Pressurized air-gap guided active linear motor suspension system
First Claim
1. An active linear induction motor (LIM) propulsion system comprising:
- a passive secondary in the form of at least one elongated rail member having transversely arcuate operating surface means;
an active primary member for interaction with the rail member; and
means for providing pressurized fluid between said rail operating surface means and said primary member to support said primary member above said operating surface means and to maintain a magnetic air gap between said primary member and said operating surface means;
wherein;
(a) said rail member includes electrically conductive and ferromagnetic means in close proximity to said operating surface means over the length thereof;
(b) said primary member includes;
a plurality of laterally adjacent, longitudinally extending and articulated ferromagnetic laminations, said laminations having a longitudinally toothed surface that is transversely arcuate to be complementary to said rail operating surface means;
electrical windings wound about selected groups of teeth of said laminations as a LIM primary;
compliant means adjacent said laminations, capable of deformation under load and at least partial recovery after load removal;
power means for obtaining electrical power continuously as said primary moves along said rail and supplying polyphase electrical current to the electrical windings; and
cooling means contained in said primary member for continuously providing cooling fluid to said laminations during operation of the primary member; and
(c) said means for providing pressurized fluid is adapted to inject pressurized fluid at high velocity into the space between said rail operating surface means and said compliant means, to support said primary member above said operating surface means and to provide a minute pressurized magnetic and suspension gap between the primary and secondary members for efficient linear motor operation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an active linear induction motor system that has particular advantage with a SAILRAIL® air guided and supported air bearing system. In this case the secondary for the motor is the support rail, which rail can have a convex or a concave operating surface, is electrically conductive, and has ferromagnetic material in close proximity to the operating surface. The primary for the motor is found in a runner which cooperates with the rail and supports the load to be carried in the system. The primary includes a plurality of laterally adjacent, longitudinally extending and articulated ferromagnetic laminations having a longitudinally toothed surface that is transversely arcuate to be complementary to the rail operating surface. Electrical windings are wound about selected groups of teeth of the laminations as a LIM primary. A compliant pad adjacent the laminations is capable of deformation under load and at least partial recovery after load removal. Electrical power is continuously provided to the primary as it moves along the rail and polyphase electrical current is fed to the electrical windings. Cooling fluid is continuously provided to the laminations during operation of the primary. The system also provides pressurized fluid at high velocity into the space between the rail operating surface and the compliant pad, to support the primary member above the operating surface and to provide a minute pressurized magnetic and suspension gap between the primary and secondary members for efficient linear motor operation.
77 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An active linear induction motor (LIM) propulsion system comprising:
- a passive secondary in the form of at least one elongated rail member having transversely arcuate operating surface means;
an active primary member for interaction with the rail member; and
means for providing pressurized fluid between said rail operating surface means and said primary member to support said primary member above said operating surface means and to maintain a magnetic air gap between said primary member and said operating surface means;
wherein;(a) said rail member includes electrically conductive and ferromagnetic means in close proximity to said operating surface means over the length thereof; (b) said primary member includes;
a plurality of laterally adjacent, longitudinally extending and articulated ferromagnetic laminations, said laminations having a longitudinally toothed surface that is transversely arcuate to be complementary to said rail operating surface means;
electrical windings wound about selected groups of teeth of said laminations as a LIM primary;
compliant means adjacent said laminations, capable of deformation under load and at least partial recovery after load removal;
power means for obtaining electrical power continuously as said primary moves along said rail and supplying polyphase electrical current to the electrical windings; and
cooling means contained in said primary member for continuously providing cooling fluid to said laminations during operation of the primary member; and(c) said means for providing pressurized fluid is adapted to inject pressurized fluid at high velocity into the space between said rail operating surface means and said compliant means, to support said primary member above said operating surface means and to provide a minute pressurized magnetic and suspension gap between the primary and secondary members for efficient linear motor operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- a passive secondary in the form of at least one elongated rail member having transversely arcuate operating surface means;
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4. A core for a primary of an active linear induction motor comprising:
- a plurality of longitudinally adjacent modules;
each of said modules including a plurality of juxtaposed longitudinally extending ferromagnetic plates, each of said plates including a plurality of rectangular teeth extending along a longitudinal edge thereof with adjacent teeth being separated by a rectangular slot, said plates being positioned relative to each other to define a plurality of longitudinally spaced core teeth composed of laterally adjacent plate teeth, each core tooth having a transversely arcuate operating surface complementary to a rail supporting and guiding surface;
means at each end of each module for interengaging longitudinally adjacent modules to permit limited rotational articulation of one module relative to the adjacent module or modules; and
electrical windings wound around selected groups of said core teeth of the interengaged modules to create a plurality of separate, longitudinally adjacent core poles, the windings of every third pole being electrically connected together to define three individual sets of such poles over the length of said core. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a plurality of longitudinally adjacent modules;
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12. A runner serving as a primary for a fluid bearing linear induction motor (LIM) propulsion system wherein a secondary for the system is in the form of an elongated rail having a transversely convex operating surface such that the runner can be supported and guided by the secondary on a thin layer of pressurized fluid, said runner comprising:
- an elongated housing;
electrical motor means within said housing;
a plurality of longitudinally adjacent LIM operating modules adjacent said housing, each module including a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally adjacent core plates defining a transversely concave surface complementary to said rail operating surface, said modules being interengaged for limited relative rotational articulation;
electrical wiring suitably wound about the plates of said modules for a LIM primary;
compliant support means attached to said complementary concave surface of said modules;
flexible bag means sealingly supporting said housing on said modules, said modules being exposed to the interior of said bag means;
means connecting said motor means and said wiring to electrical power means carried by or adjacent said rail whereby electrical power can be continuously provided to said motor means and to said electrical wiring;
fluid compression means within said housing, driven by said motor means for providing pressurized fluid;
heat exchange means within said housing for cooling the fluid used to extract heat from said operating modules of said primary;
means for continuously circulating heat extraction fluid from the interior of said bag means to said heat exchange means and back to said bag means to cool said modules exposed to the interior thereof; and
means for feeding pressurized fluid produced by said fluid compression means to an operating surface of said compliant means to provide said thin layer of pressurized fluid which acts as a fluid bearing in cooperation with said rail operating surface for supporting and guiding said runner on said rail and for maintaining a minimum magnetic gap between said runner and said rail for proper LIM operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- an elongated housing;
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31. A rail section serving as a secondary for an active linear motor propulsion system wherein a primary for the system is included in a member to be supported and guided by the rail section, said section comprising:
- a hollow elongated member of an electrically conductive non-ferromagnetic material having a transversely concave operating surface;
at least one internal passageway extending the length of said rail section for receiving pressurized fluid, said passageway communicating with the atmosphere by way of a plurality of longitudinally spaced small diameter nozzles extending through said rail section to open at said operating surface; and
a plurality of ferromagnetic elements contained within said passageway in close proximity to said operating surface, said nozzles extending through or past said ferromagnetic elements.
- a hollow elongated member of an electrically conductive non-ferromagnetic material having a transversely concave operating surface;
Specification