US3187239A

US3187239A - Holding magnet for ferromagnetic foreign bodies in ruminants

Info

Publication number: US3187239A
Application number: US238257A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rosenberger Gustav; Stober Matthaeus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-11-16
Filing date: 1962-11-16
Publication date: 1965-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-01

Description

J1me 1965' e. ROSENBERGER ETAL 3,187,239

HOLDING MAGNET FOR FERROMAGNETIC FOREIGN BODIES IN RUMINANTS Filed Nov. 16, 1962:

Fig. 1

PERMANENT MAGNET ,6 R INVENTORS 121W $15601.

amp, Budd}, smwm United States Patent HOLDING MAGNET FOR FERROMAGNETIC FOREIGN BODIES IN RUMINANTS Gustav Rosenberger, Bischefsholer Damm 74, and

Matthaeus Stiiber, Rautenstr. 27, both of Hannover, Germany Filed Nov. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 238,257

7 Claims. (Cl. 317-201) This invention relates to a holding magnet and, more particularly, to a magnet for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreign bodies in the internal organs of animals.

In accordance with conventional practice, a magnet is deposited in the stomach of cattle, for example, for the purpose of attracting pieces of iron which they have eaten along with grass and hay. The holding magnet gathers the pieces of iron so that they remain in the stomach where they are of less danger to the health of the animal.

One type of magnet which is used for preventing disease in cattle caused by iron particles is a cylindrical permanent magnet of about three-quarters of an inch in diameter with rounded ends. It is inserted into the stomach through the throat. The magnet remains in the stomach during the life of the animal and due to the natural movements of the stomach, the magnet travels around in the stomach collecting ferromagnetic foreign bodies.

Experiments which have been conducted over a considerable period of time have indicated that the cylindrical magnets do not prevent disease in cattle to the extent desired. It has been found that long foreign bodies extend beyond the ends of the magnets and although they are attached to the magnet, they are nevertheless in position to pierce the stomach walls of the animal. thermore, foreign bodies located in the stomach or other organs of the animal do not always attach themselves to the magnet longitudinally of the magnet. Often, the iron foreign bodies attach themselves at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the magnet. Thus, the magnet with the iron particles adhering to it forms a hedgehog with the sharp points of the particles extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the magnet, which, due to the weight of the magnet and particles cause severe lesions in the walls of the organ and particularly along the mucous membrane of the reticulum. Furthermore, the hedgehog is relatively compact and due to the small contact surface area, the specific pressure on the mucous membrane of the stomach and similar parts of the animal is extremely high.

In view of the ineffectiveness of conventional holding magnets from iron particles in preventing disease, it is an object of this invention to provide a holding magnet which attracts and holds iron particles out of contact with the walls of the internal organs of animals.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holding magnet which exerts a minimum of pressure on the (walls of the internal organs of cattle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a holding magnet which orients the iron particles on the magnet parallel to the central axis of the magnet.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention by a bar magnet which is surrounded by a cage. The cage is formed of two rounded caps on opposite ends of the magnet and bars extending therebetween. The diameter of the caps is substantially greater than that of the bar magnet and a plurality of bars are spaced circumferentially around the edge of the caps and extend between the opposing faces of the caps to form a cage around the bar magnet. The magnet attracts ferromagnetic foreign bodies which may be in the organ of the animal and retains the foreign Fur- 3,187,239 Patented June 1, 1965 bodies in the space between the bars and the surface of the bar magnet. If the pieces of iron are long and slender, the bars of the cage direct the iron pieces into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the bar magnet.

The rounded caps on opposite ends of the magnet, which have a larger diameter than that of the magnet, prevent iron particles from protruding beyond the ends of the bar magnet and, except in the case of exceptionally long iron pieces, the points of sharp iron particles are insulated from the contact with the walls of the organs of the animal. The cage, including the rounded caps, also substantially increases the surface area of the holding magnet so that there is less localized pressure exerted on the walls of the stomach or other organs.

This preferred embodiment of the holding magnet is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the holding magnet according to this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

A cylindrical permanent magnet 1 is surrounded by a cage. The cage includes

rounded caps

2 and 3 which are attached to opposite ends of the magnet 1. A plurality of bars 4 are spaced circumferentially around the outer edge of the caps and extend between the

caps

2 and 3. The bars 4 are joined to the opposing faces 2a and 3a, respectively, of the

rounded caps

2 and 3. The bars 4 therefore, are arranged in a circle which is substantially concentric with the magnetic core 1. Any number of bars may be provided and the bars may have any desired shape. It is preferred, however, that the cross-section of the bars 4 be circular.

The opposing faces 2a and 3a of the

caps

2 and 3 are provided with hubs 2b and 3b. Opposite ends of the magnet 1 are secured in the hubs 2b and 312 by any suitable means.

It is preferred that the

caps

2 and 3 and the bars 4 be formed of a synthetic plastic material which is capable of being sterilized.

The holding magnet of this invention is introduced, for example, into the stomach of an animal. As a result of the constant movement of the stomach wall, the ferromagnetic foreign bodies are carried into the vicinity of the magnet. Due to the attraction of these iron bodies by the magnet 1, they are induced to become attached to the magnet 1. The bars 4 guide the iron bodies into a position which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet 1. The foreign bodies are thereby lodged in the space between the bars 4, the surface of the magnet 1 and the opposing faces 2a and 3a of the

caps

2 and 3.

Accordingly, the cage formed by the bars 4 and

caps

2 and 3 of the holding magnet of this invention insure that iron particles do not become attached to the magnet 1 perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the magnet. Formation of a hedgehog, therefore, is impossible. The holding magnet of this invention can be used over long periods of time without causing injury to the internal organs of animals. Furthermore, the protrusion of short sharply pointed iron particles beyond the ends of the magnet is also avoided. The opposing faces of the caps 2a and 3a and the bars 4 form a guard over the metal which adheres to the magnet 1. Thus, the holding magnet provides a compact structure for attracting iron particles, but also for guarding the walls of the organs from injury by the particles after they become attached to the magnet.

Experiments conducted on animals using the holding magnet of this invention indicate that the device is entirely harmless. No damage to the internal organ of animals has been observed. It has been found effective to attract and to hold between the individual bars 4 and the

caps

2 and 3 of the cage all iron particles normally found in an animals stomach. No iron particles were found to be extending outwardly beyond the ends of the

caps

2 and 3.

While this invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A holding magnet device for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreign bodies in animal internal organs comprising an elongated magnet, a cage enclosing said magnet, said cage having a plurality of slots therein, said slots extending substantially parallel to said magnet and being substantially coextensive with said magnet, said cage being nonmagnetic and said magnet being rigidly secured in said cage, whereby elongated ferromagnetic bodies are aligned with the magnet as they are attracted by the magnet and pass into one of the slots.

2. A holding magnet device for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreign bodies in animal internal organs comprising an elongated magnet, a cage enclosing said magnet, said ca-ge including a cap on each opposite end of the magnet and having a plurality of slots therein, said slots extending substantially parallel to said magnet and being substantially coextensive with said magnet, said cage being nonmagnetic and said magnet being rigidly secured in said cage, whereby elongated ferromagnetic bodies are aligned with the magnet as they are attracted by the magnet and pass into one of the slots.

3. A holding magnet device for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreign bodies in animal internal organs comprising an elongated magnet, a cage enclosing said magnet, said cage being substantially cylindrical and coaxial with said magnet and having a plurality of continuous elongated slots therein extending substantially.

parallel to said magnet and substantially the entire length thereof, said cage being nonmagnetic and being spaced radially from said magnet whereby elongated ferromagnetic bodies are aligned with the magnet as they are attracted by the magnet and pass through one of the slots. 6

4. A holding magnet for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreign bodies in animal internal organs comprising a bar magnet, caps on opposite ends of the magnet, and bars extending between the caps, said bars being nonmagnetic and spaced from the magnet and said bars be- 4 ing spaced from each other, whereby elongated foreign bodies pass between the bars and are lodged between the magnet and the bars.

5'. A holding magnet for attracting and holding ferromagnetic foreign bodies in animal internal organs comprising a bar magnet, circular caps on opposite ends of the magnet and bars extending between the caps, said bars being nonmagnetic and spaced apart circumferentially around the caps and being spaced radially from the bar magnet, whereby elongated foreign bodies pass between the bars and are lodged between the magnet and the bars.

6. A holding magnet comprising a bar magnet, circular caps on opposite ends of the magnet and bars extending between the caps, said bars being spaced apart circumferentially around the caps and being spaced radially from the bar magnet, said caps and said bars being formed of a non-magnetic, plastic material, whereby elongated foreign bodies pass between the bars and are lodged between the magnet and the bars.

7. A holding magnet comprising a bar magnet, circular caps, said caps having hubs on one face, means securing the hubs to the bar magnet, and bars secured at opposite ends to the caps, said caps and said bars being nonmagnetic, said bars being spaced apart ciroumferentially around the caps and being spaced radially from the bar magnet, whereby elongated foreign bodies pass between the bars and are lodged between the magnet and the bars.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,971 8/15 Wagoner 128-13 2,149,764 3/39 Frei 209-215 X 2,52A,972 10/50 Hamilton 12'8'1.3 2,753,870 7/56 Muffly. 2,844,363 7/58 Clark 317201 X 3,005,458 10/61 Brook et al. 128356 3,136,553 6/ 64 Davis 46242 X FOREIGN PATENTS 875,065 7 6/42 France. 136,851 3/61 Russia.

OTHER REFERENCES Rosenberger et al.: 1,136,791, September 20, 1962 (German printed application). 5

JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WILDMAN, LARAMIE E. ASKIN, E. JAMES SAX, Examiners. a