US3937148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Virtually zero power linear magnetic bearing
Assignee: WEARNES TECHNOLOGY (PRIVATE) Ltd
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Filing: 1974-08-05
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Granted: 1976-02-10
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Expires: 1994-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A linear magnetic bearing provides magnetic support by means of permanent magnets and control by means of electromagnets and an electronic control system such that virtually zero power is required to maintain the bearing in suspension. Persisting net force producing electric energization of the electromagnets resulting from displacement of the bearing causes the energization to be augmented to reposition the bearing to an oppositely displaced position of substantial equilibrium with minimized net force producing electric energization of the electromagnets. The linear magnetic bearing is effectively utilized in one application to significantly reduce the power requirements for magnetic levitation vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul A. Simpson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:22
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/08; B60; B60L; B60L13/00; B60L13/04; F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/04; F16C32/0406; F16C32/044; F16C32/0472; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/902; Y10S505/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises: linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said vehicle; and means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway; wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing which frame is connected to the magnetic levitation vehicle to permit limited movement of the frame indepdent of said vehicle, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element of said guideway; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame for suspending the bearing frame relative to said stationary element in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element away from the neutral force position; and electromagnet means attached to the bearing frame activated by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for deenergizing the electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises: linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said vehicle; and means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway; wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing which frame is connected to the magnetic levitation vehicle to permit limited movement of the frame indepdent of said vehicle, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element of said guideway; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame for suspending the bearing frame relative to said stationary element in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element away from the neutral force position; and electromagnet means attached to the bearing frame activated by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for deenergizing the electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic levitation vehicle of claim 1 wherein the bearing frame is connected by a spring to the magnetic levitation vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The magnetic levitation vehicle of claim 1 wherein the bearing frame is hinged to the magnetic levitation vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
A linear magnetic bearing, which comprises: a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame relative to the stationary element in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element; and electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A linear magnetic bearing, which comprises: a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame relative to the stationary element in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element; and electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The linear magnetic bearing of claim 4 wherein the stationary element is a laminated rail.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The linear magnetic bearing of claim 4 wherein the stationary element is a ferrite rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The linear magnetic bearing of claim 4 wherein the means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element includes means for sensing velocity of movement of the bearing frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The linear magnetic bearing of claim 4 wherein the permanent magnet is laminated and composed of alternating magnetic and nonmagnetic layers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The linear magnetic bearing of claim 4 wherein the permanent magnet has a metal backing plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises: linear magnetic bearing means for suspending the magnetic levitation vehicle; and means for propelling the magnetic levitation vehicle along a quideway; wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element of said guideway; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame vertically relative to the stationary element of said guideway in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing vertical displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element of said guideway; and electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing vertical displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises: linear magnetic bearing means for suspending the magnetic levitation vehicle; and means for propelling the magnetic levitation vehicle along a quideway; wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a stationary element of said guideway; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame vertically relative to the stationary element of said guideway in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing vertical displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary element of said guideway; and electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing vertical displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The magnetic levitation vehicle of claim 10 wherein the means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway is a linear induction motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
152 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle which comprises: a linear induction motor for propelling said vehicle along at least one rail; and linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said magnetic levitation vehicle, said bearing comprising a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a rail; at least one rare earth permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame relative to the rail in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the rare earth permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the rail; electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet menas when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
152 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle which comprises: a linear induction motor for propelling said vehicle along at least one rail; and linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said magnetic levitation vehicle, said bearing comprising a frame for the linear magnetic bearing, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding a rail; at least one rare earth permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame in a position for suspending the bearing frame relative to the rail in a neutral force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the rare earth permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the rail; electromagnet means energized by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing said electromagnet menas when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The magnetic levitation vehicle of claim 12 wherein both the permanent magnet and rail are laminated and composed of alternate magnetic and nonmagnetic layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The magnetic levitation vehicle of claim 12 wherein a steel backing plate is attached to each permanent magnet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
315 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises: linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said vehicle; and means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway having stationary vertical and horizontal extensions; wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing which frame is connected to the magnetic levitation vehicle to permit limited movement of the frame independent of said vehicle, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding the stationary horizontal extention of said guideway; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame for suspending the bearing frame relative to said stationary horizontal guideway extension force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary horizontal guideway extension away from the neutral force position; electromagnet means attached to the bearing frame activated by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing the electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position relative to the horizontal guideway extension; at least one permanent magnet attached to the vehicle for suspending the vehicle relative to said stationary vertical guideway extension in a neutral force position; means for sensing displacement of the vehicle relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension away from the neutral force position; and electromagnet means attached to the vehicle activated by said means sensing vehicle displacement relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension for counteracting forces causing such displacement of the vehicle, for restoring the vehicle to a new neutral force position relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension and for de-energizing the electromagnet means attached to the vehicle when said vehicle has been restored to said new neutral force position relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
315 words
A magnetic levitation vehicle, which vehicle comprises: linear magnetic bearing means for suspending said vehicle; and means for propelling said vehicle along a guideway having stationary vertical and horizontal extensions; wherein said linear magnetic bearing means comprises a frame for the linear magnetic bearing which frame is connected to the magnetic levitation vehicle to permit limited movement of the frame independent of said vehicle, said bearing frame at least partially surrounding the stationary horizontal extention of said guideway; at least one permanent magnet attached to the bearing frame for suspending the bearing frame relative to said stationary horizontal guideway extension force position in which the bearing frame is suspended entirely by the permanent magnet; means for sensing displacement of the suspended bearing frame relative to the stationary horizontal guideway extension away from the neutral force position; electromagnet means attached to the bearing frame activated by said sensing means for counteracting forces causing displacement of the suspended bearing frame, for restoring the bearing frame to a new neutral force position and for de-energizing the electromagnet means when said bearing frame has been restored to said new neutral force position relative to the horizontal guideway extension; at least one permanent magnet attached to the vehicle for suspending the vehicle relative to said stationary vertical guideway extension in a neutral force position; means for sensing displacement of the vehicle relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension away from the neutral force position; and electromagnet means attached to the vehicle activated by said means sensing vehicle displacement relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension for counteracting forces causing such displacement of the vehicle, for restoring the vehicle to a new neutral force position relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension and for de-energizing the electromagnet means attached to the vehicle when said vehicle has been restored to said new neutral force position relative to the stationary vertical guideway extension.
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) | 1979-02-09 | 1979-08-11 | 1980-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-09 | 1983-08-11 | 1984-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-09 | 1987-08-11 | 1988-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |