Levitation control system for a transportation system
AssigneeSkytran, Inc.
InventorsJohn Lee Wamble, III, John Cole, Clark B. Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Transport apparatus having at least one levitation generator and at least one drive generator. The at least one levitation generator configured to generate a levitating magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one lifting member, and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux. The at least one drive generator configured to generate a driving magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one drive member, and laterally move relative to the at least one drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux. At least a portion of the at least one levitation generator is movable relative to the at least one drive generator.
Claims15
A transport apparatus comprising:
- a levitation generator configured to:
- generate a levitating magnetic flux from a plurality of permanent magnets each having a magnetic pole;
- move within a corresponding lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux, wherein the corresponding lifting member is an electrically conductive, non-magnetic material;
- adjust a direction of travel of the levitation generator by adjusting an angle of one or more of the plurality of permanent magnets;
- and
- a drive generator configured to:
- generate a driving magnetic flux;
- and
- move within a corresponding drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux,
- wherein the levitation generator has two trim tabs at a trailing end, the two trim tabs coupled with a servo motor which is configured to actuate the trim tabs about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transport apparatus.
A levitation wing compromising:
- a levitation generator configured to:
- couple with a transport apparatus;
- generate a levitating magnetic flux from a plurality of permanent magnets each having a magnetic pole;
- adjust a direction of travel of the levitation generator by adjusting an angle of one or more of the plurality of permanent magnets;
- wherein the levitation generator is operable to move within a corresponding lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux, wherein the corresponding lifting member is an electrically conductive, non-magnetic material,
- wherein the levitation generator has two trim tabs at a trailing end, the two trim tabs coupled with a servo motor which is configured to actuate the trim tabs about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transport apparatus.
A method comprising:
- generating a levitating magnetic flux from a plurality of permanent magnets each having a magnetic pole;
- moving a levitation generator of a transport apparatus within a corresponding lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux, wherein the corresponding lifting member is an electrically conductive, non-magnetic material, wherein the levitation generator has two trim tabs at a trailing end, and the two trim tabs are coupled with a servo motor;
- actuating the servo motor to rotate the trim tabs about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transport apparatus;
- adjusting a direction of travel of the levitation generator by adjusting an angle of one or more of the plurality of permanent magnets;
- and
- generating a driving magnetic flux to move a drive generator of the transport apparatus within a corresponding drive member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.