US3822647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive switching system
Assignee: Rohr Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-09
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for the switching of a magnetically suspended vehicle from a primary guideway through a curved intersection to a secondary guideway. The vehicle is equiped with a pair of electromagnetic motors which provide a magnetic force to suspend the vehicle from a pair of support rails positioned above and in a superimposed relationship with the electro-magnetic motors. The rails at the intersection of the guideways have increased width so as to maintain an essentially superimposed relationship with their respective electromagnetic motor throughout the curve of the intersection and one rail of each guideway has at least one opening to allow the vehicle structure to pass through and the remaining rail of each guideway forms a unitary rail member. The vehicle is switched by a relative speed difference between the motors caused by input power frequency differences.
Inventors
- 👤 C Hill
- 👤 J Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L13/00; B60L13/003; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for the switching of a magnetically suspended, guided and propelled vehicle from a first to a second guideway of travel through an arcuate intersection comprising: an electro-magnetic force field motor having associated variable energizing voltage means positioned on said vehicle for magnetically suspending and propelling said vehicle; each of said guideways and said arcuate intersection comprise a pair of spaced apart ferro-magnetic rails positioned so as to provide a superimposed spaced relationship with the entire opposing surface of said electro-magnetic force field motors as the vehicle passes along any of the guideways or the intersection of said rails; and control means for varying the energizing voltage carried by said vehicle for separately controlling the motor-rail spacing and forward speed of said electro-magnetic force field motors with respect to said rails so as to provide like vertical gap spacing therefrom while said electro-magnetic force field motors operate independently through a range of linear speeds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for the switching of a magnetically suspended, guided and propelled vehicle from a first to a second guideway of travel through an arcuate intersection comprising: an electro-magnetic force field motor having associated variable energizing voltage means positioned on said vehicle for magnetically suspending and propelling said vehicle; each of said guideways and said arcuate intersection comprise a pair of spaced apart ferro-magnetic rails positioned so as to provide a superimposed spaced relationship with the entire opposing surface of said electro-magnetic force field motors as the vehicle passes along any of the guideways or the intersection of said rails; and control means for varying the energizing voltage carried by said vehicle for separately controlling the motor-rail spacing and forward speed of said electro-magnetic force field motors with respect to said rails so as to provide like vertical gap spacing therefrom while said electro-magnetic force field motors operate independently through a range of linear speeds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic force field motors are plural phase electro-magnets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as defined by claim 2 wherein said plural phase comprises three phases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said energizing voltage means comprises a controllable plural phase power amplifier source of variable amplitude and variable frequency voltage for respectively energizing said plural phase electro-magnets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rails have increased width in the area of said arcuate intersection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention aS defined in claim 1 wherein said rails are solid ferro-magnetic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rails are longitudinally laminated ferro-magnetic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises gap length and frequency control means carried by each of said motors for simultaneously regulating the amplitude of each phase of the energizing voltage to restore and maintain the motor in stable equilibrium at a predetermined gap distance and simultaneously regulating the frequency of each phase of said energizing voltage to set the linear speed of the motor along the rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: a position transducer responsive to the length of the motor rail gap and producing a first electrical signal; an accelerometer element responsive to motion of the electro-magnetic force field motor associated with any potential change in the gap; a feedback circuit associated with said position transducer and elements and producing a second electrical signal; a multi-phase variable frequency oscillator for producing separate constant amplitude signals; and a speed and direction control circuit means comprising a first multiplier means for producing an output corresponding to the product of each of said constant amplitude signals times said second electrical signal, differentiator means for producing an output corresponding to the differential of the product of said first multiplier means, and second multiplier means for producing an output corresponding to the product of said first multiplier means times said first electrical signal said second multiplier means includes means for summing its output with the output of said differentiator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one safety vehicle support member attached to said vehicle upper surface to support said vehicle when said energizing voltage is removed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein, at the upper surface said vehicle safety support member comprises vertical translating means and electrical pick up means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |