US3823672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed ground transportation systems
Assignee: Tracked Hovercraft Ltd
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Filing: 1972-07-07
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-07-07
Abstract
Abstract In a transportation system comprising a prepared track and a vehicle having levitation means such as an air cushion for supporting the vehicle above the track, roll control of the vehicle is effected by on or more pairs of electromagnets cooperating with magnetic material extending along the track. The magnets are normally energised so as to exert a substantially constant downward force in opposition to but less than upward forces exerted by the levitation means, and means are provided responsive to forces exerted on the vehicle tending to produce a rolling movement thereof for controlling the energisation of the electromagnets so that they act differentially to counteract a rolling movement of the vehicle. Further pairs of magnets comparably controlled may be provided to guide the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 T Fellows
- 👤 D Garstin
- 👤 M Charity
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/02; B60V3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A transportation system comprising a prepared track and a vehicle for operation therealong, levitation means being provided to support the vehicle above the track, in which at least one pair of laterally spaced controllable electromagnets is carried by the vehicle to co-operate with correspondingly spaced magnetic members extending along the track and adapted in operation to produce forces acting in opposition to forces produced by the levitation means supporting the vehicle, to counteract rolling movements of the vehicle, and in which at least one further pair of controllable electromagnets is carried by the vehicle for magnetic co-operation with magnetic members extending along the track and adapted in operation to produce on the vehicle opposed and generally horizontal forces to guide the vehicle relative to the track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transportation system comprising a prepared track and a vehicle for operation therealong, levitation means being provided to support the vehicle above the track, in which at least one pair of laterally spaced controllable electromagnets is carried by the vehicle to co-operate with correspondingly spaced magnetic members extending along the track and adapted in operation to produce forces acting in opposition to forces produced by the levitation means supporting the vehicle, to counteract rolling movements of the vehicle, and in which at least one further pair of controllable electromagnets is carried by the vehicle for magnetic co-operation with magnetic members extending along the track and adapted in operation to produce on the vehicle opposed and generally horizontal forces to guide the vehicle relative to the track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 in which the magnets for counteracting rolling movements of the vehicle are normally arranged to exert a substantially constant force acting in opposition to the forces produced by the levitation means to support the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 in which control means are provided operative to vary the forces individually exerted by the magnets for counteracting rolling movements of the vehicle to combat a rolling movement thereof whilst maintaining the total forces exerted by said magnets sustantially constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 in which at least two pairs of magnets are provided for counteracting rolling movements of the vehicle, the pairs being longitudinally spaced with respect to the vehicle and controllable so as to exert on the vehicle forces to combat pitch or heave thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A transportation system comprising a prepared track and a vehicle for operation therealong, the vehicle being provided with air cushion means to support the vehicle above the track, in which at least two pairs of laterally spaced electro-magnets are carried by the vehicle for magnetic co-operation with magnetic material extending along the track, means being provided normally to maintain the electro-magnets energised so as to exert a substantially constAnt downward force in opposition to but less than upward forces exerted by the air cushion means, there also being provided means responsive to forces exerted on the vehicle tending to produce a rolling movement thereof for controlling the energisation of each electromagnet of the said pair of electromagnets to occasion a variation in the forces exerted by the said magnets so that they act differentially to counteract a rolling movement of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
A transportation system comprising a prepared track and a vehicle for operation therealong, the vehicle being provided with air cushion means to support the vehicle above the track, in which at least two pairs of laterally spaced electro-magnets are carried by the vehicle for magnetic co-operation with magnetic material extending along the track, means being provided normally to maintain the electro-magnets energised so as to exert a substantially constAnt downward force in opposition to but less than upward forces exerted by the air cushion means, there also being provided means responsive to forces exerted on the vehicle tending to produce a rolling movement thereof for controlling the energisation of each electromagnet of the said pair of electromagnets to occasion a variation in the forces exerted by the said magnets so that they act differentially to counteract a rolling movement of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 5 in which the control means are operative whilst varying the forces exerted by the magnets to counteract roll, to maintain the total forces exerted thereby substantially constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 5 in which the air cushion means comprise at least one air cushion pad and means for forming and maintaining a cushion of pressurised air between the pad and the track, including suspension means connecting the pad to the vehicle body, the suspension means being capable of transmitting rolling moments between the pad and the vehicle body, the said pairs of electromagnets being carried by the pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 5 including suspension means connecting the said pairs of electromagnets to the vehicle body, the said suspension means being operative to transmit roll counteracting forces generated by the electromagnets to the vehicle body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A transportation system as claimed in claim 5 including at least two further pairs of electromagnets carried by the vehicle for magnetic co-operation with magnetic material extending along the track, the said further pairs of electromagnets being so arranged as, when energised, to produce on the vehicle opposed and generally horizontal forces, and means for controllably energising the magnets to produce a centralising force on the vehicle in the event of it moving laterally from a central position relative to the track.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |