PROPULSION AND CONTROL FOR A MAGNETICALLY LIFTED VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A hover engine comprising:
- an electric motor including a winding, a first set of permanent magnets and a first structure which holds the first permanent magnets wherein an electric current is applied to the winding to cause one of the winding or the first set of permanent magnets to rotate about an axis of rotation;
a second structure, configured to receive a rotational torque from the electric motor to rotate the second structure about the axis of rotation,the second structure holding a second set of permanent magnets wherein the second set of permanent magnets are rotated 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;
the second set of permanent magnets including
1) a first polarity region having a first polarity and a first volume of magnets at a radial distance from the axis of rotation wherein the first polarity is in a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation,
2) a second polarity region having a second polarity and a second volume of magnets at the radial distance on an opposite side of the axis of rotation wherein the second polarity is in a second direction parallel to the axis of rotation with an opposite polarity of the first polarity region,
3) a third polarity region having a third volume of magnets, distributed along a line perpendicular to the axis of rotation between the first polarity region and the second polarity region, having a third polarity which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electromechanical systems using magnetic fields to induce eddy currents and generate lift are described. Magnet configurations which can be employed in the systems are illustrated. The magnet configuration can be used to generate lift and/or thrust. Lift and thrust predictions for various magnet configurations are provided. Arrangements of hover engines, which can employ the magnet configurations, and an associated guidance, navigation and control system, are described. Finally, a number of different applications, such as trains, elevators and printing, which utilize embodiments of the electromechanical systems described herein, are presented.
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A hover engine comprising:
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an electric motor including a winding, a first set of permanent magnets and a first structure which holds the first permanent magnets wherein an electric current is applied to the winding to cause one of the winding or the first set of permanent magnets to rotate about an axis of rotation; a second structure, configured to receive a rotational torque from the electric motor to rotate the second structure about the axis of rotation, the second structure holding a second set of permanent magnets wherein the second set of permanent magnets are rotated 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; the second set of permanent magnets including
1) a first polarity region having a first polarity and a first volume of magnets at a radial distance from the axis of rotation wherein the first polarity is in a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation,
2) a second polarity region having a second polarity and a second volume of magnets at the radial distance on an opposite side of the axis of rotation wherein the second polarity is in a second direction parallel to the axis of rotation with an opposite polarity of the first polarity region,
3) a third polarity region having a third volume of magnets, distributed along a line perpendicular to the axis of rotation between the first polarity region and the second polarity region, having a third polarity which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification