Patent ID: 6899036
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: B60L,B60M,B61B,H02K

Abstract:
1. A system for magnetically levitating and moving an object, the system comprising: a track having a plurality of first rails spaced laterally apart from each other along a length of the track, each first rail carrying a plurality of permanent magnets having their poles aligned with each other such that an upper surface of each of the first rails has a uniform polarity along an operable portion of the length; the object having a plurality of second rails configured to align with the first rails, each second rail carrying a plurality of permanent magnets oriented to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in the corresponding first rail such that the object levitates above the track; a third rail made from an electroconductive material, the third rail extending the length of the track; and a disc coupled to the object to rotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the disc having a plurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis, the disc being positionable with a portion thereof in close proximity to the third rail and being controllably rotatable in the presence of the third rail to create an eddy current between the permanent magnets in the disc and the electroconductive material of the third rail to accelerate and decelerate the object with respect to the track wherein the at least one disc is movably coupled to the object to controllably move between an engaged position in which the permanent magnets in the disc are proximate the third rail, and a disengaged position in which the permanent magnets in the disc are spaced apart from the third rail by a distance sufficient to effectively eliminate the eddy current therebetween.