Magnetic levitation transportation system and method

• US 6,374,746 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiske, Orlo James
• Original Assignee: Fiske, Orlo James
• Inventors: Fiske, Orlo James
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US09/499,604
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 104/290, 104/292, 104/288, 104/130.2, 104/281, 104/282, 104/283, 104/138.1, 104/139, 104/138.2, 104/284, 198/619
• US Class Current: 104/138.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/08 Sliding or levitation systems vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/10 Tunnel systems pneumatic tubes conveyors B65G ; B61C15/045 takes precedence

Abstract

A ground-based capsule pipeline with greatly improved speed, energy efficiency, and cost for transportation of freight and/or people. Passive magnetic levitation is used to suspend inert, rugged capsules within an air-evacuated pipeline, where they are propelled by a linear motor. Permanent magnet pole arrays incorporated in the capsules interact with inductively-enhanced conductive loops on the interior of the pipeline to produce a low “take-off” speed, high lift, and a high lift-drag ratio.

Claims

1. A transportation system comprising:

a pipeline having a generally concave-shaped interior extending along a pipeline axis and provided with an electrically conductive structure that generally conforms to the concave shape of the interior of the pipeline;

a capsule disposed within the pipeline interior and moveable along the axial dimension of the pipeline, the capsule having at least one magnet array positioned to induce current into the electrically conductive structure of the pipeline of sufficient magnitude to levitate the capsule within the pipeline, as the capsule moves through the pipeline; and

means for propelling the capsule through the pipeline at a speed sufficient to provide lift force by the interaction of the magnet array on the capsule and the conductive structure of the pipeline, to levitate the capsule within the pipeline.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive structure of said pipeline comprises a plurality of electrically conductive coils, each coil having a section disposed at least partially circumferentially around the pipeline axis, said plurality of coils being arranged along the axial length dimension of the pipeline.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said pipeline further comprises an electrical inductive load coupled in electrical communication with the electrically conductive coils.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said inductive load comprises high-permeability ferrite.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said inductive load comprises at least one length of magnetically conductive material extending in the axial length dimension of the pipeline.

6. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said pipeline is disposed with its axial length directed transverse to the vertical direction, such that the pipeline defines a top portion disposed vertically above the capsule, as the capsule is propelled through the pipeline and wherein said inductive load is on the top portion of the pipeline.

7. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said pipeline includes generally straight sections and curved sections and is disposed with its axial length directed transverse to the vertical direction, such that the pipeline defines a top portion disposed vertically above the capsule, as the capsule is propelled through the pipeline and wherein said inductive load is on the top portion of straight sections of the pipeline and is disposed towards the inside radius of curved sections of the pipeline.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive structure of said pipeline comprises a plurality of electrically conductive coils extending along the axial length dimension of the pipeline, each coil defining a serpentine path.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive structure of said pipeline comprises a plurality of electrically conductive sheets extending along the axial length dimension of the pipeline, each separated by a gap.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a router having:

an inlet coupled to said pipeline, through which the capsule is propelled from said pipeline;

a plurality of outlets, each coupled to a respective outlet pipeline; and

a plurality of electrically conductive structures, each electrically conductive structure arranged in the direction of a respective one of said outlets, for interacting with said magnet array on the capsule, as the capsule is propelled through the router, to provide lift force sufficient to levitate the capsule within the router.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of electrically conductive structures on the router comprise a plurality of rows of coils, each row extending toward a respective outlet.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said router further comprises control electronics for selectively providing current to said plurality of conductive structures on the router, for creating a gradient in the lift force within the router, for controlling movement of the capsule toward a selective one of said outlet pipelines, as the capsule is propelled through the router.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive structure of said pipeline comprises at least one serpentine, electrically conductive coil.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein:

each serpentine coil comprises a plurality of length sections disposed adjacent each other and transverse to the axial direction of the pipeline, said length sections being spaced apart by a pitch P;

each magnet array on said capsule comprises a plurality of magnets disposed adjacent each other, with the poles of each given magnet in the array directed opposite to the magnet poles located in the array at a distance P to either side of the given magnet; and

as the capsule is propelled through the pipeline, each magnet of an array induces a current in a respective one of said length sections, such that the currents induced in a plurality of sections of a given serpentine coil by a plurality of magnets of a given magnet array are added together within said given serpentine coil.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said capsule further having:

a capsule shell;

a payload bay centrally located within the capsule shell; and

a plurality of trim tanks containing a flowable heavy material, for weight balance.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said capsule further comprises a pliable filler material disposed between said capsule shell and said payload bay.

17. A transportation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an evacuation system coupled in communication with the pipeline interior for providing at least a partial vacuum within the pipeline.

18. A transportation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet array on the capsule comprises at least one array of permanent magnets.

19. A transportation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet array on the capsule comprises at least one Halbach array.

20. A transportation system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive structure of said pipeline comprises a plurality of sheets of electrically condcutive material having a plurality of generally parallel slots.

21. A transportation system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive structure comprises a plurality of electrically conductive coils.

22. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said capsule further having:

a capsule shell;

a payload bay centrally located within the capsule shell; and

a plurality of stabilizer arrays of magnets, disposed within the capsule shell, on opposite sides of the payload bay.

23. A method of transporting a capsule within a pipeline having a generally concave-shaped interior extending along the pipeline axis and containing an electrically conductive structure that generally conforms to the concave shape of the interior of the pipeline, the method comprising:

locating at least one magnet array on the capsule in a position to induce current into the electrically conductive structure of the pipeline of sufficient magnitude to levitate the capsule within the pipeline, upon the capsule moving through the pipeline at a sufficient speed; and

propelling the capsule through the pipeline at a speed sufficient to provide lift force by the interaction of the magnet array on the capsule and the conductive structure of the pipeline, to levitate the capsule within the pipeline.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of producing at least a partial vacuum within the pipeline.

25. A method of transporting a capsule, comprising:

providing a pipeline having a generally concave-shaped interior extending along a pipeline axis and provided with an electrically conductive structure that generally conforms to the concave shape of the interior of the pipeline;

locating at least one magnet array on the capsule in a position to induce current into the electrically conductive structure of sufficient magnitude to levitate the capsule within the pipeline, upon the capsule moving through the pipeline at a sufficient speed; and

propelling the capsule through the pipeline at a speed sufficient to provide lift force by the interaction of the magnet array on the capsule and the conductive structure of the pipeline, to levitate the capsule within the pipeline.

26. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said electrically conductive structure comprises a plurality of electrically conductive coils, each coil having a section disposed circumferentially around the pipeline axis, said plurality of coils being arranged along the axial length dimension of the pipeline.

27. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said electrically conductive structure comprises a plurality of serpentine, electrically conductive coils.

28. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of producing at least a partial vacuum within the pipeline.

29. A transportation system comprising:

a guideway having an axial dimension and a single concave-shaped guide extending along the axial dimension of the guideway, the guideway provided with an electrically conductive coil structure supported by and generally conforming to the concave shape of the concave-shaped guide;

a vehicle moveable within the concave-shaped guide along the axial dimension of the guideway, the vehicle having at least one magnet array positioned to induce current into the electrically conductive coil structure of the guideway of sufficient magnitude to levitate the vehicle relative to the guideway, as the vehicle moves along the axial dimension of the guideway; and

means for propelling the vehicle along the guideway at a speed sufficient to provide lift force by the interaction of the magnet array on the vehicle and the conductive structure of the guideway, to levitate the vehicle relative to the guideway.

30. A transportation system as recited in claim 29, wherein the at least one magnet array on the vehicle comprises at least one array of permanent magnets.

31. A transportation system as recited in claim 29, wherein the at least one magnet array on the vehicle comprises at least one Halbach array.

32. A transportation system as recited in claim 29, wherein the guideway comprises a pipeline having a hollow interior and wherein the vehicle is disposed within the pipeline interior.

33. A transportation system comprising:

a guideway having an interior surface extending along a guideway axis and provided with an electrically conductive coil structure generally conforming to the shape of the interior surface of the guideway;

a vehicle moveable along the axial dimension of the guideway, within the guideway interior, the vehicle having at least one magnet array arranged partially around and concentric with the axis of the guideway, the at least one magnet array positioned to induce current into the electrically conductive coil structure of the guideway of sufficient magnitude to levitate the vehicle relative to the guideway, as the vehicle moves along the guideway axis; and

means for propelling the vehicle through the guideway at a speed sufficient to provide lift force by the interaction of the magnet array on the vehicle and the conductive structure of the guideway, to levitate the vehicle within the guideway.

34. A transportation system as recited in claim 33, wherein the vehicle has an axial dimension defining a vehicle axis and wherein the at least one magnet array is also arranged partially around and concentric with the axis of the vehicle.

35. A transportation system as recited in claim 33, wherein the guideway comprises a pipeline having a hollow interior and wherein the vehicle is disposed within the pipeline interior.

36. A method of transporting a vehicle within a guideway that extends along a guideway axis and has an electrically conductive structure, the method comprising the steps of:

locating at least one magnet array on the vehicle in a position to induce current into the electrically conductive structure of the guideway of sufficient magnitude to levitate the vehicle relative to the guideway, upon the vehicle moving through the guideway at a sufficient speed;

propelling the vehicle along the guideway at a speed sufficient to provide lift force by the interaction of the magnet array on the vehicle and the conductive structure of the guideway, to levitate the vehicle relative to the guideway; and

rotating the vehicle at least partially around the axis of the guideway, as the vehicle levitates and moves along the guideway;

wherein the guideway includes at least one curved section and wherein rotating the vehicle comprises rotating the vehicle at least partially around the axis of the guideway, toward the outer periphery of the curved section of the guideway, as the vehicle levitates and moves along the curved section of the guideway.