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US 6,629,503 B2Granted
Inductrack configuration
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorRichard Freeman Post
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A simple permanent-magnet-excited maglev geometry provides levitation forces and is stable against vertical displacements from equilibrium but is unstable against horizontal displacements. An Inductrack system is then used in conjunction with this system to effect stabilization against horizontal displacements and to provide centering forces to overcome centrifugal forces when the vehicle is traversing curved sections of a track or when any other transient horizontal force is present. In some proposed embodiments, the Inductrack track elements are also employed as the stator of a linear induction-motor drive and braking system.
Claims15
A magnetic levitation system comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- a permanent-magnet-excited geometry operatively attached to said vehicle body for providing levitation forces upon said vehicle body, wherein said geometry is stable against displacements from equilibrium in a first plane but is unstable against displacements in a second plane;
- and
- an inductive track system for providing stabilization against displacements in said second plane, wherein said inductive track system comprises:
- a first Halbach array having a first magnetic field and a second Halbach array having a second magnetic field, wherein said first Halbach array and said second Halbach array are magnetically connected together and structurally connected to said vehicle body to form a first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein said first Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect to said second Halbach array and said second Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect to said first Halbach array such that a first magnetic flux component of said first magnetic field and a first magnetic flux component of said second magnetic field substantially cancel at a first plane between said first Halbach array and said second Halbach array, and a second magnetic flux component of said first magnetic field and a second magnetic flux component of said second magnetic field substantially add at said first Diane;
- a track of windings fixedly attached to a stationary support, wherein said track of windings is located between said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- and
- a propulsion mechanism for moving said first pair of Halbach arrays along said track, wherein when said first pair of Halbach arrays move along said track and said first plane is not located at said track, a current is induced in said windings and a restoring force is exerted on said first pair of Halbach arrays.
5 more elements
A magnetic levitation system, comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- a permanent-magnet-excited geometry operatively attached to said vehicle body for providing levitation forces upon said vehicle body, wherein said geometry is stable against substantially vertical displacements from equilibrium but is unstable against substantially horizontal displacements;
- and
- an inductive track system attached to said vehicle body, wherein said inductive track system provides stabilization against said substantially horizontal displacements and provides centering forces, wherein said inductive track system comprises:
- a pair of Halbach arrays comprising a first Halbach array and a second Halbach array, wherein said pair of Halbach arrays are fixedly attached to said vehicle body;
- a track of windings fixedly attached to a stationary support, wherein said first Halbach array is located on a first side of said tack and wherein said second Halbach array is located on a second side of said track opposite from said first side, such that when said pair of Halbach arrays are under propulsion and they deviate from a magnetic cancellation plane located between said pair of Halbach arrays, currents are generated within said track of windings that induce a restoring force on said pair of Halbach arrays.
3 more elements
A method for operating a magnetic levitation system comprising;
- providing a vehicle body;
- providing a permanent-magnet-excited geometry operatively attached to said vehicle body, wherein said geometry is stable against displacements from equilibrium in a first plane but is unstable against displacements in a second plane;
- providing levitation forces upon said vehicle body using said permanent-magnet-excited geometry:
- and
- providing stabilization against displacements in said second plane and providing centering forces, wherein the step of providing stabilization is carried out with an inductive track system attached to said vehicle body, wherein said inductive track system comprises:
- a first Halbach array having a first magnetic field and a second Halbach array having a second magnetic field, wherein said first Halbach array and said second Halbach array are magnetically connected together and structurally connected to said vehicle body to form a first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein said first Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect to said second Halbach array and said second Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect to said first Halbach ray such that a first magnetic flux component of said first magnetic field and a first magnetic flux component of said second magnetic field substantially cancel at a first plane between said first Halbach array and said second Halbach array, and a second magnetic flux component of said first magnetic field and a second magnetic flux component of said second magnetic field substantially add at said first plane;
- a track of windings fixedly attached to a stationary support, wherein said track of windings is located between said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- and
- a propulsion mechanism for moving said first pair of Halbach arrays along said track, wherein when said first pair of Halbach arrays move along said track and said first plane is not located at said track, a current is induced in said windings and a restoring force is exerted on said first pair of Halbach arrays.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.