Weft insertion guideway design based on high-temperature superconducting levitation

Abstract

Wide-width weaving machines typically employ the method of increasing the shuttle’s initial speed to achieve a broader weft insertion. However, this approach not only leads to issues such as significant equipment vibrations, high noise levels, increased energy consumption, and reduced lifespan but also has limitations in achieving substantial increases in the fabric width. The article proposes a wide-width weft insertion method based on high-temperature superconducting magnetic levitation technology. It utilizes the levitation characteristics of high-temperature superconducting shuttles in a permanent magnet array’s magnetic field to levitate the shuttle. The shuttle is then propelled by a traveling wave magnetic field generated by an array of electromagnetic coils, enabling wide-width weft insertion. Based on the required thrust values and weaving speed for the shuttle insertion process, the structural parameters of the weft insertion guideway were calculated. A superconducting suspended weft insertion structure was designed, and a mathematical model between the weft insertion guideway and the shuttle was established. Subsequently, a simulation model of the weft insertion guideway was created using Simulink, and the model was simulated, verified, and analyzed using the field-oriented control algorithm. The simulation results indicate that the operating speed of the levitated shuttle and the driving force for weft insertion meet the requirements for high-speed wide-width weaving.