Magnetic levitation transport of mining products. Report of investigations/1995

U.S. Bureau of Mines researchers have developed innovative magnetic levitation (mag-lev) technology that allows for noncontact, frictionless conveyance of materials within a dedicated transit corridor. A transport system incorporating this technology could improve the safety and reduce the cost of underground mining and materials handling. The mag-lev transport technology uses two types of permanent magnets. An array of neodymium-iron-boron magnets is contained in the base of each levitated materials container, and an array of ceramic-5 magnets lines the bottom of the transit corridor. The orientation of the magnets is such that the two arrays repel each other. An electronic position control system, located on the levitated materials containers, overcomes the inherent lateral instability of the repelling magnet arrays.