Mag Lev by Roy D. Vinson

MAG LEV

MAGLEV BY ROY D. VINSON
Written in 1984

Maglev trains are very new and exciting ultra high-speed trains. Maglevs can be built for urban mass transit systems or for inter-city transit. To most people the word "maglev" is a strange new word and its meaning is not known. Actually maglev is coined from two words - "magnetic levitation" - that is, lifting with magnetic force. Maglev is used to identify a radically new type of rail guided transportation system of one or more cars which are separated from rails by magnetic force. Maglevs do not contact their rails and are propelled by linear induction motors.

Several companies in the United States have attempted to perfect a maglev train -but without success. The U.S. Government granted several million dollars for these efforts to such large corporations as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Thompson Ramo Woolridge (TRW), the Rohr Corporation and the Boeing Aircraft Company. The U.S. Government suspended all maglev funding in the mid-seventies apparently under the mistaken conclusion that maglevs were not feasible. However, Germany and Japan continued the quest to perfect maglev. They, too have not produced a practical, commercially acceptable maglev.

Both the Germans and the Japanese, as well as the U.S. companies took the wrong approach as to the method of suspending their trains. The Germans and the U.S. companies used electro-magnets to lift their trains. The Japanese elected to use super-conducting cryogenic* magnets for lift. I estimated in 1984 that Germany has spent over one billion dollars - and failed, although they are still trying. This was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Transportation in a recent publication. Japan has spent over two billion dollars - and failed, although, they too are still trying.

In contrast to the U.S. companies, Japan, Germany and all other countries in 1972, I decided that permanent magnets would be the best method of lifting a train. According, I established a hypothesis that permanent magnets would be the best method of lift IF:

1. Sometime in the perhaps distant future, a magnet could be developed;

        a.    Of sufficient strength
        b.    Of light weight
        c.    Of small volume
        d.    Of acceptable cost

2.    If a method could be developed to control permanent magnets.

All of the above appeared unlikely of attainment, at least in my lifetime. Nevertheless, I felt impelled most strongly to attempt this vast task. After four or five months, by the grace of God, I was granted success. I solved the problems of controlling permanent magnets.

In the meantime, unbeknownst to me, Dr. Karl Strnat of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, had developed a permanent magnet of all the properties I required - except one, cost - which was $500.00 per pound. I was informed in February, 1973, by Dr. Klaus Kronenberg, the world famous German-American magnetics physicist and inventor, that the price of these marvelous new magnets would be greatly reduced in the years to come. This proved to be true.

Since 1973, the strength of these great "rare earth" magnets has increased in quantum values and their costs has decreased greatly. By the time I am ready to build the first commercial maglev system, I can buy 600 pounds of rare-earth magnets to suspend 100,000 pounds of rail car for about $5,000.00

*term coined by Roy Vinson

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THREE MAJOR TYPES OF MAG LEVS