US 5,345,128 AGranted

Magnetic bearing with closed loops which move in AC electromagnet field and/or which include capacitors

AssigneeMagnetic Bearing Techologies, Inc.

InventorsJoseph F. Pinkerton, David B. Clifton, Scott R. Little

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Abstract

An alternating current electromagnet is used in a magnetic bearing in which one or more electrically conductive loops travel on a prescribed path through a magnetic field produced by the electromagnet. An electrical current is induced in the loop whenever it deviates from its prescribed path. A power supply drives the electromagnet(s) at a frequency at which the magnetic field interacts with the currents induced in the loop to force a deviant loop laterally toward the prescribed path. Capacitors may be connected in series with the loops to provide them with the desired reactances.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A magnetic bearing system, comprising,

an electromagnet which has a first pole, a second pole, and electrical windings,
a power supply for causing an electrical current to flow through said electrical windings to create magnetic flux which simultaneously flows in opposite directions at said first and second poles so that said first and second poles have opposite polarities,
an object which includes closed loops of electrically conductive material, said closed loops being unconnected electrically to any electrical power supply,
said object and said electromagnet being relatively movable so that said loops travel along a prescribed path relative to said electromagnet,
each of said loops forming a boundary of a loop interior area, each of said loops being positioned where its interior area is simultaneously exposed to magnetic flux associated with both of said poles so that an electrical current will be induced in said loop whenever the flux associated with said first pole passing through its interior area is unequal to the flux associated with the second pole passing through its interior area,
said power supply providing alternating current to said electromagnet so that the magnetic polarities of said first and second poles change periodically, said power supply operating at a frequency at which said magnetic flux associated with said poles interacts with said electrical currents induced in the loops to exert forces on the loops in directions which are lateral with respect to said path, tending to move any loop which deviates from said path toward said prescribed path in a lateral direction.

3 more elements

A magnetic bearing system, comprising,

an electromagnet which has primary electrical windings,
a power supply for causing an electrical current to flow through said primary electrical windings to create a field of magnetic flux,
an object which includes a loop of electrically conductive material, said loop being unconnected electrically to any electrical power supply,
said object and said electromagnet being relatively movable so that said loop travels along a prescribed path relative to said electromagnet,
said loop forming a boundary of a loop interior area, said loop being arranged and positioned where it is exposed to said magnetic flux so that an electrical current will be induced in said loop whenever it deviates from its prescribed path,
said power supply providing alternating current to said electromagnet so that the direction of the magnetic flux changes periodically, said power supply operating at a frequency at which said magnetic flux interacts with said electrical currents induced in the loop to exert forces on the loop in a direction which is lateral with respect to said path, tending to move the loop when it deviates from said path toward said prescribed path in a lateral direction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/095,377Filed 23 Jul 1993 · continuation in part
Priority: 25 Sep 1992
Granted: 6 Sep 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16C 32/0408
Magnetic bearings: passive magnetic bearings
F16C 32/0436
Passive magnetic bearings: with a conductor on one part movable with respect to a magnetic field, e.g. a body of copper on one part and a…
H02K 7/09
Structural association with bearings: with magnetic bearings
F16C
Shafts

Family

Serial950,607Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Sep 1992
Serial996,192Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Dec 1992
US 5,302,874 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,345,128 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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