Flux trapped superconductor motor and method therefor

A superconductor motor comprising:

• a stator assembly having at least one stator winding of an electrically conductive material;
• a rotor assembly including a plurality of superconductive elements and means for supporting these elements;
• means for concentrically mounting the stator and rotor assemblies so there is an axial air gap therebetween;
• means for cooling the rotor assembly from a first temperature which is above a critical level to a second temperature which is below the level;
• and
• means for energizing the stator winding while the rotor assembly temperature is being lowered to below the critical level and for de-energizing the winding thereafter, thereby to trap lines of flux in the rotor assembly so the rotor assembly acts like a permanent magnet, the supporting means of the rotor assembly including a plate and a plurality of posts evenly spaced about a side of the plate facing the stator assembly, with the superconductive elements being carried on the posts.