Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic unit having a plurality of groups of ceramic magnets arranged in a side-by-side relationship, each plurality being separated from an adjacent plurality by a malleable steel member to focus the lines of magnetic flux. Preferably, each of the ceramic magnets within a group is also separated by an interleaved sheet of malleable steel. Such a plurality of groups of ceramic magnets are secured together and to a supporting member through fastening members, and are separated from the support by a non-magnetic member, such as a non-ferrous plate. A second plurality of groups of ceramic magnets are positioned adjacent to a first plurality of such groups of ceramic magnets with opposite poles of the magnets facing each other so that the first and the second pluralities of such groups of magnetics attract one another. Those forces of attraction are used to cause levitation of a vehicle such as a train.

Abstract: The invention resides in a magnetic force system for frictionless transportation of loads, with at least one magnet (1) secured to the load (7), the magnet being arranged with respect to a ferromagnetic support profile (2). It is important that the magnet (1) be arranged with respect to the profile (2) such that the pole surfaces of the magnet (1) cooperate with at least one vertical profile wall, and are essentially parallel to that wall. A particularly good embodiment is obtained by providing magnets on both sides of a profile wall (2), the magnets having identical poles toward the wall (repulsion principle). Longitudinally, the magnets are arranged in pairs and are close-circuited in pairs by a ferromagnetic plate (4).

Abstract: A magnetic levitation actuator includes a pair of U-shaped first permanent magnets provided on opposite sides of an object to be driven with a pair of outwardly projecting first legs defining the U-shape. A pair of guide rails are spaced apart from the object on opposite sides thereof, and a pair of U-shaped second permanent magnets are provided on associated guide rails and extend along the guide rails. Each of the second permanent magnets is provided with a second pair of legs defining the U-shape of the associated second magnets and opposed to the associated first legs of the first magnets with a predetermined gap therebetween. The first legs and second legs, which are opposed to each other, have opposite polarities to produce a magnetic attraction therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle levitation and guidance system (20) is provided which levitates a vehicle (22) over a roadbed (28) through the use of thin permanently magnetized strips (32, 34) located in the vehicle and the roadbed. The strips are oriented with like magnetic poles adjacent to generate a repelling force. The vehicle is guided along the roadbed by sliding engagement of the walls (37) of a channel (30) in the roadbed with pins (36) descending from the vehicle. The vehicle is propelled along the roadbed by contact with a set of rotating wheels (42, 42').

Abstract: A magnetic support and transport system comprising a plurality of permanent magnets for interacting with ferrous T-bars of a ceiling grid to counteract gravitational attraction. A plurality of rollers maintain an air gap between the magnets and the grid. A remotely controlled electric motor drives at least one of the rollers and thereby transports the system along the T-bars. Opposing pairs of guides maintain alignment of the system with the T-bars. Each pair of the guides is adapted to automatically retract upon encountering transversely oriented T-bars. When used for grid resurfacing and redecorating applications, the system can support a tape dispenser adapted to transfer adhesive pressure sensitive tape to downwardly exposed surfaces of the grid. A modified embodiment of the present invention is adapted to support surveillance equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a method and an apparatus for magnetic levitation of a linear slider through a PI control action. When the slider is horizontally moved while levitated vertically by two fixed magnetic forces, the angle of inclination of the slider cannot be settled in a preset position because of a control delay caused by integral action, which results in an angle offset. In order to eliminate the offset, a signal which is the sum of an angle deviation and a delay compensation signal that is proportional to the product of the velocity of the slider and an integral time is used as an error signal to settle the angle of inclination. The vertical position of the slider is controlled so that the sum of the magnetic forces applied to the slider balances the weight of the slider.

Abstract: A conveyor for use in a room with a high degree of cleanness and which can convey wafers one by one stably, without generation of dust. The conveyor has vehicles having a slit in the surface on which a wafer can be placed, permanent magnets provided on the undersurface of the vehicle, and a magnetic fluid interposed between the permanent magnets and a transporting course for floating the vehicle. By moving the vehicle along the transporting course by linear motors or by driving devices of the rope trolley type, wafers are conveyed one by one on the vehicle.

Abstract: In a magnet-floating toy running inside a loop of vacuum-like state, a .perp. shape monorail is provided within a loop of air-tight, transparent round pipes, air within the loop is drawn by suction to make loop reach a vacuum-like state to reduce air resistance. In the two extended wings of the monorail and also underneath the surfaces of the car body, permanent magnets are installed and are arranged so that the magnet poles of the two magnets are the same to induce repulsion force and that when the car rides on the monorail, it may float. Power is supplied from source outside the loop to the conductive rail mounted in the top surface of the monorail and through the brush, then in turn, transmit to the motor. Thus motor will enable car to run within the loop.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting wafers to and from different work stations in a clean-controlled environment includes a platform being magnetically levitated above a U-shaped rail by a magnetic cushion provided by first magnets on the platform and the rail, the first magnets having their magnetic poles arranged to repel one another. A nonmagnetic tube within which is a free-sliding magnetic piston of the same polarity as the first magnets extends along the center of the track. A second magnet is disposed on the platform such that its polarity will repel (or attract) the piston magnet such that as the pressure differential in the tube is changed the piston magnet slidably moves within the tube and pushes (or draws) the platform along the track with it.

Abstract: The device comprises two pick-up elements which can cooperate independently with a transmission line for control signals and are aligned in the direction of movement of a conveyor unit so as to be positioned respectively upstream and downstream in the direction of movement of the conveyor unit. The two pick-up elements are separated by a distance such that, during traversal of the gaps between successive sections of the line, at least one of the two pick-up elements is able to receive signals from the transmission line. A signal treatment circuit generates selectively an output control signal corresponding either to the single signal received by the two pick-up elements or to the control signal received by the pick-up element in the position upstream relative to the direction of movement of the conveyor unit when the pick-up elements receive different signals.

Abstract: A magnetic suspension for a vehicle, includes a guide rail vertically mounted on a track and an underframe having a magnetic system surrounding lateral sides of the guide rail on which are mounted strips of permanent magnets. The magnetic system of the underframe also comprises strips of permanent magnets installed on the lateral sides of the underframe facing toward the guide rail, the strips of permanent magnets being installed with a spacing equal to the spacing of the strips of the guide rail, and the polarities of pole facets of the strips facing toward one another being different.

Abstract: A magnetically levitated carriage provided with a magnetic system suspension consisting of support magnets which magnetically cooperate via an air gap. The levitated carriage is maintained in a stable condition by means of a stabilizing device which substantially comprises a row of first stabilizing magnets connected to the levitated carriage and a row of parallel arranged second stabilizing magnets. The dynamic stiffness due to the stabilizing device is greater than the static stiffness due to the support magnets.

Abstract: A vertically stable permanent magnet levitation system for use in transportation comprises a pair of spaced parallel ferromagnetic rail members, a cobalt-rare earth permanent levitation magnet with transverse polarity orientation positioned between the rails with an air gap between both poles and the rails, a cargo-carrying vehicle supported by the magnet, and means for maintaining the levitation magnet in centered position with respect to the rails.