Matrix Electromagnetic-Suspension System for Transportation Vehicles

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a matrix electromagnetic-suspension system attachable to transportation vehicles. The system comprises a plurality of electromagnetic-suspension modules, each module comprises: an armature; a coil wound on the armature; an adjustable power source connected to the coil, configured to control the intensity of a first magnetic field; and two permanent magnets disposed in contact with the armature, by means of opposite poles, which generate a second magnetic field. The plurality of modules are disposed in a matrix which ensures that the adjacent poles of the permanent magnets of adjacent modules have the same polarity.

Claims

1. A matrix electromagnetic-suspension system attachable to a transportation vehicle comprising a plurality of electromagnetic-suspension modules, wherein each of the plurality of electromagnetic-suspension modules comprises: an armature; at least one coil wound on the armature; an adjustable power source connected to the at least one coil, configured to control an intensity of a first magnetic field; two permanent magnets disposed in contact with the armature, by means of opposite poles, which generate a second magnetic field; a guide structure made of ferromagnetic material; and the transportation vehicle, disposed coupled with the plurality of electromagnetic suspension modules, configured to move under the guide structure; wherein the plurality of electromagnetic-suspension modules are disposed in a matrix which ensures that adjacent poles of the two permanent magnets of adjacent electromagnetic -suspension modules have a same polarity; and wherein the adjustable power source is configured to provide a value of the first magnetic field that, in combination with the second magnetic field, provides a magnetic attraction force of the transportation vehicle towards the guide structure that compensates for a weight of the transportation vehicle.

2. (canceled)

3. The matrix electromagnetic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure is a tubular structure configured to enable the transportation vehicle to move inside the tubular structure.

4. The matrix electromagnetic-suspension system according to claim 3. wherein the tubular structure comprises a controlled low pressure atmosphere therein.

5. The matrix electromagnetic-suspension system according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling circuit configured to reduce the temperature between the at least one coil and the two permanent magnets of each the plurality of electromagnetic-suspension modules.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] To complete the description of the disclosure, and for the purpose of helping to make the features thereof more readily understandable, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included wherein, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following figures have been represented:

[0022] FIG. 1 represents a unitary levitation module, according to one of the embodiments of the disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 2 represents two unitary modules and the magnetic field lines that are generated;

[0024] FIG. 3 represents the advantageous association of two unitary modules in proximity and the resulting magnetic field lines; and

[0025] FIG. 4 represents a matrix of unitary magnetic levitation modules, according to one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present disclosure provides an electromagnetic-suspension system for high-speed transportation vehicles that levitate on a guide structure. It comprises a smart adjustment system wherein, by means of electromagnets, it controls the magnetic flux generated by a particular disposition of permanent magnets embedded in a magnetic circuit, wherein the disposition of permanent magnets takes advantage of the intrinsic qualities of said magnets to provide a magnetic field source as a force without energy cost to cause a certain mass (the transportation vehicle) to levitate in the vicinity of a ferromagnetic material.

[0027] It is known that the magnetic field generated by a single magnet closes around the magnet itself between the faces with different polarity, which causes a portion of the flux that the magnet could potentially generate to be lost when it closes on itself in the so-called dispersion flux. Instead, the system of the present disclosure minimises this dispersion flux by using a configuration based on unitary modules 11 of two permanent magnets, a coil and an armature, wherein the magnets are assembled ensuring that the poles on the armature are opposite, so that the field is channelled between them.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows this configuration, wherein a first magnet 1 and a second magnet 2 are disposed oriented with reverse polarity on an armature 3, such that the south face 4 of the first magnet 1 and the north face 6 of the second magnet 2 are in direct contact with the surface of the armature 3. Equivalently, in another embodiment not shown, the magnets are configured in reverse with the same result, i.e. the north face of the first magnet 1 and the south face of the second magnet 2 in direct contact with the surface of the armature 3. The magnetic circuit is completed with the electromagnet 7, made up of a winding 8 around the armature 3, such that during the actuation thereof (by means of the passage of current through the turns of the coil 8) a magnetic field is induced in the direction of the magnetic flux ϕ naturally generated by the disposition of the magnets (1, 2), the orientation and intensity thereof being adjustable by controlling the amount of electric current i(t) supplied in the winding from a power source 13 v(t), so that it is able to support or oppose said magnetic flux ϕ (15) generated by the permanent magnets. The coil wound on the armature enables control of the flux that is channelled in the direction of the magnets. If the coil is excited in the direction of the flux of the magnets, the flux is favoured, otherwise, the magnetic flux is reduced.

[0029] The magnetic suspension system of the present disclosure is preferably on-board the transportation vehicle, such that its weight 12 can be compensated by the sum of magnetic forces 9 generated by the magnets 1, 2 and the electromagnet 7, so that the vehicle moves magnetically suspended (without mechanical contact), in a controlled manner, at a predetermined distance 14 from a guide structure 10 made of ferromagnetic material. The guide structure is of the open rail type in one of the embodiments, but according to another of the embodiments of the disclosure, the guide structure is integrated into a transportation tube with low pressure conditions of the Hyperloop type.

[0030] The configuration of the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, achieves a highly efficient system that uncouples the electromagnet 7 and the permanent magnets 1, 2, but that takes full advantage of the passive force of said permanent magnets by directing and adjusting the magnetic flux with minimal consumption. In addition, this distribution minimises the problems of thermal dissipation, especially present in low pressure environments, so that it is advantageous in Hyperloop-type transportation systems, developed to move transportation vehicles inside a closed tube with low pressure conditions.

[0031] This disposition of the elements described and represented in FIG. 1, has various advantages, on the one hand, the open disposition of magnets and armature facilitates assembly and allows for a larger surface on which to perform the fastenings of the transportation vehicle to the structure. On the other hand, it facilitates access to the entire geometry of the electromagnet 7, also enabling, in one of the embodiments of the disclosure, the installation of a cooling system (not represented in the FIGS.) that reduces the increase in temperature by conduction between coil 8 and permanent magnet 1, 2 with respect to the configurations known in the state of the art wherein the electromagnet is around the permanent magnet. This is especially relevant considering that some of the most powerful magnets, such as grade 52 Neodymium magnets, have a low maximum working temperature (between 60 and 150° C.) so that an excessive temperature results in a detriment of the useful life of the material due to permanent loss of strength. Regarding the problem of scalability described above, which affects the known solutions of the state of the art by increasing the consumption and dimensions of the components in an inefficient manner, the present disclosure solves it by combining unitary modules such as those described in FIG. 1 to provide a fully scalable magnetic suspension system.

[0032] FIG. 2 represents two unitary modules 11, configured to be one another's mirror image, and the magnetic field lines they generate. One of the main effects of the present disclosure is produced by bringing the modules 11 closer until almost completely reducing the space between them, as FIG. 3 shows, the redirection of the magnetic flux is optimised and the dispersion flow is minimised. In this way, the magnetic suspension system thus configured achieves greater efficiency in the use of the magnetic force, which translates into lower consumption. The disposition of the modules guarantees that the adjacent poles of the permanent magnets have the same polarity. Thus, in FIG. 3 the two permanent magnets that are in proximity are disposed with the north pole (N) contacting the respective armatures. If an additional module were added, both to the left and to the right of the two modules represented, the permanent magnet disposed in proximity to those already represented, would be configured with its south pole (S) in contact with its armature. In this way the matrix can be scaled indefinitely in any direction.

[0033] FIG. 4, represents an array of unitary modules 11 like the previous ones, disposed in various directions, thus achieving that the force of the assembly is greater than the sum of the forces independently generated by the elements. When scaled, the resulting modular electromagnetic suspension system can be compared to a Halbach permanent magnet layout but in this case the force empowered by the array can be adjusted, due to the electromagnets, as in the case of an isolated module. The ability to act on each unitary module makes it possible to compensate for defects associated with the manufacturing or the nature of the materials (such as different degrees of magnetisation, resistance of the windings or inductances), making it possible, therefore, to reach operating points close to the optimum in each of the modules 11, with the only restriction of its mechanical attachment. In this way, the consumption for a levitation point close to the optimum of the system tends to 0.

[0034] The application of this configuration to a magnetic levitation vehicle makes it possible to have scaled force distributions that can be oriented and compensated taking advantage of the structure of the vehicle and the infrastructure, enabling not only the mass of the vehicle to levitate, but also the control thereof at the same time that disturbances associated with the internal elements of the vehicle or infrastructure defects are absorbed.

[0035] The present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations may be carried out by those skilled in the art based on the present description.