A passive Maglev vehicle with self-regulating aerostatic-aerodynamic pads

Abstract

The levitation of an operating Maglev is obtained with electromagnets EMS or superconducting materials SMS. In 2003, we designed a simpler Maglev PMS, which is levitated by permanent-magnet-aluminium circuits to remove the lateral instability of permanent magnets. In this paper, we show how to increase the side stability of this Maglev using lateral aerostatic-aerodynamic pivoted pads, arranged in the gap slide-guide. The air impacts the head of the pads giving a high aerostatic lift, which is added to the aerodynamic lift. The pads self-regulate their slope, thus increasing their lift as external forces increase.