US 11,890,946 B2
Levitation control system for a transportation system
John Lee Wamble, III, Bothell, WA (US); John Cole, Dana Point, CA (US); and Clark B. Foster, Mission Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to SKYTRAN, INC., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by SKYTRAN, INC., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/995,788.
Application 16/995,788 is a continuation of application No. 15/509,485, granted, now 10,744,887, previously published as PCT/US2015/049019, filed on Sep. 8, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/047,624, filed on Sep. 8, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2020/0376965 A1, Dec. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. B60L 13/04 (2006.01); B60L 13/06 (2006.01); B60L 13/00 (2006.01); B60L 13/10 (2006.01); B61B 13/08 (2006.01); E01B 25/30 (2006.01); B60L 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 13/06 (2013.01) [B60L 13/003 (2013.01); B60L 13/04 (2013.01); B60L 13/10 (2013.01); B61B 13/08 (2013.01); E01B 25/30 (2013.01); B60L 13/08 (2013.01); B60L 2200/26 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transport apparatus comprising:
a levitation generator configured to:
generate a levitating magnetic flux from a plurality of permanent magnets each having a magnetic pole;
move within a corresponding lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux, wherein the corresponding lifting member is an electrically conductive, non-magnetic material;
adjust a direction of travel of the levitation generator by adjusting an angle of one or more of the plurality of permanent magnets; and
a drive generator configured to:
generate a driving magnetic flux; and
move within a corresponding drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux,
wherein the levitation generator has two trim tabs at a trailing end, the two trim tabs coupled with a servo motor which is configured to actuate the trim tabs about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transport apparatus.