Unipolar composite magnets

Abstract

A unipolar magnet is composed of a plurality of magnetic units. Each magnetic unit is made up of a magnetic body, a paramagnetic or diamagnetic first layer which covers the entire magnetic body except for one of the poles, and a magnetically conductive second layer overlying the first layer. The exposed poles of all the magnetic units have the same polarity and together define a peripheral surface of the magnet. The magnetic units can have the configuration of a segment of a ring and can be assembled to form an annular first magnet whose external peripheral surface is constituted by the exposed poles. Several of these annular first magnets can be superimposed to form a hollow cylinder, and such a cylinder can be used to construct a shaft capable of floating in a housing. To this end, the housing is provided with annular second magnets which surround the first magnets. The internal peripheral surfaces of the second magnets have the same polarity as the external peripheral surfaces of the first magnets thereby causing the shaft to float radially. The housing and the shaft are provided with additional magnets which are superimposed with one another as considered in axial direction of the shaft. Each additional magnet on the shaft confronts an additional magnet on the housing. The confronting magnets are arranged with like poles facing one another thereby causing the shaft to float axially.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.