US 5,388,527 A · Multiple magnet positioning apparatus for magnetic levitation vehicles

Abstract

A positioning apparatus for a maglev vehicle includes multiple vehicle magnets. The magnets are paired For a suspension configuration, the magnets are one above the other, with a plurality of pairs arranged along the length of the vehicle. The poles are of adjacent magnets are opposite each other, transverse of the guideway. The guideway carries a conductor that is located symmetrically with respect to the two vehicle magnets. Among other things, the conductor may be a ladder, discrete coils or a helical winding. As the vehicle moves along the guideway, the voltages are induced in the circuits of the guideway conductor by the moving vehicle magnetic fields. If the vehicle is at a symmetry position with respect to the guideway, no current is induced in the guideway conductors because the magnetic fields from the pair of magnets cancel each other. However, if, as is typical, the vehicle is away from the symmetry position, such is the case due to the force of gravity, a current is induced that interacts with the vehicle magnets, to tend to push the vehicle toward the symmetry position. Thus, the vehicle is supported against gravity. The invention may also be used in a guidance configuration, by rotating the above described structure 90.degree., so that the magnet poles are aligned vertically.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An apparatus for positioning a ground vehicle that travels along a guideway at a preselected position relative to the guideway, orthogonal axes designated "vertical" and "transverse" and a horizontal plane being defined relative to said guideway, said apparatus comprising:

a. carried by said vehicle, a first means for generating a first vehicle magnetic field, having its poles aligned transverse of the guideway;
b. carried by said vehicle, a second means for generating a magnetic field, adjacent to and vertically above said first magnetic field means, having its poles aligned parallel to and opposite to said poles of said first magnetic field means;
and
c. fixed to said guideway, passive, electrically conductive means, having a plurality of conductive loops, for Generating a guideway magnetic field to interact with said first and second vehicle magnetic fields to maintain said vehicle at said preselected position;
whereby said first and second vehicle magnetic field means are on opposite sides of a horizontal vehicle plane of symmetry.

2 more elements

An apparatus for positioning a ground vehicle that travels along a guideway at a selected position along an axis of perturbation relative to said guideway, said apparatus comprising:

a. carried by said vehicle, a first means for generating a first vehicle magnetic field, having its poles aligned perpendicular to the travel path of said vehicle and to the axis of perturbation;
b. carried by said vehicle, a second means for generating a magnetic field, adjacent to said first magnetic field means along said axis of perturbation, having its poles aligned parallel and opposite to said poles of said first magnetic field means, whereby said first and second vehicle magnetic field means are on opposite sides of a vehicle plane of symmetry;
and
c. fixed to said guideway, passive, electrically conductive means, having a plurality of conductive loops, for generating a guideway magnetic field to interact with said first and second vehicle magnetic fields to maintain said vehicle at said selected position.

1 more element

An apparatus for positioning a ground vehicle that travels along a guideway at a selected lateral position relative to the guideway, a vertical axis being defined relative to said guideway, said apparatus comprising:

a. carried by said vehicle, a first means for generating a first vehicle magnetic field, having its poles aligned perpendicular to the travel path of said vehicle and to the lateral dimension of said guideway;
b. carried by said vehicle, a second means for generating a magnetic field, adjacent to said first magnetic field means, having its poles aligned parallel and opposite to said poles of said first magnetic field means and on the opposite side of a vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle;
and
c. fixed to said guideway, passive electrically conductive means, having a plurality of conductive loops, for generating a guideway magnetic field to interact with both of said first and second vehicle magnetic fields to maintain said vehicle at said selected position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple magnet positioning apparatus for magnetic levitation vehicles

Life of this patent

Multiple magnet positioning apparatus for magnetic levitation vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28