Assembly with tilting linear induction motor for use in a transportation system
OwnerGonzalo Duran Arizainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly that may be used in a transportation system is disclosed that in one or more embodiments includes at least one or more of the following: a braking system, which at least partially functions with an air bearing, a linear induction motor (‘UM’) that has tilting abilities, and an inflated air bearing that is positioned with respect to a rail such that a portion of the rail is inside the air bearing. Regarding the latter, in one or more embodiments the inflated air bearing has a semi-enclosed cavity shape and the rail is cross-sectionally curved such that a portion of the cross-sectionally curved is positioned partially inside the semi-enclosed cavity. In one or more embodiments, the assembly is included as part of a monorail system.
Claims4
A transportation system, that enables a vehicle to travel along a path, which employs a power source, including:
- a rail, wherein the rail includes a curved portion;
- (ii) an assembly, wherein the assembly:
- (A) is positionable at least partly around the rail;
- and,
- (B) is connectable to the vehicle such that, after the assembly is (a) positioned at least partly around the rail and (b) connected to the vehicle, the assembly:
- (1) is able to at least assist in enabling the vehicle to be off the ground, and (2) is able to rotate at least partially around the rail;
- (iii) a linear induction motor (‘LIM’), wherein:
- (A) the LIM is able to be powered by the power source;
- (B) the LIM is positionable between the assembly and a first side of the rail;
- and,
- (C) after the LIM is positioned between the assembly and the rail:
- (1) the LIM is able to rotate around at least partially around the rail when the assembly rotates around at least partially around the rail, and (2) the LIM is able to at least in moving the LIM along the path;
- (iv) a bearing, wherein the bearing is connected to the LEVI, wherein the bearing is able to prevent the LIM from contacting the rail when the vehicles travels along the path;
- (v) a first pair of springs that is positioned so as to be in mechanical communication with both (a) the assembly and (b) the LIM;
- (vi) a second pair of springs that is positioned so as to be in mechanical communication with both (a) the assembly and (b) the LIM;
- (vii) wherein when the assembly moves along the curved portion of the rail:
- a force acts on the first pair of springs at a time such that the first pair of springs becomes relatively more compressed at the time compared to the second pair of springs at the time, such that a tilting of the LIM occurs, wherein the tilting of the LIM causes the LIM to become tilted in response to the curved portion of the rail at the time;
- and,
- (viii) wherein ‘tilted’ means that the LIM is at a different angle with respect to one of (A) a surface of the assembly at the time and (B) a surface of the rail at the certain time, compared to an angle the LIM had with respect to one of (A) the assembly surface immediately prior to becoming tilted and (B) the rail surface immediately prior to the LIM becoming ‘tilted’.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.