US5332987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Large gap magnetic suspension system with superconducting coils
Assignee: Intermagnetics General Corp
•
Filing: 1992-07-31
•
Granted: 1994-07-26
•
Expires: 2012-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic suspension system and a procedure for operating the system employ a superconducting magnet having a lift coil assembly for developing a magnetic field to interact with the magnetic field of an object to be supported about the superconducting magnet. Smaller and larger magnet coils are provided in the superconducting magnet with counter rotating flow of current to introduce a depression in a potential energy surface above the superconducting magnet, this allowing the object to seek a height at the depression for stably locating the object. The system and methodology employs a set of control coils which are energized to orient and to translate the object to maintain a desired position and orientation. Pairs of the control coils are energized to produce a tilting of the object, as in roll or pitch, or a displacement of the object relative to the vertical axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Hennessy
- 👤 Richard T. Woods
- 👤 Hung B. Zou
- 👤 Robert E. Wilcox
- 👤 F. Scott Murray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:48
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N15/00; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/965; H03K17/97
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A magnetic suspension system comprising: a lift magnet comprising a first superconducting coil and a second superconducting coil arranged about a common vertical axis and being energized with counter rotating currents to generate a magnetic field gradient which lifts an object above said magnet, said first and said second coils producing a potential energy surface above said magnet with a depression on said vertical axis for urging said object under forces of gravity and magnetism to a stable location at the depression; an assembly of control coils disposed about said vertical axis for adjusting orientation of said object; first energizing means coupled to said first and said second superconducting coils for operating said first and said second superconducting coils in a steady state mode; and second energizing means for energizing said control coils to adjust said magnetic field gradient for directing said object to the axis and adjusting orientation and position of said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A magnetic suspension system comprising: a lift magnet comprising a first superconducting coil and a second superconducting coil arranged about a common vertical axis and being energized with counter rotating currents to generate a magnetic field gradient which lifts an object above said magnet, said first and said second coils producing a potential energy surface above said magnet with a depression on said vertical axis for urging said object under forces of gravity and magnetism to a stable location at the depression; an assembly of control coils disposed about said vertical axis for adjusting orientation of said object; first energizing means coupled to said first and said second superconducting coils for operating said first and said second superconducting coils in a steady state mode; and second energizing means for energizing said control coils to adjust said magnetic field gradient for directing said object to the axis and adjusting orientation and position of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein energizing individual ones of said control coils establishes a desired orientation of said object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said control coil assembly includes a cylindrical coil mounted coaxially with said first and said second coils for adjusting a vertical component of said magnetic field gradient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said control coil assembly includes a first array of four control coil sectors disposed symmetrically about said vertical axis, said four control coil sectors of said first array being arranged as a first pair of diametrically opposed coil sectors and a second pair of diametrically opposed coil sectors circumferentially located between the coil sectors of said first pair.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 4 further comprising current means for applying currents to said first pair of coil sectors and said second pair of coil sectors independently of each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said current means provides currents which circulate in the same direction in the coil sectors of a pair of the coil sectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the direction of current produced by said current means in one pair of control coil sectors is opposite the direction of current produced by said current means in the other pair of control coil sectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said control coil assembly includes a second array of four control coil sectors disposed symmetrically about said vertical axis and offset about said vertical axis by forty five degrees from said first array of control coil sectors, said four control coil sectors of said second array being arranged as a first pair of coil sectors which are diametrically opposed and a second pair of coil sectors which are diametrically opposed and located between the coil sectors of said first pair of coil sectors of said second array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 8 further comprising current means for applying currents to said first pair of coil sectors and said second pair of coil sectors of said second array independently of each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said current means provides currents which circulate in the same direction in the coil sectors of a pair of the coil sectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein the direction of current produced by said current means in one pair of control coil sectors of said second array is opposite the direction of current produced by said current means in the other pair of control coil sectors of said second array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein each of the coil sectors of said first array and of said second array comprises at least one turn of an electrical conductor wherein said at least one turn includes a first portion and a second portion, said first portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a radius of said first array and said second portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a radius of said second array, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 12 wherein each of the coils of said first array and said second array has a planar form and is disposed in a plane perpendicular to said vertical axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
194 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said control coil assembly further comprises a third array of four control coil sectors and a fourth array of four control coil sectors disposed symmetrically about said vertical axis and offset about said vertical axis by forty five degrees from said second array of four control coil sectors, said third array and said fourth array of control coil sectors each comprising a first pair of sectors and a second pair of coil sectors disposed in a common plane and being interleaved among each other; wherein each of the coil sectors of said third array and said fourth array comprises at least one turn of an electrical conductor and a branch of an electrical conductor; said at least one turn including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion, said second portion and said branch in each of said third and said fourth arrays extending in a direction perpendicular to a radius of said third array and a radius of said fourth array, respectively, said branch being located facing a center of the array for each control coil sector of said third and said fourth arrays.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein said first array of four control coil sectors constitutes an X 2- Y 2 coil set; said second array of four control coil sectors constitutes an XY coil set; in said third array of four control coil sectors, said first pair of coil sectors constitutes an X1 coil set, and said second pair of coil sectors constitutes a Y1 coil set; and in said fourth array of four control coil sectors, said first pair of coil sectors constitutes an X2 coil set, and said second pair of coil sectors constitutes a Y2 coil set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1 further comprising positioning means for insertion of said object into a location above said lift magnet and for extraction of said object from said location above said lift magnet, said positioning means including gripper means for engaging said object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 16 further comprising console means for activating said gripper means to release said object, and wherein said object is magnetized with a
Claim 19
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for supporting an object above a lift magnet by magnetic levitation, the method comprising: providing said lift magnet with a first superconducting coil disposed about a vertical axis of said lift magnet and a second superconducting coil coaxial to said first coil about said vertical axis; energizing said first and said second superconducting coils with counter-rotating currents to generate a magnetic field gradient, and a potential energy surface above said lift magnet with a depression on said vertical axis for urging said object under forces of gravity and magnetism to a stable location at the depression; arranging an assembly of control coils about said vertical axis; and energizing said control coils to adjust said magnetic field gradient for adjusting orientation and position of said object.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for supporting an object above a lift magnet by magnetic levitation, the method comprising: providing said lift magnet with a first superconducting coil disposed about a vertical axis of said lift magnet and a second superconducting coil coaxial to said first coil about said vertical axis; energizing said first and said second superconducting coils with counter-rotating currents to generate a magnetic field gradient, and a potential energy surface above said lift magnet with a depression on said vertical axis for urging said object under forces of gravity and magnetism to a stable location at the depression; arranging an assembly of control coils about said vertical axis; and energizing said control coils to adjust said magnetic field gradient for adjusting orientation and position of said object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of operating said first and said second coils in a steady state mode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising a step of configuring individual ones of said control coils as planar pie-shaped coils.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising a step of locating said control coils symmetrically about said vertical axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising steps of constructing a coil of said control coil assembly as a cylindrical coil, and mounting said cylindrical coil coaxially with said first and said second coils for adjusting a vertical component of said magnetic field gradient.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 22 further comprising steps of arranging four control coils of said control coil assembly symmetrically about said vertical axis in a first array of coil sectors, said four control coil sectors of said first array being arranged as a first pair of diametrically opposed coil sectors and a second pair of diametrically opposed coil sectors circumferentially located between the coil sectors of said first pair.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method according to claim 23 further comprising steps of arranging additional four control coils of said control coil assembly symmetrically about said vertical axis in a second array of coil sectors, and offsetting said second array of coil sectors about said vertical axis by forty five degrees from said coil sectors of said first array, said additional four control coil sectors of said second array being arranged as a third pair of diametrically opposed coil sectors and a fourth pair of diametrically opposed coil sectors circumferentially located between the coil sectors of said third pair.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said first array of four control coil sectors constitutes an X 2 -Y 2 coil set; and said second array of four control coil sectors constitutes an XY coil set.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said second array of four control coil sectors constitutes an XY set of coils; and in said first array of four control coil sectors, said first pair of coil sectors constitutes an X1 coil set, and said second pair of coil sectors constitutes a Y1 coil set.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 24 further comprising a step of applying currents to said first pair of coil sectors and said second pair of coil sectors in each of said arrays independently of each other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 24 further comprising a step of providing currents which circulate in the same direction in the coil sectors of a pair of the coil sectors of said first array and of said second array.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 24 further comprising a step of applying current in a direction in one pair of control coil sectors in either one of said arrays which is opposite a direction of current in the other pair of control coil sectors of said one array.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising a step of employing a positioning device for insertion of said object into a location above said lift magnet and for extraction of said object from said location above said lift magnet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of employing said positioning device includes a step of gripping said object by a gripper which forms a part of said positioning device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2566221A
Cited
US2686865A
Cited
US3370205A
Cited
US3512852A
Cited
US3815963A
Cited
US4554610A
Cited
US4585282A
Cited
JPH01202183A
Cited
US5168183A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-01-24 | 1998-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-01-24 | 2002-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-25 | 2006-01-24 | 2006-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |