Abstract: One or more permanent magnets, or one or more permanent magnet arrays are used to produce shear force levitation. A primary application of shear force levitators is a levitated ring energy storage device. Such a levitated ring energy storage device includes a round support structure having a first magnetic levitator or levitator array encircling its outer periphery, and a ring encircling the support structure and having a second magnetic levitator or levitator array encircling its inner periphery, such that the first and second magnetic levitators (or levitator arrays) interact to produce a vertical force that levitates the ring.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 10, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2005
Assignee:
Magtube, Inc.
Inventors:
Orlo James Fiske, Chen Chen, Michael Richard Ricci, Bradley Evan Paden
Abstract: A magnetically levitated transportation system employs permanent magnet rails along a guideway that interact with permanent magnets on a vehicle. The rails are optimized to reduce magnetic mass, while maximizing lift force. In one example, the arrays are composed of arrays of magnets having rotating magnetizations, such as Halbach arrays. In another example, the arrays are cup-shaped to provide stronger magnetic field forces in the central portion of the array, relative to the lateral portion of the array. The vehicle may be stabilized in the lateral and yaw directions with feedback controlled lateral control coils that interact with the permanent magnet rails on the guideway. Vertical, pitch and roll motions may be controlled or damped with eddy-current damper coils or plates or with active feedback control to control the coils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 7, 2002
Date of Patent:
February 3, 2004
Assignee:
Magtube, Inc.
Inventors:
Orlo James Fiske, Chen Chen, Michael Richard Ricci, Bradley Evan Paden
Abstract: A magnetically levitated transportation system employs permanent magnet rails along a guideway that interact with permanent magnets on a vehicle. The rails are optimized to reduce magnetic mass, while maximizing lift force. In one example, the arrays are composed of arrays of magnets having rotating magnetizations, such as Halbach arrays. In another example, the arrays are cup-shaped to provide stronger magnetic field forces in the central portion of the array, relative to the lateral portion of the array. The vehicle may be stabilized in the lateral and yaw directions with feedback controlled lateral control coils that interact with the permanent magnet rails on the guideway. Vertical, pitch and roll motions may be controlled or damped with eddy-current damper coils or plates or with active feedback control to control the coils.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 7, 2002
Publication date:
November 27, 2003
Applicant:
MAGTUBE, INC.
Inventors:
Orlo James Fiske, Chen Chen, Michael Richard Ricci, Bradley Evan Paden
Abstract: One or more permanent magnets, or one or more permanent magnet arrays are used to produce shear force levitation. A primary application of shear force levitators is a levitated ring energy storage device. Such a levitated ring energy storage device includes a round support structure having a first magnetic levitator or levitator array encircling its outer periphery, and a ring encircling the support structure and having a second magnetic levitator or levitator array encircling its inner periphery, such that the first and second magnetic levitators (or levitator arrays) interact to produce a vertical force that levitates the ring.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 10, 2003
Publication date:
October 16, 2003
Applicant:
MAGTUBE, INC.
Inventors:
Orlo James Fiske, Chen Chen, Michael Richard Ricci, Bradley Evan Paden