Controllable levitation device
US5298875A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S505/879
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for levitating a magnetic body. The apparatus includes a structure (10) comprised of a material that is superconductive below a critical temperature. The structure includes at least one Josephson junction device (14) for passing a variable current therethrough for controlling an amount of magnetic flux penetration into the structure. At a first current flow magnetic flux generated by a magnetic body (12) is excluded from the structure and the magnetic body is levitated above a surface of the structure. At a second current flow the magnetic flux penetrates the structure, causing he levitating magnetic body to approach a surface of the structure. Controllably applying a current to an array (30) of superconductive tiles (34), forming Josephson tunnel junctions (38), is shown to provide a lateral motion of, or a rotation of, the magnetic body relative to the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.