Title:
VEHICLE GUIDANCE AND SWITCHING VIA MAGNETIC FORCES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1999033691
Kind Code:
A9
Abstract:
A system for guidance and/or switching of a vehicle (100) or other object comprises a guideway (110), a guide plate (108) that moves along the guideway (110), and a magnetic field source that induces a magnetic force between the guide plate (108) and at least a portion of the guideway (110) over which the guide plate (108) is moving. The guide plate (108) is attached to the vehicle (100) or coupled to its steering systems. The magnetic force centers the guide plate (108) along the guideways (110) by opposing any lateral deviation from center. The magnetic field source is a permanent magnet, an electromagnet (including a superconducting magnet) or any other known magnetic field source. It is preferably included in, or forms part of, the guide plate (108). Likewise, the guide rail preferably comprises ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, i.e., a material that forms a temporary magnet in the presence of the magnetic field of the source. Thus, for example, one aspect of the invention provides a system of vehicle guidance in which the guide plate (108) comprises an arrangement of permanent magnets that slide over a ferromagnetic, e.g., steel, guideway rail.
Inventors:
THORNTON RICHARD D
CLARK TRACY M
BUSHKO DARIUSZ A
CLARK TRACY M
BUSHKO DARIUSZ A
Application Number:
PCT/US1998/027401
Publication Date:
March 02, 2000
Filing Date:
December 23, 1998
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MAGNEMOTION INC (US)
International Classes:
B60L13/00; B60L13/03; B60L13/06; B61B13/08; (IPC1-7): B61B13/08; B60L13/04; B60L13/10; G05G1/00
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