JPH05328538A - Magnetically levitated transportation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce magnetic flux leaking out of a transportation track for a vehicle levitated by pinning effect of a high-temperature superconductor, by covering a magnetic-field generating means almost entirely with a magnetic shielding unit. CONSTITUTION:A transportation track 3, where a vehicle 10 is levitated and moved, comprises a permanent magnet 5 for generating a given pattern of a magnetic field, and magnetic shielding units 4a and 4b made of ferromagnetic material like an iron for enclosing the permanent magnet 5. A plurality of permanent magnets 5 are laid all along the track 3 to form a given pattern of magnetic field across the transportation track 3. Through a notched part 23 of the magnetic shielding units 4a and 4b, the vehicle 10 made up of a mounting member 20, a container 22, and a high-temperature superconductor 21 can be moved freely on the track 3. Then, a 1iquid nitrogen is infected in the container 22 to cool the high-temperature superconductor 21. A linear-motor stator 6 for providing thrust to move a vehicle 10 on the track 3 is fixed to a placement member 7 on a base 2. Consequently, strong magnetic flux leaking out of the track 3 can be prevented, and a bad effect caused by the magnetic flux can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic levitation transfer device for levitating a vehicle using a high temperature superconductor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, research and development has been carried out on a carrier device capable of high-speed traveling and levitating traveling on a track without noise, and particularly, a device for magnetically levitating a carrier vehicle by using high temperature superconducting technology has attracted attention. Is flying.

A magnetic levitation transportation apparatus utilizing high-temperature superconducting technology is equipped with a material (hereinafter referred to as a high-temperature superconductor) which is in a superconducting state at a temperature higher than a liquid nitrogen temperature level in a transportation vehicle. The carrier is levitated by the magnetic repulsive force generated between the magnet provided on the track side. High-temperature superconductors completely eliminate the external magnetic field below H _C1 (lower critical magnetic field) (Meissner effect), but above the external magnetic field, magnetic flux penetrates into the superconductor as quantized magnetic flux lines and is in the normal conducting state. Type 1 superconductor and H _C1
When the above external magnetic field is applied, magnetic flux lines enter, but they are trapped (pinned) at pinning points, so even if magnetic flux lines try to enter later, they cannot enter the superconducting field, that is, higher than H _C1. There is a type II superconductor having the effect of eliminating the magnetic field up to the magnetic field H _C2 (pinning effect).

Here, a magnetic levitation transfer apparatus utilizing the pinning effect in a high temperature superconductor is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-18375.
The magnetic levitation transporting device has been studied as described in No. 5 and will be described. Inside the high temperature superconductor mounted on the carrier, a magnetic field that forms a predetermined magnetic flux distribution pattern is pinned from the magnetic field generated from the magnet provided on the orbit side of the flat plate, and the carrier is held by holding it. It is emerging.

Then, a coil array is provided on the track side, and a high temperature superconductor is captured between magnetic poles generated by the excitation of the coil array,
The traveling force is applied to the transport vehicle by sequentially switching the excitation of the coils to move the capture position.

[0006]

However, as described above, in a magnetic levitation transfer device in which a high-temperature superconductor is mounted on a carrier and the pinning effect of the high-temperature superconductor is used to levitate the carrier, the carrier is Configure the track to run,
The magnetic field generating means for forming a magnetic field in a predetermined pattern on the carrier and causing the carrier to levitate is fixed to the flat track. Here, the traveling track of the conventional magnetic levitation transport device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a traveling track of a conventional magnetic levitation transport device.

In FIG. 4, an upper surface of a permanent magnet 5 as a magnetism generating means is arranged on the upper surface of a flat track 25 so that the central portion and the left and right ends have different polarities along the path of the track 25. The magnetic flux of the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet 5 draws a magnetic path as the magnetic flux line 26 in the figure. Therefore, the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means that forms the track easily leaks to the periphery of the track. Therefore, in an environment with a large amount of magnetic dust, magnetic dust is likely to be attached, and the magnetic field near the surface of the magnetic field generating means becomes weak. Further, the magnetic field fluctuation of the surrounding environment may affect the magnetic field of a predetermined pattern formed by the magnetic field generating means, which makes stable traveling impossible.

Further, it has not been possible to convey a cargo, such as a floppy disk, which is unfavorable to magnetism due to the influence of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means. That is, in the conventional magnetic levitation transfer device in which magnetic field leakage from the magnetic field generating means laid on a flat track is large in the vicinity of the track, there is a drawback in that the operating environment of the device and the material of the cargo are limited. there were.

Therefore, in the present invention, the above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated, and the leakage magnetic flux around the track of the magnetic field generating means is made extremely small.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic levitation transfer device that eliminates restrictions on the environment in which the device is used and the material of the cargo and can always obtain a stable levitation state.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention of claim 1, a magnetic field generating means is laid along a path and forms a magnetic field of a predetermined pattern in a direction orthogonal to the path. A high-temperature superconductor element for holding a track having a magnetic shield arranged so as to substantially surround the magnetic field generating means along this path, and holding a magnetic field of a predetermined pattern formed by the magnetic field generating means by a pinning effect. Is disposed so as to face the magnetic field generating means laid on the track, and is provided in the vicinity of the track with a transporting vehicle having a loading portion for the transported object,
Propulsion means for generating a moving magnetic field to apply a propulsive force to the carrier without contacting the track is provided. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the magnetic levitation transport apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the magnetic shield portion forming the track is made of a ferromagnetic material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the magnetic levitation transport apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the magnetic shield portion forming the track has a cutout portion along the track, and the transport vehicle is magnetic. It is characterized in that the high-temperature superconductor element located inside the shield portion and the carrying portion on the outside of the magnetic shield portion are coupled via the cutout portion of the magnetic shield portion.

[0012]

With the above-mentioned structure, the high temperature superconducting element mounted on the carrier holds the magnetic field of a predetermined pattern by the pinning effect, and the magnetism generating means provided on the track is directed to the traveling direction of the carrier. By forming a magnetic field with a uniform magnetic flux distribution, a stable levitation force and guide force are applied to the carrier. Then, by operating the propulsion means in a state where the carrier vehicle is levitating, a propulsive force can be applied to the carrier vehicle, and the carrier vehicle levitates along the track path. When the magnetic path of the magnetic field generating means provided on the track passes through the magnetic shield portion, the magnetic flux leaking to the outside of the magnetic shield portion becomes extremely small. Therefore, magnetic dust is less likely to adhere.

When the magnetic shield is made of a ferromagnetic material, its magnetic resistance is weak, so that the magnetic flux of the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generating means passes through the inside of the magnetic shield, so that the leakage of the magnetic flux around the track is extremely small. In addition, the magnetic field around the surface of the magnetic field generating means becomes weaker, and a stable levitation force and guide force can be given to the carrier.

Further, the magnetic shield portion has a notch portion along the track, and the transport vehicle has a high temperature superconductor element located inside the magnetic shield portion and a portion for mounting a transported article located outside the magnetic shield portion. Since the object is located outside the magnetic shield because the two are coupled via the notch, the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means is shielded by the magnetic shield, and the magnetic field affects the object. It becomes possible to transport even materials that dislike magnetism.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partial oblique view of a magnetic levitation transport apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a track 3 is provided on a base 2 on which the magnetic levitation transport device 1 is mounted, along a route along which a transport vehicle 10 floats.

The track 3 is formed of a permanent magnet 5 which is a magnetic field generating means for forming a magnetic field in a predetermined pattern, and a ferromagnetic member such as iron provided along the path of the track 3 so as to surround the permanent magnet 5. And magnetic shields 4a and 4b. The permanent magnets 5 form a magnetic field in a predetermined pattern in a direction orthogonal to the path of the track 3, and a plurality of permanent magnets 5 are laid along the path of the track 3.

In the present embodiment, the permanent magnets 5 are each formed in a quadrangle and are arranged in four rows along the path of the track 3 with no gaps. The central two rows are the upper surface in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the track 3. To the S pole, and the outer two rows are arranged so that the upper surface becomes the N pole. Further, a part of the track 3 is provided with a pinning station (not shown) connected to the track 3. This pinning station is for pinning the magnetic flux to the high temperature superconductor, and is composed of the permanent magnets 5 and the spacers made of a non-magnetic material arranged in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, the linear induction motor stator 6 and the track 3 which are installed below the track 3 and have the function of fixing the track 3 and giving a traveling force to the carrier 10 are supported, and the height of each permanent magnet 5 is increased. A pedestal 7 for adjusting the height is fixed to the base 2.

Here, for example, the above-mentioned magnetic shield portion 4a has an inverted L-shape, and the permanent magnet 5 is sandwiched from both sides and fixed to the side surface of the linear induction motor stator 6. The magnetic shield 4b has a groove shape, and is arranged in a place where the linear induction motor stator 6 does not exist so as to surround the permanent magnet. In this way, the permanent magnet 5 is surrounded by the magnetic shields 4a and 4b and the linear induction motor stator 6, respectively. On the other hand, a sensor 8 for detecting the presence or absence of the transport vehicle 3 is fixed to the base 1 via an L-shaped metal fitting 9 near the linear induction motor stator 6. Here, the carrier 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the track in the state where the carrier vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention floats on the track.

In FIG. 2, the carrier 10 is located inside the magnetic shields 4a and 4b forming the track 3, and houses the high temperature superconductor 21 which is a high temperature superconducting element so as to face the permanent magnet 5 of the track 3. A non-magnetic, non-conductive container 22 having a heat insulating structure and a mounting portion 20 which is located outside the magnetic shielding portion 4 and on which a load is placed are joined to each other via a notch portion 23 provided along a trajectory path. It is configured. The container 22 has an injection port (not shown) for injecting liquid nitrogen N to cool the high temperature superconductor 21 and maintain the superconducting state.

The levitation traveling of the magnetic levitation transfer apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. The magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet 5 laid on the track 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the track in FIG.

The strength of the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnets 5 laid on the track 3 is within a range that exhibits a pinning effect above the lower critical magnetic field, and the magnetic field is the magnetic shield part forming the track 3. Since the magnetic resistances of 4a and 4b are small, they pass through the inside. The magnetic field inside the magnetic shields 4a and 4b becomes like a magnetic flux line 24 shown in FIG. 3 and forms a magnetic field having the same predetermined pattern in the traveling direction.

First, the high-temperature superconductor 21 mounted on the carrier 3 is placed in the pinning station connected to the track 3 in the normal conducting state. Here, also in the pinning station, a magnetic flux is formed like the magnetic flux curve 24 shown in FIG.

At this time, since the high temperature superconductor 21 is in the normal conducting state, the magnetic field having a predetermined pattern generated from the permanent magnet 5 passes through the high temperature superconductor 21. In this state, high temperature superconductor 2
1 is cooled by liquid nitrogen and transformed into a superconducting state. Then, the magnetic flux having a predetermined pattern is pinned in the high-temperature superconductor 21, and the carrier 10 floats on the track. The linear induction motor stator 6 is connected to an inverter device (not shown), and the sensor 8 is connected to a controller (not shown). The controller controls the output of the corresponding inverter device based on the signal from the corresponding sensor each time the start command and the stop command are given, and the stator winding (not shown) of the linear induction motor stator 6 is controlled by the output of the inverter device. Excitation is performed at a predetermined frequency, and acceleration / deceleration and stop control of the transport vehicle 10 are performed.

By controlling the linear induction motor stator 6 as described above, the linear induction motor stator 6 generates a moving magnetic field. When the moving magnetic field is generated, a current is induced in the high-temperature superconductor 21 mounted on the carrier 10 in a direction of canceling the moving magnetic field, and the electromagnetic force due to the interaction between the induced current and the moving magnetic field causes a propulsive force on the carrier 10. give.

Further, since a magnetic field having a predetermined pattern is held inside the high-temperature superconductor 21 mounted on the transport vehicle 10 by the pinning effect, the magnetic field having the predetermined pattern and the permanent magnet laid on the track 3 are held. A repulsive force with respect to the magnetic field generated from 5 causes a guide force to follow the track 3 with respect to the carrier 10.

As a result, in this embodiment, by surrounding the permanent magnet 5 laid on the track 3 with the magnetic shield portions 4a and 4b, the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet 5 is outward from the magnetic shield portions 4a and 4b. Is less likely to be emitted, and the leakage of the magnetic flux around the track can be extremely reduced. Therefore, magnetic dust from the periphery of the track will not be attached, and the action of the permanent magnet 5 will not be magnetically disturbed.
Stable running of the carrier vehicle 10 is guaranteed.

Further, by placing the load of the carrier 10 on the outside of the magnetic shields 4a and 4b surrounding the permanent magnet 5 with the mounting portion 20 on the load, the load is not affected by the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet 5. Therefore, it becomes possible to carry an article that dislikes magnetism, such as a floppy disk. Also, the magnetic carrier device 1 can be installed at a place adjacent to an article that dislikes magnetism. That is, orbit 3
Since the leakage of magnetic flux to the surroundings is extremely small, there are no restrictions on the operating environment of the device and the material of the cargo.

Further, the permanent magnet 5 laid on the track 3 is arranged so that its surface has different poles in the direction orthogonal to the path of the track 3, and the magnetic shield 4a surrounding the permanent magnet 5 is provided.
By making 4b iron, the magnetic resistance of iron is weak, so that the magnetic path of the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet 5 is the magnetic shield portions 4a, 4
Since it passes through the inside of b and flows into the permanent magnet 5 again, a nonuniform and strong magnetic field is generated in the vicinity of the surface of the permanent magnet 5. Therefore, the levitation force / guide force generated in the high-temperature superconductor 21 housed in the transport vehicle 10 can be enhanced, and a more stable levitation state can be maintained.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the magnetic shields 4a and 4b are made of iron and have an angular shape. However, this does not limit the material and shape of the magnetic shields 4a and 4b, and the material is a ferromagnetic material. Any shape may be used as long as it does not leak the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet 5 to the periphery of the track.

Further, the shape of the carrier 10 and the positional relationship of the track 3 are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment.
That is, in the above-described embodiment, the cutout portion 23 of the magnetic shield portions 4a and 4b is located at the center of the upper portion thereof, but this does not limit the position of the cutout portion 23, and the high temperature in which the transport vehicle 10 is stored. The high temperature superconductor 21 is arranged at a position where the container 22 of the superconductor 21 is located inside the magnetic shield portions 4a and 4b and faces the permanent magnet 5 laid on the track 3, and the load carrying portion 20 of the carrier 10 is magnetic. Any shape may be used as long as it is located outside the shielding portions 4a and 4b and is connected to the container 22 through the cutout portion 23.

For example, the positions of the notches 23 of the magnetic shields 4a and 4b and the mounting positions of the permanent magnets 5 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 can be variously changed depending on the shape of the carrier 10. It will be possible. Here, FIG. 5, FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic levitation transport device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a magnetic levitation transfer device that uses the pinning effect of a high-temperature superconductor to levitate a transfer vehicle, the magnetic flux generating means installed around the track is surrounded by a magnetic shield, so that the leakage flux around the track is extremely high. The size can be reduced, and restrictions on the use environment of the device and the material of the cargo can be eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic levitation transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the guided vehicle and the track in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an orbit showing a magnetic path generated by the magnetic field generating means in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an orbit showing a magnetic path generated from a magnetic field generating means in a conventional magnetic levitation transport device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic levitation transport device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic levitation transport device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic levitation transport device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magnetic levitation conveyance apparatus 3 ... Orbit 4a, 4b ... Magnetic shielding part 5 ... Permanent magnet 6 ... Linear induction motor stator 8 ... Sensor 10 ... Conveying vehicle 20 ... Mounting part 21 ... High temperature superconductor 22 ... Container 23 ... Notch Part 24 ... Magnetic flux line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic field generator that is laid along a path and that forms a magnetic field of a predetermined pattern in a direction orthogonal to the path, and a magnet that is arranged so as to substantially surround the magnetic field generator along the path. A track provided with a shield portion, a high-temperature superconductor element that holds the magnetic field of the predetermined pattern formed by the magnetic field generating means by a pinning effect is arranged facing the magnetic field generating means of the track, And a propulsion unit that is provided close to the track and that generates a moving magnetic field and applies a propulsive force to the car without contacting the track. Characteristic magnetic levitation transport device. 2. The magnetic levitation transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic shield portion of the track is made of a ferromagnetic material. 3. The magnetic shield part of the track has a notch part along the track, and the high temperature superconductor element located inside the magnetic shield part and the outside of the magnetic shield part in the transport vehicle. 2. The magnetic levitation transport device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion located is coupled to the mounting portion via the cutout portion.