US3885504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic stabilizing or suspension system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-25
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic stabilizing or suspension device includes a flat electrical conductor of non-magnetic material. A plurality of spaced-apart permanent magnets face the conductor across an air gap for producing eddy currents in the conductor during relative movement between the conductor and magnets. Each permanent magnet has opposite north and south poles. The magnets include outer pole faces lying in a plane facing the conductor. Alternate ones of the permanent magnets are reversely positioned so that the magnets present alternate north and south poles facing the conductor. Additional permanent magnets are positioned between the permanent magnets. The additional magnets are magnetized in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of magnetization of the permanent magnets. The additional permanent magnets have opposite pole faces which face the permanent magnets. The additional permanent magnets have a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of the permanent magnets. The outer surfaces of the additional magnets lie in substantially the same plane with the outer pole surfaces of the permanent magnets. The additional permanent magnets span the spaces between the permanent magnets and have pole faces which face poles of like polarity on the permanent magnets.
Inventors
- 👤 Max Baermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:08
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L13/00; B60L13/04; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/08; F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/04; F16C32/0406; F16C32/0408; F16C32/0436; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In an arrangement for maintaining a vehicle in spaced relationship to an elongated support over which said vehicle moves in a predetermined direction said support including conductor means of non-magnetic material, the improvement which comprises; a plurality of small permanent magnets movable with said vehicle and spaced-apart in said predetermined direction a distance approximately equal to one half of their length in said direction, each of said magnets having opposite north and south poles and an axis of magnetization perpendicular to said support, alternate ones of said magnets being reversely positioned so that said magnets present alternate north and south poles facing said support, and a magnetically permeable member in engagement with the ends of said magnets remote from said support and bridging the spaces therebetween, said magnets having magnetic flux extending into said conductor means between adjacent poles of said magnets, whereby movement of said magnets with said vehicle in said predetermined direction relative to said conductor means produces eddy currents in said conductor means which establish magnetic fields opposite to the magnetic fields of said magnets and said fields repulse one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an arrangement for maintaining a vehicle in spaced relationship to an elongated support over which said vehicle moves in a predetermined direction said support including conductor means of non-magnetic material, the improvement which comprises; a plurality of small permanent magnets movable with said vehicle and spaced-apart in said predetermined direction a distance approximately equal to one half of their length in said direction, each of said magnets having opposite north and south poles and an axis of magnetization perpendicular to said support, alternate ones of said magnets being reversely positioned so that said magnets present alternate north and south poles facing said support, and a magnetically permeable member in engagement with the ends of said magnets remote from said support and bridging the spaces therebetween, said magnets having magnetic flux extending into said conductor means between adjacent poles of said magnets, whereby movement of said magnets with said vehicle in said predetermined direction relative to said conductor means produces eddy currents in said conductor means which establish magnetic fields opposite to the magnetic fields of said magnets and said fields repulse one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said permanent magnets have outer pole faces lying in a plane extending substantially parallel to said predetermined direction, said plane and said conductor means being substantially vertically spaced-apart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
The arrangement of claim 2 and further including a plurality of additional permanent magnets each positioned between a pair of said permanent magnets and being magnetized substantially parallel to said predetermined direction to have opposite pole faces facing said permanent magnets, said additional magnets having a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of said permanent magnets and having outer surfaces lying substantially in said plane, said additional permanent magnets substantially spanning the spaces between said permanent magnets, and said pole faces on said additional permanent magnets facing poles of like polarity on said permanent magnets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of rows of said plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of said electrical conductors, certain of said rows and conductor means being substantially vertically spaced-apart for magnetically levitating said vehicle, and certain of said rows and conductors being substantially horizontally spaced-apart for laterally stabilizing said vehicle relative to said support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein there are at least two rows of said plurality of permanent magnets, and each of said rows face said conductor means across a substantially horizontal air gap for laterally stabilizing said vehicle relative to said support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said permanent magnets have outer pole faces lying in a plane and further including additional permanent magnets positioned betweeN said permanent magnets and being magnetized substantially parallel to said predetermined direction to have opposite pole faces facing said permanent magnets, said additional magnets having a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of said permanent magnets and having outer surfaces lying substantially in said plane, said additional permanent magnets substantially spanning the spaces between said permanent magnets, and said pole faces on said additional magnets facing poles of like polarity on said permanent magnets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said permanent magnets have outer pole faces lying in a plane and further including a plurality of additional permanent magnets each positioned between a pair of said permanent magnets and being magnetized substantially parallel to said predetermined direction to have opposite pole faces facing said permanent magnets, said additional magnets having a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of said permanent magnets and having outer surfaces lying substantially in said plane, said additional permanent magnets substantially spanning the spaces between said permanent magnets, and said pole faces on said additional permanent magnets facing poles of like polarity on said permanent magnets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said permanent magnets have outer pole faces lying in a plane extending substantially parallel to said predetermined direction, said plane and said conductor means being substantially horizontally spaced-apart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The arrangement of claim 8 and further including a plurality of additional permanent magnets one positioned between a pair of said permanent magnets and being magnetized substantially parallel to said predetermined direction to have opposite pole faces facing said permanent magnets, said additional magnets having a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of said permanent magnets and having outer surfaces lying substantially in said plane, said additional permanent magnets substantially spanning the spaces between said permanent magnets, and said pole faces on said additional permanent magnets facing poles of like polarity on said permanent magnets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The arrangement of claim 8, including means for suspending said vehicle relative to the support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said means comprise an air cushion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said means comprise magnetic repulsion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said means comprise nonmagnetic electrical conductor means on said support facing upwardly and a plurality of permanent magnets fixed to said vehicle, said magnets being spaced apart in said predetermined direction, each of said magnets having opposite north and south poles, alternate ones of said magnets being reversely positioned so that said magnets present alternate north and south poles facing said conductor means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said suspension means includes a plurality of rows of permanent magnets on both said vehicle and said support extending parallel to the length of said support, said rows on said vehicle and on said support being of alternate magnetic polarity transversely of the length of said support and the polarity of the rows on the vehicle being of the same polarity as the rows on said support.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The arrangement of claim 14 wherein said rows are spaced and have vertical axes of magnetization and permanent magnets between each of said rows having a horizontal axis of magnetization generally transverse to the direction of motion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said suspension means include upwardly facing electrical conductor means of nonmagnetic material on said support; a plurality of rotatable discs mounted on said vehicles, said discs having a ring of alternating polarity permanent magnets on the lower surface thereof facing said conductor means; and, power means for rotating said discs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said supporTing means includes a plurality of wheels on said vehicle arranged to engage a surface of said support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The arrangement of claim 17 wherein means are provided for raising or lowering said wheels relative to said vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
192 words
A permanent magnet suspension device including substantially flat electrical conductor means of non-magnetic material, permanent magnet means facing said conductor means across an air gap for producing eddy currents in said conductor means during relative movement between said conductor means and said permanent magnet means, said permanent magnet means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart permanent magnets, each of said permanent magnets having opposite north and south poles and including outer pole faces lying in a plane facing said conductor means, alternate ones of said magnets being reversely positioned so that said magnets present alternate north and south poles facing said conductor means, additional permanent magnets positioned between said permanent magnets and being magnetized substantially perpendicular to the direction of magnetization of said permanent magnets, said additional permanent magnets having opposite pole faces facing said permanent magnets, said additional permanent magnets having a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of said permanent magnet and having outer surfaces lying generally in said plane, said additional permanent magnets substantially spanning the spaces between said permanent magnets, and said pole faces on said additional permanent magnets facing poles of like polarity on said permanent magnets.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
192 words
A permanent magnet suspension device including substantially flat electrical conductor means of non-magnetic material, permanent magnet means facing said conductor means across an air gap for producing eddy currents in said conductor means during relative movement between said conductor means and said permanent magnet means, said permanent magnet means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart permanent magnets, each of said permanent magnets having opposite north and south poles and including outer pole faces lying in a plane facing said conductor means, alternate ones of said magnets being reversely positioned so that said magnets present alternate north and south poles facing said conductor means, additional permanent magnets positioned between said permanent magnets and being magnetized substantially perpendicular to the direction of magnetization of said permanent magnets, said additional permanent magnets having opposite pole faces facing said permanent magnets, said additional permanent magnets having a thickness not greater than one-half the thickness of said permanent magnet and having outer surfaces lying generally in said plane, said additional permanent magnets substantially spanning the spaces between said permanent magnets, and said pole faces on said additional permanent magnets facing poles of like polarity on said permanent magnets.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 19 wherein said additional permanent magnets have a higher coercivity than said permanent magnets.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |