Magnetically levitated transportation system and method
US6684794B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60L2200/26
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A magnetically levitated transportation system employs permanent magnet rails along a guideway that interact with permanent magnets on a vehicle. The rails are optimized to reduce magnetic mass, while maximizing lift force. In one example, the arrays are composed of arrays of magnets having rotating magnetizations, such as Halbach arrays. In another example, the arrays are cup-shaped to provide stronger magnetic field forces in the central portion of the array, relative to the lateral portion of the array. The vehicle may be stabilized in the lateral and yaw directions with feedback controlled lateral control coils that interact with the permanent magnet rails on the guideway. Vertical, pitch and roll motions may be controlled or damped with eddy-current damper coils or plates or with active feedback control to control the coils.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.