How do passive, toggleable magnetic clamps function?

See, I'm a low-g cargo shipper by trade. We get all sorts of containers in all kinds of shapes that we need to fasten to the deck plating, and to do that we use magnetic clamps.

Now, these clamps are all manner of strong. Like, stupid strong. My engineer tried to explain it to me, something about super magnetic rare earth, I dunno. When the power is on we can just deactivate the clamps, but when the clamps lose power they snap back to the deck like a bear trap to a grizzly. Makes sense, I guess, cos the last thing you need when the reactor cuts out midway to Europa is two ton metal boxes floating about the place.

Thing I can't figure is how they work!

The question here is what effect or mechanism could be used to negate the effect of a very powerful solid state magnet if and only if power is available. Simple designs are preferable.

posted about 7 years ago

Joe Bloggs‭

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