Back to results
US 3,937,148 AGranted
Virtually zero power linear magnetic bearing
AssigneeCambridge Thermionic Corporation
InventorPaul A. Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear magnetic bearing provides magnetic support by means of permanent magnets and control by means of electromagnets and an electronic control system such that virtually zero power is required to maintain the bearing in suspension. Persisting net force producing electric energization of the electromagnets resulting from displacement of the bearing causes the energization to be augmented to reposition the bearing to an oppositely displaced position of substantial equilibrium with minimized net force producing electric energization of the electromagnets. The linear magnetic bearing is effectively utilized in one application to significantly reduce the power requirements for magnetic levitation vehicles.
Claims15
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises:
- linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said vehicle;
- and
- means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway;
- wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing which frame is connected to the magnetic levitation vehicle to permit limited movement of the frame indepdent of said vehicle, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element of said guideway;
- at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame for suspending the bearing frame relative to said stationary element in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet;
- means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element away from the neutral force position;
- and
- electromagnet means attached to the bearing frame activated by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for deenergizing the electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
5 more elements
A linear magnetic bearing, which comprises:
- a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element;
- at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame relative to the stationary element in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet;
- means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element;
- and
- electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
2 more elements
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises:
- linear magnetic bearing means for suspending the magnetic levitation vehicle;
- and
- means for propelling the magnetic levitation vehicle along a quideway;
- wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises
- a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element of said guideway;
- at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame vertically relative to the stationary element of said guideway in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet;
- means for sensing vertical displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element of said guideway;
- and
- electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing vertical displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
6 more elements
A magnetic levitation vehicle which comprises:
- a linear induction motor for propelling said vehicle along at least one rail;
- and
- linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said magnetic levitation vehicle, said bearing comprising a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a rail;
- at least one rare earth permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame relative to the rail in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the rare earth permanent magnet;
- means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the rail;
- electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet menas when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
3 more elements
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises:
- linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said vehicle;
- and
- means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway having stationary vertical and horizontal extensions;
- wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing which frame is connected to the magnetic levitation vehicle to permit limited movement of the frame independent of said vehicle, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding the stationary horizontal extention of said guideway;
- at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame for suspending the bearing frame relative to said stationary horizontal guideway extension force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet;
- means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary horizontal guideway extension away from the neutral force position;
- electromagnet means attached to the bearing frame activated by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing the electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position relative to the horizontal guideway extension;
- at least one permanent magnet attached to the vehicle for suspending the vehicle relative to said stationary vertical guideway extension in a neutral force position;
- means for sensing displacement of the vehicle relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension away from the neutral force position;
- and
- electromagnet means attached to the vehicle activated by said means sensing vehicle displacement relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension for counteracting forces causing such displacement of the vehicle, for restoring the vehicle to a new neutral force position relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension and for de-energizing the electromagnet means attached to the vehicle when said vehicle has been restored to said new neutral force position relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.