FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a levitation system for transport vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic track system for levitation vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Levitation vehicles utilizing permanent magnets or electromagnets for levitation by magnetic field are becoming increasingly popular for use in passenger and freight transport systems. Levitating vehicle system and hyper-loop system are a mode of transport that provide high-speed inter-city travel by removing all energy-consuming restrains.

With a bogie or a carrier of a levitation vehicle held at a set distance with respect to a magnetic track, levitation vehicles moves without contacting a support surface of the magnetic track. Thus, friction and vibration problems encountered due to surface irregularities are minimized. In this regard contact-less magnetic track design is of crucial importance. The magnetic track needs to carry load of the levitation vehicle and provide stability to the levitation system. Stability of carrier of the levitation vehicle is dependent upon various aspects. One of the important aspects of stability is the rolling component. To compensate for rolling, a wider elevated track is required so that the carriers of the levitation vehicle could wrap around it. Requirement of additional width and need for stiffness of components translate directly to added cost in materials.

It is thus required that a guideway design that is low cost is used for bulk of a levitation vehicle. It is also desired that the design allows for an efficient and easy way of maintenance and timely inspection of the tracks to ensure safety of the levitation system.

Moreover, to ensure efficient running of the levitation vehicle, it is necessary that the magnetic track system provides infrastructure space for levitation components. Thus, a guideway design is that provides sufficient space for structural components necessary on the bogies, pods or carriers of the levitation vehicle for its smooth functioning is needed. Thus, there is a need for a wide elevated track system that can be laid down without incurring the higher cost and without compromising on stability and stiffness.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A general objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetic track system that is wide and provides space for structural components of the levitation vehicle.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide support for levitation system, braking system, and propulsion system, where propulsion system utilises any of doublesided Linear Induction Motor (LIM), single sided LIM, or Linear Synchronous Motors (LSM) mechanisms.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetic track system that provides material cost saving.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetic track system that offers stability to the levitation vehicle.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetic track system that reduces rolling of the levitation vehicle so as to minimize rotation of the levitation vehicle along an axis from front to rear of the levitating vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a magnetic track system for levitation vehicles, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one aspect, the magnetic track system for levitating vehicles may comprise two structural members separated from each other by a predefined distance. The two structural members may be fixed with two top plates by an inner portion of each top plate being fixed on top of each of the two structural members. An outer portion of each of the two top plates may be used to mount a magnetic levitation track. A T-beam may be positioned between the two structural members. The T-beam may be utilised by the levitation vehicle for propulsion and braking.

In another aspect, a magnetic separator may be positioned between each of the two magnetic levitation tracks and the outer portion of each of the two top plates. The two magnetic separators may prevent leakage of magnetic flux to the two structural members.

In another aspect, at least two structural members and the T-beam may be mounted on a block.

In another aspect, the T-beam may be made of Aluminium or Aluminium alloy.

In another aspect, the T-beam may be made of a plurality of flat plates of Aluminium or Aluminium alloy. The flat plates may be directly mounted over the top plates.

In another aspect, the two structural members may be rectangular beams.

In another aspect, the two structural members may be made using one of I, L, H, U, and C shaped sections.

In another aspect, the two structural members may be supported using one or more of ribs, plates, rods, re-bars, tubes, and pipes for providing stiffness during downward bending, lateral bending, and torsion.

In another aspect, the two magnetic separators may be made of one of magnetic permeable material selected from a group consisting of ferrous metal, ferrous alloy, aluminum alloy, nickel alloy, ferritic steel, austenitic steel, martensite steel, polyamide, polycarbonate, and poly ethene.

In another aspect, the two magnetic separators may be made of a polymer type material including polyamide, polycarbonate, and polyethene. In another aspect, the two magnetic separators may be made using a magnetic permeable material including oxides, nitrides, carbides, or carbonitrides of Magnesium, Aluminum, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Iron.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used to provide further understanding of the present invention. Such accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention which are used to describe the principles of the present invention. The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this invention are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates static structural simulation results for load case 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4(a) depicts a plot of total deformation observed in the magnetic track system for load case 1 and Fig. 4(b) depicts a plot of equivalent (von-mises) stress observed in the magnetic track system for load case 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates static structural simulation result for load case 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6(a) depicts a plot of total deformation observed in the magnetic track system for load case 2 and Fig. 6(b) depicts a plot of equivalent (von-mises) stress observed in the magnetic track system for load case 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates tabularised details of ratio of effective mass to total mass obtained through simulations for determining various frequencies for the magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 illustrates a plot of transverse bending in the magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present invention relates to a magnetic track system for levitation vehicles. Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic track system may comprise a block 102 for mounting a T-beam 104 in an inverted manner. A vertical arm of the T-beam 104 may provide a surface area that a levitation vehicle can use for propulsion and braking. The magnetic track system may further comprise two structural members 106-1, 106-2. The two structural members 106-1, 106-2 take flexural load of the levitation vehicle including both dead load and moving boggy load. The two structural members 106-1, 106-2 may be separated from each other by a predefined distance in a range of 300mm to 2000mm, preferably 500mm. Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic track system 202 may include a T-beam 204 (similar to the T-beam 104) and two structural members 206-1, 206-2 (similar to the two structural members 106-1, 106-2). As illustrated in Fig. 2, a top portion of the two structural members 206-1, 206-2 may be fixed with an inner portion of the two top plates 208-1, 208-2. The two top plates 208-1, 208-2 may act as an elongated cantilever beam to endure bending load of the levitation vehicle. The top plates 208-1, 208-2 allow transfer of bending load of the levitation vehicle to the two structural members 206-1, 206-2 and subsequently to the block 204 and to ground. Connection of the two structural members 206-1, 206-2 with the two top plates 208-1, 208-2 eliminate need of installing extra supporting elements, such as a tubing to the structural members 206-1, 206-2. Hence, the bending load may be directly transferred to the ground through the structural members 206- 1, 206-2 without passing the load through tubular sections or an extra stiffness element, thereby saving cost of building the magnetic track system.

In one implementation, the T-beam 104, 204 may be made of Aluminium or Aluminium alloy. In another implementation, the T-beam 104, 204 may be made of a plurality of flat plates of Aluminium or Aluminium alloy, wherein the flat plates may be directly mounted over the top plates 208-1, 208-2.

Each of the two top plates 208-1, 208-2 may be used to mount two magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2. 210-1, 210-2The two magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2 may be mounted beneath an outer portion of the two top plates 208-1, 208-2, one magnetic levitation track beneath one top plate. The magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2 may be welded or fastened to the two top plates 208-1, 208-2. The magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2 may comprise electromagnets to provide lifting force to the levitation vehicle.

In one implementation, the two structural members 206-1, 206-2 may be present as rectangular beams. The rectangular beams may be of different dimensions such as 50 mm X 50 mm X 2 mm to 400 mm X 400 mm X 20 mm. Different dimensions may also include all combinations of width ranging from 50mm to 400mm, height ranging from 50mm to 400mm, and thickness ranging from 2mm to 20mm. The two top plates 208-1, 208-2 may be rectangular plates or square plates of different dimensions, preferably 220 mm X 10mm. An inner portion of each of the two top plates 208-1, 208-2 may be fixed over the two structural members 206-1, 206-2.

In another implementation, the two structural members 206-1, 206-2 may be made of I, L,

H, U, or C shaped sections. The structural members 206-1, 206-2 made with C shaped sections or U shaped sections may be fixed facing outwards, inwards, upwards, or downwards. Similarly, the structural members 206-1, 206-2 made with I shaped sections may be fixed horizontally or vertically. The structural members 206-1, 206-2 may be supported by ribs, plates, rods, re-bars, tubes, and pipes for providing stiffness during downward bending, lateral bending, and torsion in the two magnetic levitation tracks 210-

I, 210-2.

The magnetic track system 202 may comprise two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2. Each of the two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may be positioned between the two magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2 and an outer portion of each of the two top plates 208-1, 208- 2. The two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may separate magnetic domain of the two magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2 from the two structural members 206-1, 206-2. The two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may prevent leakage of magnetic flux of the two magnetic levitation tracks 210-1, 210-2 to the structural members 206-1, 206-2, thereby enabling efficient use of energy resources on boggy of the levitation vehicle. The magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may be of rectangular shape of different dimensions, such as 100mm X 3mm.

The two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may be made of an alloy of low or high magnetic permeability, such as ferrous metal, ferrous alloy, aluminum alloy, nickel alloy, ferritic steel, austenitic steel, and martensite steel. Further, the two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may be made of oxides, nitrides, carbides, carbonitrides of Magnesium, Aluminum, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Iron, or their combination. The two magnetic separators 212-1, 212-2 may also be made a magnetic permeable polymer type material like polyamide, polycarbonate, and polyethene.

In one implementation, performance of the magnetic track system under various load conditions was analysed through simulation. Fig. 3 illustrates static structural simulation result for load case 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Fig. 3, at point A, lateral force of 5000N was applied each at 4 points of plane symmetry of the magnetic track system. At point B, standard gravitational force was applied. A transverse force of 40000N (10000N each at 4 symmetry plane of point C) was applied. At point D, a fixed support was provided. Fig. 4(a) depicts a plot of total deformation observed in the magnetic track system for load case 1 and Fig. 4(b) depicts a plot of equivalent (von-mises) stress observed in the magnetic track system for load case 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates static structural simulation result for load case 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Fig. 5, at point A, transverse force of 15000N (3750N each at 4 symmetry plane of point A) was applied. At point B, standard gravitational force was applied. At point C, lateral force of 2500N was applied each at 4 points of plane symmetry of the magnetic track system. At point D, a fixed support was provided. Fig. 6(a) depicts a plot for total deformation observed in the magnetic track system for load case 2 and Fig. 6(b) depicts a plot for equivalent (von-mises) stress observed in the magnetic track system for load case 2.

Further, modal analysis was performed on the magnetic track system. Fig. 7 illustrates tabular data of ratio of effective mass to total mass obtained through simulations for determining various frequencies for the magnetic track system. Fig. 8 illustrates a plot for transverse bending in the magnetic track system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The plot illustrates total deformation and modal bending in y-direction at a frequency of 60.464 Hz.

The magnetic track system provides support for levitation, braking and propulsion systems. The magnetic track system supports propulsion of bogies of the levitation vehicle by various mechanisms such as single sided linear induction motor, double sided linear induction motor, linear synchronous motor. The magnetic track system is also suitable for various braking mechanisms such as eddy current braking, friction braking, regenerative braking using linear induction motor. The magnetic track system is further optimized for enduring huge structural mass, taking into account the space as well as various other requirements of the bogies of the levitation vehicle. The magnetic track system further reduces rolling (rotation) of the levitating vehicle along an axis from front to rear of the levitating vehicle.