Magnetic levitation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Magnetic levitating apparatus comprising:
- a first magnetic element mounted to support an object to be levitated in a magnetic field;
a magnetic member including a second magnetic element for placement in a position to be levitated by magnetic field interaction between the two magnetic elements, at least one of said magnetic elements being a permanent magnet;
electromagnetic induction means for monitoring the position and velocity of the magnetic member relative to a null position, the electromagnetic induction means comprising target coil means mounted for movement with the magnetic member and stationary sense coil means inductively coupled to the target coil means;
electromagnetic field generating means including at least one force generating coil for modifying the magnetic levitation field; and
circuit means coupled between the sense coil means and the electromagnetic field generating means for selectively controlling an electrical current in the force generating coil in response to electrical signals from the sense coil means.
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Abstract
Magnetic levitation apparatus utilizing an arrangement of permanent magnets, one or more electromagnets, position and motion sensors plus electronic circuitry to effectively support the weight of and control the position of a levitated object. Provision is made to minimize the force required from each electromagnet and the levitation system power consumption. Particular damping elements are incorporated in various arrangements of the levitation system to enhance the position and motion control of the levitated object.
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Citations
92 Claims
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1. Magnetic levitating apparatus comprising:
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a first magnetic element mounted to support an object to be levitated in a magnetic field; a magnetic member including a second magnetic element for placement in a position to be levitated by magnetic field interaction between the two magnetic elements, at least one of said magnetic elements being a permanent magnet; electromagnetic induction means for monitoring the position and velocity of the magnetic member relative to a null position, the electromagnetic induction means comprising target coil means mounted for movement with the magnetic member and stationary sense coil means inductively coupled to the target coil means; electromagnetic field generating means including at least one force generating coil for modifying the magnetic levitation field; and circuit means coupled between the sense coil means and the electromagnetic field generating means for selectively controlling an electrical current in the force generating coil in response to electrical signals from the sense coil means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. Magnetic levitating apparatus comprising:
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at least one supporting member for establishing a magnetic field; a member to be supported by the magnetic field in a null position, the supporting member and the supported member being generally aligned along a common axis; each of said members including a magnetic element, at least one of which is a permanent magnet; electromagnetic induction means including a target coil on the supported member for developing signals corresponding to both axial displacement of the supported member from the null position and transverse displacement thereof relative to said axis; and means responsive to said signals for modifying the magnetic field until the supported member is restored to axial alignment in the null position. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87)
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88. The method of magnetically levitating a magnetic member comprising the steps of:
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establishing a magnetic field between a stationary magnetic element and a magnetic element which is movable with the magnetic member; connecting a target coil in a series resonant circuit and mounting it generally coaxially with the movable magnetic element; inducing oscillating current in the target coil from a stationary oscillator coil coupled in a circuit which is resonant to the frequency of the target coil circuit; sensing variations in amplitude of the oscillations in the oscillator coil circuit to provide indications of movement of the magnetic element; and modifying the levitating magnetic field to counter the indicated movement of the magnetic element.
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89. The method of maintaining a magnetically levitated object at a null position in a static magnetic field comprising the steps of:
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using a resonant circuit mounted on a magnetic member to be levitated in said field to affect the amplitude of oscillations in a stationary tank circuit inductively coupled to said resonant circuit; developing signals corresponding to variations in the amplitude of oscillations in the stationary tank circuit to selectively vary the magnetic field to restore the magnetic member to the null position.
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90. The method of maintaining a magnetically levitated object in a selected null position within an established magnetic field comprising the steps of:
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inductively coupling an oscillating signal at a selected frequency between a stationary coil connected in an oscillator tank circuit and a closed resonant circuit which is movable with the levitated object; sensing variations in amplitude of the oscillating signal at the tank circuit resulting from movement of the resonant circuit with the levitated object; using said sensed amplitude variations as indications of movement of the levitated object from the null position; and selectively modifying the established magnetic field in accordance with said sensed amplitude variations to restore the levitated object to the null position. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92)
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Specification