Abstract: A monobeam/guideway (beam) and electromagnetically jimmied vehicle prototype mating system having: a beam of durable, long life pre-cast reinforced concrete or similar composite infrastructure produce with mass to reduce travel sound transmissions caused by deflections in lighter weight elevated guideway support designs. The beam to vehicle mating design allows the vehicle to straddle over the beam riding along its ridge on tires while balancing on support casters making firm positive contact at critical tangent points along the beam's Nebel surfaces during intermittent non-jimmied/non-levitated periods of operation. Non-jimmied vehicle positioning is free of the wide gap tolerances of prior art. The beam and elevated support allow the vehicle to underwrap and become jimmied by attractive magnetic response of magnetic balancers which are magnets at the vehicle underwrap excited by electromagnetic starter packs located underside guideway beams.

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 magnetic levitation conveyor apparatus has levitation electromagnets, linear motors, and displacement sensors which are disposed outside of a tunnel, and a carriage of simple structure which is movable in the tunnel. The carriage is of canned structure for preventing gases from being generated. The carriage of canned structure allows the tunnel to have a reduced cross-sectional area and to be filled with a highly purified atmosphere such as of a high vacuum. The tunnel has substantially orthogonal branches at a branched point. In the branched point, the carriage can move, while being lifted out of contact with the tunnel partition, with a directional change from a main conveyor passage into a branched conveyor passage. The magnetic levitation conveyor apparatus is highly practical as it can control the carriage to be lifted and moved as described above.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding and levitating a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a guideway mechanism upon which the vehicle travels. The apparatus is also comprised of a mechanism for actively controlling differential and lateral guidance or differential and vertical levitation strength of the vehicle with respect to the guideway mechanism. The controlling mechanism is electrodynamically reactive with the guideway mechanism. A method for guiding and levitating a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of guiding a vehicle along the guideway with electrodynamic guidance coils. Then, there is the step of actively controlling alternating current through the guidance coils to correspond with guideway curvature so the vehicle is maintained in a stable position relative to the guideway as it moves around a curve in the guideway and experiences roll compensation.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a magnetically movable vehicle includes at least one means for producing a horizontal magnetic field mounted to the vehicle; a conductor adjacent to, but not in physical contact with, the means for producing a horizontal magnetic filed; and means for passing direct current through the conductor; wherein, the conductor is oriented so that the current passing through the conductor will interact with the horizontal magnetic field to generate a linear force sufficient to move the vehicle.

Abstract: A noncontact lateral control system for use in a corridor guided noncontact transport system includes proximity sensors mounted on each side of the container of the transport system operable to continually monitor the lateral position of the container as the container moves through the transport system transit corridor. If the proximity sensors sense that the container has moved laterally within the transit corridor, a control unit associated with the lateral control system provides an energizing signal to one or more electromagnets and the electromagnets move the container laterally within the transit corridor until the container is again centered laterally within the transit corridor.

Abstract: A vehicle system for driving and supporting a vehicle by magnetic force along a vehicle travel path includes a guide rail extending along the vehicle travel path; longitudinal stators stationarily mounted along the guide rail; a vehicle including a vehicle shell and a vehicle chassis supporting the vehicle shell; a carrier bar secured to the chassis; permanent magnets mounted on the carrier bar for cooperating with the longitudinal stators to generate a magnetic carrying force opposing the vehicle weight; and first and second guide rollers each having a roller shaft rigidly supported relative to the carrier bar and rollingly engaging the guide rail for maintaining constant an airgap between the permanent magnets and the longitudinal stators. The first and second rollers take up, until their load limit is reached, any deficiency or excess in the magnetic carrying force to entirely compensate for the vehicle weight.

Abstract: A superconducting electromagnet arrangement includes a high temperature superconducting (HTS) coil surrounding a multiple-pole iron core for levitating and propelling a MAGLEV transport vehicle along a guideway. The HTS coil operates in the DC mode at approximately liquid nitrogen temperature of 77 K to induce in the iron core magnetic forces of attraction to levitate the transport vehicle a desired distance above a set of guideway rails. A preferred embodiment includes a Bi 2223 HTS coil surrounding a C-shaped iron core. The coil is constructed from a layer of pancake coils, the windings of which are fabricated from short lengths of commercially available conductor tape. The field strength in the core and the windings of the HTS coil are respectively approximately 1.8 T and approximately 0.3 T. To ensure vehicle stability, control coils are placed around the core legs to maintain the desired air gap length.

Abstract: A positioning system stops a transport car traveling along a transport path at a predetermined stop position. The system includes a pair of members coupled together by a magnetic attraction force. One of the members is disposed at the stop position, while the other of the members is disposed on the transport car, and at least one of the members is attached to the stop position or the transport car through a damper. Alternatively, the system may include two pairs of members coupled together by a magnetic attraction force, in which one of each pair of the members is disposed at the stop position, while the other of each pair of the members is disposed on the transport car, and one member of one of the pairs of members is attached to a guide mechanism which restricts a direction of movement of the one member attached to the guide mechanism caused by the action of magnetic attraction force between the members.

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 magnet abnormality detection and protection apparatus is for early and surely detecting abnormality in superconducting coils mounted on a vehicle and protecting the superconducting coils. Magnetic flux detecting devices are mounted inside an outer vessel, which is a vacuum container of a superconducting magnet, so as to be opposite to the superconducting coil. Voltages induced in the magnetic flux detecting devices are detected. Voltage signals are led to a decision device. By monitoring the change of the voltage signals with time in a comparing judgment device, it is determined whether there is an abnormality. If there is an abnormality, an alarm indicator informs of an abnormal state, and a protection device takes protection measures such as interruption of the current of the superconducting magnet. Owing to such configuration, heat does not penetrate from the outside into the superconducting coil via instrumentation lead wires of the magnetic flux detecting devices.

Abstract: According to this invention, wheels are pivotally supported by a fork arm comprising a lever-type supporting component, an expandable lifting actuator having damper serially arranged to buffer and support thereof at other end end of arm of said supporting component. With this structure, a complete retraction of wheels can be achieved. Hence the supporting component can be used both as the supporting leg apparatus to vertically support the magnetically levitated vehicle and the guide leg apparatus to mechanically guide the vehicle along the guideway side wall. It is, therefore, characterized with the simple structure, light weight, small storage space, and easy to perform maintenance.

Abstract: A magnetic levitating apparatus comprises a guide rail, a levitated object, a plurality of magnetic support units, a plurality of gap-variable mechanisms, a sensor unit, and a controller. The controller performs zero power levitation force control and specific control. The zero power levitation force control is effected to reduce to zero an excitation current to the electromagnet of at least one of the magnetic support units thereby to stabilize the magnetic levitation state of the levitated object on the basis of an output from the sensor unit. The specific control is effected to control an excitation current to the electromagnet of at least one of the magnetic support units thereby to have the zero power levitation force control effected irrespective of the magnitude of a spring constant of the elastic member, on the basis of the output of the sensor unit.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation transport system includes magnetic levitation vehicles each driven by a linear motor to run along a track. Induction lines extend through predetermined blocks of the running track to transmit a high frequency sine-wave current. Each vehicle includes electromagnets to attract levitating magnetic members extending along the running track, a pickup coil resonant with a frequency of the induction lines to generate an electromotive force, and a battery chargeable by the pickup coil. The electromagnets receive power from the pickup coil and/or the battery.

Abstract: An electrodynamic levitation system for moving from one location to another location. The system comprises a vehicle. The system also comprises a guideway along which the vehicle travels. Additionally, the system comprises a propulsion mechanism for moving the vehicle. At least a first portion of the propulsion mechanism is in contact with the vehicle and at least a second portion of the propulsion mechanism is in contact with the guideway. The system also comprises mechanism for controlling lateral guidance levitation of the vehicle with respect to the guideway as the vehicle travels along the guideway. At least a first portion of the controlling mechanism is in contact with the vehicle and at least a second portion of the controlling mechanism is in contact with the guideway. The present invention also pertains to a levitation and guidance element for an electrodynamically suspended maglev vehicle. The element comprises an electrically conductive levitation and guidance strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is capable of high-speed transportation of passengers and/or freight. Vehicles are operated along a guideway as a result of the interaction between vehicle lift, steering and propulsion apparatus, each of which includes coil assemblies that are mounted on the vehicle, and magnet assemblies mounted on the guideway. Vehicle propulsion is provided by the interaction of currents on the vehicle with time-varying magnetic fields that are generated along the guideway. The coils and magnets interact in accordance with the magnitude of electric current passing through the coils and the strength of the magnets' fields, to give lift and directional control to the vehicle. The lift and steering magnets provide substantially uniform magnetic fields so that the interaction between the lift coils and lift magnets, and respectively between the steering coils and steering magnets is substantially independent of positioning of the corresponding coils.

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: An electromagnet actuator has an E-shaped core for coupling magnetic flux between the core and a blade of a hoistway rail. A pair of coils wound on the core provide the flux in such a way as to produce both side-to-side and front-to-back forces that can be controlled by varying the current to the pair of coils in each actuator on opposite sides of the car.

Abstract: A magnetic levitating transportation apparatus including rails and a vehicle capable of travelling along the rails by a linear motor and caused to magnetically levitate by magnet units with electro-magnets. The gap is controlled by controlling the current supplied to the magnet units in response to gap sensors. The rails include rail gaps where the ends of two rail elements abut, and rail gap sensors are arranged to detect the rail gap. Thus, current supplied to one of the magnet units is disabled when the rail gap is detected, and the current to be supplied to the associated magnet unit is stopped. The current to be supplied to the associated magnet unit is determined from the outputs of the remaining gap sensors.

Abstract: A magnetic levitating transportation apparatus comprising a rail and a vehicle capable of travelling along the rails by a linear motor and caused to magnetically levitate by magnet units including permanent magnets and electro-magnets. The gap between the rail and each of the magnetic units is controlled by controlling the current supplied to the magnet units so that the current is substantially zero when the vehicle is in the levitated condition. One of the magnet units is movably mounted to the vehicle and moved by the piezoelectric actuator so that the gap between this magnet unit and the rail can be adjusted. The controller controls the piezoelectric actuator based on the current supplied to the magnet units.

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 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 method and apparatus is capable of high-speed transportation of passengers and/or freight. Vehicles (22) are operated along a guideway (14) as a result of the interaction between vehicle lift, steering and propulsion apparatus, each of which includes coil assemblies that are mounted on the vehicle (22), and magnet assemblies mounted on the guideway (14). Vehicle propulsion is provided by the interaction of currents on the vehicle (22) with time-varying magnetic fields that are generated along the guideway (14). The coils and magnets interact in accordance with the magnitude of electric current passing through the coils and the strength of the magnets' fields, to give lift and directional control to the vehicle.

Abstract: Normal and superconducting magnets are employed in an electromagnetic (attractive) suspension system for MAGLEV vehicles. The super conducting magnet provides the principal magnetomotive force (MMF) to the system while the normal electromagnet compensates for dynamic or transient loads on the system that vary the suspension gap. The rapid variations are slowly compensated for by the superconducting magnet thereby minimizing heat generation by a superconducting coil.

Abstract: The transferring device is provided with a cylindrical partition wall formed with reduced thickness portions 14. A floating carrier 3 is disposed around the cylindrical partition wall and is provided with target pieces 15. The reduced thickness portion 14 is formed by recessing the outer peripheral face 1a of the partition wall 1 along the lengthwise direction thereof. Electromagnets 10, 11 are mounted on an actuating block 4 within the tubular partition wall 1 in opposed relation to the reduced thickness portions 14. The target piece 15 are also opposed in alignment with the reduced thickness portions 14. The partition wall 1 has a sufficient thickness other than the reduced thickness portions 14 so as to ensure physical strength of the partition wall 1. Magnetic force is applied from the electromagnets 10, 11 to the target pieces 15 through the reduced thickness partition 14, thereby supporting the floating carrier 3 with a reduced amount of an exciting current flowing through the electromagnets 10, 11.

Abstract: A track vehicle such as a Maglev train has a body with superconducting coils mounted thereon which superconducting coils interact with vertically extending coils on guideways of a track to generate a propulsive force. The vehicle runs on wheels at low speeds but at higher speeds the superconducting coils may interact with ground coils to generate a lifting force. In order to reduce or eliminate stresses between the superconducting coils and the vehicle body, the vehicle has one or more wings of airfoil shape which generate lift. That lift may be sufficient to support the whole of the weight of the vehicle, enabling the ground coils to be eliminated. Furthermore, the shape of the superconducting coils may be changed so that they supply more energy to propulsive effects. Preferably the angle of incidence of the wing(s) is variable, to permit the lift generated thereby to be varied.

Abstract: A magnetically floating carrier system has a carriage body which is adapted to be floated by the attraction force of floating magnets acting upon the bottom surfaces of rails. The carriage body is driven by a linear motor. The rails are mounted on a framework extending longitudinally to define a track and having one side thereof supported. The carriage body is provided with a support member extending upwards at the other side of the framework to a point above the top surfaces of the framework. A pallet for supporting a load is mounted on the top end of the support member so as to be disposed over the framework. The carriage carries four magnets at front and rear parts thereof which are adapted to exert a force of attraction on the pair of rails. The magnets are mounted at both ends of two beams mounted on front and rear parts of the carriage body for see-saw motions and steering motions.

Abstract: Movable aerodynamic control surfaces are mounted to a MAGLEV vehicle. They operate in combination with magnetically actuated coils that are located in the vehicle and cooperate with coils or metallic sheets located along the vehicle guideway. Sensors provide clearance information concerning the vehicle relative to the guideway as well as translational speed and vehicle rotational measurements. Based on input from these sensors, a computer positions the control surfaces and energizes the magnetic coils so as to unload dynamic forces and stresses imposed by the vehicle while providing smoother vehicle movement indicative of superior passenger comfort.

Abstract: A levitation system for levitating a levitated magnetic element in a stable suspended position on one side of a separating plane using a magnetic arrangement on the opposite side of the separating plane. The magnetic arrangement provides a preselected static magnetic field configuration that interacts with a magnet in the levitated element so that the magnetic potential energy of this interaction increases for displacements of the element from its stable position in directions parallel to a stability plane and decreases for displacements of the element from the stable position perpendicular to the stability plane. Any movement perpendicular to the stability plane is sensed and used by a feedback control system to control a force applied to the levitated element to stabilize the element against displacement from the stable position in directions perpendicular to the stability plane.

Abstract: In a transportation system of a floated-carrier type, a carrier is suspended from a guide rail, in a non-contact manner, and is proelled along the guide rail. The transportation system includes a plurality of track units, each having the ferromagnetic guide rail, an electrical wire, and a pair of connectors provided to both ends of the electrical wire. Each track unit comprises minimum and necessary elements required for traveling the carrier. When a connector of one track unit and that of the other track unit are connected, connection of electrical wires necessary for this system is completed. For this reason, an operation for mounting the electrical wires in the track can be omitted, and installation of the track can be facilitated. Furthermore, when the travel path of the carrier is to be modified, a combination of track units can be freely changed, thus realizing various travel paths of the carriers. For this reason, the travel path can be easily modified.

Abstract: In a transporting system for transporting cargo to a predetermined position, a carrier is located above rails and a first support plate is located under the rail and is coupled with the carrier by a pair of columns. A second support plate is rotatably coupled by a coupling mechanism. Four magnetic floating assemblies are so disposed on the first and second plates as to face the rails and a control unit is disposed on the first support plate. The carrier is floated by an attractive force produced between the rail and the magnet units of the assemblies. A gap sensor of each of the assemblies generates an output signal corresponding to a gap between the rails and the magnet unit and a current supplied to the magnet unit is also detected by a current detector. The outputs from the gap sensor and the current detector is fed as feedback signal to an operational circuit of the control unit.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus driven by a linear motor which is capable of keeping response at the time of acceleration and deceleration almost constant in spite of the change of the weight of the carrying vehicle. At the carrying vehicle side, the magnitude of a gap between a track and the carrying vehicle, which is in the state of non-contact with the track due to an electro-magnet, and the electric current flowing through the electro-magnet is detected. The weight information related to the weight of the carrying vehicle is calculated on the basis of above detected results. The calculated weight information of the carrying vehicle is transmitted to a running control unit at the ground side. The driving force of the linear motor is adjusted on the basis of the transmitted weight information.

Abstract: A device for driving a vehicle by magnetic levitation includes a synchronous long-stator motor, with a long stator winding extending along a track of the vehicle and subdivided into a plurality of discrete stator winding sections (3.11 to 3.19; 3.21 to 3.29). The vehicle which is movable on the track supports several fixedly mounted exciters cooperating with the stator winding sections. At least one section cable (17, 28) is arranged parallel to a portion of the track and each of its ends is connected to a power sub-station. The section cable has a plurality of consecutive tap points each being connectable via a switching device to an assigned stator winding section. The switching devices are activated when the vehicle runs over the corresponding winding section.

Abstract: A linear motor car system including a horizontal conveyance path, a vertical conveyance path, and a curved conveyance path connected between the horizontal and vertical conveyance paths. A controller in the linear motor car system drives a carrier so that the cariier can ascend smoothly up the curved and vertical conveyance paths with the minimum driving energy and without accidentally falling back down the vertical path.

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: In a transporting system for transporting cargo to a predetermined position, a carrier is located above rails and a first support plate is located under the rail and is coupled with the carrier by a pair of columns. A second support plate is rotatably coupled by a coupling mechanism. Four magnetic floating assemblies are so disposed on the first and second plates as to face the rails and a control unit is disposed on the first support plate. The carrier is floated by an attractive force produced between the rail and the magnet units of the assemblies. A gap sensor of each of the assemblies generates an output signal corresponding to a gap between the rails and the magnet unit and a current supplied to the magnet unit is also detected by a current detector. The outputs from the gap sensor and the current detector is fed as feedback signal to an operational circuit of the control unit.

Abstract: A control system for stabilizing a vehicle resiliently levitated above a guideway including at least two sets of at least two aerodynamic control means mounted on the vehicle. The sets of aerodynamic control means are spaced longitudinally along the vehicle and the control means in each set are spaced on the vehicle. Further included are means for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in at least one mode of oscillation and means, responsive to the means for sensing acceleration, for operating the aerodynamic control means to provide offsetting forces and moments for correcting the sensed acceleration to damp vehicle oscillation.

Abstract: A plurality of stators of a linear induction motor are arranged at predetermined intervals, and guide rails are mounted on an upper portion of a track frame having a U-shaped section. A levitated object is magnetically levitated below the track frame so as to freely travel along the guide rails. Magnetic support units having electromagnets for obtaining a levitating force, optical gap sensors for detecting gap lengths between the support units and the guide rails, i.e., deviations in a levitating direction, and optical gap sensors for detecting deviations in a guiding direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the levitated object are respectively arranged on the four corners of the upper surface of the levitated object. The length of each magnetic support unit is larger than the width of each guide rail. Each magnetic support unit is disposed such that the inner ends of the unit and the guide rail are aligned, and the outer end of the unit extends outward from that of the guide rail.

Abstract: A position sensor for measuring the separation, in a givne direction (Oy), between a first part such as a datum element of a railway vehicle axle and a fixed second part such as a rail on which said axles runs, includes magnets (11, 12) for producing a magnetic field above the second part (10) and Hall effect probes (15) for measuring the value of the component of the field in said given direction (Oy) with variation in that value being proportional to the separation.

Abstract: In a transportation system of a floated-carrier type, a carrier is suspended from a guide rail, in a non-contact manner, and is propelled along the guide rail. The transportation system includes a plurality of track units, each having the ferromagnetic guide rail, an electrical wire, and a pair of connectors provided to both ends of the electrical wire. Each track unit comprises minimum and necessary elements required for traveling the carrier. When a connector of one track unit and that of the other track unit are connected, connection of electrical wires necessary for this system is completed. For this reason, an operation for mounting the electrical wires in the track can be omitted, and installation of the track can be facilitated. Furthermore, when the travel path of the carrier is to be modified, a combination of track units can be freely changed, thus realizing various travel paths of the carrier. For this reason, the travel path can be easily modified.

Abstract: A plurality of stators of a linear induction motor are arranged at predetermined intervals, and guide rails are mounted on an upper portion of a track frame having a U-shaped section. A levitated object is magnetically levitated below the track frame so as to freely travel along the guide rails. Magnetic support units having electromagnets for obtaining a levitating force, optical gap sensors for detecting gap lengths between the support units and the guide rails, i.e., deviations in a levitating direction, and optical gap sensors for detecting deviations in a guiding direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the levitated object are respectively arranged on the four corners of the upper surface of the levitated object. The length of each magnetic support unit is larger than the width of each guide rail. Each magnetic support unit is disposed such that the inner ends of the unit and the guide rail are aligned, and the outer end of the unit extends outward from that of the guide rail.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a noncontacting sensing system (12) is disclosed for providing information regarding the gap between, and relative position of, two relatively movable elements such as a vehicle (14) and a guideway (16). As its main component, the system (12) includes an array (64) of four sensor assemblies (66). Each assembly (66) defines a target magnetic loop (T), which includes adjacent discrete pole pieces (28) in the guideway (16), and a separate reference magnetic loop (R). Hall-effect pickups (84) employed in the two loops (T and R) provide information regarding the relative magnetic intensity in the loops. A microprocessor (109) divides the output of the target loop pickups (88, 90, 92, and 94) by that of the reference loop pickup (96), in accordance with instructions provided in a read-only memory (ROM)(106). As a result, a corrected signal is produced for each assembly (66) independent of time-varying factors of the assembly (66).

Abstract: A magnetic bearing system for enabling translational motion includes a carriage and a shaft for movably supporting the carriage; a first magnetic bearing fixed to one of the carriage and shaft and slidably received in a first channel of the other of the carriage and shaft. The first channel is generally "U" shaped with two side walls and a back wall. The magnetic bearing includes a pair of spaced magnetic pole pieces, each pole piece having a pair of electromagnetic coils mounted on poles on opposite ends of the pole piece proximate the side walls, and a third electromagnetic coil mounted on a pole of the pole piece proximate the backwall; a motion sensor for sensing translational motion along two axes and rotationally about three axes of the carriage and shaft relative to each other; and a correction circuit responsive to the sensor for generating a correction signal to drive the coils to compensate for any misalignment sensed between the carriage and the shaft.

Abstract: In a transportation system of a floated-carrier type, a carrier is suspended from a guide rail, in a non-contact manner, and is propelled along the guide rail. The transportation system includes a plurality of track units, each having the ferromagnetic guide rail, an electrical wire, and a pair of connectors provided to both ends of the electrical wire. Each track unit comprises minimum and necessary elements required for traveling the carrier. When a connector of one track unit and that of the other track unit are connected, connection of electrical wires necessary for this system is completed. For this reason, an operation for mounting the electrical wires in the track can be omitted, and installation of the track can be facilitated. Furthermore, when the travel path of the carrier is to be modified, a combination of track units can be freely changed, thus realizing various travel paths of the carrier. For this reason, the travel path can be easily modified.

Abstract: A controller for a magnetic bearing system which controls the magnetic attraction force acting between a rotor yoke rigidly secured to a rotary shaft and a pair of electromagnet stators rigidly secured to a casing on the basis of a signal output from a displacement sensor which measures relative displacement between the rotary shaft and the casing. The signal output from the displacement sensor is input to a compensation circuit. The signal output from the compensation circuit is input to both the non-inverting input terminal of one operational amplifier and the inverting input terminal of the other operational amplifier. An exciting coil bias voltage is input to the respective inverting input terminals of the two operational amplifiers.

Abstract: A method for controlling a magnet of a magnetically levitated railroad, wherein at least three variables are used which are acquired in an observer unit (support circuit) based on the measured magnitudes for the magnetic gap width s, as well as the magnetic acceleration b; to improve the following behavior of the magnetically levitated vehicle without increasing the background noise component, an additional rail signal is feed to the controller of the individual magnets, which rail signal is respectively obtained by a rail observer unit from the measured magnitudes of the magnet gap width and the magnet acceleration of one of the magnets which is leading in a travel direction in such a way that it represents a noiseless rail signal with a correct phase in the useful frequency range as referred to the respectively trailing magnets.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for determining the distance of a probe, particularly a magnetic bearing or a magnetic levitation device, from a conductive reaction rail. The probe comprises at least one sensor having at least two magnetically-coupled coils disposed opposite the reaction rail. The coils generate an alternating magnetic field whose influences (eddy currents) are detected by the sensor and employed for identification of the distance. In order to achieve a high, useful voltage level, insensitivity to external electrical fields and potential fluctuations, as well as a small influence of system-conditioned magnetic fields, the influences of eddy currents induced in the reaction rail by the alternating magnetic field are acquired and utilized for the identification of the distance.

Abstract: A traveling service unit for an associated textile spinning mill machine may be elevationally adjusted with respect to a reference rail mounted longitudinally along the machine by a feeler guide element pivotably mounted to the service unit in following engagement to the reference guide rail in conjunction with an operatively associated controller connected with vertically adjustable roller support assemblies of the service unit 1 for varying the elevation of the service unit 1 as necessary to compensate for deviations in the pivotal disposition of the feeler guide element with respect to horizontal.

Abstract: In a transporting system, four magnetic units are mounted on corners of carrier and the carrier is suspended under rails by electromagnetic attractive forces acting between the magnetic units and the bottom section of the rails. Each of the magnetic unit has a permanent magnet and electromagnets and gap sensors are provided on the carrier to sense a gap between each magnetic unit and rail. A battery for supplying a current to the magnetic unit is mounted on the carrier 15. The carrier is floated in a zero steady-state power control mode, even when an external force is applied to the carrier by a zero steady-state power control circuit which maintain the steady-state current supplied to the magnetic unit to be substantially zero. The carrier is softly landed on the rail or started to move from the rail in response to an external command in a soft landing or a soft start mode by an actuating unit 67.

Abstract: A transporting system of floated carrier type including a guide rail having a bottom surface portion formed of a ferromagnetic material, a carrier arranged to be freely movable along the guide rail, at least one magnetic supporting unit placed on board the carrier and including electromagnets arranged so as to face the bottom surface portion of the guide rail via gap and a permanent magnet that is placed in the magnetic circuit formed by the electromagnets, the guide rail, and the gap, for supplying magnetomotive force required for floating the carrier. A sensor section is attached to the carrier for detecting changes in the magnetic circuit. The length of the gap is controlled by a zero power feedback loop that stabilizes the magnetic circuit in a state in which the current flowing in the electromagnets is zero, by controlling the exciting current in the electromagnets based on the output of the sensor section.