Integrated magnetic bearing
First Claim
1. An integrated motor and magnetic bearing, comprising:
- a rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets; and
a stator comprising a plurality of independently controlled coil segments magnetically coupled to said permanent magnets;
said motor segments adapted to produce tangential forces thereto, thereby producing both torque and bearing forces on said stator and said rotor from said tangential forces.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a rotational magnetic gimbal with an integral magnetic bearing. Brushless DC motor technology provides electromagnetic suspension, using a single electromagnetic actuator to perform both the radial bearing and rotary torque (motoring) functions. An integrated motor and magnetic bearing consistent with the invention comprises a rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets and a stator comprising a plurality of independently controlled coil segments magnetically coupled to the permanent magnets. Embodiments may further comprise first and second radial position sensors, the first radial position sensor disposed in or adjacent to a clearance gap between the rotor and the stator for sensing the position of the rotor with respect to the stator along a first axis, and a second radial position sensor disposed in or adjacent to the clearance gap between the rotor and the stator for sensing the position of the rotor with respect to the stator along a second axis. In method form, a method for providing integral electromagnetic motor and bearing functions comprises sensing a first radial position of a rotor, the rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets, with respect to a stator along a first axis, the stator comprising a plurality of independently controlled coil segments magnetically coupled to the permanent magnets; and sensing a second radial position of the rotor with respect to the stator along a second axis; and delivering current to at least one coil segment, the amount of current based on at least one sensed position.
109 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An integrated motor and magnetic bearing, comprising:
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a rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets; and
a stator comprising a plurality of independently controlled coil segments magnetically coupled to said permanent magnets;
said motor segments adapted to produce tangential forces thereto, thereby producing both torque and bearing forces on said stator and said rotor from said tangential forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for manipulating a shaft comprising:
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two integrated motor and magnetic bearing assemblies, each said assembly comprising a rotor and a stator, each said rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets, and each said stator comprising a plurality of independently controlled coil segments magnetically coupled to said permanent magnets, said motor segments adapted to produce tangential forces thereto, thereby producing both torque and bearing forces on said stator and said stator and said rotor from said tangential forces; and
a shaft;
wherein each said assembly is disposed along said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for providing integral electromagnetic motor and bearing functions comprising:
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sensing a first radial position of a rotor, said rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets, with respect to a stator along a first axis, said stator comprising a plurality of independently controlled coil segments magnetically coupled to said permanent magnets;
sensing a second radial position of said rotor with respect to said stator along a second axis; and
delivering current to at least one said coil segment, the amount of said current based on at least one said sensed position;
producing tangential forces on said motor segments; and
producing both torque and bearing forces on said stator and said rotor from said tangential forces.
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Specification