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US 6,633,217 B2Granted
Inductrack magnet configuration
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorRichard Freeman Post
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnet configuration comprising a pair of Halbach arrays magnetically and structurally connected together are positioned with respect to each other so that a first component of their fields substantially cancels at a first plane between them, and a second component of their fields substantially adds at this first plane. A track of windings is located between the pair of Halbach arrays and a propulsion mechanism is provided for moving the pair of Halbach arrays along the track. When the pair of Halbach arrays move along the track and the track is not located at the first plane, a current is induced in the windings and a restoring force is exerted on the pair of Halbach arrays.
Claims36
A magnet configuration, comprising;
- 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 and structurally connected together to form a first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein said first Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said second Halbach array and said second Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said first Halbach array such that a first component of said first magnetic field and a first 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 component of said first magnetic field and a second component of said second magnetic field substantially add at said first plane;
- a track of windings between said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- 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 track is not located at said first plane, a current is induced in said windings and a restoring force is exerted on said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- and
- means for adjusting said restoring force.
2 more elements
A method for generating a restoring force upon a magnet configuration, comprising;
- providing 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 and structurally connected together to form a first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein said first Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said second Halbach array and said second Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said first Halbach array such that a first component of said first magnetic field and a first 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 component of said first magnetic field and a second component of said second magnetic field substantially add at said first plane;
- positioning a track of windings between said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- moving said first pair of Halbach arrays along said track, wherein when said first pair of Halbach arrays move along said track and said track is not located at said first plane, a current is induced in said windings and a restoring force is exerted on said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- and
- adjusting said restoring force.
2 more elements
A magnet configuration, comprising;
- 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 and structurally connected together to form a first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein said first Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said second Halbach array and said second Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said first Halbach array such that a first component of said first magnetic field and a first 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 component of said first magnetic field and a second component of said second magnetic field substantially add at said first plane;
- a track of windings between said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- 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 track is not located at said first plane, a current is induced in said windings and a restoring force is exerted on said first pair of Halbach arrays,
- wherein said track comprises a column of electrically connected coils that intercept no net flux when they are centered with respect to the Halbach arrays on either side but when there is a sidewise displacement, flux will be coupled, inducing currents in these circuits, which interact with the Halbach array nearest the circuit, and thereby providing a sideways centering force resulting from the Halbach array pushing away from the circuit, wherein said first pair of Halbach arrays is configured as the armature of a linear synchronous motor;
- and
- a channel configuration iron rail having two lower pole faces operatively positioned above said first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein edge fields of said first pair of Halbach arrays are attracted to said two lower pole faces of said iron rail.
3 more elements
A method for generating a restoring force upon a magnet configuration, comprising;
- providing 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 and structurally connected together to form a first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein said first Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said second Halbach array and said second Halbach array comprises magnet configurations positioned with respect said first Halbach array such that a first component of said first magnetic field and a first 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 component of said first magnetic field and a second component of said second magnetic field substantially add at said first plane;
- positioning a track of windings between said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- moving said first pair of Halbach arrays along said track, wherein when said first pair of Halbach arrays move along said track and said track is not located at said first plane, a current is induced in said windings and a restoring force is exerted on said first pair of Halbach arrays;
- and
- providing a channel configuration iron rail having two lower pole faces operatively positioned above said first pair of Halbach arrays, wherein edge fields of said first pair of Halbach arrays are attracted to said two lower pole faces of said iron rail.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.