Magnetically levitated object
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorHendrik van der Heide
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetically levitated carriage provided with a magnetic system suspension consisting of support magnets which magnetically cooperate via an air gap. The levitated carriage is maintained in a stable condition by means of a stabilizing device which substantially comprises a row of first stabilizing magnets connected to the levitated carriage and a row of parallel arranged second stabilizing magnets. The dynamic stiffness due to the stabilizing device is greater than the static stiffness due to the support magnets.
Claims10
A magnetically levitated and propelled carriage comprising a first permanent support magnet secured to the carriage, said first permanent support magnet cooperating magnetically via an air gap with a plurality of fixed second support magnets arranged in the form of a rail, and a stabilizing device for said carriage which comprises a row of alternately oppositely magnetized first stabilizing magnets fixed to said carriage and a row of alternately oppositely magnetized second stabilizing magnets arranged parallel to the rail, the length of a second stabilizing magnet measured in the travelling direction of the levitated carriage being substantially equal to that of each first stabilizing magnet, and wherein the support magnets and the stabilizing magnets are related so that the dynamic stiffness due to the stabilizing device is greater than the static stiffness due to the support magnets.
A magnetically levitated vehicle comprising, a first plurality of permanent magnets secured to the vehicle, a plurality of second permanent magnets arranged to form a trackway rail, said first and second magnets being in opposed relationship and magnetized to maintain an air gap between the vehicle and the trackway so as to provide friction-free magnetic support for the vehicle, and lateral stabilizing means to provide friction-free lateral stability for the vehicle in a direction perpendicular to its direction of travel, said lateral stabilizing means comprising first and second parallel rows of alternately oppositely magnetized first stabilizing magnets secured to opposite sides of the vehicle, and first and second rows of alternately oppositely magnetized second stabilizing magnets arranged parallel to the trackway rail and arranged to cooperate magnetically with the first and second rows of first stabilizing magnets, respectively, via respective air gaps, and wherein the support magnets and the stabilizing magnets are related so that the dynamic stiffness due to the lateral stabilizing means is greater than the static stiffness due to the support magnets thereby to maintain the air gaps between the first and second stabilizing magnets as the vehicle travels along the trackway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.