Influence of Lateral-Impact Force on Electropermanent Magnet Suspension Conveyor With Inherent Guidance Force

This paper addresses the influence of lateral external force effects on the non-guidance force control of a hybrid-type electropermanent magnet suspension (EPMS) magnetic levitation (maglev) conveyor. The benefits of this maglev system are good ride comfort and frictionless and abrasion-free operation. However, it is possible for an unintended lateral force to generate lateral oscillation, and lateral displacement affects the levitation and guidance forces. These forces were calculated using a 3-D finite-element model, using the current, levitation air gap, and lateral displacement as inputs of the EPMS. To determine the influence of the lateral force effect, an experiment was conducted using an impact hammer to apply an impulse force at two points on the maglev. In one case, a lateral force was applied to the center of one side of a maglev conveyor. In this case, the external force affected the front and rear EPMSs equally. In the second case, a lateral force was applied to a corner of the maglev. In this case, the unbalanced external force affected the EPMSs unequally. The experimental results illustrate the effects of balanced and unbalanced external lateral forces on the lateral vibration, air gap, and input current.