Features and Benefits of Car Magnetic Suspension
Content
Today, the electromagnetic suspension of a car continues to be refined by specialists from all over the world, who will be able to make it more accessible to the general consumer, and leading automakers will begin the mass use of this technology on popular car brands.
Since the invention of the internal combustion engine, the automobile suspension has not changed much - it has been improved under the realities of the current moment. The electromagnetic suspension of the car represents a structural breakthrough, but requiring improvements for mass use.
What is an electromagnetic car suspension
The role that the electromagnetic suspension of a car performs does not differ from conventional spring, torsion, spring or pneumatic ones - it connects the car with the road surface. Unlike the usual suspensions, the magnetic ones do not have traditional parts and components: shock absorbers, stabilizing elements, elastic rods.
In the design with electromagnetic suspension, each wheel is equipped with a special rack that performs the work of a shock absorber and an elastic element together. Information while driving from the wheels enters the electronic control unit, and it controls the suspension immediately. Everything that components and parts carry out in mechanical suspensions occurs under the influence of a magnetic field.
How Magnetic Suspension Works
The study of electromagnetic - the interaction of electric and magnetic - fields led scientists to the idea of creating a vehicle flying through the air. The use of this method would improve the means of transportation without unnecessary components and assemblies. Today, such technologies are possible only in fantastic stories, although the principle of electromagnetism has been used in the design of automobile suspension since the 80s of the 20th century.
Bose Electromagnetic Suspension
The principle of operation of the magnetic suspension is based on the use of an electric motor that performs 2 functions:
- Dampen or prevent vibrations. The part of the suspension where the magnets influence each other acts as a shock absorber and strut.
- Transfers torque from the engine to the wheels. Here, the property of repelling the same magnetic poles is used, and the computer processor successfully uses this ability as elastic elements, and does it almost lightning fast.
Magnetic suspension applies only to the entire vehicle, unlike traditional suspension, where one principle can be used in front and another in the back.
Pros and cons of magnetic pendants
Each design feature has advantages and disadvantages.
| pros | Cons |
| In the absence of electrical energy, the magnetic suspension begins to work like mechanical counterparts. | Too high cost |
| Instant reaction of each wheel to changes in the road surface. | |
| Provides uniform smoothness of the movement. | |
| Irregularities of the track are not felt, as with pneumatics or springs, and the system holds the car, damping vibrations and stopping body rolls. | |
| Comfortable ride for everyone sitting in the cabin. | |
| Maximum use of machine capabilities with low energy consumption. |
Today, the electromagnetic suspension of a car continues to be refined by specialists from all over the world, who will be able to make it more accessible to the general consumer, and leading automakers will begin the mass use of this technology on popular car brands.
Top manufacturers
The first vehicle in the 80s on a magnetic cushion was the Berlin city train magnetic levitation, or maglev, from the English expression magnetic levitation. The train actually hovered over the monorail. Today, the congestion of large cities with infrastructure facilities does not allow the use of maglev in its original form, but there are plans to adapt it to standard railroad tracks for intercity and inter-city express trains.
In the automotive industry, three types of electromagnetic suspensions are used.
Electromagnetic suspension for cars
Angry
The pioneer in the invention of magnetic suspensions was the American scientist and businessman Amar Bowes. Since he was engaged in developments in the field of sound and radio nodes, his suspension is structurally based on an identical principle - the movement of a conductive element in a magnetic field. The Bose pendant has the most widespread use of all, thanks to its simplicity. The device resembles the details of an electric generator deployed in the form of a straight line:
- ring-shaped magnets - stator;
- multipole bar magnet - rotor.
The Bose suspension can be set up so that when driving on a defective track, electrical energy is generated in it and sent to the battery.
Delphi
The American corporation for the supply of components to General Motors plants in the production of electromagnetic suspension uses the principle of high-quality controllability in motion. In this version, the device includes:
- shock absorber-pipe;
- liquid with ferromagnetic particles coated with a special substance that prevents sticking;
- a piston with a tip that controls the entire system.
The advantage of the model is the power consumption of 20 watts. The reaction of small charged particles, from 5 to 10 microns, is much better than solid magnets, so the Delphi suspension gets the job done faster than analogues. The fluid inside the shock absorber begins to function according to the hydraulic principle if the control unit is turned off.
Delphi Suspension
SKF
Another type of revolutionary suspension is produced by the Swedish engineering company SKF. The product is a structure consisting of a container in which two electromagnets are placed, and springs, as insurance in case of failure of the electronic control unit. The main emphasis is on changing the elastic properties.
Breakage of any element in the traditional suspension leads to a decrease in the vehicle's ground clearance. SKF's magnetic suspension prevents this phenomenon, as even when the machine is standing for a long time, the main elements of the device are powered by a battery.
All electromagnetic suspensions require complex software to ensure stable operation of the system. For serial use, a number of improvements and cost reduction are required.
