Patent ID: 7637214

Claim:
A method applied in a magnetic levitation vehicle ( 1 ) to control support gaps ( 10 a , 10 b ) that are formed during operation of the magnetic levitation vehicle ( 1 ) between a track ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) and a number of carrying magnets ( 6 a , 6 b ) fastened to said magnetic levitation vehicle ( 1 ) and provided with windings ( 16 a , 16 b ), wherein at least two carrying magnets ( 6 a , 6 b ) in adjacent positions act upon a suspension frame ( 8 ) of said magnetic levitation vehicle ( 1 ) and wherein the electrical currents flowing through the windings ( 16 a , 16 b ) are so controlled that the support gaps ( 10 a , 10 b ) between these two carrying magnets ( 6 a , 6 b ) in said adjacent positions and the track ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) adopt pre-determined nominal values (na, nb) of equal size, characterized in that in case that for obtaining said predetermined values (na, nb) the currents through the windings ( 16 a and/or 16 b ) of the adjacent carrying magnets ( 6 a and/or 6 b ) must be different under normal conditions, the nominal values (na, nb) for the support gaps ( 10 a , 10 b ) are altered such that the current through the windings ( 16 a or 16 b ) of a carrying magnet ( 6 a , 6 b ) with the lower electric current is increased and/or the electric current through the winding ( 16 b and/or 16 a ) of a carrying magnet ( 6 b and/or 6 a ) with the larger electric current is reduced.