Walker Magnetics Group, Inc.

Francis E Whittaker

Donald C McDonald

Roger B Ela

Apparatus for the magnetically lifting and tilting an elongate load, e.g., a steel beam, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of electromagnets supported in a corresponding plurality of yokes in a linear array along a beam structure. On each yoke, a stepping motor is coupled to the respective electromagnet for controllably rotating the electromagnet around a pivotal axis which is parallel to the axis of the array. The motors are synchronously operated, thereby enabling an elongate load to be lifted by the electromagnets together and tilted around the pivotal axis. In a preferred construction, each end of each yoke is suspended on a plurality of tie elements connected to a vertically compliant spring suspension system mounted on the beam structure. The tie elements are arranged to minimize swinging or misalignment of the several electromagnetic lifting elements.

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Holliston, MA, United States of America

Francis E Whittaker