A NEW MECHANICAL METHOD FOR DYNAMIC STABILIZATION OF TUNED-CIRCUIT LEVITATORS

ABSTRACT

The present paper describes and considers a recent development in the field of tuned-circuit levitators. Levitation is achieved in such systems by installing a suspension electromagnet as the inductive part of a tuned L C R circuit. It is already well known that a tuned-circuit on its own may maintain a free magnetic suspension of an object only for short periods of time. The suspended object in such levitators tends to exhibit peculiar dynamic instabilities. This behaviour is usually cured by modifying the basic levitator system, and by installing in it additional electronic or electromechanical means for stabilization. The present paper investigates a newly suggested mechanical modification. The suspension electromagnet, instead of being harnessed stiffly as was the case in the previous works, is permitted here certain freedom to move by suspending it on springs. The viscous damping supplied by a dashpot connected in parallel with the springs causes the vibrations to be damped and stabilizes the system as a whole. The paper describes a successful experimental realization of the method which is supported by an approximate analysis and also by a computerized simulation of the system dynamics.