Meglev Project Unveiled
91´«Ă˝, Hermitage PA was contacted by Hall Industries to vacuum heat treat a prototype aluminum chassis for the “Urban Meglev Project.”  Hall Industries is part of the team commissioned to develop magnetic levitation technology transportation.  The goal is to develop cost-effective, reliable, energy efficient, and environmentally sound urban mass transportation.  Although, magnetic levitation transportation has previously been used in Japan and Germany, this is the first initiative in the United States.
Solar’s unique vacuum furnace capabilities made it a suitable vendor for the project’s heat treating of a 1,600 lb, 6061 aluminum chassis weldment. Â Hall Industries needed a high pressure gas quench of a 6061 aluminum chassis from the welded “O” condition to a T4 condition. This would then be followed by a subsequent age to obtain a T6 condition. Â Solar has successfully gas quenched 6061 aluminum tubing for the medical industry, but a 1,600 lb. weldment was a new challenge. Â High pressure gas quenching was considered the best alternative because of the distortion problems with water or glycol quenching.
To assist quenching two 300 horse power blower motors over-rotating to 5,000 rpm for greater gas velocity, gave Hall Industries confidence that Solar could meet part specifications. Â After performing various test runs with gas quenching and confirming the yield strengths of the aluminum, Solar successfully thermally treated the chassis to a T6 condition. Â General Atomics of San Diego, CA is the prime contractor of the grant from the US government. Â General Atomics has just completed the construction of the test track for the Urban Maglev that is designed to travel less than 50 MPH. Â General Atomics is also in the process of developing the California-Nevada Maglev, designed to travel at a speed up to 240 MPH. Â The most enabling and intriguing aspect of the Maglev technology is its ability to operate in tight turns, steep grades, and harsh climates, while remaining extremely quiet.
The first prototype Maglev will be put to use at California University in Western PA. Â The Urban Maglev will transport students, faculty, and staff two miles between the north campus and the south campus. Â The prototype Maglev is expected to deploy in California, PA in 2005, which will mark the unveiling of the first magnetic levitation vehicle in the United States. Â This All-American technology could potentially create a large industry for Maglev transportation in Western PA.