Patent US927668A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3845720A
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Magnetic-levitation vehicle with auxiliary magnetic support at track-branch locations
Assignee: Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei GmbH
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Filing: 1973-01-17
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic-levitation or magnetic-suspension vehicle in which a pair of electromagnetic-suspension arrangements are spaced apart on the vehicle body and describe traces or paths which intersect at branching locations of the track, is formed with auxiliary magnet means, e.g. an electrodynamic system, permanent magnets or electromagnets, for temporarily supplying a supporting force when the vehicle travels to one side or another of a track branch along that limb of the vehicle path at which the normal suspension arrangement is rendered ineffective.
Inventors
- 👤 G Bohn
- 👤 G Winkle
- 👤 H Wende
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L13/00; B60L13/003; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/08; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
In a magnetic-suspenion vehicle system comprising a track having at least one branch region at which one track portion diverges from another track portion, and a vehicle magnetically suspended on said track and selectively directable onto said track portion, the improvement which comprises, in combination: respective suspension electromagnets extending along opposite sides of said vehicle and cooperating with respective armature rails formed along said track, said rows of suspension electromagnets describing intersecting traces at said branch region, said armature rails being disposed at the sides of the vehicle so that a gap is formed in at least one of the rails at the branch region to permit the vehicle to selectively traverse said portions; and cooperating means on said vehicle and said track, at least in said region, and effective to provide a magnetic supporting force for a side of said vehicle through said region at which the corresponding row of suspension electromagnets is ineffective.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a magnetic-suspenion vehicle system comprising a track having at least one branch region at which one track portion diverges from another track portion, and a vehicle magnetically suspended on said track and selectively directable onto said track portion, the improvement which comprises, in combination: respective suspension electromagnets extending along opposite sides of said vehicle and cooperating with respective armature rails formed along said track, said rows of suspension electromagnets describing intersecting traces at said branch region, said armature rails being disposed at the sides of the vehicle so that a gap is formed in at least one of the rails at the branch region to permit the vehicle to selectively traverse said portions; and cooperating means on said vehicle and said track, at least in said region, and effective to provide a magnetic supporting force for a side of said vehicle through said region at which the corresponding row of suspension electromagnets is ineffective.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating means includes at least one row of supporting magnets mounted on said vehicle and at least one magnetic member mounted on said track, said supporting magnets and said magnetic members developing a force field between them.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said row of supporting magnets is mounted generally centrally on said vehicle and is shiftable laterally to opposite sides of a vertical median plane through said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said magnetic member is a row of supporting magnets having poles confronting those of said supporting magnets and of identical magnetic polarity, the magnetic axis of said support magnets being generally perpendicular to said track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cOmbination defined in claim 2 wherein said support magnets are electromagnets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said support electromagnetic have magnetic axes perpendicular to said track and said magnetic member is a row of oppositely oriented electromagnets having magnetic axes generally perpendicular to said track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said support magnets are provided in a row along an edge of the top of said vehicle and said magnetic member is mounted upon said track above said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said magnetic member is an armature rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination defined in claim 8 wherein a second row of support electromagnets is formed on the top of said vehicle at a spacing from the first-mentioned row of support electromagnets which is greater than the spacing of said rows of suspension electromagnets from one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said cooperating means includes two rows of transversely spaced supporting magnets mounted on the underside of said vehicle, and respective magnetic members extending along said track for cooperation with said rows of supporting magnets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said supporting magnets are permanent magnets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination defined in claim 10 further comprising means for selectively raising and lowering said members relative to said rows of supporting magnets to render a respective magnetic member and the associated row of supporting magnets effective in magnetically supporting said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination in claim 10 wherein said rows of supporting magnets are canted to generate a lateral force component upon interaction of one of said magnetic members with the respective row of supporting magnets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein each magnetic member and the respective row of supporting magnets magnetically register to develop a force field therebetween free from any substantial lateral force component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein each magnetic member and the respective row of supporting magnets are laterally offset upon the development of a force field therebetween to generate a lateral force component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination defined in claim 10, further comprising a magnetic shield selectively interposable between each of said rows of supporting magnets and the respective magnetic member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination defined in claim 16 wherein each of said rows of supporting magnets comprises a plurality of permanent-magnet strips extending longitudinally along said vehicle and said shields are grates of soft magnetic material coextensive with said strips and shiftable transversely relative to said strips to render said supporting magnets selectively effective and ineffective.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said supporting magnets are permanent magnets having pole faces of one magnetic polarity turned toward the respective magnetic member, and each magnetic member is a row of permanent magnets having pole faces of the same magnetic plurality juxtaposed with those of said supporting magnets, thereby generating a repulsion force between said supporting magnets and the respective row of permanent magnets of the associated member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination defined in claim 10 further comprising linear-induction motor means on said vehicle and said track for imparting thrust to said vehicle in a direction of displacement thereof along said track.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said linear-induction motor means includes a respective motor at each side of said vehicle, one of said motors being ineffective in said region, the corresponding row of supporting magnets and magnetic members being formed with means for imparting a thrust to said vehicle to compensate for the loss of thrust upon inactivation of said one of said motors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said supporting magnets are electromagnets aNd said magnetic members are electromagnets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said suspension electromagnets lie generally in a plane of the center of gravity of said vehicle, said track being generally channel-shaped and said vehicle being received within the channel-shaped track.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating means includes an electrodynamic coil assembly on said vehicle and a reaction rail of high conductivity on said track cooperating with said electrodynamic coil assembly to provide a supporting force.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination defined in claim 23, further comprising means for selectively raising and lowering the reaction rail relative to said coil assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination defined in claim 24 wherein said coil assembly is superconductive and has an axis perpendicular to the axis of said track, said reaction rail extending generally parallel to the track.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination defined in claim 24 wherein said coil assembly includes a magnetic yoke having arms straddling said reaction rail and carrying a coil.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination defined in claim 23 wherein said reaction rail has a section swingable about an axis perpendicular to said track for directing said vehicle selectively onto said portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE707032C
Cited
US3750803A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |