Longitudinal electromagnetic levitator
AssigneeWm. Marsh Rice University
InventorsYildiz Bayazitoglu, Rod W. Shampine
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Abstract
An electromagnetic levitator is disclosed, comprising: a plurality of longitudinal sections formed from a conducting material and arranged around a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal sections are connected to a power source such that when the levitator is in operation, current flowing through adjacent longitudinal sections creates opposing magnetic fields. The levitator has first and second ends defining a levitation zone therebetween. When alternating current is passed through the conductors, a levitation tunnel is formed in the levitation zone, with the levitation tunnel having zero magnetic flux density along its center and non-zero magnetic flux density at all other points.
Claims24
An electromagnetic levitator, comprising:
- a plurality of longitudinal sections formed from a conducting material and arranged around a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal sections being connected to at least one power sources such that when the levitator is in operation, current flowing through adjacent longitudinal sections creates opposing magnetic fields;
- wherein a specimen placed on said longitudinal axis exhibits no net current flow through a cross section taken normal to said axis when current flows through said sections.
An electromagnetic levitator comprising a plurality of conductors configured so as to define a levitation zone having a longitudinal axis and a length along said axis, said conductors being substantially parallel to said axis along said length of said zone wherein a specimen placed in said levitation zone exhibits no net current flow through a cross section taken normal to said axis when current flows through said conductors.
An electromagnetic levitator having first and second ends and a levitation zone therebetween, said levitator comprising a plurality of conductors arranged such that when alternating current is passed through said conductors a levitation tunnel is formed in said levitation zone, wherein said levitation tunnel has a centerline and wherein a magnetic field resulting from passage of said current through said conductors has zero magnetic flux density along a said centerline and non-zero magnetic flux density at all other points and wherein a specimen placed in said levitation zone exhibits no net current flow through a cross section taken normal to said axis when current flows through said conductors.
A method for casting a metal specimen, comprising the steps of:
- inserting the specimen into a horizontal levitation zone wherein the specimen is supported without the application of mechanical force and wherein the specimen exhibits no net current flow through a cross section taken normal to the levitation zone;
- melting the specimen to form a molten specimen;
- and
- removing the specimen from said levitation zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.