Continuous discharge magnetic sweeper apparatus with horizontal axis rotary clean off

Abstract

A continuous discharge magnetic sweeper apparatus with horizontal axis rotary clean off is disclosed. The magnetic sweeper apparatus consists of a handle, back wheels or front caster, a frontal debris bin and drive wheels housing a ceramic magnetic assembly. The ceramic magnetic assembly comprises a sealed magnetic drum and rotating non-ferrous finned tube, and the magnet is continuously cleaned off as the magnetic sweeper apparatus is pushed forward. Magnetic debris accumulates on the outside of the finned tube at the bottom of the sealed magnet assembly and is deposited in the frontal debris bin. The magnetic sweeper apparatus' horizontal axis continuous discharge design utilizes field differences created by the magnet position and angle to achieve the automatic pick-up and drop-off of debris at different locations of the drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A continuous discharge magnetic sweeper apparatus with horizontal axis rotary clean off, configured for collection of metallic debris, the apparatus comprising:
 a main frame;   a frontal debris bin at the front of the frame configured to collect metallic debris;   a pair of back support wheels at the rear of the frame or a front caster;   a handle connected to the frame;   a driving wheel connected directly or by freewheel device; and   a magnetic assembly housed within the driving wheel, the magnetic assembly further comprising:
 a sealed magnetic drum; and 
 a plurality of non-ferrous fins connected to a non-ferrous tube; 
   wherein the magnet is continuously cleaned off as the magnetic sweeper apparatus is pushed forward;   wherein metallic debris accumulates on the magnet assembly and is deposited into the frontal debris bin.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the magnet blocks further comprises rare earth magnets or ceramic magnets. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the metallic debris are steel shot, grit or fine debris. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the magnetic sweeper apparatus horizontal axis rotary clean-off design utilizes field differences created by the magnet position and angle to achieve the automatic pick-up and drop-off of debris at different locations of the finned drum. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dimensions of the rare earth magnet blocks are 2″ length, 1″ width and 0.5″ height or the ceramic magnet blocks are 2.5″ length, 6″ width and 1″ height, and 2.5″ length, 6″ width and 0.5″ high, or 4″ length, 6″ width and 1″ height and 4″ length, 6″ width and 0.5″ height. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dimensions are 31.46″ width, 39.23″ height and 14.26″ depth. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the magnetic assembly is a ceramic magnetic assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of rotating non-ferrous fins on a non-ferrous tube is selected from a list of materials consisting of rubber, plastic, silicone, or stainless steel. 
     
     
         9 . A method of removing metallic debris, using a continuous discharge magnetic sweeper apparatus with a horizontal axis rotary clean off, the method comprising the steps of:
 driving the magnetic sweeper apparatus forward;   picking up and transferring metallic debris onto a finned rotating tube, driven by the wheels of the magnetic sweeper apparatus;   picking up and discharging the metallic debris into a debris bin of the magnetic sweeper apparatus;   wherein the magnet is configured to have a stronger field near pick-up location and weaker field near the clean-off location whereby the apparatus is configured to pick up the debris at the stronger field location and drop them off at the weaker field location during rotation of the drum naturally without the need of manual cleaning;   wherein the magnets are continuously cleaned off as the magnetic sweeper apparatus is pushed forward.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the magnets further comprise rare earth magnets or ceramic magnets. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the metallic debris is steel shot, grit or fine debris. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the dimensions of the rare earth magnet blocks are 2″ length, 1″ width and 0.5″ height or 2.5″ length, 6″ width and 1″ height, and 2.5″ length, 6″ width and 0.5″ high, or 4″ length, 6″ width and 1″ height and 4″ length, 6″ width and 0.5″ height for ceramic assemblies. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the magnetic sweeper apparatus utilizes field differences created by the magnet position and angle to achieve the automatic pick-up and drop-off of debris at different locations of the finned drum. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the pick-up location is closer to the ground. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the clean-off location is closer to the bin.