Passive magnetic bearing configurations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A passive magnetic bearing system, comprising:
- a rotor having a vertical axis of rotation;
a first circular magnetic element fixedly attached to an upper portion of said rotor;
a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other;
a third circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a lower portion of said rotor;
a fourth circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said third circular magnetic element and said fourth circular magnetic element repel each other;
a shaft fixedly attached external to said rotor and collinear with said vertical axis of rotation; and
at least one journal bearing element attached to said rotor, wherein said journal bearing comprises a hole that allows passage of said shaft, wherein said shaft passes through said hole and wherein said shaft is not fixedly attached to said rotor.
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Abstract
A journal bearing provides vertical and radial stability to a rotor of a passive magnetic bearing system when the rotor is not rotating and when it is rotating. In the passive magnetic bearing system, the rotor has a vertical axis of rotation. Without the journal bearing, the rotor is vertically and radially unstable when stationary, and is vertically stable and radially unstable when rotating.
16 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A passive magnetic bearing system, comprising:
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a rotor having a vertical axis of rotation; a first circular magnetic element fixedly attached to an upper portion of said rotor; a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other; a third circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a lower portion of said rotor; a fourth circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said third circular magnetic element and said fourth circular magnetic element repel each other; a shaft fixedly attached external to said rotor and collinear with said vertical axis of rotation; and at least one journal bearing element attached to said rotor, wherein said journal bearing comprises a hole that allows passage of said shaft, wherein said shaft passes through said hole and wherein said shaft is not fixedly attached to said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A journal bearing for attachment to a rotor of a passive magnetic bearing system, wherein said rotor comprises a vertical axis of rotation and further includes a first circular magnetic element fixedly attached to an upper portion of said rotor and a third circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a lower portion of said rotor;
- wherein said bearing system further comprises a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other;
wherein said bearing system further comprises a fourth circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said third circular magnetic element and said fourth circular magnetic element repel each other;
wherein said journal bearing comprises;a shaft fixedly attached external to said rotor and collinear with said vertical axis of rotation; and at least one journal bearing element attached to said rotor, wherein said journal bearing element comprises a hole that allows passage of said shaft, wherein said shaft passes through said hole and wherein said shaft is not fixedly attached to said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- wherein said bearing system further comprises a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other;
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20. A method for fabricating a passive magnetic bearing system, comprising:
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providing a rotor having a vertical axis of rotation; fixedly attaching a first circular magnetic element to an upper portion of said rotor; fixedly attaching a second circular magnetic element to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other; fixedly attaching a third circular magnetic element to a lower portion of said rotor; fixedly attaching a fourth circular magnetic element to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said third circular magnetic element and said fourth circular magnetic element repel each other; attaching at least one journal bearing element to said rotor, wherein said journal bearing comprises a hole; and fixedly attaching a shaft to a mount external to said rotor, wherein said shaft is located on said vertical axis of rotation and passes through said hole, wherein said shaft is not fixedly attached to said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for stabilizing a passive magnetic bearing system that includes a rotor comprising a vertical axis of rotation and further includes a first circular magnetic element fixedly attached to an upper portion of said rotor and a third circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a lower portion of said rotor;
- wherein said bearing system further comprises a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other;
wherein said bearing system further comprises a fourth circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said third circular magnetic element and said fourth circular magnetic element repel each other;
wherein said method comprises;fixedly attaching a shaft to a mount external to said rotor, wherein said shaft is aligned with said vertical axis of rotation; and attaching at least one journal bearing element to said rotor, wherein said journal bearing element comprises a hole that allows passage of said shaft, wherein said shaft passes through said hole and wherein said shaft is not fixedly attached to said rotor.
- wherein said bearing system further comprises a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other;
Specification