Hybrid Bearing
First Claim
1. A hybrid bearing comprising:
- a. a stator comprising;
i. a gas sector fluidly connected to a compressed fluid source, wherein said gas sector comprises a bearing pad with an active surface, and wherein a compressed fluid from said compressed fluid source exits said bearing pad at said active surface;
ii. a magnetic sector connected to an electricity source, wherein said magnetic sector comprises a coil, and wherein said electricity source provides an electrical current to said coil to form a magnetic field;
b. a rotor rotatable with respect to said stator, said rotor comprising;
i. a ferromagnetic portion, wherein said ferromagnetic portion is positioned adjacent said magnetic sector at least once during a full rotation of said rotor with respect to said stator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for radial and axial hybrid bearings using gas sector(s) and magnetic sector(s) to increase bearing load capacity and stiffness, reduce bearing size and bearing span, and reduce cost comprises a stator and a rotor. An illustrative embodiment of a stator for use with a hybrid bearing may include one or more bearing pads positioned in a gas sector, and the stator may also include one or more magnetic sectors. The hybrid bearings may provide for the elimination of much of the magnetic bearing structure and associated power electronics using a pressurized gas/air bearing to react the bearing steady load while reserving the magnetic bearing and its controls to react dynamic loads and stabilize the bearing. In addition, the magnetic bearing controls for a hybrid bearing may be used to monitor bearing operating condition and provide communications of these conditions to the outside world.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hybrid bearing comprising:
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a. a stator comprising; i. a gas sector fluidly connected to a compressed fluid source, wherein said gas sector comprises a bearing pad with an active surface, and wherein a compressed fluid from said compressed fluid source exits said bearing pad at said active surface; ii. a magnetic sector connected to an electricity source, wherein said magnetic sector comprises a coil, and wherein said electricity source provides an electrical current to said coil to form a magnetic field; b. a rotor rotatable with respect to said stator, said rotor comprising; i. a ferromagnetic portion, wherein said ferromagnetic portion is positioned adjacent said magnetic sector at least once during a full rotation of said rotor with respect to said stator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A radial hybrid bearing comprising:
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a. a stator comprising; i. a gas sector fluidly connected to a compressed fluid source, wherein said gas sector comprises a bearing pad with an active surface, wherein a compressed fluid from said compressed fluid source exits said bearing pad at said active surface, and wherein said gas sector is positioned on the lower 180 degrees of said stator relative to a radial plane of said stator; ii. a magnetic sector connected to an electricity source, wherein said magnetic sector comprises a coil, wherein said electricity source provides an electrical current to said coil to form a magnetic field, and wherein said magnetic sector is positioned on the upper 180 degrees of said stator relative to said radial plane of said stator; b. a rotor rotatable with respect to said stator, said rotor comprising; i. a ferromagnetic portion, wherein said ferromagnetic portion is positioned adjacent said magnetic sector at least once during a full rotation of said rotor with respect to said stator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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a. engaging a rotor with a rotatable shaft; b. positioning a stator adjacent said rotor, wherein said stator comprises; i. a gas sector fluidly connected to a compressed fluid source, wherein said gas sector comprises a bearing pad with an active surface, and wherein a compressed fluid from said compressed fluid source exits said bearing pad at said active surface; ii. a magnetic sector connected to an electricity source, wherein said magnetic sector comprises a coil, and wherein said electricity source provides an electrical current to said coil to form a magnetic field; c. employing a hybrid bearing by using said gas sector to react a steady-state load imparted to said hybrid bearing via shaft; and d. using said magnetic sector and a control system therefor to react a dynamic load imparted to said hybrid bearing via said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification