Electormagnetic drive method and apparatus for driving a rotationally stabilized magnetically levitated object

A method of magnetically levitating an object for an extended period of time, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first base magnet having a first magnetic field and a second magnet having a second magnetic field and a spindle for spinning the second magnet about a spin axis;
• placing a washer in loosely fitting relation about said spindle so as to permit relative rotation between said washer and said spindle;
• rotating said second magnet over said first base magnet at a frequency of rotation to magnetically levitate the second magnet at a location over the second magnet;
• generating a third magnetic field having a magnetic field component at the location of the second magnet;
• and
• pulsing said third magnetic field at a selected pulse frequency independently of the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, that is, with no input to said pulsing means derived from the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, and such that the rotating second magnet has a frequency of rotation greater than the lowest coupling pulse frequency of the third magnetic field to maintain the rotation and levitation of said second magnet for an extended period of time.

A magnetic levitation system for levitating an object for an extended period of time, comprising:

• a first magnet having a first axis and a substantially planar first surface, said first magnet being magnetized normal to said first surface and parallel to said first axis such that said first surface has a first polar orientation;
• a second magnet having a second axis and a second surface, said second magnet being magnetized normal to said second surface and parallel to said second axis such that said second surface has the same polar orientation as the first surface of the first magnet, said second magnet having a spindle;
• a washer loosely disposed about said spindle so as to be rotatable and radially movable relative thereto;
• means for rotating said second magnet about the second axis whereby when said second magnet is rotated and disposed above said first magnet with the first and second surfaces in confronting relation, said second magnet levitates at a location over said first magnet;
• and
• means for applying a component of a pulsed magnetic field at the location of levitation of the second magnet such that the rotating second magnet has a frequency of rotation greater than the lowest coupling pulse frequency of the pulsed magnetic field and the pulsed magnetic field is pulsed at a selected pulse frequency independently of the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, that is, with no input to said pulsing means derived from the frequency of rotation of said second magnet to maintain the rotation and levitation of the second magnet for an extended period of time.

A system for magnetically levitating an object for an extended period of time, comprising:

• a first base magnet having a first magnetic field;
• a second magnet having a second magnetic field and a spin axis;
• a spindle for rotating said second magnet about the spin axis at a frequency of rotation such that when said second magnet is rotated above said first base magnet, said second magnet levitates over said first base magnet;
• a washer loosely mounted on the spindle so as to be radially movable with respect thereto;
• means for generating a third magnetic field having a horizontal magnetic field component at the second magnet, said generating means including an oblong coil and a ferrous sheet material core;
• and
• means for pulsing said third magnetic field at a selected pulse frequency independently of the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, that is, with no input to said pulsing means derived from the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, and such that the rotating second magnet has a frequency of rotation greater than the lowest coupling pulse frequency of the third magnetic field.

A system for magnetically levitating an object for an extended period of time, comprising:

• a first base magnet having a first magnetic field;
• a second magnet having a spindle, a second magnetic field and a spin axis;
• means for rotating said second magnet about the spin axis at a frequency of rotation such that when said second magnet is rotated above said first base magnet, said second magnet levitates over said first base magnet;
• a washer loosely mounted on the spindle so as to be radially movable with respect thereto;
• means for generating a third magnetic field having a magnetic field component at the second magnet;
• and
• means for pulsing said third magnetic field at a selected pulse frequency independently of the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, that is, with no input to said pulsing means derived from the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, and such that the rotating second magnet has a frequency of rotation greater than the lowest coupling pulse frequency of the third magnetic field.

A method of magnetically levitating an object for an extended period of time, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first base magnet having a first magnetic field and a second magnet having a spindle, a second magnetic field and a spin axis;
• placing a washer in loosely fitting relation about said spindle so as to permit relative rotation between said washer and said spindle;
• rotating said second magnet over said first base magnet at a frequency of rotation to magnetically levitate the second magnet at a location over the second magnet;
• generating a third magnetic field at the location of the second magnet;
• and
• pulsing said third magnetic field at a selected pulse frequency independently of the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, that is, with no input to said pulsing means derived from the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, and such that the rotating second magnet has a frequency of rotation greater than the lowest coupling pulse frequency of the third magnetic field to maintain the rotation and levitation of said second magnet for an extended period of time.

A system for magnetically levitating an object for an extended period of time, comprising:

• a first base magnet having a first magnetic field;
• a second magnet having a second magnetic field and a spin axis;
• means for rotating said second magnet about the spin axis at a frequency of rotation such that when said second magnet is rotated above said first base magnet, said second magnet levitates over said first base magnet;
• a spindle attached to said second magnet;
• a washer loosely mounted on the spindle so as to be radially movable with respect thereto;
• means for generating a third magnetic field having a magnetic field component at the second magnet;
• and
• means for pulsing said third magnetic field at a selected pulse frequency independently of the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, that is, with no input to said pulsing means derived from the frequency of rotation of said second magnet, and such that the rotating second magnet has a frequency of rotation greater than the lowest coupling pulse frequency of the third magnetic field.