Magnetic axial thrust bearings fabricated on individual stator segments

• US 5,705,869 A
• Filed: 06/21/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kliman, Gerald Burt, Preston, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/493,022
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 310/90.5, 310/82, 310/157, 310/254, 310/268
• US Class Current: 310/90.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0459 Details of the magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0476 with active support of one degree of freedom, e.g. axial magnetic bearings

Abstract

An axial magnetic thrust bearing stator includes a plurality of laminated cores. Each of the cores is magnetically conductive, situated in a common plane, and symmetrically situated about a center of rotation. A plurality of electrically conductive coils are provided with each coil situated at least partially in a respective one of the cores.

Claims

1. An axial magnetic thrust bearing stator comprising:

a plurality of laminated bearing stator cores, each of the bearing stator cores comprising a block and being magnetically conductive, situated in a common plane, and symmetrically situated about a center of rotation;

a plurality of bearing stator coils, each bearing stator coil being electrically conductive and situated at least partially in a respective one of the plurality of bearing stator cores; and

a plurality of magnetic wedges, each magnetic wedge being situated between a respective pair of bearing stator cores.

2. An axial magnetic thrust bearing stator comprising:

a plurality of laminated cores, each of the cores being magnetically conductive, situated in a common plane, and symmetrically situated about a center of rotation; and

a plurality of coils, each coil being electrically conductive and situated at least partially in a respective one of the plurality of cores,

each core including a respective surface with a pair of slots extending toward the center of rotation, a respective coil being situated at least partially in the slots, each respective surface being situated on a common plane.

3. An axial magnetic thrust bearing stator comprising:

a plurality of laminated cores, each of the cores being magnetically conductive, situated in a common plane, and symmetrically situated about a center of rotation; and

a plurality of coils, each coil being electrically conductive and situated at least partially in a respective one of the plurality of cores,

each core comprising a middle portion between first and second larger portions, a respective coil being situated around the middle portion, the first larger portion having a surface facing toward the center of rotation, the second larger portion having a surface facing away from the center of rotation.

4. The stator of claim 3, further including a flux barrier between at least one pair of adjacent cores.

5. An axial magnetic thrust bearing stator comprising:

a plurality of laminated bearing stator cores, each of the bearing stator cores being magnetically conductive, situated in a common plane, and symmetrically situated about a center of rotation;

a plurality of bearing stator coils, each bearing stator coil being electrically conductive and situated at least partially in a respective one of the plurality of bearing stator cores,

each bearing stator core including a surface with a raised portion, a respective bearing stator coil being wrapped around the raised portion, each respective surface being situated on a common plane; and

a flux barrier between at least one pair of bearing stator cores.