Magnetic suspension and guidance system and method

A magnetic guidance and support system comprising:

• an elongated guideway including
• a multitude of axially extending iron core members, each of the core members including an interior surface forming an interior, and forming an opening in communication with said interior, the core members being positioned in series with the interiors of the core members forming a guide path and with the openings of the core members forming an inlet to said guide path;
• a central member including
• i) an electrically conductive cylinder positioned in the guide path, and
• ii) connecting means connected to the cylinder and extending outward therefrom and through the inlet to the guide path;
• a multitude of electric conductors axially extending along and annularly spaced around the guideway;
• and
• an electric power supply conducted to the electrical conductors to conduct an electric current through said conductors, wherein the electric conductors produce a magnetic quadrupole having a magnetic field to produce a repulsive magnetic force on the cylinder for supporting the cylinder in the interiors of the core members and spaced from the interior surfaces thereof.

A method of supporting a cylinder inside an iron core member including an interior surface forming an interior, the method comprising:

• moving the cylinder through the interior of the core member;
• generating a magnetic quadrupole having a magnetic field extending across the interior of the core member;
• and
• said magnetic field producing a repulsive magnetic force on the cylinder, said force supporting the cylinder in said interior and spaced from the interior surface of the core member.