US3871301A — Stabilization and ride control of suspended vehic…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

Apparatus to provide stabilization and active oscillation damping of a suspended vehicle that comprises, in combination: means on the vehicle for creating a d-c magnetic field, active guideway means adapted to receive the vehicle and containing current loops which, when energized, create a linearly traveling magnetic propulsion field to provide at least one of synchronous acceleration, deceleration and cruise forces upon the vehicle, electric power source means connected to energize the currents loops, means for effecting momentary adjustment of thE amplitude of the propulsion field and its frequency, the latter to change the linear spatial position of the propulsion field relative to that of the vehicle field, sensor means on the vehicle to sense vehicle motion in at least one degree of freedom for the purpose of controlling vehicle behavior by actively damping unwanted motion, and communication means operable to transmit a signal from the sensor means to the power source to effect changes therein, thereby to adjust at least one of the amplitude and the frequency of the propulsion field so as to provide stabilization and oscillation damping of the vehicle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 182 words

Apparatus to provide stabilization and active oscillation damping of a suspended vehicle that comprises, in combination: means on the vehicle for creating a d-c magnetic field, active guideway means adapted to receive the vehicle and containing current loops which, when energized, create a linearly traveling magnetic propulsion field to provide at least one of synchronous acceleration, deceleration and cruise forces upon the vehicle, electric power source means connected to energize the currents loops, means for effecting momentary adjustment of thE amplitude of the propulsion field and its frequency, the latter to change the linear spatial position of the propulsion field relative to that of the vehicle field, sensor means on the vehicle to sense vehicle motion in at least one degree of freedom for the purpose of controlling vehicle behavior by actively damping unwanted motion, and communication means operable to transmit a signal from the sensor means to the power source to effect changes therein, thereby to adjust at least one of the amplitude and the frequency of the propulsion field so as to provide stabilization and oscillation damping of the vehicle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the vehicle is cylindrical and in which the guideway means is trough-shaped.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 97 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the means for creating a magnet field on the vehicle includes a plurality of on-board magnets located along the lower part of the vehicle and oriented alternately to provide alternate regions of north and south polarity along said lower part, and in which the guideway includes continuous, passive levitation conductors at each side of the guideway and current-carrying propulsion conductors at the center of the guideway between the passive conductors, thereby to provide levitation forces on the moving vehicle as well as the synchronous acceleration, deceleration and cruise forces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the on-board magnets comprise a plurality of superconductor coils.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the passive levitation conductors form part of the communication means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor means and the communication means form a feedback control system to provide vehicle control and in which the system includes magnetic phase position sensors, a telemetering transmitter capable of transmitting information to a wayside power control-system, data processing circuitry and at least one of accelerometers, gyroscopic sensors, magnetic field detectors, and position sensors.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the guideway means is trough-shaped and contains passive levitation conductors at each side of the guideway electromagnetically coupled with the magnetic field of the vehicle thereby to provide magnetic levitation forces on the moving vehicle and current-carrying propulsion conductors at the center of the trough between the passive conductors.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the means on the vehicle for creating a magnetic field comprises on-board magnets located at the lower part of the vehicle, said magnets being adapted to produce higher magnetic field intensities at the center of said lower part of the vehicle than toward the sides thereof, thereby to provide increased centering forces and righting moments as well as increased interaction with the propulsion field.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the sensor means and the communication means form a feedback control system which is adapted, among other things, to provide righting moments about the roll axis of the vehicle properly timed as to damp roll oscillation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 72 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the on-board portion of the feedback control system contains six accelerometers connected so as to provide information concerning the instantaneous accelerations of the vehicle in all degrees of freedom, and which further includes data processing logic to translate said information into control signals required to apply active damping to all modes of vehicle oscillation, namely, oscillations in heave, sway, roll, pitch, hunting and yaw.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 112 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the vehicle is cylindrical, in which the guideway is trough-shaped, in which the means for creating a magnet field on the vehicle includes a plurality of on-board magnets located along the lower part of the vehicle and oriented alternately to provide alternate regions of north and south polarity along said lower part, and in which the guideway includeS continuous, passive levitation conductors at each side of the trough and current-carrying propulsion conductors at the center of the trough between the passive conductors, thereby to provide levitation forces on the moving vehicle as well as at least one of synchronous acceleration, deceleration and cruise forces.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the sensor means and the communication means form a power control system to provide vehicle control and in which the system includes magnetic phase position sensors, a telemetering transmitter capable of transmitting information to a wayside power control system, and at least one of: accelerometers, gyroscopic sensors, and data processing logic.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the on-board magnets are adapted to produce higher magnetic field intensities at the center of said lower part of the vehicle than toward the sides thereof, thereby to provide increased centering forces and righting moments as well as increased interaction with the propulsion field.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which means is provided to apply in addition righting moments about the roll-axis of the vehicle, properly times so as to damp roll oscillations.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 72 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the on-board portion of the power control system contains six accelerometers connected so as to provide information concerning the instantaneous accelerations of the vehicle in all degrees of freedom, and which further includes data processing logic to translate said information into control signals required to apply active damping to all modes of vehicle oscillation, namely oscillations in heave, sway, roll, pitch, hunting and yaw.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus to provide stabilization of a repulsively magnetically suspended vehicle that comprises, in combination: trough-shaped guideway means adapted to receive a vehicle and containing passive levitation conductors at each side of said guideway, means on the vehicle for creating a magnetic field along the lower part of the vehicle and adapted to produce higher magnetic field intensities at the center of said lower part of the vehicle than at the sides, electromagnetic interaction between the vehicle magnetic field and the passive conductors acting, as the vehicle moves along the guideway, to provide levitation forces on the moving vehicle, the levitation forces, because of said higher magnetic field intensities at the center of the lower part of the vehicle, acting to provide increased centering forces and righting moments on the vehicle, and means for propelling the vehicle along the guideway.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus to provide stabilization of a repulsively magnetically suspended vehicle that comprises, in combination: trough-shaped guideway means adapted to receive a vehicle and containing passive levitation conductors at each side of said guideway, means on the vehicle for creating a magnetic field along the lower part of the vehicle and adapted to produce higher magnetic field intensities at the center of said lower part of the vehicle than at the sides, electromagnetic interaction between the vehicle magnetic field and the passive conductors acting, as the vehicle moves along the guideway, to provide levitation forces on the moving vehicle, the levitation forces, because of said higher magnetic field intensities at the center of the lower part of the vehicle, acting to provide increased centering forces and righting moments on the vehicle, and means for propelling the vehicle along the guideway.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 109 words

A method of providing stabilization and active damping of a magnetically levitated and propelled vehicle, that comprises: creating a high intensity d-c magnetic field on the vehicle; creating a linear traveling a-c magnetic field which interacts with the vehicle magnetic field to effect synchronous linear motion of the vehicle; sensing vehicle motion in at least one degree of freedom and providing a signal for the purpose of controlling vehicle behavior, by actively damping unwanted motion, and effecting momentary adjustment of at least one of the amplitude and the frequency of the a-c magnetic field in response to the signal which is indicative of the occurrence of said unwanted motion.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 109 words

A method of providing stabilization and active damping of a magnetically levitated and propelled vehicle, that comprises: creating a high intensity d-c magnetic field on the vehicle; creating a linear traveling a-c magnetic field which interacts with the vehicle magnetic field to effect synchronous linear motion of the vehicle; sensing vehicle motion in at least one degree of freedom and providing a signal for the purpose of controlling vehicle behavior, by actively damping unwanted motion, and effecting momentary adjustment of at least one of the amplitude and the frequency of the a-c magnetic field in response to the signal which is indicative of the occurrence of said unwanted motion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-03-17	1978-09-16	1979-03-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-03-17	1982-09-16	1983-03-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-03-17	1986-09-16	1987-03-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Stabilization and ride control of suspended vehicles propelled by a linear motor

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