Electromagnetic cleaning process and device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a process for cleaning oxides, slurry, dirt, impurities, organics and volatile matter, rust and other scales from substrates. This cleaning and surface preparation action is affected by abrasion, shaving or dry machining of the substrate material as caused by dry magnetic abrasive particles, either in powder or granule form, which engage the substrate material in a magnetic field. The passage of input current through a motor generates a magnetic field, which creates a “coupling” between two surfaces, the driving (stator) surface and the driven (rotor) surface. The magnetic coupling between the surfaces is provided by stiffening of the particles, which allows the mechanical abrasion that is necessary for the cleaning action on the substrate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for electromagnetic cleaning, comprising: 
 at least one drive surface, wherein said at least one drive surface is arranged so as to form a gap that is adapted to receive a substrate;    magnetic abrasive particles residing in said gap; and    a magnetic field generator, wherein said generator generates a magnetic field so as to magnetically couple said drive surface with said substrate when said substrate is introduced into said gap, and wherein said magnetic field causes said magnetic abrasive particles to engage said substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cooling mechanism attached to said drive surface.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cooling mechanism attached to said substrate.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field generator is a motor adapted to receive an input current.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said input current is a sinusoidal waveform.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said input current is a square waveform.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said input current is large and said motor is operated for multiple short periods of time.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive surface comprises two plates.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive surface comprises a cylinder.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for moving said substrate.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic abrasive particles are in powder form.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic abrasive particles are in granule form.  
     
     
         13 . A method for electromagnetic cleaning, comprising the steps of: 
 generating a magnetic field so as to magnetically couple two surfaces, wherein said surfaces comprise a drive surface and a substrate and wherein said drive surface is arranged to form a gap adapted to receive said substrate;    introducing magnetic abrasive particles into said gap, wherein said magnetic field causes said magnetic abrasive particles to engage said substrate.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said magnetic abrasive particles are stiffened by said magnetic field.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising moving said substrate so as to effect cleaning by said magnetic abrasive particles.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said magnetic field generator is a motor adapted to receive an input current.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said input current is a sinusoidal waveform.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said input current is a square waveform.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said input current is large and said motor is operated for multiple short periods of time.  
     
     
         20 . A system for electromagnetic cleaning, comprising: 
 a substrate    at least one drive surface arranged so as to form a gap that is adapted to receive said substrate;    magnetic abrasive particles residing in said gap; and    a magnetic field generator, wherein said generator generates a magnetic field so as to magnetically couple said drive surface with said substrate when said substrate is introduced into said gap, and wherein said magnetic field causes said magnetic abrasive particles to engage said substrate.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said substrate is an elongate member of circular cross section.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said substrate is a non-ferrous metal alloy.