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US 10,180,163 B2Granted
Rotation-speed-independent stabilizer for passive magnetic bearing systems
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorRichard F Post
Life of this patent
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Abstract
By employing a combination of magnetic forces and those from electrostatic fields, a new stabilizer is able, unlike those employing dynamic effects, to function at any speed with no need for sensors or dynamically generated electrical currents. Embodiments are provided that stabilize the radial, axial and tilt instability. In addition to its use for stabilization, the radial stabilizer described herein also functions as an eccentricity detector.
Claims26
An apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable cylinder having a central longitudinal axis;
- means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder, wherein said at least one instability is selected from the group consisting of radial, axial and tilt;
- and
- means for utilizing magnetic forces between permanent magnets to stabilize any instability of said group that is not stabilized by said static electrostatic forces, wherein said means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder comprises:
- a single first ring centered on said axis, concentric with, fixedly attached to, and electrically isolated from said cylinder, said single first ring having a first diameter and comprising material selected from the group consisting of dielectric or metal;
- a stationary single second ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a second diameter overlapping said first diameter and comprising metal;
- a stationary single third ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a third diameter overlapping said first diameter and comprising metal, wherein said single first ring is between and spaced from said single second ring and said single third ring;
- and
- a first power supply having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is connected to said single second ring and said second lead is connected to said single third ring.
6 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable cylinder having a central longitudinal axis;
- means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder, wherein said at least one instability is selected from the group consisting of radial, axial and tilt;
- and
- means for utilizing magnetic forces between permanent magnets to stabilize any instability of said group that is not stabilized by said static electrostatic forces, wherein said means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder comprises:
- a single first ring centered on said axis, concentric with, fixedly attached to, and electrically isolated from said cylinder, said single first ring having a first diameter and comprising material selected from the group consisting of dielectric or metal;
- a stationary single second ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a second diameter greater than said first diameter, wherein said stationary single second ring comprises metal;
- a stationary single third ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a third diameter less than said first diameter, wherein said single third ring comprises metal, wherein said single first ring is between and spaced from said single second ring and said single third ring, wherein said single first ring and said single second ring and said single third ring are all located such that they overlap on a plane perpendicular with said central longitudinal axis;
- and
- a power supply having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is connected to said single second ring and said second lead is connected to said single third ring.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a rotatable cylinder having a central longitudinal axis;
- utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder, wherein said at least one instability is selected from the group consisting of radial, axial and tilt;
- and
- utilizing magnetic forces between permanent magnets to stabilize any instability of said group that is not stabilized by said static electrostatic forces, wherein the step of utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder is carried out with an apparatus comprising:
- a single first ring centered on said axis, concentric with, fixedly attached to, and electrically isolated from said cylinder, said single first ring having a first diameter and comprising material selected from the group consisting of dielectric or metal;
- a stationary single second ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a second diameter overlapping said first diameter and comprising metal;
- a stationary single third ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a third diameter overlapping said first diameter and comprising metal, wherein said single first ring is between and spaced from said single second ring and said single third ring;
- and
- a first power supply having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is connected to said single second ring and said second lead is connected to said single third ring, the method further comprising providing voltage from said first power supply to said second ring and said third ring.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a rotatable cylinder having a central longitudinal axis;
- utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder, wherein said at least one instability is selected from the group consisting of radial, axial and tilt;
- and
- utilizing magnetic forces between permanent magnets to stabilize any instability of said group that is not stabilized by said static electrostatic forces, wherein the step of utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder is carried out with an apparatus comprising:
- a first ring centered on said axis, concentric with, fixedly attached to, and electrically isolated from said cylinder, said first ring having a first diameter and comprising material selected from the group consisting of dielectric or metal;
- a stationary second ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a second diameter greater than said first diameter, wherein said second ring comprises metal;
- a stationary third ring centered on said axis, concentric with said cylinder and having a third diameter less than said first diameter, wherein said third ring comprises metal, wherein said first ring is between and spaced from said second ring and said third ring, wherein said first ring and said second ring and said third ring are all located such that they overlap on a plane perpendicular with said central longitudinal axis;
- and
- a power supply having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is connected to said second ring and said second lead is connected to said third ring, the method further comprising providing voltage from said first power supply to said second ring and said third ring.
6 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable cylinder having a central longitudinal axis;
- means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder, wherein said at least one instability is selected from the group consisting of radial, axial and tilt;
- and
- means for utilizing magnetic forces between permanent magnets to stabilize any instability of said group that is not stabilized by said static electrostatic forces, wherein said means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder provides stabilization of said cylinder at any speed including zero speed.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- providing a rotatable cylinder having a central longitudinal axis;
- utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder, wherein said at least one instability is selected from the group consisting of radial, axial and tilt;
- and
- utilizing magnetic forces between permanent magnets to stabilize any instability of said group that is not stabilized by said static electrostatic forces, wherein said means for utilizing static electrostatic forces to stabilize at least one instability of said cylinder provides stabilization of said cylinder at any speed including zero speed.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.