Magnetically lifted vehicles using hover engines

A vehicle comprising:

• an electric motor including a winding, a first set of permanent magnets, a shaft and a first structure which holds the first permanent magnets wherein the first structure is coupled to the shaft such that, when an electric current is applied to the winding, the shaft, the first structure and the first set of permanent magnets rotate about a first axis of rotation;
• a second structure holding a second set of permanent magnets wherein the second set of permanent magnets are rotated about a second axis of rotation to induce eddy currents in a substrate such that the induced eddy currents and the second set of permanent magnets interact to generate a lift force;
• wherein the second set of permanent magnets is located between a first radial distance and a second radial distance that is greater than the first radial distance, as measured along a first line perpendicular to the second axis of rotation wherein the second set of magnets includes i) a first plurality of pole magnets each of the first plurality of pole magnets having a first polarity direction which is approximately parallel to the first axis of rotation and ii) a first plurality of guide magnets each of the first plurality of guide magnets having a second polarity direction which is approximately perpendicular to the second axis of rotation;
• a third structure holding third second set of permanent magnets wherein the third set of permanent magnets are rotated about a third axis of rotation to induce eddy currents in the substrate such that the induced eddy currents and the third set of permanent magnets interact to generate the lift force;
• wherein the third set of permanent magnets is located between a third radial distance and a fourth radial distance that is greater than the third radial distance, as measured along a second line perpendicular to the third axis of rotation, wherein the third set of magnets includes a second plurality of pole magnets each of the second plurality of pole magnets having a third polarity direction which is approximately parallel to the third axis of rotation and a second plurality of guide magnets each guide magnet having a fourth polarity direction which is approximately perpendicular to the third axis of rotation;
• a torque transmission mechanism configured to transfer torque from the electric motor to the second structure and the third structure to cause the second structure to rotate about the second axis of rotation and the third structure to rotate about the third axis of rotation;
• a first housing, which at least partially encloses the second structure, the housing having a first top, a first bottom and first sides,
• wherein a first portion of the first bottom is disposed beneath the second set of permanent magnets and between the first radial distance and the second radial distance;
• a second housing, which at least partially encloses the third structure, the second housing having a second top, a second bottom and second sides,
• wherein a first portion of the second bottom is disposed beneath the third set of permanent magnets and between the third radial distance and the fourth radial distance
• a fourth structure wherein the electric motor, the second structure and the third structure are coupled to the fourth structure;
• and
• an on-board electric power source, coupled to the fourth structure, that supplies the electric current to the electric motor.