Magnetically Suspended Car Patents (Class 104/281)
  • Patent number: 11447018
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for guiding a vehicle over a flight path. The techniques include receiving guideway data, such as information corresponding to a track segment, generated by one or more guideway sensors associated with a metallic track, and receiving flight path data, such as a set of 3-D space coordinates for the vehicle. The method further includes determining an amount of deviation between one or more coordinates of the flight path data and a position of the vehicle based on the guideway data, and adjusting the position of the vehicle relative to the track segment to minimize the amount of deviation in at least one dimension in the 3-D space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SKYTRAN, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Baertsch, John Lee Wamble, III, John Cole, Clark B. Foster
  • Patent number: 11430683
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a transport body configured to carry or hold a wafer, and a stator relative to which the conveying device is designed to move the transport body at least two-dimensionally on a conveying surface. The stator includes several movably arranged actuating magnets, each of which is connected to the stator via an actuating element, and the actuating element is configured to change a position and/or an orientation of the connected actuating magnets relative to the stator. The transport body includes at least two stationary magnets which are connected to the transport body such that the stationary magnets are immovable relative to the transport body, and the stator and the transport body are magnetically coupled by the stationary magnets and the actuating magnets. The device conveys the transport body relative to the stator by controlled positioning and/or orientation of the actuating magnets via the actuating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heike Raatz, Bas Verhelst, Joachim Frangen
  • Patent number: 11428263
    Abstract: A magnetic suspension bearing (10; 30; 40; 50) is described comprising a part rotatable about a rotation axis and a fixed part, and two elements made of ferromagnetic material, one integral with the rotatable part and one with the fixed part. The two elements are closely placed, separated by an air gap, and have axial symmetry with respect to said axis. There is a magnetic flux generator for generating a magnetic flux inside the two elements. The two elements have such a shape that the magnetic flux, flowing inside the two elements, describes in space a torus and passes from one element to the other through the air gap along a direction orthogonal to the direction of a load applied to the bearing. This configuration ensures high support strength for the bearing while being a simple structure to be built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: IRONBOX S.R.L.
    Inventors: Adriano Girotto, Luca Cesaretti, Lorenzo Andrea Parrotta, Riccardo Contini
  • Patent number: 11390171
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of a transportation pathway in the form of a road (10), which comprises a pavement sub-base material (12) located at surrounding ground (14), which has a layer which includes a conductive material. In one example, the layer is located on an uppermost surface (16) of the pavement sub-base (12). In the embodiment shown, the conductive material is in the form of a layer of asphalt (18) containing dispersed particulate conductive particles (20) in the form of graphene. A sufficient quantity of the conductive particles (20) is located a short depth from the uppermost road surface (22) of the asphalt layer (18), so that when the surface (22) is exposed to a primary magnetic field (28) generated by an external magnetic source positioned above the pathway, for example a powered hoverboard (24) or other vehicle, these conductive particles (20) create an induced magnetic field (26) which repels the primary magnetic field (28) being generated by the hoverboard (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Jason Ayoub
  • Patent number: 11358475
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic levitation power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TEWARE, INC.
    Inventor: Yang Qu
  • Patent number: 11171425
    Abstract: A spherical reflector antenna, including a sphere with a reflective surface opposite a transparent surface, a feed system that receives electromagnetic waves that (pass through the transparent surface at a beam angle) and are reflected off the reflective surface at a beam angle and outputs electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the reflective surface (and pass through the transparent surface at a beam angle), and beam steering electronics that identify a position of the spherical reflector antenna, identify an orientation of the sphere, and adjust the beam angle of the feed system based on angle from the position of spherical reflector antenna to the target relative to the orientation of the sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of University of Arizona
    Inventor: Christopher K. Walker
  • Patent number: 11167647
    Abstract: A magnetic suspension system (MC1; MC2; MC3) for a vehicle (20) is described comprising: a rail (30) made of material reactive to a magnetic field and comprising two opposite side surfaces (R1, R2); a skid (50) which slides on the rail and, being substantially U-shaped, comprises two parallel arms (54) whose facing surfaces (P1, P2) delimit an empty space (G) partially occupied by the rail, each of the two opposed side surfaces of the rail, respectively facing one of the surfaces facing the two parallel arms, said skid being able to generate a magnetic field with a polar axis (Q) orthogonal to those facing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: IRONBOX S.R.L.
    Inventor: Adriano Girotto
  • Patent number: 11059531
    Abstract: A magnetic roller for being rotatable on a ferromagnetic surface is provided. The magnetic roller includes a roller wheel having an inner space, a magnetic array arrangement and at least one first drive mechanism. Further, the magnetic array arrangement is adapted to be swivelably disposed within the inner space of the roller wheel. The magnetic array arrangement includes a strong adhesion force side and a weak adhesion force side. Furthermore, the first drive mechanism is configured to swivelably drive the magnetic array arrangement. The first drive mechanism swivelably drive the magnetic array arrangement to direct the strong adhesion force side towards the oncoming ferromagnetic surface, and, to direct the weak adhesion force side towards the foregoing ferromagnetic surface to enable the roller wheel to move forward on the ferromagnetic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Walter Baur, Markus Wiesendanger
  • Patent number: 11014692
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for supporting payloads at high elevations with respect to a planetary body. The apparatus comprises a bearing that encircles a portion of a planetary body. One ring of the bearing rotates, and a coupling mechanism transfers centripetal forces to another non-rotating ring. Lift stays connect the non-rotating ring to the planetary body; and contribute a force that is in equilibrium with the centripetal and gravitational forces. A preferred embodiment is constructed and tested in the ocean and then raised to altitude. Its coupling mechanism employs magnetic forces and its lift stays are interwoven, partially supported and stabilized aeronautically, and anchored to the planet. The apparatus's elevation is not supported by transferring forces to the surface through the inertia of precision-guided high velocity components, thus these components are not necessarily exposed to seismic activity, weather, or anomalous air traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Philip Lawrence Swan
  • Patent number: 11008711
    Abstract: A segmented track for a Maglev vehicle includes a structural support portion and a Maglev portion fastened to the structural support portion. Each segment of the structural support portion is formed by fusing together three cast metal components. Neighboring ones of the structural support segments are joined together end-to-end by fused metal, and neighboring ones of the reaction rail segments are joined together end-to-end by fused metal. The positioning and joining of the successive segments is done in the field using on site jigs and machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SKYTRAN, INC.
    Inventor: John Cole
  • Patent number: 10996233
    Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a transport plane in which the transport plane is covered by an electrically conductive material is presented. A laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Pius Hermann, Jonathan Baer
  • Patent number: 10910935
    Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a first fixed portion comprising a linear array of stator teeth, each surrounded by one or more turns of electrical wire, a controller which generates a set of currents that are applied to phase windings of the first fixed portion to generate a pattern of magnetic poles along the array of stator teeth, a spacing between the magnetic poles being larger than a spacing between adjacent stator teeth of the first fixed portion, a second fixed portion that comprises an alternating set of magnet poles, a spacing between adjacent poles being smaller than the spacing of the magnetic poles of the first fixed portion created by the controller, and a movable output portion that comprises a linear array of pole pieces that extend along a length of the moveable output portion that is greater than a stroke length of the actuator and longer than a length of the fixed portion, whereby in use a length of the movable output portion is at all times located between the first and second fixed portions,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Automotive UK Limited
    Inventor: Connel Brett Williams
  • Patent number: 10800268
    Abstract: Magnetic levitation transport using a parallel dipole line track system is provided. In one aspect, a magnetic levitation transport system includes: a dipole line track system having: i) multiple segments joined together, each of the multiple segments having at least two diametric magnets, and ii) at least one diamagnetic object levitating above the at least two diametric magnets. A method for operating a magnetic levitation transport system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Oki Gunawan
  • Patent number: 10777344
    Abstract: Magnet array structure and method for forming magnet array structure that includes a first magnet array including a first repeatable magnet arrangement and second magnet array including a second repeatable magnet arrangement. The first repeatable magnet arrangement includes a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned magnetic elements and the second repeatable magnet arrangement includes a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned magnetic elements. Further, the first repeatable magnet arrangement is offset from the second repeatable magnet arrangement to limit attraction forces between the first and second magnet arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Casey Handmer
  • Patent number: 10773847
    Abstract: Packaging machine of articles into containers, comprising a plurality of work stations, each work station comprising one or more working devices of the packaging machine; a conveyor of containers using movers and a linear motor, comprising a path and a plurality of independently controllable movers, wherein the control system of the machine is configured so as to dynamically vary a master/slave configuration between the motion control of the movers on the path, and the control of the working devices of the packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: CAMA1 S.P.A
    Inventor: Daniele Bellante
  • Patent number: 10744887
    Abstract: Transport apparatus having at least one levitation generator and at least one drive generator. The at least one levitation generator configured to generate a levitating magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one lifting member, and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux. The at least one drive generator configured to generate a driving magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one drive member, and laterally move relative to the at least one drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux. At least a portion of the at least one levitation generator is movable relative to the at least one drive generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SKYTRAN, INC.
    Inventors: John Lee Wamble, III, John Cole, Clark B. Foster
  • Patent number: 10714249
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing device includes a movable unit with a superconductor and a printing head arrangement for printing a printing material, a magnetic field generator adapted to generate a magnetic field, and a control device. The magnetic field generator and the movable unit are adapted for coupling in a force-locking manner by means of frozen magnetic flux, and the controlling device is adapted to control a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hegenbart, Peter Linde
  • Patent number: 10549659
    Abstract: Various seating arrangements for a vehicle are described. Generally, the vehicle includes an electromagnetic array featured on a floor of the vehicle. The chair includes base having a plurality of magnets featured thereon. The vehicle generates signals for the electromagnetic array to generate a wave and impart a force on the chair in a determined direction via the plurality of magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Richard M. Sullivan, Danil V. Prokhorov, Paxton S. Williams
  • Patent number: 10527384
    Abstract: An electromagnetic launcher with a curved or spiral-shaped, open-ended guideway and conductors for launching a projectile. The projectile, movably retained on or within the guideway, is accelerated along the guideway using electromagnetic forces until it reaches an end of the guideway, then the projectile is launched in a desired direction. The direction of the launch of the projectile is determined by orienting the guideway in the desired direction using an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Hartman, Erik Timpson
  • Patent number: 10453720
    Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes (a) performing a heating process on a substrate in a process chamber, (b) transferring the substrate between the process chamber and a load lock chamber connected to a vacuum transfer chamber by a transfer robot installed in the vacuum transfer chamber connected to the process chamber, and (c) reading transfer information corresponding to process information applied to the substrate from a memory device in which plural pieces of the process information on a process content of the substrate and plural pieces of the transfer information of the transfer robot corresponding to the plural pieces of the process information are recorded, and controlling the transfer robot to transfer the substrate based on the read transfer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukinori Aburatani, Takashi Yahata, Tadashi Takasaki, Naofumi Ohashi, Shun Matsui, Keita Ichimura
  • Patent number: 10450705
    Abstract: Magnetic levitation train system comprising a plurality of rows of magnets being faced against a track onto which the magnetic levitation train system rides on, the plurality of rows of the magnets each being arranged in a Halbach array configuration, and further being arranged to cooperate to form a magnetic field exerted onto said track, wherein the magnets of each row of magnets are alternatively displaced with respect to each other according to a sinusoidal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HYPERLOOP TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Siavash Sadeghi
  • Patent number: 10428469
    Abstract: An improved magnetic transportation system comprised of Halbach array systems and London Assemblage systems having a plurality of magnets that are magnetically and structurally arranged to form a magnetic field of flux that attracts and repels the connections to enable loads on the xz-axis to levitate at rest, during object acceleration or deceleration, and at high-speeds, as well as on the yz-axis enable initial propulsion and for lateral stabilization on the xz/yz-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventor: Mark London Dunham
  • Patent number: 10376801
    Abstract: A magnetic tracked toy assembly for entertainment includes a panel, which is annular, and plurality of shells. A plurality of rails is coupled to an upper surface of the panel so that the rails extend annularly and in parallel around the panel. A respective groove, which is complementary to the rails, is positioned in a bottom of a respective shell so that the groove is positioned to selectively insert a respective rail. Each shell is coupled to a respective blower module, which in turn is coupled to a respective controller. The panel, the rails and the shells are magnetized so that each shell is repelled by the panel and the respective rail to levitate the shell above the panel. The controller is positioned to command the blower module to selectively expel air to propel the respective shell along the panel with the respective rail positioned to guide the respective shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin Morris
  • Patent number: 10312787
    Abstract: A transport system and a system for moving permanent-magnet-excited transport bodies by an inductively excited magnetic field includes induction coils, a movably supported first reluctance element, and an actuator. The induction coils are configured for a current to flow through the induction coils in order to drive the transport bodies in a plane without contact. The actuator is configured to bring the first reluctance element from a first position into a second position. The permanent magnetic field of a transport body located over the first reluctance element experiences a lower magnetic resistance in a magnetic circuit through the first reluctance element in the second position than in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Paweletz, Markus Hanisch, Sebastian Gran, Joshua Windsheimer, Heike Raatz
  • Patent number: 10308135
    Abstract: Magnetic levitation can be used for transportation purposes. In various embodiments, the vehicle utilizing magnetic levitation can be enclosed within a tube or a tunnel or outside of an enclosed environment. Various cross-sections of vehicles and tubes can be utilized. In various embodiments, the vehicles can be used for personal or mass transportation use. The vehicle can travel in at least two directions with a window at each end of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Greg Henderson
  • Patent number: 10062478
    Abstract: A superconducting cable comprises a superconductor 60, two or more coolant passages including an outgoing coolant passage 12 and a returning coolant passage 14 that transfer a coolant that cools the superconductor, and a heat insulating pipe 10 inside which the superconductor 60 and the coolant passages are formed. For the coolant passages, by a double structured tube of an inner tube 6 and an outer tube 8, the outgoing coolant passage 12 is formed in the internal space of the inner tube 6 and the returning coolant passage 14 is formed in the space between the inner tube 6 and the outer tube 8, the inner tube 6 is formed between the outgoing coolant passage 12 and the returning coolant passage 14 of a heat insulating material, the superconductor 60 is disposed on the outer circumferential side of the inner tube 6, and the superconductor is cooled by the coolant that flows through the returning coolant passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: RAILWAY TECHNICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Noriharu Tamada, Masaru Tomita
  • Patent number: 10046644
    Abstract: Systems and methods for energy storage and management may be useful for a variety of applications, including launch devices. A system can include a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages. The system can also include an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus and configured to supply the DC bus with energy. The system can further include an input configured to receive energy from a power grid, wherein the power grid is configured to supply fewer than 250 amps of power. The system can additionally include an output configured to supply more than 250 amps of power. The system can also include a controller configured to control charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors and configured to control the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Velocity Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Domenic P. Marzano
  • Patent number: 9964147
    Abstract: A magnetic bearing for the mounting of a shaft, in particular for a spinning rotor of an open-end spinning device, features several pole shanks of a stator for the active radial magnetic mounting of the shaft in two degrees of freedom, which in each case are surrounded by a coil and are radially arranged to each other, in such a manner that they define an opening for the shaft. In the area of the opening, the pole shanks are connected to each other. For the passive axial mounting of the shaft, at least one permanent magnet is arranged between the coils and the opening. The invention also includes a shaft for mounting with at least one corresponding magnetic bearing. The shaft is a composite component, which at least partially consists of non-ferromagnetic material. In the area of the radial and axial mounting, a component made of a ferromagnetic material is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Rieter CZ s.r.o.
    Inventors: Milan Moravec, Jiri Sloupensky, Siegfried Silber, Andreas Josef Pröll, Peter Dirnberger
  • Patent number: 9878636
    Abstract: A system and method in at least one embodiment provides magnetic levitation to a vehicle above and/or partially about a rail or track using a flux field generator having a plurality of members having mated waveform patterns. In a further embodiment, the magnetic levitation also uses a distribution system. In a further embodiment, the plurality of members forms a disk-pack turbine. In a further embodiment, the flux field generator is not vehicle based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: QWTIP LLC
    Inventors: Whitaker Ben Irvin, Sr., George Allan Metzenthin
  • Patent number: 9837939
    Abstract: A magnetic levitation system comprising a control system configured to control six degrees of freedom of a levitated object, wherein each degree of freedom has at least a third order roll off. Another system and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: John G. Hughes, Thomas E. Higgins, Lloyd Daniel Griffin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9809392
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting containers in a container treatment system which has a first container treatment unit for a process step and a second container treatment unit for the process step, the transport device having at least one receiving point for the containers, at least one delivery point for the containers, a transport track which connects the at least one receiving point, the at least one delivery point, the first container treatment unit, and the second container treatment unit, and at least one transport element for transporting a container, the transport element being movably arranged on the transport track. The transport track and the at least one transport element are designed such that the at least one transport element can be guided from a receiving point to a delivery point in an individually controllable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Ralf Walter, Konrad Senn
  • Patent number: 9783392
    Abstract: An elevator door stopping device which can prevent that elevator door is closed by itself when power supplied to a motor for opening and closing the elevator door is interrupted, an improvement of the elevator door stopping device characterized in that a first magnetic body is fixed on a shaft rotating in interlock with opening and closing of the elevator door so as to generate a magnetic force in a radial direction perpendicular to the shaft, and a second magnetic body is fixed on a fixed face spaced apart from the first magnetic body at a predetermined interval in the radial direction in such a manner that the second magnetic body has the opposite pole to the first magnetic body, so that a magnetic force is generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body in the radial direction perpendicular to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jung Sam Kim, Jinkoo Lee, Hansoo Shim, JinKyu Ryu
  • Patent number: 9771000
    Abstract: The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Magnemotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathanael N. King, Brian M. Perreault, Tracy M. Clark, Richard D. Thornton, Jason Young, Michael W. Bottasso, Jesse Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 9774228
    Abstract: A drive system in the form of a torque motor, comprising a stator (1), a rotor (3) and exciter coils (2) on the stator and permanent magnets (4) on the rotor (3), the magnets being located radially opposite one another across an air gap such that electrical excitation of the exciter coils (2) creates magnetic fields extending across the gap and rotating the rotor (3) relative to the stator (1), characterized in that, with the drive system arranged/oriented for normal operation and with the rotor (3) located on the inside, a lower half of the stator (1) has a smaller number of exciter coils than an upper half and, with the stator (1) located on the inside, the upper half of the stator (1) has a smaller number of exciter coils than the upper half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: FRANKE & HEYDRICH KG
    Inventors: Joerg Egelhaaf, Peter Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 9711277
    Abstract: A non-contact power supply system includes a power supply device and a power reception device. The power supply device includes primary coils arranged on a power supply surface and configured to be excited at an operational frequency. The power reception device includes a secondary coil configured to induce current using resonance phenomenon based on alternating flux from the primary coils when arranged on the power supply surface. The operational frequency that excites the primary coil is set at or in the proximity of a resonance frequency of a resonance system formed when the secondary coil is located at an intermediate position between two of the primary coils that are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ogasawara, Kaoru Furukawa, Toshihiro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9701488
    Abstract: A transport device includes at least one mover that includes at least one base body, multiple permanent magnets, and at least one movable part. The multiple permanent magnets are connected to the at least one base body and cooperate with at least one coil plane of a drive surface so as to drive the at least one mover. The at least one movable part is connected to the at least one base body, and, in a lowered state, the at least one movable part brings the at least one mover into mechanical contact with the drive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Paweletz
  • Patent number: 9688122
    Abstract: A motor vehicle window assembly, one implementation of which includes a wiper in electrical communication between a defrost grid of a movable window and an elongate conductor of a guide rail assembly having a straight guide portion and an oblique guide portion, and in contact with the elongate conductor when the movable window is in an open position. At least one implementation of the window assembly includes an actuator cable including a core having a terminus coupled to a cable connector portion of the movable window, wherein when the actuator cable is actuated, the movable window moves in a direction extending away from the open position along a plane, toward a closed position out of the plane, and into the closed position in another plane such that the terminus of the core is carried out of the plane by the movable window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Dura Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Gipson, Scott S. Sharron, Kenneth E. Keck, II, Walter J. Steiner, Ramakrishna Putumbaka
  • Patent number: 9683601
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator can exert a radial electromagnetic force on a body that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The actuator includes a radial control magnetic pole assembly that includes radial control poles adjacent to and spaced apart by air gaps from the body. The actuator includes a permanent magnet (PM) magnetized along the axis, having one pole in contact with an axial face of the assembly and located proximate to a lateral surface of the body. The PM is magnetically coupled to the body in a non-contact manner resulting in a bias magnetic flux in the air gaps. The actuator includes a control coil around the radial control poles located radially outwards from the PM. Electrical current in the coils generates control magnetic flux in air gaps. The non-uniform net magnetic flux distribution around the body results in a radial electromagnetic force exerted on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Calnetix Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alexei Filatov
  • Patent number: 9666463
    Abstract: A throughput can be improved. A substrate processing apparatus includes processing units arranged in a vertical direction and configured to process substrates; and a substrate transfer device configured to be moved in the vertical direction and perform loading/unloading of the substrates into/from the processing units. Further, the substrate transfer device comprises a first transfer arm and a second transfer arm which are arranged in the vertical direction and configured to be moved in the vertical direction independently, and movement ranges of the first transfer arm and the second transfer arm in the vertical direction are overlapped with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Morikawa, Issei Ueda, Akira Murata, Junya Minamida
  • Patent number: 9415697
    Abstract: A contactless power supply device including: a power receiving portion (22) which is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction, of a front part of the lower surface of a floor panel (40) of a vehicle (1); a power supply portion (12) which is provided for a parking space (2) and contactlessly supplies electric power to the vehicle by magnetic connection with the power receiving portion (22); a sub-frame (51) provided in a lower part of a front compartment (1F) of the vehicle (1); a motor unit (29U) mounted on the sub-frame (51); and extension portions (53) stiffening fixed portions of the power receiving portion (22), the extension portions (53) being extended from both sides of the rear end of the sub-frame (51) in the vehicle width direction toward the back of the vehicle along both sides of the power receiving portion (22) in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Asai
  • Patent number: 9062949
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for electromagnetic projectile launching are described. In one example, a projectile for use with an electromagnetic launcher includes an armature configured to couple to a payload and configured for acceleration by the electromagnetic launcher. The armature includes a superconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Clemen, Jr., James A. Grossnickle
  • Patent number: 9032880
    Abstract: The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNEMOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Nathanael N. King, Brian M. Perreault, Tracy M. Clark, Richard D. Thornton, Jason Young, Michael W. Bottasso, Jesse Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 8985030
    Abstract: Inductrack III configurations are suited for use in transporting heavy freight loads. Inductrack III addresses a problem associated with the cantilevered track of the Inductrack II configuration. The use of a cantilevered track could present mechanical design problems in attempting to achieve a strong enough track system such that it would be capable of supporting very heavy loads. In Inductrack III, the levitating portion of the track can be supported uniformly from below, as the levitating Halbach array used on the moving vehicle is a single-sided one, thus does not require the cantilevered track as employed in Inductrack II.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Richard F. Post
  • Publication number: 20140352570
    Abstract: Generally discussed herein are magnetically suspended vehicle apparatuses, vehicles, and techniques related thereto. In one or more embodiments a vehicle configured to be magnetically suspended may include a steering mechanism, a propulsion mechanism coupled to the steering mechanism, a first end of a stem coupled to the propulsion mechanism, at least one wheel coupled to the propulsion mechanism, and at least one magnet coupled to the stem, wherein the magnet is configured to suspend the vehicle from a ferrous surface when the magnet is situated at or near the ferrous surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Keerthi Gunasekaran
  • Patent number: 8850989
    Abstract: A method and system for transportation using a magnetic bearing structure is disclosed. In one aspect, there is an apparatus for carrying a load along a magnetizable structure. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a third structure spaced apart vertically from the magnetizable structure and configured to generate magnetic flux and repel from the magnetizable structure. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one coil positioned at at least one end portion proximal to the magnetizable structure. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one flux guide comprising a magnetizable material and configured to concentrate magnetic flux. A first portion of the flux guide is thinner than a second portion of the flux guide that is positioned closer to the magnetizable structure than the first portion of the flux guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sandor Wayne Shapery
    Inventor: Bradley Hunter
  • Patent number: 8833533
    Abstract: An ultra slim power supply device for supplying power to an electric vehicle in a contactless manner includes at least one power supply track buried in a road. Each power supply track includes a plate-shaped magnetic core extending along the road, a plate or strip shaped magnetic field generator arranged above the magnetic core through which an alternating current is supplied to generate a magnetic field, a plate or strip shaped insulating body positioned between the magnetic core and the magnetic field generator to isolate them from each other, and a housing for enclosing the magnetic core, the magnetic field generator and the insulating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Nam Pyo Suh, Soon Heung Chang, Dongho Cho, Gyu Hyeong Cho, Chun Taek Rim, Jung Goo Cho
  • Patent number: 8826824
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control system comprising: a sliding surface; a vehicle adapted to slide on said sliding surface; and a linear motor associated with the vehicle and the sliding surface for affecting sliding motion of the vehicle on the sliding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: HM Attractions Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D Hunter, Andreas Tanzer
  • Patent number: 8783192
    Abstract: Transportation infrastructure comprises linear induction drives wherein a roadway surface is induced to simultaneously exert forward, lateral, levitation and three axis angular alignment forces on a vehicle and wherein a vehicle is capable of inducing roadway surface currents that produce said forces in said roadway surface. Comprehensive system sustains continuous traffic flow from the point of entering the infrastructure to the moment of disembarking in a parking facility. Transportation infrastructure comprises integration of air and space travel with substantially reduced cost and transit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald H. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140130703
    Abstract: A transport system including at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member is presented. The at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member can each be implemented with other systems. The at least one drive generator is configured to: generate a driving magnetic flux; move with a corresponding at least one drive member; and be driven relative to the at least one drive member by the driving magnetic flux. The at least one levitation generator can be configured to: generate a levitating magnetic flux; move within a corresponding at least one lifting member; and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SKYTRAN
    Inventor: John Lee WAMBLE, III
  • Publication number: 20130327244
    Abstract: An autonomous moving highway system including an elevated guideway having a support pier with a pier cap having a first end, a second end, an upper portion and a lower portion, where the lower portion of the pier cap is attached to the top end of the support pier, a first girder located at the first end of the pier cap and a second girder located at the second end of the pier cap, a first magnetically levitated (maglev) transportation track mounted to a bottom of the first girder and a second maglev transportation track mounted to a bottom of the second girder, a plurality of individual transportation pods, each transportation pod is configured to enclose a vehicle and at least one passenger of the vehicle, a computer control system configured to control power, propulsion, direction and motion of the plurality of transportation pods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Transit-21, Inc. (A Florida Corporation)
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Robbert, Matthew Bullivant, Esther M. Rush, Vipul C. Patel