Patent ID: 7950333
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: B60L

Abstract:
1. A track and vehicle apparatus for use as an amusement park ride with passive magnetic levitation, comprising: an elongate track with a contact surface with an arcuate cross sectional shape and with one or more banked corners, wherein the track further comprises a levitation circuit assembly comprising a plurality of coils of electrically conductive wire each positioned proximate to the contact surface and each of the coils positioned with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the track; and a vehicle with a body for receiving a passenger and having a bottom surface adjacent the contact surface when the vehicle is positioned on the track, wherein the vehicle further comprises two or more elongate arrays of permanent magnets provided proximate to the bottom surface of the body, each of the arrays of permanent magnets being arranged to produce a substantially one-sided flux distribution directed outward from the body of the vehicle; wherein the vehicle is levitated a distance above the contact surface by interaction between the arrays of the permanent magnets and the plurality of coils when traveling at a velocity greater than at least a levitation velocity so as to induce current to flow in portions of the coils proximate to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle moves transverse to the plurality of coils and to a main direction of travel at least in the banked corners, and wherein the elongate track comprises sidewalls that extend upward from a center contact portion arranged such that the arcuate cross sectional shape is U-shaped, whereby the elongate track has an opening tending the length of the elongate track.