Apparatus, systems and methods for levitating and moving objects

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for levitating and moving objects such as vehicles, doors and windows are shown and described herein. The embodiments incorporate a track with lower rails having lower permanent magnets and the object with upper rails having upper permanent magnets aligned with the lower rails and oriented to oppose the polarity of the lower permanent magnets. Ferrous backing plates may be incorporated behind the lower rails and/or the upper rails. Embodiments may also incorporate a third rail of an electroconductive material, and a driving disc positioned near the third rail. Permanent magnets in the driving disc may be rotated with the driving disc in the presence of the third rail to accelerate the upper rails with respects to the lower rails. The driving disc may be coupled one of the lower rails to maintain a desired alignment with the third rail.

1 . A system for use in moving things, such as people or cargo, the system comprising: 
 a track having a length;    an object configured to travel along the track;    a drive rail system comprising at least one electroconductive rail extending along the length of the track; and    at least one driving disc coupled to the object to rotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the at least one driving disc having a plurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis, the at least one driving disc being positioned with a portion thereof in close proximity to the electroconductive rail and being controllably rotatable in the presence of the electroconductive rail to create an eddy current therebetween to accelerate and decelerate the object with respect to the track.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one driving disc is movable in a transverse direction relative to the object, and wherein the position of the at least one driving disc is controllable to maintain a desired alignment with the drive rail system.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one driving disc is movable in a transverse direction relative to the object and wherein the at least one driving disc is spaced a fixed distance from the track such that the at least one driving disc maintains a desired alignment with the drive rail system.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one driving disc is slidably coupled to the object to move in a transverse direction relative to the object.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one driving disc is movable in a transverse direction relative to the object and wherein the at least one driving disc is spaced apart from the track by a rigid linkage sized to maintain the at least one driving disc in a desired alignment with the drive rail system.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one driving disc is movable in a transverse direction relative to the object and wherein the at least one driving disc is spaced apart from the track by a rigid linkage sized to maintain the at least one driving disc in a desired alignment with the drive rail system, the rigid linkage being configured to generate a reduced amount of friction against the track.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein there is one more electroconductive rail than driving discs, and wherein the electroconductive rails and driving discs are configured such that each driving disc is positioned between two electroconductive rails.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises a vehicle.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises a train car.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises a freight carrier.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises a door.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises a window.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one driving disc is centrally located with respect to a width of the object.  
   
   
       14 . A vehicle for transporting things, such as people or cargo, along a track having at least one support rail configured to support and guide the vehicle and at least one electroconductive drive rail extending parallel to the support rail, the electroconductive drive rail being positioned at a fixed elevation with respect to the support rail, the vehicle comprising: 
 at least one driving disc coupled to the vehicle to rotate with respect to the vehicle about a rotary axis, the rotary axis being at least substantially perpendicular to a desired direction of vehicular travel, the at least one driving disc having a plurality of permanent magnets spaced apart from and about the rotary axis, the at least one driving disc being positioned on the vehicle such that a portion of the at least one driving disc is at least proximate the fixed elevation during operation, the at least one driving disc being movably coupled to the vehicle to controllably move transversely with respect to the vehicle such that the at least one driving disc can be maintained in a desired relationship with respect to the electroconductive drive rail during operation.    
   
   
       15 . The vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the at least one driving disc is coupled to a rigid linkage having a roller at its distal end, the roller being spaced apart from the at least one driving disc by a predetermined distance such that the roller contacts the support rail during operation, and such that the at least one driving disc remains a fixed distance from the support rail during operation to maintain the desired relationship.  
   
   
       16 . The vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the at least one driving disc is coupled to a rigid linkage having a pair of rollers at its distal end, the rollers being spaced apart from the at least one driving disc by a predetermined distance such that the rollers contact opposing sides of the support rail during operation, and such that the at least one driving disc remains a fixed distance from the support rail during operation to maintain the desired relationship.  
   
   
       17 . The vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the at least one driving disc is coupled to two opposing rigid linkages each having a roller at its distal end, the rollers being spaced apart from the at least one driving disc by a predetermined distance such that the rollers contact the opposing support rails during operation, and such that the at least one driving disc remains a fixed distance from the support rail during operation to maintain the desired relationship.  
   
   
       18 . The vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the at least one driving disc is coupled to two opposing rigid linkages each having a pair of rollers at its distal end, the pairs of rollers being spaced apart from the at least one driving disc by a predetermined distance such that the rollers contact opposing sides of the opposing support rails during operation, and such that the at least one driving disc remains a fixed distance from the support rail during operation to maintain the desired relationship.  
   
   
       19 . A method for aligning the drive wheel on a vehicle with the drive rail on a track having at least one support rail, the method comprising: 
 coupling the drive wheel to the vehicle such that the drive wheel is free to move laterally with respect to a direction of vehicular travel; and    positioning the vehicle on the track such that a rigid linkage extends from the drive wheel to the at least one support rail, maintaining the drive wheel at a fixed distance from the at least one support rail.    
   
   
       20 . A system for facilitating the opening and/or closing of a door or the like, the system comprising: 
 a track having at least one first rail extending along a length of the track, the first rail carrying a plurality of first 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; and    a door having a plurality of second permanent magnets oriented to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in the corresponding first rail such that the door levitates above the track.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of second permanent magnets are spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a guide on the door that retains the second permanent magnets in a desired alignment with the first permanent magnets.