United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

Johns on
US OO5402021 A
[ 1 1 ] Pa tent Number:
[ 45] Da te of Pa tent:
5, 402, 021
M a r. 28 , 1 9 9 5
[ 54] M AGNETIC PROPULS ION S YS TEM
[ 7 6 ] Inv entor: Howa rd R. Johns on, 1 440 Ha rding
Rd, B l a c k s burg , V a . 2406 0
[ 21 ] Ap p l . No. : 6 4, 9 3 0
[ 22] F il ed: M a y 24, 1 9 9 3
[ 51 ] Int. Cl . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B 6 5G 3 5/06 ; HOZK 41 /00
[ 52] US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 0/1 2; 3 1 0/1 52;
1 9 8 /6 1 9
[ 58 ] F iel d of S ea rc h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 0/1 2, 1 52, 46 ;
1 9 8 /6 1 9 , 8 05
[ 56 ] Ref erenc es Cited
U. S . PATENT DOCUM ENTS
4, 1 51 , 43 1 8 /1 9 7 9 Johns on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 0/1 2
4, 21 5, 3 3 0 6 /1 9 8 0 Ha rtma n 3 3 5/3 06
4, 8 7 7 , 9 8 3 1 0/1 9 8 9 Johns on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 0/1 2
OTHER PUB LICATIONS
Adv a nc es in Perma nent M a g netis m, p p . 44- 57 da te
unk nown.
S c ienti? c Americ a n, Ja n. 1 9 8 9 , p p . 9 0- 9 7 .
Introduc tion to M a g netic M a teria l s , p p . 1 29 1 3 5 da te
unk nown.
Ap p l ic a tions of M a g netis m, p p . 42- 47 da te unk nown.
Prima ry Ex a miner S tev en L. S tep ha n
As s is ta nt Ex a miner- Juds on H. Jones
Attorney, Ag ent, or F irm- B ea ma n & B ea ma n
[ 57 ] AB S TRACT
A ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem inc l uding a p l ura l ity of
s p ec i? c a l l y a rra ng ed p erma nent ma g nets a nd a ma g
netic v ehic l e p rop el l ed thereby a l ong a p a th de? ned by
the p erma nent ma g nets . The ma g netic v ehic l e whic h is
to be p rop el l ed inc l udes a rig idl y a tta c hed a rma ture
c omp ris ing s ev era l c urv ed ma g nets . The p rop ul s ion
s ys tem f urther inc l udes two p a ra l l el wa l l s of p erma nent
ma g nets a rra ng ed s o a s to de? ne the l a tera l s ides of a
v ehic l e p a th. Pref era bl y, the wa l l s a re identic a l to one
a nother ex c ep t tha t the p ol a rities of the ma g nets whic h
de? ne one wa l l a re op p os ite f rom the p ol a rities of the
c orres p onding ma g nets in the op p os ite wa l l . A ? rs t
wa l l , f or ex a mp l e, inc l udes a s eries of g enera l l y rec ta n
g ul a r ma g nets , ea c h ma g net a rra ng ed with a North- to
S outh a x is p ointing l ong itudina l l y down the wa l l in the
intended direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el . Ea c h of the rec ta n
g ul a r ma g nets is s ep a ra ted f rom the nex t s uc c es s iv e
rec ta ng ul a r ma g net by a thinner ma g net, whic h thinner
ma g net is a rra ng ed with its North- to- S outh a x is p oint
ing l a tera l l y towa rd the op p os ite wa l l a nd theref ore
p erp endic ul a r with res p ec t to the North- to- S outh a x is
of the rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets . The op p os ite ( or s ec ond)
wa l l inc l udes the s a me g enera l a rra ng ement of ma g nets ,
ex c ep t tha t the North- to- S outh a x is f or ea c h of the
g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets is in a direc tion op p os ite
f rom the direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el a nd the North- to
S outh a x is of the thinner ma g nets p oints a wa y f rom the
? rs t wa l l . In a ddition, the p rop ul s ion s ys tem inc l udes
s ev era l s p in a c c el era tors .
1 9 Cl a ims , 1 Dra wing S heet
W 28
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3 Q l " d 3 O~[ 1 O 3 0 y
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1 T 5 / 2o 28 / 20 22 I
21 8 N 28 N , 28 f > N 22f N 28
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5, 402, 021
M a r. 28 , 1 9 9 5 US . Pa tent
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5, 402, 021
1
M AGNETIC PROPULS ION S YS TEM
F IELD OF THE INV ENTION
The p res ent inv ention rel a tes to a ma g netic p rop ul
s ion s ys tem inc l uding a p l ura l ity of s p ec i? c a l l y a r
ra ng ed p erma nent ma g nets a nd a ma g netic v ehic l e p ro
p el l ed thereby a l ong a p a th de? ned by the p erma nent
ma g nets .
B ACKGROUND OF THE INV ENTION
The g enera tion of unidirec tiona l p rop el l ing f orc es by
p erma nent ma g nets is a l rea dy k nown a nd rec og niz ed in
US . Pa t. Nos . 4, 1 51 , 43 1 a nd 4, 8 7 7 , 9 8 3 to Johns on, a nd
US . Pa t. No. 4, 21 5, 3 3 0 to Ha rtmen, by wa y of ex a mp l e.
Ac c ording to a p p l ic a nt s ? rs t p a tent ( U . 8 . Pa t. No.
4, 1 51 , 43 1 ) , s uc h f orc es a re g enera ted by ma g netic inter
a c tion between a c urv ed ma g net ba r of a n a rma ture
g uided f or mov ement a l ong a c irc ul a r p a th a nd a n a r
ra ng ement of s p a c ed s ta tor ma g nets ha v ing p ol e f a c es
of one p ol a rity f a c ing the a rma ture on one s ide thereof
p a ra l l el to the p a th of mov ement.
Ac c ording to a p p l ic a nt s s ec ond p a tent ( U . 8 . Pa t. No.
4, 8 7 7 , 9 8 3 ) , the a rma ture ma g net is mounted on a v ehic l e
a nd g uided a l ong a p a th throug h a ma g netic f l ux z one
l imited on op p os ite s ides of the p a th by a n a rra ng ement
of ma g netic p ol e s urf a c es of one p ol a rity on s ta tor ma g
nets . Ac c ording to one embodiment of the s ec ond p a
tent, the f l ux z one is f ormed by's p a c ed g a te a s s embl ies
of ma g nets ha v ing ex p os ed p ol e f a c es of one p ol a rity in
a p l a ne p erp endic ul a r to the a rma ture p a th f rom whic h
a ma g netic ? el d ex tends to the op p os ite p ol e f a c es a nd
a ring ma g net ? x ed to s uc h op p os ite p ol e f a c es of the
other p ol a rity, with a ra dia l l y inner p ol e s urf a c e of the
s a me p ol a rity p roduc ing a ma g netic ? el d p erp endic ul a r
to the ? rs t mentioned ? el d to their op p os ite ra dia l l y
outer p ol e s urf a c es . S ev era l other embodiments a re
il l us tra ted inc l uding v a ria tions in the a rma ture s truc ture
a nd in the s ta tor s truc ture; howev er, a l l of the embodi
ments tea c h us e of a n a nnul a r s ta tor a s s embl y.
S UM M ARY OF THE INV ENTION
It is theref ore a n obj ec t of the p res ent inv ention to
p rov ide a n imp rov ed ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem ha v
ing a p l ura l ity of p erma nent ma g nets a nd a ma g netic
v ehic l e p rop el l ed thereby a l ong a p a th de? ned by the
p erma nent ma g nets , wherein the p erma nent ma g nets
need not enc irc l e the p a th of the ma g netic v ehic l e.
In order to a c hiev e this a nd other obj ec ts , the p res ent
inv ention c omp ris es two p a ra l l el wa l l s of p erma nent
ma g nets a rra ng ed s o a s to de? ne the l a tera l s ides of a
v ehic l e p a th. The wa l l s a re identic a l to one a nother
ex c ep t tha t the p ol a rities of the ma g nets whic h de? ne
one wa l l a re op p os ite f rom the p ol a rities of the c orre
s p onding ma g nets in the op p os ite wa l l .
A ? rs t wa l l , f or ex a mp l e, inc l udes a s eries of g ener
a l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets , ea c h ma g net a rra ng ed with a
North- to- S outh a x is p ointing l ong itudina l l y down the
wa l l in the intended direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el . Ea c h of
the rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets is s ep a ra ted f rom the nex t s uc
c es s iv e rec ta ng ul a r ma g net by a thinner ma g net, whic h
thinner ma g net is a rra ng ed with its North- to- S outh a x is
p ointing l a tera l l y towa rd the op p os ite wa l l a nd there
f ore p erp endic ul a r with res p ec t to the North- to- S outh
a x is of the rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets .
The p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th of ea c h thinner ma g net is
p ref era bl y no more tha n ha l f the width of the g enera l l y
rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets . Ac c ording l y, a g a p on the ins ide
1 0
25
3 0
3 5
45
55
6 0
6 5
2
s urf a c e of the wa l l is de? ned by the p res enc e of ea c h
thinner ma g net.
The op p os ite ( or s ec ond) wa l l inc l udes the s a me g en
era l a rra ng ement of ma g nets , ex c ep t tha t the North_to
S outh a x is f or ea c h of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g
nets is in a direc tion op p os ite f rom the direc tion of
v ehic l e tra v el a nd the North- to- S outh a x is of the thin
ner ma g nets p oints a wa y f rom the ? rs t wa l l .
In a ddition, the p rop ul s ion s ys tem of the p res ent
inv ention inc l udes s ev era l s p in a c c el era tors f or c rowd
ing the ma g netic ? el ds a t p redetermined p os itions a l ong
the l eng th of the wa l l s . This c rowding of the ma g netic
? el ds s erv es to intens if y the ? el ds a nd c a us es the v ehi
c l e s a rma ture to be a c c el era ted f a s ter tha n woul d oth
erwis e be the c a s e without the s p in a c c el era tors .
The s p in a c c el era tors p roj ec t l a tera l l y outwa rd f rom
ea c h of the wa l l s a t p redetermined p os itions a l ong the
l ong itudina l l eng th of ea c h wa l l . Ea c h s p in a c c el era tor
c omp ris es a g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r p erma nent ma g net
whic h is p ref era bl y identic a l to tha t of the ? rs t a nd
s ec ond wa l l s . Ea c h s p in a c c el era tor f urther inc l udes a
s horter ma g net ha v ing a s ma l l er p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th
tha n tha t of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net a nd a
wedg e s ep a ra ting the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net of
the s p in a c c el era tor f rom the s horter ma g net.
The orienta tion of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net
in the s p in a c c el era tor is determined by whic h p ol e of
the wa l l s thinner ma g net is f a c ing outwa rdl y. The rec t
a ng ul a r ma g net s orienta tion is s uc h tha t f a c e- to- f a c e
c onta c t is es ta bl is hed between op p os ite p ol es of the
g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net in the s p in a c c el era tor
a nd the thinner ma g net in the wa l l . Ac c ording l y, the
North- to- S outh a x is of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g
net in the s p in a c c el era tor p oints in the s a me direc tion a s
the North- to- S outh a x is of the thinner ma g net in the
wa l l . The s horter ma g net in the s p in a c c el era tor is l ik e
wis e a rra ng ed with its North- to- S outh a x is p ointing in
the s a me g enera l direc tion a s tha t of the thinner ma g net
in the wa l l ; but here, a n a c ute a ng ul a r til t a wa y f rom the
North- to- S outh a x is of the thinner ma g net is es ta bl is hed
by the wedg e. In p a rtic ul a r, the a ng l e of the wedg e
determines the a c ute a ng l e whic h ex is ts between the
North- to- S outh a x is of the s horter ma g net in the s p in
a c c el era tor a nd the North- to- S outh a x is of the thinner
ma g net in the wa l l .
The ma g netic v ehic l e whic h is to be p rop el l ed by the
ins ta nt p rop ul s ion s ys tem inc l udes a rig idl y a tta c hed
a rma ture c omp ris ing s ev era l c urv ed ma g nets . Ea c h
c urv ed ma g net is a rra ng ed on the v ehic l e s uc h tha t its
North- to- S outh a x is is p a ra l l el with res p ec t to tha t of
the other c urv ed ma g nets . In p a rtic ul a r, the North- to
S outh a x es of a l l the c urv ed ma g nets p oint in the s a me
direc tion a s the North- to- S outh a x es of the thinner ma g
nets in ea c h wa l l . The v ehic l e its el f is p ref era bl y a
wheel ed v ehic l e mounted on a tra c k ; howev er, it is
unders tood tha t other v ehic l e s truc tures wil l s uf ? c e s o
l ong a s the v ehic l e is ma inta ined between the wa l l s of
the p rop ul s ion s ys tem.
In op era tion, the ma g netic ? el ds c rea ted by the two
wa l l s ex ert a p rop el l ing f orc e on the a rma ture of the
v ehic l e in the des ired direc tion of tra v el . S inc e the
a rma ture of the v ehic l e is rig idl y a tta c hed to the v ehi
c l e, the v ehic l e its el f beg ins to a c c el era te a nd is henc e
s et in motion by the p rop ul s ion s ys tem.
Pref era bl y, the c urv ed ma g nets of the v ehic l e a nna
ture a re Al nic o 8 ma g nets tip p ed with neodymium
ma g nets . The ma g nets whic h c ons titute the wa l l s a nd
5, 402, 021
3
s p in a c c el era tors a re p ref era bl y ma de of neodymium
a nd c era mic ma teria l , ex c ep t f or the thinner ma g nets .
The thinner ma g nets a re p ref era bl y ma de of rubber or
p l a s tic , a nd ea c h c a n c omp ris e a p l ura l ity of ma g netic
rubber or p l a s tic l a yers .
Al thoug h the p res ent inv ention ha s been des c ribed
with reg a rd to g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets , it is un
ders tood tha t other p erma nent ma g net s ha p es wil l s uf
? c e, inc l uding but not l imited to g enera l l y c yl indric a l
s ha p es .
B RIEF DES CRIPTION OF THE DRAW ING
F IG. 1 is a s c hema tic p l a n v iew of a ma g netic p rop ul
s ion s ys tem in a c c orda nc e with a p ref erred embodiment
of the p res ent inv ention.
DETAILED DES CRIPTION OF A PREF ERRED
. EM B ODIM ENT
W ith ref erenc e to F IG. 1 , a p ref erred embodiment of
the inv entiv e ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem a nd v ehic l e
p rop el l ed thereby wil l now be des c ribed.
F IG. 1 s c hema tic a l l y il l us tra tes a p rop ul s ion s ys tem
1 0 c omp ris ing two p a ra l l el ma g netic wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 whic h
a re s ta tiona ry, a nd a n a rma ture 1 6 rig idl y a tta c hed to a
v ehic l e 1 8 . The two p a ra l l el wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 a re f ormed
f rom s ev era l p erma nent ma g nets a rra ng ed s o a s to de
? ne the l a tera l s ides of a v ehic l e p a th. The des ired direc
tion of v ehic l e tra v el is indic a ted by a n a rrow A in F IG.
1 . The two wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 a re identic a l to one a nother
ex c ep t tha t the p ol a rities of the ma g nets whic h de? ne
one wa l l 1 2 a re op p os ite f rom the p ol a rities of the c orre
s p onding ma g nets in the op p os ite wa l l 1 4. A ? rs t wa l l
1 2, f or ex a mp l e, inc l udes a s eries of g enera l l y rec ta ng u
l a r ma g nets 20, ea c h ma g net a rra ng ed with a North- to
S outh a x is p ointing l ong itudina l l y down the wa l l in the
intended direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el ( indic a ted by a rrow
A) . Ea c h of the ma g nets 20 p ref era bl y c omp ris es a
c era mic ma g net with a neodymium north p ol e. In a ddi
tion, ea c h of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets 20 is
s ep a ra ted f rom the nex t s uc c es s iv e rec ta ng ul a r ma g net
20 by a thinner ma g net 22. The thinner ma g nets 22 a re
a rra ng ed with their North- to- S outh a x es p ointing l a ter
a l l y towa rd the op p os ite wa l l 1 4 a nd theref ore p erp en
dic ul a r with res p ec t to the North- to- S outh a x is of the
rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets 20. Ea c h thinner ma g net 22 is p ref
era bl y ma de f rom rubber or p l a s tic p erma nentl y ma g
netic ma teria l . Al s o, the p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th of ea c h
thinner ma g net 22 is p ref era bl y no more tha n ha l f the
width of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets 20. Cons e
q uentl y, a g a p 24 on the ins ide s urf a c e of the wa l l 1 2 is
de? ned by the p res enc e of ea c h thinner ma g net 22.
The op p os ite ( or s ec ond) wa l l 1 4 inc l udes the s a me
g enera l a rra ng ement of ma g nets 20, 22, ex c ep t tha t the
North- to- S outh a x is f or ea c h of the g enera l l y rec ta ng u
l a r ma g nets 20 p oints in a direc tion op p os ite f rom the
direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el , whil e the North- to- S outh
a x es of the thinner ma g nets 22 p oint a wa y f rom the ? rs t
wa l l 1 2.
B y a rra ng ing the thinner ma g nets 22 between the
g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets 20 in the f oreg oing ma n
ner, there is a p ol e s ha ding ef f ec t on the ma g nets 20 of
the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4.
In a ddition, the p rop ul s ion s ys tem 1 0 of the p ref erred
embodiment inc l udes s ev era l s p in a c c el era tors 26 f or
c rowding the ma g netic ? el ds a t p redetermined p os i
tions a l ong the l eng th of the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4. This c rowding
of the ma g netic ? el ds s erv es to intens if y the ? el ds a nd
c a us es the v ehic l e s a rma ture to be a c c el era ted f a s ter
1 5
20
25
3 5
45
55
6 5
4
tha n woul d otherwis e be the c a s e without the s p in a c
c el era tors .
The s p in a c c el era tors 26 p roj ec t l a tera l l y outwa rd
f rom ea c h of the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 a t p redetermined p os itions
a l ong the l ong itudina l l eng th of ea c h wa l l 1 2, 1 4. Ac
c ording to the p ref erred embodiment, the s p in a c c el era
tors 26 a re p os itioned a l ong the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 a t ev ery
other thinner ma g net 22 ( a s is s hown in the middl e of
F IG. 1 ) . Ea c h s p in a c c el era tor 26 c omp ris es a g enera l l y
rec ta ng ul a r p erma nent ma g net 28 whic h is p ref era bl y
identic a l or v ery s imil a r to tha t of the ? rs t a nd s ec ond
wa l l s 1 2, 1 4. Ea c h s p in a c c el era tor 26 f urther inc l udes a
s horter ma g net 3 0 ha v ing a s ma l l er p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th
tha n tha t of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net 28 a nd a
wedg e 3 2 s ep a ra ting the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net
28 of the s p in a c c el era tor 26 f rom the s horter ma g net
3 0. The orienta tion of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net
28 in the s p in a c c el era tor 26 is determined by whic h
p ol e of the wa l l s thinner ma g net 22 is f a c ing outwa rdl y.
The rec ta ng ul a r ma g net s orienta tion is s uc h tha t f a c e
to- f a c e c onta c t is es ta bl is hed between op p os ite p ol es of
the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g net 28 in the s p in a c c el er
a tor 26 a nd the thinner ma g net 22 in the wa l l 1 2, 1 4.
Ac c ording l y, the North- to- S outh a x is of the g enera l l y
rec ta ng ul a r ma g net 28 in the s p in a c c el era tor 26 p oints
in the s a me direc tion a s the North- to- S outh a x is of the
thinner ma g net 22 in the wa l l 1 2, 1 4. The s horter ma g net
3 0 in the s p in a c c el era tor 26 is l ik ewis e a rra ng ed with its
North- to- S outh a x is p ointing in the s a me g enera l direc
tion a s tha t of the thinner ma g net 22 in the wa l l 1 2, 1 4;
but here, a n a c ute a ng ul a r til t a wa y f rom the North- to
S outh a x is of the thinner ma g net 22 is es ta bl is hed by the
wedg e 3 2. In p a rtic ul a r, the a ng l e a of the wedg e deter
mines the a c ute a ng l e whic h ex is ts between the North
to- S outh a x is of the s horter ma g net 3 0 a nd the North- to
S outh a x is of the thinner ma g net 22 in the wa l l 1 2, 1 4.
The s horter ma g net 3 0 p ref era bl y c ons is ts of neodym
mm.
The ma g netic v ehic l e 1 8 whic h is to be p rop el l ed by
the ins ta nt p rop ul s ion s ys tem 1 0 inc l udes a rig idl y a t
ta c hed a rma ture 1 6 c omp ris ing s ev era l c urv ed ma g nets
3 4. Ea c h c urv ed ma g net 3 4 is a rra ng ed on the v ehic l e
1 8 s uc h tha t its North- to~S outh a x is is p a ra l l el with
res p ec t to tha t of the other c urv ed ma g nets 3 4. In p a r
tic ul a r, the North- to- S outh a x es of a l l the c urv ed ma g
nets 3 4 p oint in the s a me direc tion a s the North- to
S outh a x es of the thinner ma g nets 22 in ea c h wa l l 1 2, 1 4.
The v ehic l e 1 8 its el f , a c c ording to the p ref erred em
bodiment, is a wheel ed v ehic l e mounted on a tra c k 3 6 .
It is unders tood, howev er, tha t other v ehic l e s truc tures
wil l s uf f ic e s o l ong a s the v ehic l e is ma inta ined between
the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 of the p rop ul s ion s ys tem 1 0.
In op era tion, when the v ehic l e 1 8 is p os itioned a s is
s hown in F IG. 1 , the ma g netic ? el ds c rea ted by the two
wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 ex ert a p rop el l ing f orc e on the a rma ture 1 6
of the v ehic l e 1 8 in the des ired direc tion of tra v el
( a rrow A) . S inc e the a rma ture 1 6 is rig idl y a tta c hed to
the v ehic l e 1 8 , the v ehic l e 1 8 its el f beg ins to a c c el era te
a nd henc e is s et in motion by the p rop ul s ion s ys tem 1 0.
F urthermore, s inc e the s p in a c c el era tors 26 s erv e to
c rowd a nd thereby intens if y the ma g netic ? el ds a t p re
determined p os itions a l ong the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4, the a c c el er
a tion of the v ehic l e is enha nc ed a s the v ehic l e p a s s es
thes e p redetermined p os itions .
The s p in a c c el era tors 26 c a n be rev ers ed in order to
l es s en their ef f ec tiv enes s a t c rowding the ma g netic
? el ds . Rev ers ing of the s p in a c c el era tors 26 c a n be a c
c omp l is hed by rota ting the s p in a c c el era tors 26 s o tha t
5, 402, 021
5
the s horter ma g nets 3 0 til t a wa y f rom the intended
direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el , ra ther tha n in the direc tion
of tra v el a s is the c a s e f or the il l us tra ted embodiment.
Pref era bl y, the c urv ed ma g nets 3 4 of the v ehic l e
a rma ture 1 6 a re Al nic o 8 ma g nets tip p ed with neo
dymium ma g nets , whil e the wedg es 3 2 c omp ris e wood
or s imil a r ma teria l a nd a n a ng l e a of 45 to 9 0 deg rees .
The width W 20, heig ht, a nd p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th 1 20 of
the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets 20 in ea c h wa l l 1 2, 1 3
a re 0. 7 5 inc hes to 1 . 25 inc hes , 3 . 7 5 to 4. 25 inc hes , a nd
1 . 25 inc hes to 1 . 7 5 inc hes , res p ec tiv el y. The width W 22,
heig ht, a nd p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th 1 22 of the thinner ma g
nets 22 in the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4 a re 1 inc h to 1 . 5 inc hes , 3 . 7 5
inc hes to 4. 25 inc hes , a nd no more tha n one ha l f the
width W 20 of the g enera l l y rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets , res p ec
tiv el y. In the s p in a c c el era tors 26 , the width W 23 ,
heig ht, a nd p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th 1 23 of the g enera l l y
rec ta ng ul a r ma g nets 28 a re 1 . 1 25 to 1 . 6 25 inc hes , 3 . 7 5 to
4. 25 inc hes , a nd 0. 8 7 5 inc hes to 1 . 3 7 5 inc hes , res p ec
tiv el y, whil e the width W 3 2, heig ht, a nd p ol e- to~p ol e
l eng th 1 3 2 of the s horter ma g nets 3 0 a re 0. 7 5 inc h to 1 . 25
inc hes , 3 . 7 5 inc hes to 4. 25 inc hes , a nd 0. 1 25 inc h to
0. 3 7 5 inc h, res p ec tiv el y.
Pref era bl y, the dis ta nc e s ep a ra ting the wa l l s 1 2, 1 4, is
s uc h tha t ea c h wa l l 1 2, 1 4 is 0. 5 inc h to 1 . 25 inc hes a wa y
f rom the tip s of the a rma ture ma g nets 3 4, both wa l l s
1 2, 1 4 being eq uidis ta nt f rom the tip s of the a rma ture 1 6 .
Al s o, the c urv ed ma g nets 3 4 of the a rma ture 1 6 a re
p ref era bl y 0. 3 7 5 inc h to 0. 6 25 inc h a p a rt f rom one a n
other.
Tes ting of the f oreg oing p rototyp e p rop ul s ion s ys tem
res ul ted in the v ehic l e mov ing 2 f eet in one s ec ond.
Al thoug h the p res ent inv ention ha s been des c ribed
with ref erenc e to a p ref erred embodiment, it is under
s tood tha t v a rious modi? c a tions to this embodiment
wil l bec ome s ubs eq uentl y a p p a rent to thos e ha v ing
ordina ry s k il l in the a rt. In this reg a rd, the s c op e of the
inv ention is l imited onl y by the c l a ims a p p ended hereto,
a nd not by the il l us tra ted embodiment.
I Cl a im:
1 . A ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem c omp ris ing :
a v ehic l e ha v ing a rig idl y a tta c hed ma g netic a rma
ture, s a id ma g netic a rma ture inc l uding a ? rs t s eries
of ma g nets p os itioned a c ros s s a id v ehic l e a nd ex
tending g enera l l y f rom one l a tera l s ide of the v ehi
c l e to a nother l a tera l s ide of the v ehic l e, a l l of the
ma g nets in s a id ? rs t s eries of ma g nets being g ener
a l l y p a ra l l el to one a nother;
a ? rs t ma g netic wa l l dis p os ed l a tera l l y a dj a c ent s a id
v ehic l e a nd ex tending l ong itudina l l y a l ong a de
s ired direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el , s a id ? rs t ma g netic
wa l l c omp ris ing a s ec ond s eries of ma g nets , ea c h of
the ma g nets in s a id s ec ond s eries ha v ing a p a rtic u
l a r s iz e a nd a North- to- S outh a x is p ointing in the
s a me direc tion a s the des ired direc tion of v ehic l e
tra v el , ea c h of s a id p erma nent ma g nets of s a id
p a rtic ul a r s iz e in s a id s ec ond s eries being s ep a ra ted
f rom the nex t s uc c es s iv e p erma nent ma g net in s a id
s ec ond s eries by a thinner ma g net, ea c h of s a id
thinner ma g nets ha v ing a p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th
whic h is s horter tha n the l a tera l width of s a id ma g
nets of a p a rtic ul a r s iz e in s a id s ec ond s eries , s a id
thinner ma g nets f urther ha v ing a North- to- S outh
a x is p ointing p erp endic ul a r to the North- to- S outh
a x is of s a id ma g nets of a p a rtic ul a r s iz e in s a id
s ec ond s eries a nd p ointing g enera l l y towa rd a v ehi
c l e s ide of the ? rs t ma g netic wa l l ; a nd
1 0
25
3 0
3 5
45
50
55
6 5
6
a s ec ond ma g netic wa l l dis p os ed g enera l l y p a ra l l el to
s a id ? rs t ma g netic wa l l a nd l a tera l l y a dj a c ent to
s a id v ehic l e but op p os ite f rom s a id ? rs t ma g netic
wa l l , s a id s ec ond ma g netic wa l l c omp ris ing a third
s eries of ma g nets , ea c h of s a id ma g nets in s a id third
s eries ha v ing s a id p a rtic ul a r s iz e a nd a North- to
S outh a x is p ointing in a n op p os ite direc tion f rom
the des ired direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el , ea c h of the
p erma nent ma g nets in s a id third s eries being s ep a
ra ted f rom the nex t s uc c es s iv e p erma nent ma g net
of s a id p a rtic ul a r s iz e in s a id third s eries by a thin
ner ma g net, ea c h of s a id thinner ma g nets in the
s ec ond ma g netic wa l l ha v ing a p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th
whic h is s horter tha n the l a tera l width of s a id ma g
nets of a p a rtic ul a r s iz e in s a id third s eries , s a id
thinner ma g nets in the s ec ond ma g netic wa l l f ur
ther ha v ing a North- to- S outh a x is p ointing in the
s a me g enera l direc tion a s the North- to- S outh a x is
of the thinner ma g nets in the ? rs t ma g netic wa l l ;
wherein s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g netic wa l l s c rea te
ma g netic ? el ds whic h ex ert p rop el l ing f orc es on
s a id a rma ture a nd thereby c a us e the v ehic l e to
a c c el era te in the des ired direc tion of v ehic l e tra v el .
2. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein a l l of the ma g nets a re c omp ris ed of p erma nent
ma g netic ma teria l .
3 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 , a nd
f urther c omp ris ing a tra c k dis p os ed between the ? rs t
a nd s ec ond ma g netic wa l l s , s a id v ehic l e f urther c om
p ris ing a t l ea s t f our wheel s f or eng a g ing a nd riding on
s a id tra c k .
4. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein the p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th of s a id thinner ma g nets
in s a id ? rs t ma g netic wa l l is s horter tha n ha l f the l a tera l
width of the ma g nets of s a id p a rtic ul a r s iz e in s a id ? rs t
ma g netic wa l l .
5. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein the p ol e- to- p ol e l eng th of s a id thinner ma g nets
in s a id s ec ond ma g netic wa l l is s horter tha n ha l f the
l a tera l width of the ma g nets of s a id p a rtic ul a r s iz e in
s a id s ec ond ma g netic wa l l .
6 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein the thinner ma g nets in both the ? rs t a nd s ec ond
ma g netic wa l l s , a re dis p os ed ? us h with the outer s ides
of s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond wa l l s thereby de? ning a s eries of
g a p s on the interna l s ides of s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond wa l l s .
7 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein s a id ? rs t s eries of ma g nets a re c urv ed p erma
nent ma g nets , ea c h ha v ing a North- to- S outh a x is p oint
ing in the s a me direc tion a s tha t of the thinner ma g nets
in the ? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g netic wa l l s .
8 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 7 ,
wherein s a id c urv ed p erma nent ma g nets a re Al nic o 8
ma g nets tip p ed with neodymium ma g nets .
9 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein a l l the ma g nets in s a id s ec ond a nd third s eries
of ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g netic wa l l s a re
p erma nent c era mic ma g nets with a t l ea s t one p ol e ma de
of neodymium.
1 0. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a m 1 , a nd
f urther c omp ris ing a t l ea s t one s p in a c c el era tor ex tend
ing l a tera l l y out f rom ea c h of s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g
netic wa l l s .
1 1 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 0,
wherein s a id a t l ea s t one s p in a c c el era tor c omp ris es :
a p erma nent ma g net of a s ec ond p a rtic ul a r s iz e a r
ra ng ed in c onta c t with one of s a id ? rs t or s ec ond
ma g netic wa l l s , s a id p erma nent ma g net of a s ec ond
5, 402, 021
7
p a rtic ul a r s iz e ha v ing a North- to- S outh a x is p oint
ing in the s a me direc tion a s tha t of the thinner
ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g netic wa l l s ;
a g enera l l y s horter p erma nent ma g net ha v ing a p ol e
to- p ol e l eng th s horter tha n tha t of the p erma nent
ma g net of s a id s ec ond p a rtic ul a r s iz e, s a id g ener
a l l y s horter ma g net ha v ing a North- to- S outh a x is
p ointing in the s a me g enera l direc tion a s tha t of the
thinner ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g netic
wa l l s but til ted a wa y f rom s a id s a me g enera l direc
tion by a n a c ute a ng l e; a nd
a wedg e s ep a ra ting s a id p erma nent ma g net of s a id
s ec ond p a rtic ul a r s iz e f rom s a id g enera l l y s horter
ma g net, s a id wedg e de? ning s a id a c ute a ng l e.
1 2. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 1 ,
wherein s a id p erma nent ma g net ha v ing s a id s ec ond
p a rtic ul a r s iz e c omp ris es a c era mic ma g net ha v ing a t
l ea s t one neodymium p ol e, a nd s a id g enera l l y s horter
p erma nent ma g net is c omp ris ed entirel y of neodymium.
1 3 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 1 ,
wherein s a id wedg e c omp ris es wood.
1 5
20
25
3 0
3 5
45
50
55
6 5
8
1 4. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 1 ,
wherein s a id a c ute a ng l e is between 45 a nd 9 0 deg rees .
1 5. The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 1 ,
wherein s a id s p in a c c el era tors a re p os itioned a t ev ery
other one of s a id thinner ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec
ond ma g netic wa l l s .
1 6 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein s a id thinner ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond
ma g netic wa l l s a re c omp ris ed of ma g netic rubber.
1 7 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein s a id thinner ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond
ma g netic wa l l s a re c omp ris ed of ma g netic p l a s tic .
1 8 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein s a id thinner ma g nets in s a id ? rs t a nd s ec ond
ma g netic wa l l s a re c omp ris ed of more tha n one l a yer of
p erma nentl y ma g netic ma teria l s el ec ted f rom the g roup
c ons is ting of p erma nentl y ma g netic rubber a nd p erma
nentl y ma g netic p l a s tic .
1 9 . The ma g netic p rop ul s ion s ys tem of c l a im 1 ,
wherein the dis ta nc e s ep a ra ting the a rma ture f rom the
? rs t a nd s ec ond ma g netic wa l l s is between 0. 5 inc h a nd
1 . 25 inc hes .