Abstract: A vibration test bench for electrodynamic-suspension magnetic levitation trains and a testing method using the same. The vibration test bench includes an adjustable track mounting surface, a track base, a guiding track and a simulated levitation device. The track base includes a first track base and a second track base. The first track base and the second track base are respectively provided at two sides of the adjustable track mounting surface. The guiding track is arranged at a bottom of the track base and can be embedded in the T-shaped bolt mounting grooves on the adjustable track mounting surface to move. The simulated levitation device is arranged on the track base and is configured to levitate the magnetic levitation train between the first track base and the second track base.

Abstract: Can conveyors using various stator coil configurations to spread, gap, align, lane, reject, singulate, and rotate aluminum cans as they are propelled along the length of the conveyor. The electrically conductive cans acting as rotors form linear-induction motors (LIMs) with the stators to move the cans.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of cooling control for a drive motor of an electric vehicle, the method including: a normal driving step of controlling the output of the cooling apparatus to be in proportion to a driving speed of the electric vehicle; a sensing step of predicting changes in the driving speed of the electric vehicle during the normal driving step; a first supercooling step of cooling residual heat of the drive motor prior to beginning of deceleration by temporarily operating the cooling apparatus at a higher output than the output controlled in the normal driving step, when deceleration is predicted in the sensing step; and a second supercooling step of cooling the drive motor in advance by temporarily operating the cooling apparatus at a higher output than the output controlled in the normal driving step, when acceleration is predicted in the sensing step after performing the first supercooling step.

Abstract: A system for welding an elongate element along a longitudinal direction to a component including a support element comprising a support surface, a magnetic field generating arrangement generating a predefined magnetic field, a carriage comprising contacts supporting an elongate element against movement along the surface of the component in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a superconducting element being fixedly connected to the carriage, an element cooling device for cooling the superconducting element below its transition temperature, a mover operable to linearly move the carriage, and a welding device for welding the elongate element to the component. The predefined magnetic field defines a linear path along the support surface for the superconducting element when the superconducting element has a temperature below its transition temperature.

Abstract: A magnetic field generating device includes a superconducting coil formed by winding a superconductive wire material; an unseparated conductor plate which includes an electric conductor and is placed such that the conductor plate is insulated from the superconducting coil and is adjacent to the superconducting coil in a winding axis direction of the superconducting coil, and one of main surfaces of the conductor plate faces the superconducting coil; and a protection circuit which is connected in parallel with the superconducting coil and attenuates a current flowing through the superconducting coil.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation device includes at least two superconductor molded bodies with stored magnetic field configurations above a magnetic guide track. The at least two superconductor molded bodies have at least one of a stored magnetic field configuration with different vertical spacing from the guide track and a stored magnetic field configuration with different horizontal position with respect to the guide track. The at least two superconductor molded bodies are mechanically held in a position deviating from their stored position above the guide track and connected to one another. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A method of operating a production line comprises the steps of supporting equipment in the production line on a plurality of crawlers comprising at least one rolling track and a structural support for supporting the equipment. A first plurality of lifting magnets coupled to an interior surface of said at least one rolling track is configured to oppose a second plurality of lifting magnets coupled to an exterior surface of said structure support to lift the structural support, such that the structural support floats between and within said at least one rolling track. The magnetic fields experienced by the first and second plurality of lift magnets are adjusted to translate the at least one rolling track, such that the crawlers move along the production line.

Abstract: A magnet arrangement for a magnetic levitation vehicle is described. The magnet arrangement comprises a plurality of magnet poles (11) being combined to form groups (11a to 11f), wherein according to the invention each group contains one magnet pole (11a to 11f) or two magnet poles (11a to 11f). The windings (12a to 12f) of each group are controlled by a control circuit (18) individually assigned to it (FIG. 8).

Abstract: An integrated MAGLEV (Magnetic Levitated Vehicle) system consists of permanent or preferably superconducting vehicle-mounted magnets which interact with both active and induced track-based currents. The magnets on the vehicle which are used for propulsion serve the dual purpose of realizing both levitation and lateral stabilization (guidance). The contribution offered by this invention is that it is able to provide propulsion, levitation, and guidance using a single type of track-based coil interacting with a singular type of magnetic field which is affixed to the vehicle. The realization of multiple functions with a single coil reduces the cost and enhances the efficiency of this MAGLEV system. In the main embodiment of this invention, propulsion currents are injected into brushes sliding along brush contact surfaces on the rail. Motion induced currents in the coils realize both the necessary levitation and guidance forces for the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrodynamic suspension system levitates a platform or a transportation vehicle by an array of onboard superconducting electromagnetic coils forming a primary member overlying a secondary member on the guideway in a transverse flux orientation with respect to a plane of levitation of the moveable member above the secondary member on the guideway. The superconducting coils are energized by alternating current to produce an alternating field of magnetic flux. The frequency of the alternating current is selectable down to direct current. The frequency is selected to cause the vehicle to be levitated statically above the guideway. Once levitated the frequency is reduced as the speed of the vehicle increases along the guideway usually not in excess of 60 miles per hour.

Abstract: The electromagnetic induction ground vehicle levitation guideway includes a beam support member, and a transverse structural slab member mounted on top of the beam support member. The structural slab member includes top and bottom structural plates mounted to the top and bottom surface of the structural slab member. The guideway includes vertical lift, lateral stability, and linear synchronous motor coils with a null flux geometry in the guideway that interact with superconducting magnets of the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to safely reach speeds of up to 350 mph with relatively low power consumption. A kinetic energy absorption structure is provided on the guideway that is capable of high speed mechanical braking of the vehicle if the superconducting magnets of the vehicle fail. A sloped top protective cover over the energy absorption structure is provided to minimize adhesion and buildup of snow and ice, and extends over the sides of the guideway.

Abstract: An electrodynamic suspension system levitates a platform or a transportation vehicle by an array of onboard superconducting electromagnetic coils forming a primary member overlying a secondary member on the guideway in a transverse flux orientation with respect to a plane of levitation of the moveable member above the secondary member on the guideway. The superconducting coils are energized by alternating current to produce an alternating field of magnetic flux. The frequency of the alternating current is selectable down to direct current. The frequency is selected to cause the vehicle to be levitated statically above the guideway. Once levitated the frequency is reduced as the speed of the vehicle increases along the guideway usually not in excess of 60 miles per hour.

Abstract: The electromagnetic induction ground vehicle levitation guideway includes a beam support member, and a transverse structural slab member mounted on top of the beam support member. The structural slab member includes top and bottom structural plates mounted to the top and bottom surface of the structural slab member. The guideway includes vertical lift, lateral stability, and linear synchronous motor coils with a null flux geometry in the guideway that interact with superconducting magnets of the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to safely reach speeds of up to 350 mph with relatively low power consumption. A kinetic energy absorption structure is provided on the guideway that is capable of high speed mechanical braking of the vehicle if the superconducting magnets of the vehicle fail. A sloped top protective cover over the energy absorption means is provided to minimize adhesion and buildup of snow and ice, and extends over the sides of the guideway.

Abstract: A system for levitating and guiding an object by a magnetic force, which is typically a superconducting magnetic support apparatus or a superconducting linear convey system, comprises a support member, a superconductor unit, disposed on the support member, including a container having an inner space, a superconductor material for trapping magnetic fluxes generated at the time of transition from the normal conduction state to the superconduction state of the superconductor unit, and a refrigerant supply unit for supplying the inner space of the container with a refrigerant for setting the superconductor material in the superconducting state, a convey member situated to face the support member, a magnetic material disposed on the convey member so as to face the superconductor material, and a magnet, situated on the support member, for generating magnetic fluxes which enter the magnetic material through the superconductor material.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system for a magnetic levitation vehicle comprises a "W" shaped magnet core having a center pole wound by a superconducting coil and side poles on opposite sides of the center pole, each wound by an ambient temperature coil. Quasi-dc power is supplied to the central superconducting coil for levitation of the vehicle with respect to a rail along which the vehicle is meant to move. The ambient temperature coils are connected in series to each and other and powered with ac power for trimming and controlling the gap between the magnet and the rail.

Abstract: A superconductive magnetic levitation apparatus is provided which is simple in structure, low in cost and is used for readily explaining superconducting phenomena such as the Meissner effect and the pinning effect. The superconductive magnetic levitation apparatus includes a levitation moving unit 5 including superconductors 4, and a heat insulative tank 51 for storing a coolant 52 for cooling the superconductors 4; and a track 3 arranged in confronted relation with the superconductors 4 of the levitation moving unit 5, the track 3 including a number of permanent magnets 2 fixed to a ferromagnetic metal plate 1. The permanent magnets 2 are composed of a plurality of series connected magnetic pieces having the same pole in a longitudinal direction of the track 3 and a plurality of parallel connected magnetic pieces having different poles in a transverse direction of the track 3.

Abstract: The electromagnetic induction ground vehicle levitation guideway includes a beam support member, and a transverse structural slab member mounted on top of the beam support member. The structural slab member includes top and bottom structural plates mounted to the top and bottom surface of the structural slab member. The guideway includes vertical lift, lateral stability, and linear synchronous motor coils with a null flux geometry in the guideway that interact with superconducting magnets of the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to safely reach speeds of up to 350 mph with relatively low power consumption. A kinetic energy absorption structure is provided on the guideway that is capable of high speed mechanical braking of the vehicle if the superconducting magnets of the vehicle fail. A sloped top protective cover over the energy absorption means is provided to minimize adhesion and buildup of snow and ice, and extends over the sides of the guideway.

Abstract: A superconducting electromagnet for levitation and propulsion of a maglev vehicle running against a rail has a magnetic core having a number of salient poles extending from a surface thereof, thereby forming gaps between adjacent ones of the poles, and facing and in operative proximity with the rail. An excitation coil surrounds each pole and is positioned in the gaps on each side of the pole. A cryostat accommodates the excitation coil and is positioned in the gaps between the conducting coil and the core. A control coil surrounds each pole and is positioned in the gaps on each side of the pole for responding to fast disturbances of short duration with a transient current.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet for a MAGLEV vehicle has flux perturbation shielding rings mounted to the core common with superconducting magnetic coils. These rings resist rapid flux perturbations occurring in the superconducting magnet as a result of normal operational transients. The rings are, in effect, short-circuited coils fabricated from metal. One or more sets of these shielding rings may be employed along the length of the core for achieving flux regulation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for low pressure cooling of superconducting magnets, for example, on a magnetic levitated train, through a separate circulation loop from a sealed, unvented thermal reservoir to provide a lightweight cooling system. In a second embodiment, forced flow cooling is directed to the superconducting magnets and shields through a separate circulation loop from a sealed thermal reservoir to further reduce the weight of the cooling system.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for a maglev vehicle includes multiple vehicle magnets. The magnets are paired For a suspension configuration, the magnets are one above the other, with a plurality of pairs arranged along the length of the vehicle. The poles are of adjacent magnets are opposite each other, transverse of the guideway. The guideway carries a conductor that is located symmetrically with respect to the two vehicle magnets. Among other things, the conductor may be a ladder, discrete coils or a helical winding. As the vehicle moves along the guideway, the voltages are induced in the circuits of the guideway conductor by the moving vehicle magnetic fields. If the vehicle is at a symmetry position with respect to the guideway, no current is induced in the guideway conductors because the magnetic fields from the pair of magnets cancel each other.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus such as a superconducting magnet for supplying a levitating force to a magnetically levitating train comprises a closed loop-shaped superconducting coil, a container for containing the superconducting coil, a coolant contained in the container, for keeping the superconduction state of the superconducting coil, a metallic member situated outside the container, and path apparatus situated outside the container, for suppressing heat which is generated in the container, the path apparatus having an electric conductivity higher than that of the container and being made of a superconducting wire for causing eddy current occurring outside the container to flow with a small quantity of heat generated.

Abstract: A superconductor composite body have a plurality of superconductor elements. Each of superconductor elements has such a volume that the superconductor element is not magnetically saturated with a magnetic flux applied to the composite body. The superconductor elements are assembled in one plane into one body in a such manner that superconductor elements are electrically coupled with each other when the superconductor elements are united with the electrically conductive non-magnetic material. The superconductor elements can be simply secured or fixed to a substrate with an adhesive or other suitable manners. When the superconductor elements have a thickness 1 mm or more, a sufficient levitation force can be generated provided that a condition of the lateral area of the assembled elements which are determined by a magnetic field and a critical current density is satisfied.

Abstract: A vehicle has a rotary magnetic field member which is rotatably supported at a position near the surface of a roadway along which the vehicle runs and rotatingly driven by a driving device. The rotary magnetic field member has magnetic poles of different polarities alternately arranged around its circumference. The vehicle also has an electrical power collector for receiving electrical power from an electrical power supply associated with the roadway. The received electrical power is supplied under the control of a controller to the driving device thereby rotatably driving the rotary magnetic field member. The rotary magnetic field member when rotated relative to the roadway made of an electrically conductive non-magnetic material, forms a varying magnetic field in cooperation with the roadway, thereby generating propulsion force for propelling the vehicle and force for suspending the vehicle, so that the vehicle is propelled in a floating state.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic levitation apparatus for driving a floating body efficiently and controllably, for producing a strong driving force, and for generating a lifting magnetic field having a uniform intensity in a running direction and producing a guidance force in a lateral direction, to stably run the floating body. The superconducting magnetic levitation apparatus includes a lifting magnet for forming a track, a floating body made of a high-T.sub.c superconductor, and a cooling device for keeping the floating body at a superconducting state. A plurality of coils are disposed on the lifting magnet, to be used as propulsion electromagnets, for generating a magnetic field necessary for running the floating body, with each of the coils being a flat, air-core coil, and with the coils being excitable by a polyphase alternating current.

Abstract: The improved support and guidance system includes a super conductor mounted in a vehicle and positioned to be above and on both sides of the upper end of a rail. The super conductor is provided with a housing and an iron core or shield is positioned within the housing to shield and shunt the return flux of the magnet so that the fringe field does not extend into the vehicle. In the preferred form of the invention, the rail in transverse section has an upper central flat surface with two concave surfaces extending to either side. The super conductors are positioned above and generally parallel to the concave surfaces of the rail. The iron shield has a horizontal central portion above the flat top of the rail and side bulbous portions on either side immediately above and to the side of the super conductors. The invention has application to the magnetic support and guidance system, the vehicle with the guidance system thereon and the combination of such vehicle with the rails.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet, applied for a train side permanent magnet for a magnetically levitated train as one embodiment of the invention, comprises a coil structure including a superconducting wire wound into a form of a race track and impregnated with epoxy resin, an annular vessel member accommodating the coil structure, and a spacing member rigidly mounted in the vessel member so as to divide the interior thereof into first and second spaces. The coil structure is securely sealed in the first space, and the second space constitutes a liquid helium path.