# US 10,119,592 B2 · Vehicle drivetrain with active magnetic bearings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,592 B2 - Document ID: US10119592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/641,084 - Filed: 2015-03-06 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06 - Assignees: Elwha LLC - Applicants: Elwha LLC - Inventors: Geoffrey F. Deane; Philip A. Eckhoff; Bran Ferren; William Gates; W. Daniel Hillis; Roderick A. Hyde; Muriel Y. Ishikawa; Edward K. Y. Jung; Jordin T. Kare; John Latham; Nathan P. Myhrvold; Robert C. Petroski; Clarence T. Tegreene; David B. Tuckerman; Thomas A. Weaver; Charles Whitmer; Lowell L. Wood, Jr.; Victoria Y. H. Wood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119592B2 ## CPC - F16F 15/03: using {magnetic or} electromagnetic means (F16F9/53, {F16F15/005} take precedence) - F16C 32/0402: {combined with other supporting means, e.g. hybrid bearings with both magnetic and fluid supporting means} - F16C 32/0408: {Passive magnetic bearings} - F16C 32/0425: {for radial load mainly} - F16C 32/044: {Active magnetic bearings} - F16C 32/0442: {with devices affected by abnormal, undesired or non-standard conditions such as shock-load, power outage, start-up or touchdown} - F16C 32/0444: {Details of devices to control the actuation of the electromagnets} - F16C 39/06: using magnetic means - F16C 39/066: {with opposing permanent magnets repelling each other} - F16F 15/002: {characterised by the control method or circuitry (control of mechanical oscillations per se G05D19/00)} - F16D 1/10: Quick-acting couplings in which the parts are connected by simply bringing them together axially - F16D 3/06: specially adapted to allow axial displacement - F16D 2001/103: {the torque is transmitted via splined connections} - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A vehicle drivetrain includes a magnetic bearing. The vehicle drivetrain includes a motor configured to provide a rotational driving force. The rotational driving force is received by a shaft, and the magnetic bearing is configured to support the shaft. The shaft is configured to drive a wheel of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle drivetrain, comprising: a motor configured to provide a rotational driving force; a shaft configured to receive the rotational driving force from the motor; a magnetic bearing configured to selectively support the shaft; a mechanical bearing configured to selectively support the shaft; and a control mechanism configured to transition support of the shaft between the mechanical bearing and the magnetic bearing by controlling a magnetic system structured to move at least one of the shaft and the mechanical bearing between a first position where the shaft is supported by the mechanical bearing when the control mechanism detects that a vehicle speed is below a threshold and a second position where the shaft is not supported by the mechanical bearing when the control mechanism detects that the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the magnetic bearing is a passive magnetic bearing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 2, wherein the passive magnetic bearing comprises electromagnets having a variable field not actively controlled. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the magnetic bearing is a hybrid bearing comprising both passive and active bearing elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the magnetic bearing is an active magnetic bearing including electromagnets configured to interact with the shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the magnetic bearing is a hybrid magnetic bearing including both permanent magnets and electromagnets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes at least one spline section configured to interface with a component driven by the shaft, and wherein the splines are configured to allow for the shaft to move relative to the mechanical bearing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein a component driven by the shaft is at least one of a wheel hub assembly, a differential, a coupling, or a second shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, further comprising: magnetic reduction gearing at a wheel of the vehicle and configured to reduce an input rotational speed from the shaft to an output rotational speed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the threshold further includes a shaft rotation rate, a power availability, or a vibration level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the mechanical bearing is included within the magnetic bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a tapered flange portion having at least one diameter larger than a second diameter of the shaft, the shaft configured to engage with the mechanical bearing when the tapered flange portion is inserted within the mechanical bearing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to transition support of the shaft from the magnetic bearing to the mechanical bearing based on determining that the threshold condition is no longer satisfied. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the magnetic system produces a first magnetic field that moves at least one of the shaft and the mechanical bearing to the first position, and a second magnetic field that moves at least one of the shaft and the mechanical bearing to the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a plate, and wherein the magnetic system includes an electromagnet that produces a first magnetic field that attracts the plate and moves the shaft to the first position, and a second magnetic field that repulses the plate and moves the shaft to the second position. ### Claim 16 A vehicle drivetrain, comprising: a shaft configured to receive a rotational driving force; a magnetic bearing configured to selectively support the shaft; a mechanical bearing configured to selectively support the shaft; a magnetic system structured to move at least one of the shaft and the mechanical bearing between a first position where the shaft is supported by the mechanical bearing and a second position where the shaft is not supported by the mechanical bearing via a reaction force caused by a magnetic field produced by the magnetic system; and a control mechanism controlling the magnetic system to transition support of the shaft between the mechanical bearing and the magnetic bearing based on a threshold condition including a vehicle speed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 16, wherein the threshold condition is at least one of a shaft rotation rate, a power availability, or a vibration level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 16, wherein the control mechanism controls the magnetic system to transition support of the shaft from the magnetic bearing to the mechanical bearing based on determining that the threshold condition is no longer satisfied. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle drivetrain of claim 16, wherein the magnetic system produces a first magnetic field that moves at least one of the shaft and the mechanical bearing to the first position, and a second magnetic field that moves at least one of the shaft and the mechanical bearing to the second position.