Magnetic ball thrust bearing

An anti friction bearing comprising

• a first bearing member of ferrous material with a hard surface,
• a second bearing member with a hard surface spaced from said first bearing member with its said hard surface facing that of said first bearing member,
• at least one rolling element positioned between said bearing members in contact with said hard surfaces thereof,
• means for partially restraining the motion of said rolling element,
• a magnetic flux source with two magnetic poles positioned to produce a magnetic flux through said rolling element and at least a portion of said bearing members, and
• means for conducting magnetic flux from one of said bearing members to the more distant pole of said magnetic flux source to complete a substantially closed external flux path between the poles of said source,
• said second bearing member having at least limited mechanically unconstrained freedom of movement toward and away from said first bearing member,
• whereby the force to hold said bearing members in position in contact with said rolling element is provided by said magnetic flux source.

An anti friction bearing comprising

• a first bearing member having a depression therein with a hard surface,
• a second bearing member having a projection thereon with a hard surface spaced from said first bearing member with said projection extending into said depression,
• a magnetic flux source with two poles positioned to produce a magnetic flux through said projection and portions of said bearing members, and
• means for conducting magnetic flux from one of said bearing members to the more distant pole of said magnetic flux source to complete a substantially closed external flux path between the poles of said source,
• whereby there is an attractive force tending to hold said bearing members together.

An anti friction bearing comprising

• a first bearing member with a hard surface,
• a second bearing member spaced from said first bearing member with a hard surface facing that of said first bearing member,
• at least one rolling element positioned between said bearing members in contact with surfaces thereof,
• means for partially restraining the motion of said rolling element,
• a magnetic flux source with two magnetic poles positioned to produce a magnetic flux through said rolling element and at least a portion of said bearing members, and
• means for conducting magnetic flux from one of said bearing members to the more distant pole of said magnetic flux source to provide an external flux path between the poles of said source,
• said second bearing member having at least limited mechanically unconstrained freedom of movement toward and away from said first bearing member,
• whereby the force to hold said bearing members in position in contact with said rolling element is provided by said magnetic flux source.

An anti friction bearing comprising

• a first bearing member with a hard surface,
• a second bearing member spaced from said first bearing member with a hard surface facing that of said first bearing member,
• a plurality of balls positioned between said bearing members in contact with the surfaces thereof,
• means for partially restraining the motion of said plurality of balls including a race in the form of a circle in each of said bearing elements, the line joining the normal points of contact of a ball with said races being perpendicular to the plane of each said circle,
• a magnetic flux source with two magnetic poles positioned to produce a magnetic flux through said plurality of balls and at least a portion of said bearing members, and
• means for conducting magnetic flux from one of said bearing members to the more distant pole of said magnetic flux source to provide an external flux path between the poles of said source,
• whereby there is an attractive force tending to hold said bearing members together with said plurality of balls between.

An anti friction bearing comprising

• a first bearing member of ferrous material with a hard surface,
• a second bearing member with a hard surface spaced from said first bearing member with its said hard surface facing that of said first bearing member,
• a plurality of balls positioned between said bearing members in contact with said hard surfaces thereof,
• means for partially restraining the motion of said plurality of balls including a pair of races, one on the hard surface of each of said bearing elements, said races defining a constrained path for said balls in the form of a circle, the line joining the normal points of contact of a ball with said races being perpendicular to the plane of said circle,
• a magnetic flux source with two magnetic poles positioned to produce a magnetic flux through said plurality of balls and at least a portion of said bearing members, and
• means for conducting magnetic flux from one of said bearing members to the more distant pole of said magnetic source to complete a substantially closed external flux path between the poles of said source.