Abstract: A braking device includes one or more stationary elements and one movable element that is movable with respect to the one or more stationary elements, the moveable element being made of an electrically conductive material, one or the one or more stationary elements including magnets capable of generating eddy currents in the movable element, when the one or more stationary elements and the movable element are in relative movement. The magnets include first magnets and second magnets disposed alternating, the first magnets having a first magnetization vector and each of the second magnets having a second magnetization vector, and the magnets have widths such that the first magnets are spaced apart in pairs by a first distance that is less than a second distance separating the second magnets in pairs, and the length of the second magnets being around 70% of the length of the first magnets.

Abstract: An eddy current magnetic braking device includes two outer elements surrounding a central element in relative movement with respect to the two outer elements, the central element being made of an electrically conductive material, the two outer elements having first faces facing opposite second faces of the central element and each of the two outer elements including plural magnets for emitting, via the first faces, a magnetic flow that generates in the central element eddy currents when the two outer elements are in relative movement. The plural magnets are arranged in such a way that the two outer elements attract each other. The central element has a thickness such that a skin effect is generated from each face of the central element over more than half the thickness of the central element over at least a range of possible relative speeds of the central element relative to the two outer elements.

Abstract: A wheel including a rim that rotates on a shaft defining a primary rotational axis and a magnetic braking device. The magnetic braking device includes an actuator which includes a first transmission assembly and one second transmission assembly each includes a pinion mounted on the support to pivot about a secondary rotational axis parallel to the primary axis, an operating bar extending about the secondary axis, a first mechanical connecting member connecting the operating bar to the pinion of the transmission assembly and a second mechanical connecting member connecting the operating bar to one of the stators, and the mechanical connecting members are arranged. The rotation of the pinions causes a movement of the stators parallel to the secondary axis in opposite directions, for varying the air gap, one or more of the mechanical connecting members of each transmission assembly being arranged to ensure a screw-nut helical connection.

Abstract: A rolling device for a vehicle includes a wheel having a hub to be mounted to pivot on a shaft and a rim including first annular portion delimiting a recess receiving an eddy current magnetic braking device including a stator constrained to rotate with the shaft, a rotor constrained to rotate with the wheel and provided with a first surface facing a first surface of the stator to form a first pair of surfaces, and first magnets for generating a first magnetic flux which passes through the first pair of surfaces. The rotor includes a second surface facing a second surface of the stator to form a second pair of surfaces and the magnetic braking device includes second magnets for generating a second magnetic flux which passes through the second pair of surfaces. The first magnetic flux is axial and the second magnetic flux is radial.

Abstract: A ground movement system for a land transport vehicle (2) capable of levitating, the vehicle having a plurality of wheels including at least one actuated wheel (3), a drive device (6) for driving the actuated wheel and/or a brake (8) for braking the actuated wheel (3), a vertical positioning actuator (9) arranged to move the actuated wheel (3) vertically relative to a fuselage of the vehicle (2), and control means arranged to act, during an acceleration stage and/or during a braking stage of the vehicle, to control the vertical positioning actuator (9) as to adjust the vertical position of the actuated wheel in order to increase the load carried by the actuated wheel and thus increase the maximum force that can be transmitted to the ground by the actuated wheel so as to increase the maximum drive and/or braking torque that can be produced by the drive device (6) and/or by the brake (8) without the actuated wheel (3) skidding or slipping.

Abstract: A braking device includes one or more stationary elements and one movable element that is movable with respect to the one or more stationary elements, the moveable element being made of an electrically conductive material, one or the one or more stationary elements including magnets capable of generating eddy currents in the movable element, when the one or more stationary elements and the movable element are in relative movement. The magnets include first magnets and second magnets disposed alternating, the first magnets having a first magnetization vector and each of the second magnets having a second magnetization vector, and the magnets have widths such that the first magnets are spaced apart in pairs by a first distance that is less than a second distance separating the second magnets in pairs, and the length of the second magnets being around 70% of the length of the first magnets.

Abstract: An eddy current magnetic braking device includes two outer elements surrounding a central element in relative movement with respect to the two outer elements, the central element being made of an electrically conductive material, the two outer elements having first faces facing opposite second faces of the central element and each of the two outer elements including plural magnets for emitting, via the first faces, a magnetic flow that generates in the central element eddy currents when the two outer elements are in relative movement. The plural magnets are arranged in such a way that the two outer elements attract each other. The central element has a thickness such that a skin effect is generated from each face of the central element over more than half the thickness of the central element over at least a range of possible relative speeds of the central element relative to the two outer elements.

Abstract: An eddy-current-based magnetic braking device includes two external elements flanking a central element that is aligned with a same axis as the external elements and that rotates about said axis with respect to the external elements, the external elements each bearing magnets that emit a magnetic flux that engenders in the central element eddy currents. The magnets are placed so as to generate a magnetic attraction between the external elements. Friction-based braking surfaces are joined so as to rotate as one with the external elements and with the central element, respectively. The external elements are moveable with respect to the axis between a proximate position of the central element, in which position the first braking surfaces are held applied against the second braking surfaces via the magnetic attraction, and a separated position of the central element, in which position the first braking surfaces are separated from the second braking surfaces.

Abstract: A wheel including a rim that rotates on a shaft defining a primary rotational axis and a magnetic braking device. The magnetic braking device includes an actuator which includes a first transmission assembly and one second transmission assembly each includes a pinion mounted on the support to pivot about a secondary rotational axis parallel to the primary axis, an operating bar extending about the secondary axis, a first mechanical connecting member connecting the operating bar to the pinion of the transmission assembly and a second mechanical connecting member connecting the operating bar to one of the stators, and the mechanical connecting members are arranged. The rotation of the pinions causes a movement of the stators parallel to the secondary axis in opposite directions, for varying the air gap, one or more of the mechanical connecting members of each transmission assembly being arranged to ensure a screw-nut helical connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an operating characteristic (for example ground clearance or acceleration) of a vehicle (100) resting on a contact surface (200) by means of at least one landing gear (150) comprising means of actuating (160) adapted to vary a behaviour of the landing gear when the latter is in contact with the contact surface, whereby the said method makes the operating characteristic of the vehicle dependent upon a given set-point by generating a command intended for the means of actuating as a function of a difference (?) between the operating characteristic and the set-point. According to the invention, the control system comprises the use of an estimation (Pest) of a load (P) seen by the landing gear to generate a modification of the command so as to minimise a variation in the deviation caused by a variation in the load.

Abstract: A ground movement system for a land transport vehicle (2) capable of levitating, the vehicle having a plurality of wheels including at least one actuated wheel (3), a drive device (6) for driving the actuated wheel and/or a brake (8) for braking the actuated wheel (3), a vertical positioning actuator (9) arranged to move the actuated wheel (3) vertically relative to a fuselage of the vehicle (2), and control means arranged to act, during an acceleration stage and/or during a braking stage of the vehicle, to control the vertical positioning actuator (9) as to adjust the vertical position of the actuated wheel in order to increase the load carried by the actuated wheel and thus increase the maximum force that can be transmitted to the ground by the actuated wheel so as to increase the maximum drive and/or braking torque that can be produced by the drive device (6) and/or by the brake (8) without the actuated wheel (3) skidding or slipping.

Abstract: Hydraulic valves for dampening pressure spikes and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a hydraulic valve for dampening pressure spikes includes a valve body, a poppet at least partially inside the valve body, and a pilot piston at least partially inside the valve body and away from the poppet. The pilot piston contacts the poppet in response to a pressure spike.

Abstract: Hydraulic valves for dampening pressure spikes and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a hydraulic valve for dampening pressure spikes includes a valve body, a poppet at least partially inside the valve body, and a pilot piston at least partially inside the valve body and away from the poppet. The pilot piston contacts the poppet in response to a pressure spike.