The Urbanaut® Monorail Technology

Single Urbanaut® Vehicle with Bogies

 

v     Each vehicle has 2 light weight bogies, one in front and one at the rear end. Bogies are fabricated of non-magnetic materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and/or composite materials.

v     The bogies are the “brain” in the vehicle, and they are the “link” between the vehicle and the runway below

v     Bogies support, propel, control and guide the vehicle. Shown on an elevated guideway:

1.      At left - A rubber tire wheel bogie, and

2.      At right - A SemiMaglev™ Urbanaut® electromagnetic bogie

v     Both bogies have the same frame and same wheels.

 

Urbanaut® Bogie with 3 Optional Propulsion Systems

v        Alternative I           Rubber Tire Wheel Bogie
In-wheel electro magnetic motor in vehicle for speeds up to 100 km/hr (60 mph)

v        Alternative II           (EMS) Electro Magnetic System with MLIM Propulsion
Maglev linear induction motor in vehicle for speeds up to 225 km/hr (140mph)

v        Alternative III         Electrodynamic Motor Propulsion System
Electrodynamic long stator synchronous motor propulsion system in the guide way for low to ultra high speeds of 500 km/hr (310 mph). There is extensive information on this alternative in the Proceedings from the Maglev '04 Conference in Shanghai, China. (pdf File 1.5MB)

 

 Alternative I

Urbanaut® Rubber Tire Wheel Bogie
With In-Wheel Direct Drive Propulsion

 

Color Code:
1)  Bogie Frame
2)  Tires
3)  Conductors
4)  Motor
5)  Suspensions
6)  Guide Rail
7)  Runway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This illustration is from the extensive ProEngineer Manufacturing data of the compact bogie and the many components attached to it.

 

 A rubber tire wheel bogie makes physical contact with the guideway with the 2 load wheels and 4 guide wheels. The car body above is mounted on top of 2 bogies with connection through a center pivot pin that absorbs lateral and longitudinal forces. The vertical loading from the car body is transferred through the 4 corners of the bogie frame, each with air bag suspension and vehicle leveling devices.

 

 Electrical and electronic equipment attached to the bogie automatically controls propulsion, speed, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle.

An in-wheel powerful direct drive electromagnetic motor is mounted to the side of each of the 2 load wheels and is powered by a variable-frequency inverter.

 
     

 

Two Urbanaut® Bogies

View of Urbanaut® Rubber Tire Wheel Bogie
With In-wheel Electromagnetic Propulsion

 

 

View of Urbanaut® SemiMaglev™ Bogie
With Maglev Linear Induction Motor

 

Finite Element Stress Analysis

Bogies, manufactured of aluminum, composite materials and/or stainless steel, have gone through extensive engineering and finite element stress analysis for a variety of loadings. ProEngineer Data has been applied for manufacturing and assembly.

 

Alternative II
SemiMaglev™ Urbanaut® Propulsion
(EMS) Electro Magnetic System
With MLIM Propulsion - Open Web

v                 An MLIM (Maglev Linear Induction Motor) in the vehicle interacts with the iron guide rail, with an attached aluminum reaction plate, across an air-gap. A repulsive force is created between the MLIM and iron guide rail.
The MLIM has no axle, no gear, and no mechanical contacts.

v                 The MLIM interacts with an inverter installed in the vehicle, which regulates propulsion, speed, braking and control.

v                 Attractive type electromagnets (EM) levitate (partially or fully) and guide the vehicle along the central rail.

v                 Wheels are applied when vehicle is at a slow speed or is stationary (at stations, for storage, and maintenance), during switching, and for safety, with no power on the EMS.

The stabilizer guide rail with insulated electrical components can be manufactured (prefabricated in the same length as the beamway) with no outside exposed power rails. For additional information see the Maglev '04 Proceedings.