Controllable levitation device

Apparatus for levitating a magnetic body. The apparatus includes a structure (10) comprised of a material that is superconductive below a critical temperature. The structure includes at least one Josephson junction device (14) for passing a variable current therethrough for controlling an amount of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors LAIBOWITZ; ROBERT B, LASHER; GORDON J
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 29.03.1994
Edition5
Subjects
ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL
EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
RAILWAY SYSTEMS
RAILWAYS
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES IN GENERAL
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Summary:Apparatus for levitating a magnetic body. The apparatus includes a structure (10) comprised of a material that is superconductive below a critical temperature. The structure includes at least one Josephson junction device (14) for passing a variable current therethrough for controlling an amount of magnetic flux penetration into the structure. At a first current flow magnetic flux generated by a magnetic body (12) is excluded from the structure and the magnetic body is levitated above a surface of the structure. At a second current flow the magnetic flux penetrates the structure, causing he levitating magnetic body to approach a surface of the structure. Controllably applying a current to an array (30) of superconductive tiles (34), forming Josephson tunnel junctions (38), is shown to provide a lateral motion of, or a rotation of, the magnetic body relative to the surface.
Bibliography:Application Number: US19910703985