Linear induction motor

Claim 2

A single-phase linear induction motor having a body movable along a predetermined linear path and comprising: a pair of spaced-apart, stationary, longitudinal, alternating current energizable conductors extending parallelly along said path; said body comprising a pair of core members, one for each conductor and embracing the corresponding one of said conductors; said core members having each a pair of confronting pole faces defining an airgap; the airgaps of said core members being aligned in the longitudinal direction of said path; a flat stationary armature of conductive material extending along said path; said airgaps being traversed by said armature; and magnetic field phase shift means on each of said core members; said airgaps being spaced apart a distance so that corresponding portions of said pole faces of said core members are respectively of opposite magnetic polarity to produce a moving magnetic field in said airgaps causing said body to move along said path when said conductors are energized by in-phase alternating currents.

Claim 3

A single-phase linear induction motor having a body movable along a predetermined linear path comprising: a stationary, longitudinal, alternating current energizable conductor extending parallelly along said path; said body comprising a magnetic core member embracing said conductor and defining a pair of airgaps so that said conductor, when alternating current energized, generates a magnetic field in said airgaps; a flat stationary armature of conductive material extending along said path; said airgaps being traversed by said armature; said armature including a plurality of parallel current paths extending at an angle with respect to said conductor; said airgaps being staggered one relative to the other transversely of said conductor and transversely of the general longitudinal direction of said parallel current paths; and a magnetic field phase shift means on said core members to produce a moving magnetic field in said airgaps causing said body to move along said energized conductor.

Claim 4

A single-phase linear induction motor having a body movable along a predetermined linear path comprising: a stationary, longitudinal, alternating current energizable conductor extending parallelly along said path; said body comprising a magnetic core member embracing said conductor and defining a pair of airgaps so that said conductor, when alternating current energized, generates a magnetic field in said airgaps; a flat stationary armature of conductive material extending along said path; said airgaps being traversed by said armature; said armature including a plurality of parallel current paths extending at an angle with respect to said conductor; said airgaps being staggered one relative to the other transversely of said conductor and transversely of the general longitudinal direction of said parallel current paths; and a magnetic field phase shift means on said core members to produce a moving magnetic field in said airgaps causing said body to move along said energized conductor.

Claim 5

A polyphase linear induction motor having a body moving along a predetermined linear path and comprising: at least three spaced-apart, longitudinal, stationary, polyphase energizable conductors extending parallelly along said path; said body comprising a plurality of magnetic core members, one for each said conductor; a stationary flat armature of conductive material extending along said path; said armature including a plurality of closely spaced parallel current paths extending in a direction transverse of the longitudinal direction of said conductors; said core members embracing respective conductors and each defining a pair of airgaps staggered in said longitudinal direction; said armature traveling the airgaps of all core members; and said core members being staggered in said longitudinal direction of said conductors so as to cause said body to move along said polyphased energized conductors.

Claim 6

A polyphase linear induction motor having a body moving along a predetermined linear path and comprising: at least three spaced-apart, longitudinal, stationary, polyphase energizable conductors extending parallelly along said path; said body comprising a plurality of magnetic core members, one for each said conductor; a stationary flat armature of conductive material extending along said path; said armature including a plurality of closely spaced parallel current paths extending in a direction transverse of the longitudinal direction of said conductors; said core members embracing respective conductors and each defining a pair of airgaps staggered in said longitudinal direction; said armature traveling the airgaps of all core members; and said core members being staggered in said longitudinal direction of said conductors so as to cause said body to move along said polyphased energized conductors.

Claim 7

A linear induction motor comprising: a stationary alternating current energizable linear conductor: a magnetic field member disposed in magnetic induction coupled relation with said conductor so that said conductor, when energized, generates a flux of magnetic induction in said member; said member having at least a pair of associated magnetic pole faces of opposite polarity on opposed sides of said conductor; an elongated armature extending parallel to said conductor and having a plurality of distinct closely spaced, closed current paths; portions of said armature being disposed in confronting relation with said pole faces; and means for producing a varying flux distribution in said portions of said armature, longitudinally of said armature, said magnetic field member and said armature being relatively movable, with respect to one another, parallelly to the longitudinal direction of said conductor whereby said current paths extend in a direction causing each path to be linked, during said relative movement, successivelY with fluxes traversing said pole faces, so that the alternating current energizing of said conductor causes said relative movement by induction in said current paths of currents cooperating with the magnetic field issuing from said pole faces.

Claim 8

A linear induction motor comprising: a stationary alternating current energizable linear conductor: a magnetic field member disposed in magnetic induction coupled relation with said conductor so that said conductor, when energized, generates a flux of magnetic induction in said member; said member having at least a pair of associated magnetic pole faces of opposite polarity on opposed sides of said conductor; an elongated armature extending parallel to said conductor and having a plurality of distinct closely spaced, closed current paths; portions of said armature being disposed in confronting relation with said pole faces; and means for producing a varying flux distribution in said portions of said armature, longitudinally of said armature, said magnetic field member and said armature being relatively movable, with respect to one another, parallelly to the longitudinal direction of said conductor whereby said current paths extend in a direction causing each path to be linked, during said relative movement, successivelY with fluxes traversing said pole faces, so that the alternating current energizing of said conductor causes said relative movement by induction in said current paths of currents cooperating with the magnetic field issuing from said pole faces.

Claim 9

A polyphase induction motor comprising: a plurality of stationary, polyphase energizable, linear, spaced-apart conductors extending longitudinally along a predetermined path; a magnetic field structure and an armature structure, one of said structures being adapted for relative movement with respect to the other structure along said conductors, said magnetic field structure comprising a plurality of members of magnetic material, one for each conductor and embracing respective conductors in magnetic induction coupled relation therewith, each of said members of magnetic material being shaped to define at least a pair of associated magnetic pole faces of opposite polarity on opposed sides of the corresponding conductor when said conductor is energized; said armature structure extending parallel to said conductors and having a plurality of closely spaced, parallel, closed current paths; portions of said armature structure being disposed in confronting relation with said pole faces of all of said members; said associated pole faces of each member and the pole faces of all of said members being staggered with respect to said current paths in the longitudinal direction of said conductors in a manner causing each current path to enter in flux-linking relation successively with all of said pole faces during said relative movement thus inducing current in said current paths causing said relative movement when said conductors of polyphase energized.

Claim 10

A polyphase induction motor comprising: a plurality of stationary, polyphase energizable, linear, spaced-apart conductors extending longitudinally along a predetermined path; a magnetic field structure and an armature structure, one of said structures being adapted for relative movement with respect to the other structure along said conductors, said magnetic field structure comprising a plurality of members of magnetic material, one for each conductor and embracing respective conductors in magnetic induction coupled relation therewith, each of said members of magnetic material being shaped to define at least a pair of associated magnetic pole faces of opposite polarity on opposed sides of the corresponding conductor when said conductor is energized; said armature structure extending parallel to said conductors and having a plurality of closely spaced, parallel, closed current paths; portions of said armature structure being disposed in confronting relation with said pole faces of all of said members; said associated pole faces of each member and the pole faces of all of said members being staggered with respect to said current paths in the longitudinal direction of said conductors in a manner causing each current path to enter in flux-linking relation successively with all of said pole faces during said relative movement thus inducing current in said current paths causing said relative movement when said conductors of polyphase energized.

Claim 11

An electric drive arrangement comprising an elongated electrically conductive rail; carriage means of magnetic material comprising a pair of core members, each of said core members being shaped to define a gap and shaped and positioned as to partially embrace said rail with a portion of said rail being within said gap, a magnetic flux path being defined by each core member, said gap thereof and the width of said portion of said rail within said gap, said gaps of said core members being aligned in the longitudinal direction of said rail so as to partially embrace portions of said rail longitudinally spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between two successive poles of opposite polarity; a pair of spaced apart electrical current-carrying conductors extending parallel to said rail and embraced within said core members respectively, said conductors being positioned within said carriage means such that in-phase alternating currents passing respectively through said conductors will generate a magnetic flux along each said magnetic flux path; and means for producing a varying flux distribution in said portions of said rail, longitudinally of said rail, thereby producing a propelling reaction force in said carriage means parallel to said rail.

Claim 12

An electric drive arrangement comprising an elongated electrically conductive rail; carriage means of magnetic material comprising a pair of core members, each of said core members being shaped to define a gap and shaped and positioned as to partially embrace said rail with a portion of said rail being within said gap, a magnetic flux path being defined by each core member, said gap thereof and the width of said portion of said rail within said gap, said gaps of said core members being aligned in the longitudinal direction of said rail so as to partially embrace portions of said rail longitudinally spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between two successive poles of opposite polarity; a pair of spaced apart electrical current-carrying conductors extending parallel to said rail and embraced within said core members respectively, said conductors being positioned within said carriage means such that in-phase alternating currents passing respectively through said conductors will generate a magnetic flux along each said magnetic flux path; and means for producing a varying flux distribution in said portions of said rail, longitudinally of said rail, thereby producing a propelling reaction force in said carriage means parallel to said rail.

Claim 13

An electric drive arrangement comprising an elongated flat electrically conductive rail; electrical current-carrying conductor means extending parallel to said rail; carriage means of magnetic material shaped to define a closed magnetic flux having a loop portion and at least a pair of airgaps, said loop portion and said airgaps being magnetically series connected and shaped and positioned so that said loop portion embraces said conductor means and said airgaps are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said conducting means with longitudinally spaced-apart portions of said rail within said airgaps respectively; and means for producing a varying flux distribution in said portions of said rail, longitudinally of said rail, such that alternating current passing through said conductor means will generate a magnetic flux passing through said magnetic flux path thereby producing a propelling reaction force in said carriage means parallel to said rail.

Claim 14

An electric drive arrangement comprising an elongated flat electrically conductive rail; electrical current-carrying conductor means extending parallel to said rail; carriage means of magnetic material shaped to define a closed magnetic flux having a loop portion and at least a pair of airgaps, said loop portion and said airgaps being magnetically series connected and shaped and positioned so that said loop portion embraces said conductor means and said airgaps are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said conducting means with longitudinally spaced-apart portions of said rail within said airgaps respectively; and means for producing a varying flux distribution in said portions of said rail, longitudinally of said rail, such that alternating current passing through said conductor means will generate a magnetic flux passing through said magnetic flux path thereby producing a propelling reaction force in said carriage means parallel to said rail.