Development of eddy-current decelerators for uST transport complexes of the “second level”

In case of emergency situations and when a uPod (an unmanned electric rail vehicle on steel wheels) approaches the areas of stopping, parking and enters sharp turns at high speeds, mechanical braking cannot always guarantee a safe stop of the electric rail vehicle under such weather conditions as rain, icing of the track, as well as wear of components in the braking system. The eddy-current decelerators (ECD) developed by the authors make it possible to solve this problem by minimizing the number of wear products, since the braking force arises due to the interaction of magnetic fields, while there is no mechanical contact in such a braking system.

Aim: Development of a non-volatile ECD, the design of which ensures stable operation without imposing increased requirements on the accuracy of vehicle positioning.

Materials and Methods: The article presents studies of samples of eddy current moderators with tires made of various materials and the layout of magnets. Confirmation of the experimental data was carried out using the ANSYS Maxwell computer model - the finite element method.

Results: The article presents ECDs with an optimal relative arrangement and orientation of magnets in combination with magnetic cores, developed and confirmed by mathematical modeling, confirmed by field tests and experiments.

The designed ECD (option No. 2) develops the required force and, unlike the ECD (option No. 1) with the classical layout of the magnetic system, is capable to operate at inaccurate positioning of a uPod in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Conclusion: The developed prototypes of ECD sections will be used in passive safety systems as an energy-independent rolling stock retarder in urban, as well as in high-speed and hyper-speed transport and infrastructure complexes uST in relation to any natural and climatic conditions of our planet.