IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0898651
(2004-07-23)
|
등록번호 |
US-7255046
(2007-08-14)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Baldi,Robert W.
- Gurol,Husam
- Kratz,Robert
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use in controlling and directing magnetically levitated vehicles. In some embodiments, a method propels or passes a vehicle along a guideway, magnetically levitates the vehicle as it travels along the guideway, and induces a magnetic drag o
The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use in controlling and directing magnetically levitated vehicles. In some embodiments, a method propels or passes a vehicle along a guideway, magnetically levitates the vehicle as it travels along the guideway, and induces a magnetic drag on the vehicle as it travels along a portion of the guideway. The magnetic drag can be induced by passing the magnet proximate a plate of conductive material. The plate can be positioned on a first side of the vehicle to induce the magnetic drag resulting in a force on the vehicle in a direction toward the first side. The method can further induce the magnetic drag to guide the vehicle along a curve of the guideway, where the plate is positioned on an inward side of the curve such that the force directs the vehicle into the curve.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method for use in guiding a vehicle, comprising: passing a magnet along a guideway; magnetically levitating the magnet as the magnet travels along the guideway; and inducing an increase of magnetic drag on the magnet as the magnet travels along a predefined portion of the g
What is claimed is: 1. A method for use in guiding a vehicle, comprising: passing a magnet along a guideway; magnetically levitating the magnet as the magnet travels along the guideway; and inducing an increase of magnetic drag on the magnet as the magnet travels along a predefined portion of the guideway in excess to magnetic drag experienced by the magnet as the magnet travels along the guideway. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passing the magnet along the guideway comprises passing the magnet fixed with a vehicle along the guideway such that the magnetically levitating the magnet comprises magnetically levitating the vehicle. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inducing the magnetic drag comprises passing the magnet proximate to a plate of conductive material having a defined length proportional to the predefined portion of the guideway. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the magnet is positioned near a first side of a vehicle; and the inducing the increase of magnetic drag comprises inducing the additional magnetic drag on the magnet and inducing an additional force on the vehicle in a direction toward the first side of the vehicle as the magnet travels along the predefine portion of the guideway. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inducing the magnetic drag comprises inducing the magnetic drag and guiding the magnet along a curve of the guideway. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the magnetically levitating the magnet comprises magnetically levitating the magnets secured with a vehicle such that the vehicle is levitated, and the inducing the magnetic drag comprises inducing the magnetic drag on the magnet and inducing a force on the vehicle in a direction toward the first side of the vehicle and into the curve. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the magnetically levitating the magnet comprises magnetically levitating a plurality of magnets formed in Halbach arrays. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the inducing the predefined increase of magnetic drag comprises inducing eddy currents along the predefined portion of the guideway reducing a propulsion force. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: positioning a plate of conductive material at the predefined portion of the guideway, such that the eddy currents are induced in the plate of conductive material. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the inducing the predefined increase of magnetic drag comprises increasing the drag as the vehicle travels along a first predefined region of the predefined portion of the guideway and passively decreasing the magnetic drag as the vehicle travels along a second predefined region of the predefined portion of the guideway. 11. A method for use in controlling a vehicle, comprising: magnetically levitating a vehicle; propelling the magnetically levitated vehicle along a guideway; and controlling movement of the levitated vehicle comprising: inducing an increase in a magnetic drag on the vehicle along a predefined portion of the guideway in excess to magnetic drag experienced by the vehicle as the vehicle travels. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inducing the magnetic drag comprises inducing an eddy current along the portion of the guideway that reduces a propulsion force on the vehicle and interferes with a levitation force. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the inducing a magnetic drag comprises passing the vehicle comprising a plurality of magnets secured with the vehicle along the predefined portion of the guideway such that at least some of the magnets pass proximate to a plate of conductive material. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the passing at least some of the magnets comprises passing the at least some of the magnets proximate the conductive plate such that the at least some of the magnets are positioned on one side of the vehicle; and the inducing the increase in magnetic drag comprises inducing the increase in magnetic drag on one side of the vehicle generating an increased cumulative force on the vehicle that is directed sideways to a direction of travel such that the vehicle is directed in a direction toward the one side of the vehicle. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the inducing the drag comprises inducing the drag on the vehicle along a first side of the vehicle; and directing the vehicle in a direction toward the first side of the vehicle. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the inducing the drag comprises reducing the conductivity within a first series of rungs relative to a conductivity of a second series of rungs of the guideway. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the inducing the increase in drag comprises increasing the drag as the vehicle travels along a first predefined region of the predefined portion of the guideway and decreasing the drag as the vehicle travels along a second predefined region of the predefined portion of the guideway. 18. An apparatus for use in directing a vehicle, comprising: a guideway; a vehicle positioned on the guideway to travel along the guideway, the vehicle comprising at least one magnet; and a conductive plate having a predefined length and being positioned proximate the guideway and along a predefined portion of the guideway, such that an eddy current is induced in the conductive plate as the at least one magnet of the vehicle passes the conductive plate inducing an increased drag force on the magnet. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the conductive plate is positioned on a first side of the guideway, such that the drag force further induces a force on the vehicle in a direction generally toward the first side and generally away from a second side of the guideway. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the guideway includes a curved section, wherein the portion of the guideway at which the conductive plate is positioned is at least partially defined within the curved section. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first side of the guideway is inward of the curve such that the force is generally radially inward to the curve. 22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the conductive plate tapers along at least a portion of a length of the conductive plate. 23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the conductive plate comprises aluminum alloy. 24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the conductive plate comprises layers of material. 25. An apparatus for use in guiding a vehicle, comprising: a guideway comprising a plurality of current carrying rungs; a magnet positioned adjacent the guideway such that the magnet travels along the guideway; and a means for inducing an increase in magnetic drag on the magnet in excess of magnetic drag exerted on the magnet as the magnet travels along at least a portion of the guideway, where the means for inducing the drag is positioned proximate a plurality of the rungs. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for inducing the drag comprises an electrically conductive plate positioned proximate the plurality of rungs. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the plate is positioned between the plurality of rungs and the magnet as the magnet travels along the guideway. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the guideway comprises two substantially parallel track arrays; and the plate is positioned proximate to one of the track arrays. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the guideway comprises a curve, and the plate is positioned proximate the first track array along the curve such that the drag induces a force on the magnet into the curve. 30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the inducing the drag comprises at least one of reducing current flow within a first series of rungs relative to a second series of rungs, increasing a separation distance between rungs for a first series of rungs relative to a separation between a fourth series of rungs, and reducing lengths of slits defining a fifth series of rungs relative to lengths of slits defining a sixth series of rungs.
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