Guideway activated magnetic switching of vehicles

Abstract

A system for switching a transport vehicle comprising: a guideway, a vehicle that moves along the guideway, and a magnetic field source that creates a force on the vehicle to affect motion in a desired direction at a switch. Once the vehicle has started motion through the switch the guidance can be continued by use of permanent magnets until the normal guidance system is effective. The switching scheme can work with any suspension scheme, including wheels and maglev, and can work with any lateral guidance scheme, including horizontal guide wheels and magnetic guidance. The system can be used with very closely spaced vehicles, such as with Personal Rapid Transit, material handling, and elevators with multiple cabs in the same shaft.

1 . A system for switching of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a first switching structure disposed on the vehicle;    a guideway for guiding movement of the vehicle; and,    a first electromagnet disposed on the portion of the guideway for inducing a magnetic force between the first electromagnet and at least a portion of the first switching structure in the vicinity of the electromagnet, thereby directing the vehicle at a switch point.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching structure comprises at least one guide wheel.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching structure comprises at least one plate.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching structure comprises a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one permanent magnet disposed on the portion of the guideway for inducing a magnetic force between the permanent magnet and at least a portion of the first switching structure in the vicinity of the permanent magnet, thereby directing the vehicle at a switch point.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnet is excited with alternating current.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least two bogies, and the electromagnet induces a force between the electromagnet and each of the bogies.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guideway is inclined or vertical.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnet includes at least one integral permanent magnet, for decreasing a power requirement of the electromagnet or increasing the magnetic force.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second switching structure disposed on the vehicle; and    a second electromagnet disposed on an opposed portion of the guideway relative to the first electromagnet for inducing a magnetic force between the second electromagnet and at least a portion of the second switching structure.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guideway comprises a first guide rail for guiding movement of the vehicle, and the first electromagnet is configured to induce a magnetic force between the first guide rail and at least a portion of the first switching structure in the vicinity of the first guide rail.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second guide rail acting as a portion of the guideway, the vehicle configured to move between the first guide rail and the second guide rail;    a second switching structure disposed on the vehicle, for engaging the second guide rail; and,    a second electromagnet for inducing a second magnetic force between the second guide rail and at least a portion of the second switching structure in the vicinity of the second guide rail.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured as an elevator system.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the guideway is configured as a plurality of connected elevator shafts.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of elevator cabs configured to travel through the plurality of connected elevator shafts.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of elevator cabs includes at least 4 elevator cabs.  
   
   
       17 . A method of switching a vehicle, comprising: 
 moving a vehicle on a guideway;    inducing a magnetic force between the vehicle and at least a portion of the guideway situated laterally to the vehicle by using an magnet disposed on the guideway, thereby directing the vehicle at a switch point.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inducing the magnetic force includes interacting the magnet with a switching structure coupled to the vehicle to induce the magnetic force.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inducing the magnetic force includes activating an electromagnet using alternating current.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inducing the magnetic force includes using a permanent magnet disposed on the guideway to direct the vehicle at the switch point.  
   
   
       21 . A system for switching of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a switching structure disposed on the vehicle;    a guideway for guiding movement of the vehicle; and,    at least one magnet disposed on the portion of the guideway for inducing a magnetic force between the at least one magnet and at least a portion of the switching structure in the vicinity of the at least one magnet, thereby directing the vehicle at a switch point.