Method for the reliable determination of the distance of the conductive reaction track from a functional surface of a magnetic levitation vehicle moving relative to the reaction track and a sensor for performing the method

US5764050A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Thyssen Industrie AG · DE

Inventors

• Siegfried Ellmann · Aschheim, DE
• Joachim J. Klesing · Rochester, US
• Michael Ruppert · Taufkirchen, DE
• Josef Eder · Droißendorf, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 11, 1996
• Grant date: Jun 9, 1998
• Expiry date: Jul 11, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C2326/10
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a method for measuring a distance between a conducting reaction track and a functional surface moving relative to the reaction track a sensor with two signal transmitters is provided on the functional surface. An alternating field is generated in the sensor. The alternating field changes as a function of the distance between the conducting reaction track and the functional surface. Each of the two signal transmitters detects the changes of the alternating field as distance information. Each signal transmitter produces decoupled distance information values. These decoupled distance information values are processed in separate distance measuring channels to provide processed signals. The processed signals are constantly fed to and compared in a comparator. A distance information signal is emitted only when the processed signals of the separate distance measuring channels are identical within a predetermined tolerance range.