Transport System Incorporating Linear Motor Charged Electric Vehicle

• US 20100252340A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaubel, Kurt M., Jeter, Philip L., Gurol, Husam
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/03 Electric propulsion by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/00 Power lines or rails specially adapted for electrically-propelled vehicles of special types, e.g. suspension tramway, ropeway, underground railway

Abstract

A system and method are provided for moving a vehicle along a roadway. The system includes at least one power segment that incorporates a multiple-phase winding. Structurally, the winding is embedded into the roadway for interaction with a magnet system mounted on the vehicle. With this interaction, a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) is established between the roadway and the vehicle to drive movement of the vehicle along the roadway. Also, the vehicle includes a mechanism for initially synchronizing a waveform speed of the multiple-phase winding with the speed of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle is able to selectively establish the LSM for use when desired.

Claims

1. A system for moving a vehicle along a roadway which comprises:

at least one power segment having a multiple-phase winding embedded into the roadway for interaction with a magnet system mounted on the vehicle to establish a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) therebetween for movement of the vehicle along the roadway;

a means on the vehicle for initially synchronizing a waveform speed of the multiple-phase winding with the speed of the vehicle; and

a means on the vehicle for selectively establishing the LSM.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the waveform speed is constant.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the waveform speed is approximately 15 mph.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein the LSM operates at approximately 15 Hz.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the multiple-phase winding incorporates three phases.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a stainless steel top plate covering the power segment.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein the winding is embedded in reinforced concrete.

8. A system for moving a vehicle including a magnet system along a roadway which comprises:

at least one power segment having a multiple-phase winding embedded into the roadway for interaction with the magnet system to establish a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) therebetween for movement of the vehicle along the roadway;

a means on the vehicle for initially synchronizing a waveform speed of the multiple-phase winding with the speed of the vehicle; and

a means on the vehicle for selectively establishing the LSM.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the waveform speed is constant.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein the waveform speed is approximately 15 mph.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the LSM operates at approximately 15 Hz.

12. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the multiple-phase winding incorporates three phases.

13. A system as recited in claim 8 further comprising a stainless steel top plate covering the power segment.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the winding is embedded in reinforced concrete.

15. A method for moving a vehicle including a magnet system along a roadway which comprises the steps of:

embedding at least one power segment having a multiple-phase winding into the roadway;

interacting the power segment with the magnet system to establish a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) therebetween for movement of the vehicle along the roadway;

initially synchronizing a waveform speed of the multiple-phase winding with the speed of the vehicle; and

selectively establishing the LSM.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the waveform speed is constant.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the waveform speed is approximately 15 mph.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the LSM operates at approximately 15 Hz.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of covering the power segment with a stainless steel top plate.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the embedding step comprises embedding the winding in reinforced concrete in the roadway.