ELECTROPERMANENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING LARGE AIR-GAPS TO SUSPEND LOADS

An electropermanent suspension system is presented in this paper which can suspend a load of 491 grammes at an air-gap of 61 mm with a curre nt as little as 173 mA. The system comprises an electromagnet with hig h energy Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets attached to the soft magnetic ma terial core from both ends. Hall effect sensors are placed at the bott om of the electropermanent configuration which detect the magnetic fie ld between the electropermanent magnet and the suspended load. The ele ctronic circuitry of the sensors then ensure that the magnetic field i s kept constant in the air-gap. The suspended load is also mounted wit h a high energy Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnet which adds to the already increased air-gap between the suspended load and the electropermanent magnet.