US 2026/0171880 A1Published application

Machine assembly with vertically-spaced levitation and axial adjustment actuators

OwnerJeffrey Russell SMITHANIK, Tracy Kathryn STREM +3inventors

InventorsJeffrey Russell SMITHANIK, Tracy Kathryn STREM, Mohammed MUSTAFA, Jonathan Lee Vivian LESAGE, Tanner Doran OSEEN

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Abstract

A machine assembly includes a ferromagnetic annular rotor rotatable about a central vertical axis and configured to support at least one object. A plurality of levitation actuators are spaced circumferentially about the central axis and radially outwardly from the rotor. Each levitation actuator includes a permanent magnet configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor to levitate the rotor above a base surface, the attractive force having a vertical component along the central axis. A plurality of axial adjustment actuators are spaced circumferentially about the central axis and radially outwardly from the rotor. Each axial adjustment actuator includes an electromagnet configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor to adjust the position of the rotor along the central axis, the attractive force of each axial adjustment actuator having a vertical component directed in an opposing axial direction from the vertical component of the levitation actuators attractive force.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A machine assembly for rotating at least one object about a central vertical axis, the machine assembly comprising:

an annular rotor formed of a ferromagnetic material, being rotatable about a central vertical axis and configured to support the at least one object;
a plurality of levitation actuators spaced circumferentially about the central vertical axis and radially outwardly from the rotor, each levitation actuator including a permanent magnet and being configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor so as to levitate the rotor above a base surface, the attractive force of each levitation actuator having a vertical component along the central vertical axis;
and
a plurality of axial adjustment actuators spaced circumferentially about the central vertical axis and radially outwardly from the rotor, each axial adjustment actuator including an electromagnet and being configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor so as to adjust the position of the rotor along the central vertical axis, the attractive force of each axial adjustment actuator having a vertical component along the central vertical axis directed in a same axial direction or an opposing axial direction from the vertical component of the attractive force of each one of the levitation actuators.

1 more element

A machine assembly for processing at least one object during rotation, the machine assembly comprising:

an annular rotor formed of a ferromagnetic material, being rotatable about a central vertical axis and configured to support the at least one object;
a plurality of permanent magnets spaced circumferentially about the central vertical axis and radially outwardly from the rotor, each permanent magnet having a center and being configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor, the attractive force of each permanent magnet having a vertical component along the central vertical axis;
and
a plurality of electromagnets spaced circumferentially about the central vertical axis and radially outwardly from the rotor, each electromagnet having a center and being configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor, the centers of the plurality of electromagnets being spaced vertically lower than and circumferentially apart from the centers of the plurality of the permanent magnets such that the attractive force of each electromagnet has a vertical component directed downwardly along the central vertical axis while a vertical component of the attractive force of each permanent magnet extends upwardly along the central vertical axis.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.