System and Method for Traversing a Non-Moving Rail Switch Using Electromagnetic Engines
AssigneeHyperloop Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAndy Alexander Hilgers, Timothy Nicholas Leslie Lambert
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed enabling the use of electromagnetic engines to traverse a wheeled bogie assembly across a plurality of rails. The electromagnetic engines may be used within a rail assembly comprising four rails and a frog assembly. Further, the electromagnetic engines may be used to traverse between a straight path and a turnout path at a non-moving rail switch having a frog assembly. In one aspect, an algorithm for powering various coils is disclosed wherein the algorithm controls the power level to switch tracks connected to the frog assembly.
Claims28
A rail assembly, comprising:
- a left rail;
- a left-center rail, the left-center rail being formed from a first steel being less magnetic than steel from which the left rail is formed, the left-center rail further having a first grooved profile, the first grooved profile being disposed proximal to the left rail and configured to transition a first flanged wheel between the left rail and the left-center rail;
- a right-center rail, the right-center rail being formed from a second steel being less magnetic than steel from which a right rail is formed, the right-center rail further having a second grooved profile, the second grooved profile being disposed proximal to the right rail and configured to transition a second flanged wheel between the right rail and the right-center rail;
- the right rail;
- and
- a frog assembly, the frog assembly operatively connecting the left-center rail and the right-center rail.
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A plurality of electromagnetic engines configured to attach to a wheeled bogie assembly configured to operate on a rail assembly having a left rail, a left-center rail, a right-center rail, a right rail, and a frog assembly, the plurality of electromagnetic engines comprising:
- a first electromagnetic engine, the first electromagnetic engine having a first plurality of coils and being configured to being controlled by a controller;
- a second electromagnetic engine, the second electromagnetic engine having a second plurality of coils and being configured to being controlled by the controller;
- and
- the controller being configured to:
- receive a first signal;
- excite, based on the first signal, the first plurality of coils and the second plurality of coils according to a set of power states, the set of power states defining which of one or more coils within the first plurality of coils and the second plurality of coils are excited.
A method for controlling a first electromagnetic engine and a second electromagnetic engine, both of which being configured to attach to a wheeled bogie assembly configured to operate on a rail assembly having a left rail, a left-center rail, a right-center rail, a right rail, and a frog assembly, the method comprising:
- receiving a first signal;
- determining a set of power states configured to cause the first electromagnetic engine and the second electromagnetic engine to excite one or more coils, the exciting resulting in electromagnetic force configured to cause the attached wheeled bogie to traverse laterally across a first plurality of rails;
- exciting, based on the first signal, the one or more coils, based on a set of power states, the set of power states defining which of the one or more coils are excited.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.