US3837287A

US3837287A - Magnetic suspension utilizing an elongated coil

Info

Publication number: US3837287A
Application number: US00308714A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Lichtenberg
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1971-10-14
Filing date: 1972-11-22
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24
Also published as: GB1404861A; IT968840B; DE2151150A1; JPS4847010A; SU530633A3; DE2151150B2; FR2157448A5

Abstract

An electromagnetic suspension arrangement for electromagnetically supporting a body movable along a roadway such as for an electromagnetically suspended railway or the like is disclosed. The arrangement includes at least one elongated conductor coil mounted on the body and having a mid portion and respective end portions integral with and bent away from the mid portion. The mid portion includes two mutually adjacent, longitudinally extending conductor segments. A ferromagnetic rail is mounted on the roadway and disposed between the segments for coacting with the conductor coil to develop electromagnetic forces for suspending the body relative to the rail. If required, the suspension arrangement can also include subsidiary structure to provide lateral stabilization and additional lifting force.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Lichtenberg Sept. 24, 1974 [54] MAGNETIC SUSPENSION UTILIZING AN 3,717,103 2/ 1973 Guderjahn 104/148 SS ELONGATED COIL Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, in [75] Inventor" 22: chtenberg Erlangen Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Libman y Attorney, Agent, or FirmKenyon & Kenyon Reilly [73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Carr & Chapin Munchen, Germany 22 Filed: Nov. 22, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT An electromagnetic suspension arrangement for elec- [21] Appl' 3087l4 tromagnetically supporting a body movable along a Related US. Application Data a roadway such as for an electromagnetically suspended [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 296,813, Oct. 12, railway or the like is disclosed The arrangement 1972, abandoned. cludes at least one elongated conductor coil mounted on the body and having a mid portion and respective [30] Foreign Application Priority Data end portions integral with and bent away from the mid Oct. 14, 1971 Germany 2151150 portion- The mid Portion includes two mutually j cent, longitudinally extending conductor segments. A 52 US. Cl. 104/148 ss, 104/148 MS ferromagnetic rail is mounted on the roadway and [51 Int. Cl B6111 13/08 Posed between the segments for eeaeting with the [58] Field of Search 104/148 MS, 148 88; eenduetet eeil to develop electromagnetic forces for 30 10 suspending the body relative to the rail. If required,

the suspension arrangement can also include subsid- [56] References Cited iary structure to provide lateral stabilization and additional lifting force.

23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MAGNETIC SUSPENSION UTILIZING AN ELONGATED COIL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending US. Pat. application, Electromagnetic Suspension System, Ser. No. 296,813, filed on Oct. 12, 1972 and now abandoned.

The invention relates to an electromagnetic suspension arrangement for a body which is movable along a' ferromagnetic rail such as an electromagnetic suspension railway or the like.

Several systems which afford a wear-free magnetic suspension guidance of vehicles are known, particularly, in connection with track-bound rail traffic at high speed. In an electromagnetic supporting guidance arrangement, electromagnets through which direct current flows are disposed in rows on the conveyance. A ferromagnetic return-path rail is arranged with respect to the magnets on a roadway. The attraction force which the electromagnets exert on the return-path rail arranged above them is used to keep the vehicle in the suspended state. For lateral guidance, two further rows of electromagnets are arranged on the vehicle, and laterally thereto, ferromagnetic return-path rails are mounted on the roadway. In this configuration, the suspension system and the track guidance systems must be provided with expensive control arrangements for maintaining a given spacing between the electromagnets and the return-path rails.

In the electrodynamic supporting arrangements, a repelling force is produced for lifting the vehicle by opposing currents of two mutually parallel conductor loops. A primary loop is mounted on the vehicle through which current flows and which induces voltages in secondary short-circuit loops arranged one behind the other on the guide structure; these voltages drive constant currents at higher speeds. At very low speeds or when the conveyance is at standstill, suspension can no longer be achieved with this arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an electromagnetic supporting arrangement which, while simpler than known arrangements, is operative also when the vehicle is standing still.

The electromagnetic supporting arrangement of the invention electromagnetically supports a body movable along a roadway such as for an electromagnetically suspended railway or the like. It is a feature of the supporting arrangement of the invention to provide at least one elongated conductor coil mounted on the body. The conductor coil has a mid portion and respective end portions integral with and bent away from the mid portion; The mid portion includes two mutually adjacent, longitudinally extending conductor segments. Also, ferromagnetic rail means is mounted on the roadway and disposed between the segments for coacting with the conductor coil to develop electromagnetic forces for supporting the body relative to the rail means. The ferromagnetic rail means can be in the form of a ferromagnetic rail.

In this manner it is possible to achieve a stable position in two opposing directions with a single conductor coil without special control devices. If superconducting conductor coils are used, lift and track-guidance forces kll with self-stabilizing properties are produced without continuous supply of energy, that is, these forces are generated practically without loss.

According to another embodiment of the invention stabilization in one plane (stabilization in two dimensions) is achieved by providing two conductor coil arrangements displaced by The one conductor coil arrangement serves here to keep the vehicle in a stable suspension state downward and upward, and the other conductor coil serves for lateral stabilization, for example, to compensate for centrifugal and lateral forces in curves and straight sections of the line. The invention provides a substantial simplification over the electromagnetic supporting arrangements because control devices for the lifting and/or guidance forces are not required. In addition, a simpler system of conductor coils suffices for the height and lateral stabilization.

It is also possible to provide lateral stabilization as well as additional lifting force with the simplest possible components.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide such lateral stabilization and lift. This object is realized in an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the first-mentioned embodiment is provided with a ferromagnetic contoured member disposed in the magnetic field of the conductor coil and mounted on the body. The contoured member is positioned on the body with respect to the rail means so as to define therewith an air gap having a width as small as possible consistent with free movement of the body along the roadway whereby the contoured member and the rail means coact to laterally stabilize the body relative to the rail means and to develop lifting forces to augment the electromagnetic forces developed by the coaction of the rail means and the conductor coil.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, ferromagnetic return-path members corresponding to respective ones of the segments of the conductor coil can be provided. These segments have respective longitudinally extending outer side surfaces facing away from the ferromagnetic rail means and each of the return-path members is configured so as to surround at least one of the surfaces of the corresponding segment.

The lateral stabilization and additional lift can be achieved according to another alternate embodiment by configuring one of the return-path members of at least one of the segments so as to comprise first and second portions. The first portion is mounted on the body and the second portion is a ferromagnetic, raillike contoured member mounted on the raodway so as to define an air gap with the first portion whereby the contoured member and the first portion coact to laterally stabilize the body relative to the contoured member and to develop lifting forces to augment the electromagnetic forces developed by the coaction of the rail means and the conductor coil.

Common to both alternate embodiments for obtaining lateral stabilization and additional lift is that lateral stabilization of a supporting arrangement with a conductor loop is achieved by arranging a ferromagnetic contoured member in the magnetic field of the conductor loop. Thus, a magnetic suspension which is selfstabilizing in one plane is made possible with simple components.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as an electromagnetic supporting arrangement,

it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications may be made therein within the scope and the range of the claims. The invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages will be best understood from the following description and in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the electromagnetic suspension arrangement of the invention are shown in the following FIGS. described below. Similar or like components are designated by the same reference numeral in each FIG. in which they appear.

FIG. 1 is a perspective outline view of the electromagnetic supporting arrangement according to the invention. The view shows the disposition of a superconducting conductor coil and a ferromagnetic rail which conjointly define an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the invention wherein electromagnetic suspension is provided for upward and down ward deflections of the vehicle as well as for lateral displacements of the same.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, in a schematic perspective, two subsidiary embodiments of the invention wherein a ferromagnetic return-path rail is provided for the conductor coils. Also shown in these views, are rollers for providing lateral guidance.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view wherein the electromagnetic supporting arrangement of the invention is shown applied to a suspension railway. This view also illustrates an alternate embodiment for providing lateral stabilization as well as additional lifting force to augment the electromagnetic forces providing stabilization in elevation.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a pertinent portion of a railway which is supported from below by an electromagnetic supporting arrangement of the invention. The view shows another alternate embodiment for providing lateral stabilization and additional lifting force which augments stabilization in elevation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In FIG. I, an elongated superconducting conductor loop 1 is arranged on the body K to be moved and is bent at both ends. The conductor loop 1 has

terminals

2 and 3 and is provided with electrical and thermal insulation 4. The

terminals

2 and 3 are supplied with direct-current voltage. For the condition wherein current flows through the conductor loop 1, the conductor loop 1 is supported or repelled magnetically on or from the ferromagnetic armature rail 5, which is then situated between the long sides a and b of the conductor loop 1. The invention is based here on the consideration that the conductor loop and the rail act like a currentcarrying coil into which a ferromagnetic body is pulled and remains there in a stable position. If the conductor loop with current flowing through it is removed from the ferromagnetic armature rail, attraction forces occur perpendicular to the plane formed by the two long sides a, b of the conductor loop 1; these forces are directed upwardly and downwardly and, in a certain range, are approximately proportional to the excursion.

In the suspension system shown schematically in FIG. 2, a vehicle 6 is driven by a

linear motor

9,10. Two coils formed by conductor loops 1 are arranged on the underside of the vehicle body. Concrete foundations 7 are mounted on the roadway. As a support system, laminated ferromagnetic rails 5 are mounted on the foundation 7. The rails 5 are situated in the plane of symmetry of the coils for the condition wherein the vehicle 6 is in suspension, the vehicle 6 being considered weightless for the time being. If superconducting coils are used, a very strong magnetic field builds up in the coils and magnetizes the ferromagnetic rail 5. With deflection from the plane of symmetry by the weight of the vehicle, the conductor loops 1 of the coils drop to the extent that the magnetic forces produced hold the balance to the weight of the vehicle. The vehicle 6 is therefore supported by the magnetic forces.

The lateral guidance of the vehicle 6 is provided by a similarly configured system that is arranged so as to be disposed at an angle of rotation of relative to the suspension system. In the system for the lateral guidance, steel rails 5 are again disposed within magnet coils. The steel rails 5 are supported by fastening elements 8. In the event of a lateral displacement, each of the coils attempts to regain the equilibrium position in which the steel rails 5 are situated in the center of the coil. Also for lateral (y) deflection, corresponding guidance forces are thus produced.

It is advantageous to make the geometry of the conductor loops 1 and the steel rails 5 such that the forces produced in the event of a deflection are considerably larger in the direction of the coil axis than the forces which occur in the plane of the coils for a lateral displacement. For this purpose, in the support system and- /or the lateral guidance system, the ratio of the width of the rail 5 to the spacing (air gap) of a long side of a coil 1 is selected, for example, to be greater than 3 1. In this connection it is advantageous to make the conductor loop 1 adjustable, also in operation, by means of an adjusting device 13 on the side of the vehicle 6.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor loops 1 arranged at the vehicle are provided with ferromagnetic return-path bodies 11, which surround in part the two long sides a and b of the conductor loops. The required excitation power for the coils can thereby be reduced substantially. If superconducting coils are used, very small energy storage on the vehicle will suffice.

Whereas in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the return-path body 11, surrounds the long sides a, b, of the conductor loop from three sides, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 includes a return-path body that is arranged only at the two outer long sides of the conductor loop 1. This arrangement leads to lower transversal forces in the case of asymmetry. For the lateral guidance or for assuring a minimum spacing, for example, in the case of unusual operating conditions, sliding devices or rollers 12 which may optionally be made adjustable, are attached at the coil bodies or at the magnetic return path bodies. In railroads, in which the main load and therefore, the wear, is concentrated in the lifting system (as for example in suspension railroads), the lifting system formed by at least one conductor loop I and the rail 5 can be combined through a simple construction havingfew structural elements with guidance means in the form of a sliding system or a system of rollers 12 particularly adjustable rollers, for the purpose of lateral guidance. For adjusting the rollers suitable adjusting means can be provided as indicated in FIG. 4 with reference numeral 20.

In the electromagnetic supporting system of a suspension railway shown in FIG. 5, the ferromagnetic rails 5 are mounted on support brackets 8. At a vehicle 6, a ferromagnetic contour member is arranged in the magnetic field of the bent conductor loop I and is brought into such a relation to the ferromagnetic rail 5 that it is separated from the rail 5 by an air gap as small as possible. In this connection 1 the ferromagnetic profile member 20 is advantageously made to have the same width as the ferromagnetic rail 5 and is arranged symmetrically underneath the ferromagnetic rail 5. In addition to achieving lateral stabilization, the loadcarrying capacity of the supporting arrangement is thereby increased.

The contour member 20 is preferably arranged so that it can be adjusted in a guide 21 of the vehicle 6. The setting can be made permanent by a locking device 22 or can be made continuously adjustable during operation by means of an arrangement 23 for generating an air cushion. A minimum air gap between the ferromagnetic profile member 20 and the ferromagnetic rail 5 can be assured by rollers 24 or the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of an upright railway equipped with an electromagnetic supporting guidance system which includes the conductor loop 1 provided with a magnetic return member 11 comprising a first portion mounted on the body 6 and a second portion on the roadway. In order to obtain lateral stabilization, the second portion of the return member 11 is formed by a stationary, ferromagnetic rail-like contour member 25 which is mounted on brackets 8 of the roadbed. The ferromagnetic contour member 25 is advantageously arranged symmetrically with respect to two parts of the first portion of the return member 11.

In order to obtain the smallest possible air gap between the ferromagnetic contour member 25 and the vehicle 6 while at the same time retaining free movability, the first portion of the ferromagnetic return member 11 is adjustable via a locking device 22 or continuously adjustable by adjusting means in the form of a suspension guide such as an air cushion guide 23. The first portion of the return member 11 is guided on the conductor loop 1 for example, by roller guide means comprising rollers 26 on the rolling surfaces 27. Rollers 24 are provided to assure a minimum air gap. The rollers 24 guarantee that the air gaps will remain greater than a predetermined minimum value as the body 6 moves along the roadway.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic suspension arrangement for electromagnetically suspending a body movable along a roadway such as for an electromagnetically supported railway or the like, the arrangement comprising at least one elongated conductor coil mounted on the body for developing a magnetic field, said conductor coil having a mid portion and respective end portions integral with and bent away from said mid portion, said mid portion being two mutually adjacent, longitudinally extending conductor segments, and ferromagnetic rail means mounted on the roadway and disposed between said segments for coacting with said conductor coil to develop electromagnetic forces for suspending the body relative to said rail means.

2. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1, said conductor coil being a superconductive conductor coil.

3. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of 5 claim 1 comprising at least two additional coils of the same configuration as said elongated conductor coil, each of said additional elongated conductor coils being rotated through an angle of 90 with respect to said first-mentioned conductor coil and mounted on the body, said ferromagnetic rail means comprising a first ferromagnetic rail mounted on the roadway and disposed between said segments of said first-mentioned conductor coil, and at least two additional ferromagnetic rails mounted on the roadway and disposed between the mutually adjacent segments of said two additional conductor coils respectively to coact therewith to develop electromagnetic forces for laterally guiding the body.

4. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 3, all of said conductor coils being superconductive conductor coils.

5. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 wherein the body can deflect in upward and downward directions as well as belaterally displaced, said mid portion of said elongated conductor coil defining a coil plane, said coil having a coil axis extending perpendicular to said coil plane thereof, said ferromagnetic rail means and said conductor coil coacting to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said axis to counter the upward and downward deflections and to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said plane to counter the lateral displacements, said ferromagnetic rail means being a ferromagnetic rail disposed between said segments so as to define respective air gaps with respect thereto, said ferromagnetic rail having geometric dimensions selected relative to said air gaps such that said forces developed along said axis are substantially greater than said forces developed along said plane.

6. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 wherein the body can deflect in upward and downward directions as well as be laterally displaced, said mid portion of said elongated conductor coil defining a coil plane, said coil having a coil axis extending perpendicular to said coil plane thereof, said ferromagnetic rail means and said conductor coil coacting to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said axis to counter the upward and downward deflections and to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said plane to counter the lateral displacements, said ferromagnetic rail means being a ferromagnetic rail disposed between said segments so as to define respective air gaps with respect thereto, said ferromagnetic rail having a width dimension selected relative to the width dimension of said air gaps so as to provide a ratio of said rail width dimension'to said air gap width dimension that is greater than 3 to 1 whereby said forces developed along said axis are substantially greater than said forces developed along said plane.

7. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 comprising means for adjusting the position of said conductor coil on the body.

8. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 comprising ferromagnetic return-path members corresponding to respective ones of said segments of said conductor coil, said segments having respective longitudinally extending outer side surfaces facing away from said ferromagnetic rail means, each of said return-path members being configured so as to surround at least one of said surfaces of said corresponding segment.

9. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 for an electromagnetically suspended railway such as a suspension railway or the like comprising guidance means for guiding the body laterally.

10. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 9, said guidance means comprising rollers mounted on said conductor coil for contacting said ferromagnetic rail means to laterally guide the body.

11. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 10 comprising adjusting means for adjusting the rollers relative to said ferromagnetic rail means.

12. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 comprising a ferromagnetic contoured member disposed in the magnetic field of said contour coil and mounted on the body, said contoured member being positioned on the body with respect to said rail means so as to define therewith an air gap having a width as small as possible with free movement of the body along the roadway whereby said contoured member and said rail means coact to laterally stabilize the body relative to said rail means and to develop lifting forces to augment said electromagnetic forces developed by the coaction of said rail means and said conductor coil.

13. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 12 comprising adjusting means for adjusting the elevation of said contoured member relative to said rail means.

14. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 13, said adjusting means comprising means for generating an air pillow between said rail means and said contoured member for continuously adjusting said air gap as the body moves along the roadway.

15. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 14, said adjusting means including locking means for fixing the position of said contoured member.

16. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 14 comprising rollers arranged at said air gap for guiding said contoured member to assure that said air gap for guiding said contoured member to assure that said air gap remains greater than a predetermined minimum value as the body moves along the roadway.

17. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 8, one of said return-path members of at least one of said segments comprising first and second portions, said first portion being mounted on the body, said second portion being a ferromagnetic, rail-like contoured member mounted on the roadway so as to define an air gap with said first portion whereby said contoured member and said first portion coact to laterally stabilize the body relative to said contoured member and to develop lifting forces to augment said electromagnetic forces developed by the coaction of said rail means and said conductor coil.

18. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 17, said first portion comprising two parts separated from each other so as to define a longitudinally extending space therebetween for accommodating said contoured member therein in symmetrical arrangement with respect to said parts, said contoured member defining respective air gaps with said parts, said air gaps having a width as small as possible consistent with free movement of the body along the roadway.

19. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 17 comprising adjusting means for adjusting the elevation of said first portion relative to said contoured member.

20. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 19, said adjusting means comprising means for generating an air pillow between said first portion and said contoured member for continuously adjusting said air gap as the body moves along the roadway.

21. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 20, said adjusting means including locking means for fixing the position of said first portion.

22. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 20, comprising rollers arranged at each of said air gaps for guiding said first portion to assure that said air gaps remain greater than a predetermined minimum value as the body moves along the roadway.

23. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 20 comprising roller guide means disposed at the interface of said first portion and said conductor coil for guiding said first portion on said conductor coil in response to the action of said air pillow.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. h r Dated Sveptember 214', 97

Invehtor(s) Alfred Lichtenberg It is certified that etror appears in the above-identified patent I and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 2, line 51, change "raodway" to --roadw'ay In column 7 "1111e22; 'c1aim"12, change "as "possible with free movement to as possible consistent with free movemerit-- Signed and sealed this 10th day of December I 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL 'DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM po'wso (w'es) 1 v I I uscoMM-oc scan-Poo I I I 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I I9, O-SGQ -SJ,

Claims

3. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 comprising at least two additional coils of the same configuration as said elongated conductor coil, each of said additional elongated conductor coils being rotated through an angle of 90* with respect to said first-mentioned conductor coil and mounted on the body, said ferromagnetic rail means comprising a first ferromagnetic rail mounted on the roadway and disposed between said segments of said first-mentioned conductor coil, and at least two additional ferromagnetic rails mounted on the roadway and disposed between the mutually adjacent segments of said two additional conductor coils respectively to coact therewith to develop electromagnetic forces for laterally guiding the body.

5. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 wherein the body can deflect in upward and downward directions as well as be laterally displaced, said mid portion of said elongated conductor coil defining a coil plane, said coil having a coil axis extending perpendicular to said coil plane thereof, said ferromagnetic rail means and said conductor coil coacting to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said axis to counter the upward and downward deflections and to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said plane to counter the lateral displacements, said ferromagnetic rail means being a ferromagnetic rail disposed between said segments so as to define respective air gaps with respect thereto, said ferromagnetic rail having geometric dimensions selected relative to said air gaps such that said forces developEd along said axis are substantially greater than said forces developed along said plane.

6. The electromagnetic suspension arrangement of claim 1 wherein the body can deflect in upward and downward directions as well as be laterally displaced, said mid portion of said elongated conductor coil defining a coil plane, said coil having a coil axis extending perpendicular to said coil plane thereof, said ferromagnetic rail means and said conductor coil coacting to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said axis to counter the upward and downward deflections and to develop electromagnetic forces in the direction of said plane to counter the lateral displacements, said ferromagnetic rail means being a ferromagnetic rail disposed between said segments so as to define respective air gaps with respect thereto, said ferromagnetic rail having a width dimension selected relative to the width dimension of said air gaps so as to provide a ratio of said rail width dimension to said air gap width dimension that is greater than 3 to 1 whereby said forces developed along said axis are substantially greater than said forces developed along said plane.