Yes, there are patents for both magnetic and electric versions of this.
Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the inventor of the capacitor
version, but he is a member of some of the lists, so he might pop up. The
magnetic version was invented by Wachspress:
http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?pn=US04874346__
US4874346: Free flying magnetic levitator
A free flying magnetic levitator that is self stabilized and fully
maneuverable for magnetic structure establishing an odd number of poles for
interaction with another magnetic field having an even number of poles to
produce linear motion instead of rotation without a guideway.
Longitudinally wound coils produce the odd pole magnetic field for
maximizing coupling with an even pole field such as the magnetic field of
the earth.
>
> This is just a thought. Excuse me if it is imbecile.
Not at all :-)
Fred
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