Means of fastening permanent magnets on a magnet carrier and method of

Abstract

A permanent magnet assembly including a magnet carrier supporting a plurality of permanent magnets each having the shape of a top parallelepiped portion disposed on top of a bottom parallelepiped portion, with the top and bottom portions having equal lengths, but unequal widths, such that the bottom portion defines two identically dimensioned projections on each lengthwise side of the top portion. The magnets lie on the carrier with their bottom portions. To fasten the magnets to the carrier, holders are disposed on the two projections of the bottom portion and connected to the carrier to press the magnets onto the carrier. A single holder is disposed on two facing projections of two adjacent magnets, with the width of the holders determining the spacing between adjacent magnets and therefore the pole pitch of the magnet assembly. To fasten the magnets to the carrier, initially, a holder is loosely screwed onto the carrier, and thereafter a permanent magnet is placed on the carrier and pressed against the holder to engage one of its lengthwise projections, a further holder is loosely screwed to the carrier to engage the other lengthwise projection of the magnet, the screws of the immediately preceding holder are then tightened, a further magnet is then placed on the carrier and pushed against the further holder to engage one of its lengthwise projections, and so on until all magnets are fastened to the carrier.