Mitchell Brian Wu, Age 6916719 Doverwood Way, Houston, TX 77058

4921292, May 1, 1990

Sep 23, 1988

7/248010

William D. Harwell - Houston TX
Mitchell B. Wu - Houston TX

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

B66C 104

294 655

A magnetic attachment mechanism adapted for interfacing with the manipulator arm (11) of a remote manipulator system and comprising a pair of permanent magnets (31,32) of rare earth material which are arranged in a stator-rotor relationship. The rotor magnet (32), is journalled for rotation about its longitudinal axis between pole plates (35,36) of the stator magnet (31), each of which includes an adhering surface (35a,36a). In a first rotary position corresponding to the "ON" condition, each of the poles of the rotor magnet (32) is closely adjacent a stator magnet pole plate of like polarity whereby the respective magnet fields are additive for producing a strong magnetic field emanating from the adhering surfaces (35a,36a) for attracting a ferrous magnetic plate 20, or the like, affixed to the payload (20 or 50). When the rotor magnet (32) is rotated to a second position corresponding to the "OFF" condition, each of the poles of the rotor magnet (31) is disposed closely adjacent a pole plate of unlike polarity whereby the magnetic fields of the magnets are in cancelling relationship at the adhering surfaces (35a,36a) which permits the release of a payload. An actuator (51 or 70) for selectively rotating the rotor magnet (32) between the "ON" and "OFF" positions is provided for interfacing and connecting the magnetic attachment mechanism with a manipulator arm.