Magnetic suspension system with integrable propulsion
First Claim
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1. A method of magnetically levitating a load, the method comprising:
- inducing a magnetic flux in a first rail of a track via a first leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the first rail and a second leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the first rail, wherein the first side of the first rail is opposite the second side of the first rail, and wherein a first gap is defined between the first leg and the first rail and a second gap is defined between the second leg and the first rail;
inducing a magnetic flux in a second rail of the track via a third leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the second rail and a fourth leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the second rail, wherein the first side of second rail is opposite the second side of the second rail, and wherein a third gap is defined between the third leg and the second rail and a fourth gap is defined between the fourth leg and the second rail; and
varying a magnitude of a magnetic flux in at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the first source of magnetic flux to the second source of magnetic flux, wherein the first gap and the second gap are of unequal size.
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Abstract
A method and system for magnetically levitating a load is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is a system for magnetically levitating a load, the system comprising at least two lift generators, each comprising a source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a rail via a leg on either side of the rail, at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the lift generators, and control circuitry configured to generate and modulate a magnetic current flux through the crossbeam so as to maintain gaps between the legs and rail, wherein the gaps defined by the legs on either side of the rail are of unequal size.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of magnetically levitating a load, the method comprising:
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inducing a magnetic flux in a first rail of a track via a first leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the first rail and a second leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the first rail, wherein the first side of the first rail is opposite the second side of the first rail, and wherein a first gap is defined between the first leg and the first rail and a second gap is defined between the second leg and the first rail; inducing a magnetic flux in a second rail of the track via a third leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the second rail and a fourth leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the second rail, wherein the first side of second rail is opposite the second side of the second rail, and wherein a third gap is defined between the third leg and the second rail and a fourth gap is defined between the fourth leg and the second rail; and varying a magnitude of a magnetic flux in at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the first source of magnetic flux to the second source of magnetic flux, wherein the first gap and the second gap are of unequal size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for magnetically levitating a load, the system comprising:
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means for inducing a magnetic flux in a first rail via a first leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the first rail and a second leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the first rail, wherein the first side of the first rail is opposite the second side of the first rail, and wherein a first gap is defined between the first leg and the first rail and a second gap is defined between the second leg and the first rail; means for inducing a magnetic flux in a second rail via a third leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the second rail and a fourth leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the second rail, wherein the first side of the second rail is opposite the second side of the second rail, and wherein a third gap is defined between the third leg and the second rail and a fourth gap is defined between the fourth leg and the second rail; and means for varying a magnitude of a magnetic flux in at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the means for inducing a magnetic flux in a first rail and the means for inducing a magnetic flux in a second rail, wherein the first gap and the second gap are of unequal size. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of making a system for magnetically levitating a load, the method comprising:
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providing a first source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a first rail of a track via a first leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the first rail and a second leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the first rail, wherein the first side of the first rail is opposite the second side of the first rail, and wherein a first gap is defined between the first leg and the first rail and a second gap is defined between the second leg and the first rail; providing a second source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a second rail of the track via a third leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the second rail and a fourth leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the second rail, wherein the first side of second rail is opposite the second side of the second rail, and wherein a third gap is defined between the third leg and the second rail and a fourth gap is defined between the fourth leg and the second rail; connecting the first source of magnetic flux and the second source of magnetic flux with at least one magnetically permeable beam; and configuring control circuitry to vary a magnitude of a magnetic flux in the at least one magnetically permeable beam, wherein the first gap and the second gap are of unequal size. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for magnetically levitating a load, the system comprising:
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a first source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a first rail of a track via a first leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the first rail and a second leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the first rail, wherein the first side of the first rail is opposite the second side of the first rail, and wherein a first gap is defined between the first leg and the first rail and a second gap is defined between the second leg and the first rail; a second source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a second rail of the track via a third leg spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the second rail and a fourth leg spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the second rail, wherein the first side of second rail is opposite the second side of the second rail, and wherein a third gap is defined between the third leg and the second rail and a fourth gap is defined between the fourth leg and the second rail; and control circuitry configured to vary a magnitude of a magnetic flux in at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the first source of magnetic flux to the second source of magnetic flux, wherein the first gap and the second gap are of unequal size. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification