US3931767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic suspension railway
Assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
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Filing: 1974-02-28
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Granted: 1976-01-13
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Expires: 1994-02-28
Abstract
Abstract In the magnetic suspension railway disclosed, electrically-controlled carrier magnets, located on opposite sides under a railway car and coupled to two stationary magnetic carrier rails levitate the car. Electrically controlled, guide magnets, fixed under the car on both sides, guide the car between magnetic guide rails. The carrier and guide magnets for each side of the car are mounted on two mounts extending longitudinally underneath the car and facing the support and guide rails. Guiding the car onto one path or the other through a switch area at a fork is accomplished by deactivating only the guide magnets on one side of the car. At the switch area fixed support magnets in one of two rows between the rails appear above the one of an auxiliary rail projecting from the mount holding the deactivated guide magnet. The auxiliary rail is displaced from the vertical relative to the electromagnetic row into a magnetically asymmetrical position. This produces a lateral force counteracting the excess force produced by the still activated guide magnet.
Inventors
- 👤 Ludwig Karch, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:38
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; E01B25/30; E01B25/32; B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
A magnetic suspension railway, comprising a car having a horizontal longitudinal axis, a plurality of electrically controlled car carrier magnets, a plurality of electrically-controlled car guide magnets, a plurality of fixed magnetizable track rails, holding means mounted under the car and spaced interiorly of the track rails relative to the axis for holding said car carrier magnets in a suspended position vertically relative to the rails and holding the guide magnets in positions laterally between the rails, said rails branching into two paths at a branch section, said car guide magnets being distributed on opposite sides of the axis, circuit means in the car coupled to said magnets for energizing the magnets to suspend the car and guide the car over the rails and for deenergizing the guide magnets on one side of the car relative to the guide magnets on the other side of the car within the switch section so as to guide the car in the switch section onto one path and away from the other, two switch rails mounted on said holding means at a portion away from the track rails and in the direction of the axis and on opposite sides of the axis, two rows of electrically controlled switch magnets stationarily mounted in the switch area, one of said rows following one of the paths and the other of said rows following the other of the paths, said switch rails and said rows being positioned so that when the car passes through the switch section one of said switch rails and said switch magnets in one row are magnetically coupled sufficiently to support magnetically at least one side of the car while the carrier-magnets on that side are disengaged from the track rails in the switch area, said one switch rail and said one row being sufficiently offset horizontally from a magnetic symmetry so that said switch magnets impart a lateral force upon the switch rail to compensate for the magnetic disengagement of the carrier magnets on the one side of the car from the track rail on the one side of the car.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
A magnetic suspension railway, comprising a car having a horizontal longitudinal axis, a plurality of electrically controlled car carrier magnets, a plurality of electrically-controlled car guide magnets, a plurality of fixed magnetizable track rails, holding means mounted under the car and spaced interiorly of the track rails relative to the axis for holding said car carrier magnets in a suspended position vertically relative to the rails and holding the guide magnets in positions laterally between the rails, said rails branching into two paths at a branch section, said car guide magnets being distributed on opposite sides of the axis, circuit means in the car coupled to said magnets for energizing the magnets to suspend the car and guide the car over the rails and for deenergizing the guide magnets on one side of the car relative to the guide magnets on the other side of the car within the switch section so as to guide the car in the switch section onto one path and away from the other, two switch rails mounted on said holding means at a portion away from the track rails and in the direction of the axis and on opposite sides of the axis, two rows of electrically controlled switch magnets stationarily mounted in the switch area, one of said rows following one of the paths and the other of said rows following the other of the paths, said switch rails and said rows being positioned so that when the car passes through the switch section one of said switch rails and said switch magnets in one row are magnetically coupled sufficiently to support magnetically at least one side of the car while the carrier-magnets on that side are disengaged from the track rails in the switch area, said one switch rail and said one row being sufficiently offset horizontally from a magnetic symmetry so that said switch magnets impart a lateral force upon the switch rail to compensate for the magnetic disengagement of the carrier magnets on the one side of the car from the track rail on the one side of the car.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A railway as in claim 1, wherein the one of the rows of switch magnets is horizontally displaced from a vertical relationship with the one switch rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A railway as in claim 2, wherein the one switch rail is located beneath the one of the row of switch magnets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A railway as in claim 3, wherein when the car passes through the switch section and the carrier magnets on the other side of the axis are normally positioned in magnetic engagement with one of the track rails the carrier magnet is magnetically offset from the one of the track rails in the same direction as the switch rail is from the switch magnet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A railway as in claim 1, wherein said track rails are spaced to allow passage of the carrier magnets on both sides of the car between them, said holding means including a pair of members depending from the car in spaced relationship parallel to the axis of the car, each of the members carrying outwardly facing guide magnets and upwardly facing carrier magnets, said switch rails extending longitudinally along the members facing upwardly and positioned to be closer to the car axis than the carrier magnets, said switch magnets being positioned above said switch rails when the car passes through the switch section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A railway as in claim 5, wherein the car passes through the switch section and the guide magnets on one side of the axis are normally positioned in magnetic engagement with one of the track, the carrier magnet is magnetically offset from the last mentioned track rail toward the same direction as the switch rail away from the axis, the carrier magnets of both members being arranged opposite each other in pairs and symmetrically with regard to the car axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A railway as in claim 5, wherein each switch magnet includes a right angle shaped core having one arm facing downwardly to form a pole opposite the switch rail and having another arm extending horizontally parallel to the switch rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A railway as in claim 7, wherein the switch rails are formed in the shape of an angle having a vertical arm extending upwardly toward the switch magnets when the car passes through the switch section and having a second arm extending horizontally.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A railway as in claim 5, wherein the switch rails are formed in the shape of an angle having a vertical arm extending upwardly toward the switch magnets when the car passes through the switch section and having a second arm extending horizontally.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the switch rails include a flat narrow plate and the switch magnets include an extended longitudinal inverted U-shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A railway as in claim 5, wherein said switch rails include U-shaped rail members and wherein said switch magnets include longitudinally extending inverted U-shaped cores.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A railway as in claim 5, wherein each of said track rails includes an inverted T-shaped longitudinally extending rail having an upright portion for magnetically coupling with said car guiding travel magnets and horizontal portion for magnetically coupling with said carrier magnets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A railway as in claim 1, wherein said switch rails each have a longitudinal direction and are, transverse to their longitudinal direction, longer horizontally than vertically.
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) | 1979-01-12 | 1979-07-14 | 1980-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-12 | 1983-07-14 | 1984-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-12 | 1987-07-14 | 1988-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |