Pressurized air-gap guided active linear motor suspension system

Abstract

The invention relates to an active linear induction motor system that has particular advantage with a SAILRAIL.RTM. air guided and supported air bearing system. In this case the secondary for the motor is the support rail, which rail can have a convex or a concave operating surface, is electrically conductive, and has ferromagnetic material in close proximity to the operating surface. The primary for the motor is found in a runner which cooperates with the rail and supports the load to be carried in the system. The primary includes a plurality of laterally adjacent, longitudinally extending and articulated ferromagnetic laminations having a longitudinally toothed surface that is transversely arcuate to be complementary to the rail operating surface. Electrical windings are wound about selected groups of teeth of the laminations as a LIM primary. A compliant pad adjacent the laminations is capable of deformation under load and at least partial recovery after load removal. Electrical power is continuously provided to the primary as it moves along the rail and polyphase electrical current is fed to the electrical windings. Cooling fluid is continuously provided to the laminations during operation of the primary. The system also provides pressurized fluid at high velocity into the space between the rail operating surface and the compliant pad, to support the primary member above the operating surface and to provide a minute pressurized magnetic and suspension gap between the primary and secondary members for efficient linear motor operation.