METAMATERIAL NULL FLUX MAGNETIC BEARING SYSTEM

• US 20170275827A1
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyperloop Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hyperloop Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: HANDMER, Casey, TOWLE, Brian, COUTRE, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,533,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/305 Rails or supporting constructions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/10 Railway vehicles in general B61
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0461 of stationary parts of the magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0468 of moving parts of the magnetic circuit, e.g. of the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0472 for linear movement

Abstract

Non-contact bearing system, such as a magnetic levitation system, having a geometry. The geometry includes a plurality of track elements arranged to nest together in a length direction. The plurality of track elements are shaped to define at least an upper and a lower null flux crossing and the plurality of nested track elements form a conductive metamaterial. Method for constructing a metamaterial null flux magnetic levitation track with tessellating elements of stamped conductors.

Claims

1. A non-contact bearing having a geometry comprising:

a plurality of track elements arranged to nest together in a length direction,

wherein the plurality of track elements are shaped to define at least an upper and a lower null flux crossing and the plurality of nested track elements form a conductive metamaterial.

2. The non-contact bearing according to claim 1, wherein each track element includes a first bent leg and a second bent leg.

3. The non-contact bearing according to claim 2, wherein the first and second bent legs, when viewed in a direction normal to the travel direction, form three adjacent stacked loops.

4. The non-contact bearing according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer arranged between each of the nested track elements.

5. The non-contact bearing according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle arranged to travel along the metamaterial, the vehicle including at least a pair of magnet arrays arranged parallel to each other on a first side of the metamaterial.

6. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein the magnet arrays extend in the travel direction.

7. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein, as the vehicle travels along the metamaterial, the pair of magnet arrays are arranged to travel along the upper and lower null points.

8. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein the metamaterial is arranged so that the vehicle travels over the metamaterial.

9. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein the metamaterial is arranged so that the vehicle travels suspended from the metamaterial.

10. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, further comprising at least a second pair of magnet arrays arranged parallel to each other on a second side of the metamaterial, which is opposite the first side, wherein the magnet arrays on the first side are arranged parallel to the magnet arrays on the second side.

11. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein the magnet arrays include a plurality of magnetic elements in which a north-south direction for each magnetic element is shifted 90°

from an adjacent magnetic element.

12. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein a movement of the magnet arrays over the metamaterial at a predefined velocity creates a magnetic force to generate lift that provides vertical displacement between the vehicle and the track.

13. The non-contact bearing according to claim 5, wherein, on at least the first side of the metamaterial:

the magnet assembly along the upper null flux crossing comprises a plurality of magnet sets in which each magnet set comprises four individual magnets of which respective N-poles are pointed in different directions and the N-poles of each adjacent magnet are 90°

offset from each other, and

the magnet assembly along the lower null flux crossing comprises a plurality of magnet sets in which each magnet set comprises four individual magnets of which respective N-poles are pointed in a direction opposite the N-poles of respective magnets of the magnet assembly along the upper null flux crossing located vertically above.

14. A method of forming the metamaterial of the transport system according to claim 1, comprising:

forming a first leg of one individual track element from a conductive material and bending the first leg to form a first part of a first individual track element;

forming a second leg of the one individual track element from the conductive material and bending the second leg in a complementary manner to that of the first leg to form the first individual track element;

forming a first leg of another individual track element from a conductive material and bending the first leg to forma first part of a second individual track element;

forming a second leg of the other individual track element from the conductive material and bending the second leg in a complementary manner to that of the first leg to form the second individual track element; and

stacking the first individual track element and the second individual track element together, whereby the respective first legs and the respective second legs are arranged nested together.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, before the stacking, inserting an insulator layer between the first individual track element and the second individual track element.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein, before the stacking, forming an insulator layer on at least one of the first individual track element and the second individual track element.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the bent legs of the first and second individual track elements form stacked diamonds.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a crossing point between an upper diamond and a middle diamond forms an upper null flux crossing and a crossing point between the middle diamond and a lower diamond forms a lower null flux crossing.

19. A method for constructing a metamaterial null flux magnetic levitation track, comprising:

arranging tessellating elements formed from stamped conductors.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the elements comprise conductive loops having first and second legs that are bent, between an upper end and a lower end of the conductive loop, to form an upper null flux crossing and a lower null flux crossing.