Fiber-Reinforced Cladding Element for Magnetic Levitation Energy Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of cladding elements for magnetic levitation vehicles is complicated by the brittleness and mechanical sensitivity of flux guide elements made from materials like ferrite, leading to difficulties in integration and secure attachment, which results in potential damage and maintenance issues due to vibrations and shocks.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a receiving unit comprising a base body with embedded flux guide elements and a receiver coil within a fiber-reinforced plastic cladding element, which secures the flux guide elements and eliminates the need for additional fastening, using a base body with depressions to position and hold the components securely, and optionally using a foam with damping properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flux guide elements are made from ferrite material to concentrate magnetic field lines, then magnetic coupling is improved, but the elements become brittle and mechanically sensitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic couplingVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The flux guide elements are integrated directly into the cladding element structure, merging the magnetic function with the structural housing. This eliminates separate brittle components and creates a unified structure where the cladding element itself serves both protective and magnetic field concentration functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cladding element is made from fiber-reinforced plastic, creating a composite material that combines structural strength with the ability to embed flux guide elements. This composite structure provides mechanical strength while accommodating the magnetic field concentration function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If flux guide elements are securely fastened to the cladding element, then reliability is improved, but production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flux guide elements are integrated directly into the cladding element structure, merging the magnetic function with the structural housing. This eliminates separate brittle components and creates a unified structure where the cladding element itself serves both protective and magnetic field concentration functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flux guide elements are positioned and secured within the cladding element during the manufacturing process itself, rather than requiring separate fastening operations afterward. This preliminary integration simplifies production by combining steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If additional fastening means are used to secure the receiving unit, then secure attachment is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving unit is integrated as a single assembly into the cladding element, merging the receiver coil, flux guide elements, and mounting structure into one unified component. This eliminates the need for separate fastening operations and simplifies manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver coil is positioned within a recess in the cladding element, with the flux guide elements embedded in the cladding element surrounding the coil. This nested arrangement secures all components within the integrated structure without requiring additional fasteners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the production and enhances the service life of the cladding element by securely embedding the flux guide elements, protecting them from mechanical shocks and eliminating the risk of damage, while ensuring efficient magnetic coupling and reduced eddy current losses.

Implementation Method 1

The receiver unit, including associated contacting elements in the form of plug connectors or the like, is preferably mounted on or integrated into a shell-shaped cladding element that covers a magnetic back box on a side facing the roadway. The magnetic back box, which is connected to a subframe or car body of the vehicle via frame brackets, accommodates, among other things, supporting magnets for the magnetic levitation vehicle and the devices required to control them, which can be operated with the electrical current supplied by the receiver coil.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a receiving unit with a receiver coil for the contactless transmission of electrical energy and a large number of flux guide elements assigned to the receiver coil and intended for concentration of the field strength, which consist of a material with a high permeability compared to air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic permeability: Ferromagnetism

Implementation Method 3

This applies in particular when the base body, which is preferred, is made from a foam with a damping effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2081792B8Cladding element with an integrated reception unit for the contactless transfer of electrical energy and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2012.12.12 THYSSENKRUPP TRANSRAPID GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a cladding element (32) comprising a reception unit which is integrated therein. Said reception unit contains a receiving coil (10) for the contactless transfer of electric energy and a plurality of flux-conducting elements (15a, 15b; 16a, 16b) that are associated with the receiving coil (10) for concentrating the field strength. According to the invention, the cladding element (32) is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic. Said flux-conducting elements (15a, 15b; 16a, 16b) and the receiving coil (10) are arranged in a base body (18) that is used to position said elements and coil and are embedded with said base body (18) in the cladding element (32). The invention also relates to a method for producing said cladding element (32).