposite directions and forms a substantially closed path through that coil pair and the respective pair of adjacent portions ( 210 ), wherein said flux passes without the use of an iron core for routing the magnetic flux.

2. A magnetiser ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the field generator and the controller ( 142 ) include a plurality of said coils ( 142 ) arranged in a circular array on a magnetiser head, the magnetiser head being for placing in face-to-face juxtaposition with a rotor plate ( 200 ) of an electrical machine on which are mounted a plurality of said portions ( 210 ) in the form of a circular array of separate members ( 210 ) of magnetisable material such that each coil ( 142 ) is adjacent a respective member ( 210 ), the magnetiser ( 100 ) being operable to sequentially supply current to selected juxtaposed pairs of the coils ( 142 ) so as to at least partially magnetise the respective adjacent pair of the members ( 210 ).

3. A magnetiser ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the magnetiser ( 100 ) includes charge storage means ( 110 ) operable to be discharged and to thereby supply current to the coils ( 142 ).

4. Magnetising means ( 100 ) for magnetising successive groups, each of at least one portion ( 210 ) of magnetisable material, the magnetising means ( 100 ) being arranged to magnetise the portions ( 210 ) sequentially, one group after another, the magnetising means ( 100 ) including field generation means ( 142 ) operable to generate a magnetic field, flux of which passes through each portion ( 210 ) in the group that is being magnetised, thereby at least partially magnetising each portion ( 210 );

characterised by the magnetising means ( 100 ) including control means ( 142 ) operable to control the magnetic field such that flux thereof follows a preferred path through each portion ( 210 ) that is being magnetised and through the magnetising means ( 100 ) in a substantially closed loop and whereby uncontrolled flux leakage from each portion ( 210 ) and the magnetising means ( 100 ) is minimized, said control apparatus ( 142 ) being adjacent a corresponding portion ( 210 ) and being operable to perform magnetisation without the need for movement of said portion or portions ( 210 );

wherein the field generation and control means ( 142 ) include at least one pair of coils ( 142 ) is side-by-side juxtaposition so as to create a series of coils ( 142 ), each coil ( 142 ) being for placing adjacent the surface of a respective one of the portions ( 210 ), the magnetising means ( 100 ) being operable to supply a current to each coil ( 142 ) such that a respective magnetic field is set up therearound that passes through the surface of the respective adjacent portion ( 350 ), thereby at least partially magnetising that portion ( 350 ), the direction of the respective current in each coil ( 142 ) being opposite to the direction of the current in the or each juxtaposed coil ( 142 ) such that flux passes through the or each juxtaposed coil pair in opposite directions and forms a substantially closed path through that coil pair and the respective pair of adjacent portions ( 210 ); and

wherein some of the coils ( 142 ) are principal coils ( 142 ), and others are focusing coils ( 142 ), the principal coils ( 142 ) being positioned innermost in the series and the focusing coils ( 142 ) being positioned outermost in the series, the field associated with each of the principal coils ( 142 ) being such that flux passing through each principal coil ( 142 ) tends to form a closed loop of flux through a respective juxtaposed principal coil ( 142 ) and through each of the two portions ( 210 ) adjacent the respective two principal coils ( 142 ), the field associated with each of the focusing coils ( 142 ) being such that some of the flux of the field associated with an adjacent principal coil ( 142 ) that does not form a closed loop through a respective juxtaposed principal coil ( 142 ) forms a closed loop with flux passing through a respective focusing coil ( 142 ), thereby reducing the amount of uncontrolled flux leakage from the adjacent principal coil ( 142 ).

5. Magnetising means according to claim 4 wherein the field associated with each principal coil ( 10 a , 10 b ) is stronger than that associated with each focusing coil ( 20 a , 20 b ), thereby maximising the tendency for flux of the field due to each principal coil ( 10 a , 10 b ) to form a closed loop through the or each juxtaposed principal coil ( 10 a , 10 b ).

6. A method of magnetising a plurality of adjacent portions ( 210 ) of magnetisable material mounted on a carrier ( 200 ), the method including the steps of:

a) magnetising a first group of one or more of the portions ( 210 ) by operation of a magnetiser means ( 100 ); and

b) magnetising one or more successive groups of one ore more of the portions ( 210 ) by the operation of the magnetiser means ( 100 ), whereby the plurality of adjacent portions ( 210 ) can be magnetised sequentially, one group after another,

the magnetiser means ( 100 ) including a field generator ( 142 ) operable to generate a magnetic field, flux of which passes through the or each portion ( 210 ) in the group that is being magnetised, thereby at least partially magnetising the or each portion ( 210 ),

characterised by the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a controller ( 142 ) operable to control the magnetic field such that flux thereof follows a preferred path through the or each portion ( 210 ) that is being magnetised and through the magnetiser ( 100 ) in a substantially closed loop and whereby uncontrolled flux leakage from the or each portion ( 210 ) and the magnetiser ( 100 ) is minimized,

and wherein the portions ( 210 ) are positioned in a circular array on a component ( 200 ) of an electrical machine, each portion ( 210 ) being of a portion ( 210 ) of a different respective member ( 210 ) of magnetisable material and each member ( 210 ) being juxtaposed with two others of the members ( 210 ),

and wherein each group includes at least two juxtaposed members ( 210 ), each group other than a first magnetised group includes at least one member ( 210 ) that was in the respective previous group, each group other than a last magnetised group includes at least one member ( 210 ) that is subsequently included in the respective subsequent group, and the first magnetised group and the last magnetised group have at least one member ( 210 ) in common, wherein said flux passes without the use of an iron core for routing the magnetic flux.

7. A magnetiser ( 100 ) for magnetising successive groups, each of at least one portion ( 210 ) of magnetisable material, the magnetiser ( 100 ) being arranged to magnetise the portions ( 210 ) sequentially, one group after another, the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a field generator ( 142 ) operable to generate a magnetic field, flux of which passes through each portion ( 210 ) in the group that is being magnetised, thereby at least partially magnetising each portion ( 210 ),

characterised by the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a controller ( 142 ) operable to control the magnetic field such that flux thereof follows a preferred path through each portion ( 210 ) that is being magnetised and through the magnetiser ( 100 ) in a substantially closed loop and whereby uncontrolled flux leakage from each portion ( 210 ) and the magnetising means ( 100 ) is minimized,

and wherein the field generator and the controller ( 142 ) include at least one pair of coils ( 142 ) in side-by-side juxtaposition so as to create a series of coils ( 142 ), each coil ( 142 ) being for placing adjacent the surface of a respective one of the portions ( 210 ), the magnetiser ( 100 ) being operable to supply a current to each coil ( 142 ) such that a respective magnetic field is set up therearound that passes through the surface of the respective adjacent portion ( 350 ), thereby at least partially magnetising that portion ( 350 ), the direction of the respective current in each coil ( 142 ) being opposite to the direction of the current in the or each juxtaposed coil ( 142 ) such that flux passes through the or each juxtaposed coil pair in opposite directions and forms a substantially closed path through that coil pair and the respective pair of adjacent portions ( 210 ), wherein said flux passes without the use of an iron core for routing the magnetic flux.

8. A magnetiser ( 100 ) according to claim 7 wherein the magnetiser ( 100 ) includes charge storage means ( 110 ) operable to be discharged and to thereby supply current to the coils ( 142 ).

9. A magnetiser ( 100 ) for magnetising successive groups, each of at least one portion ( 210 ) of magnetisable material, the magnetiser ( 100 ) being arranged to magnetise the portions ( 210 ) sequentially, one group after another, the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a field generator ( 142 ) operable to generate a magnetic field, flux of which passes through each portion ( 210 ) in the group that is being magnetised, thereby at least partially magnetising each portion ( 210 ),

characterised by the magnetiser ( 100 ) including a controller ( 142 ) operable to control the magnetic field such that flux thereof follows a preferred path through each portion ( 210 ) that is being magnetised and through the magnetiser ( 100 ) in a substantially closed loop and whereby uncontrolled flux leakage from each portion ( 210 ) and the magnetising means ( 100 ) is minimized,

and wherein the field generator and the controller ( 142 ) include at least one pair of coils ( 142 ) in side-by-side juxtaposition so as to create a series of coils ( 142 ), each coil ( 142 ) being for placing adjacent the surface of a respective one of the portions ( 210 ), the magnetiser ( 100 ) being operable to supply a current to each coil ( 142 ) such that a respective magnetic field is set up therearound that passes through the surface of the respective adjacent portion ( 350 ), thereby at least partially magnetising that portion ( 350 ), the direction of the respective current in each coil ( 142 ) being opposite to the direction of the current in the or each juxtaposed coil ( 142 ) such that flux passes through the or each juxtaposed coil pair in opposite directions and forms a substantially closed path through that coil pair and the respective pair of adjacent portions ( 210 );

and wherein some of the coils ( 142 ) are principal coils ( 142 ), and others are focusing coils ( 142 ), the principal coils ( 142 ) being positioned innermost in the series and the focusing coils ( 142 ) being positioned outermost in the series, the field associated with each of the principal coils ( 142 ) being such that flux passing through each principal coil ( 142 ) tends to form a closed loop of flux through a respective juxtaposed principal coil ( 142 ) and through each of the two portion ( 210 ) adjacent the respective two principal coils ( 142 ), the field associated with each of the focusing coils ( 142 ) being such that some of the flux of the field associated with an adjacent principal coil ( 142 ) that does not form a closed loop through a respective juxtaposed principal coil ( 142 ) forms a closed loop with flux passing through a respective focusing coil ( 142 ), thereby reducing the amount of uncontrolled flux leakage from the adjacent principal coil ( 142 ).

10. A magnetiser ( 100 ) according to claim 9 wherein the field associated with each principal coil ( 10 a , 10 b ) is stronger than that associated with each focusing coil ( 20 a , 20 b ), thereby maximising the tendency for flux of the field due to each principal coil ( 10 a , 10 b ) to form a closed loop through the or each juxtaposed principal coil ( 10 a , 10 b ).