Flywheel power supply having axial magnetic bearing for frictionless rotation

A flywheel device comprising:

• a housing containing a flywheel rotor and
• a motor/generator comprising a motor/generator rotor,
• the flywheel rotor and the motor/generator rotor being mounted on a common shaft,
• an active axial magnetic bearing comprising a coil surrounding the shaft and being located adjacent to the motor/generator rotor for frictionless rotation, the bearing providing support for the shaft, the flywheel rotor and motor/generator rotor,
• the axial magnetic bearing being connected to the housing and providing, in combination with the motor/generator rotor, a flux path and magnetic field tending to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted,
• wherein a single flux path extends through the motor/generator rotor and axial magnetic bearing providing the magnetic field tending to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted.

A power supply device for providing uninterrupted power for a period of time, the power supply device comprising a controller and a flywheel device, the flywheel device comprising:

• a housing containing a flywheel rotor and a motor/generator comprising a motor/generator rotor, the flywheel rotor and the motor/generator rotor being mounted on a common shaft, an active axial magnetic bearing being located to support the shaft for frictionless rotation, the bearing providing support for the shaft, the flywheel rotor and motor/generator rotor, the axial magnetic bearing being attached to the housing and providing, in combination with the motor/generator rotor, a flux path and magnetic field tending to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted, wherein a single flux path extends through the motor/generator rotor and axial magnetic bearing providing the magnetic field tending to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted,
• the flywheel device further comprising a damping device positioned at one end of the shaft, the damping device comprising a plate member having a center bore and a sleeve positioned in the center bore and fitting around the shaft, the plate member having a chamber for containing a fluid, the chamber communicating with the center bore by means of a bore hole for fluid passage therebetween, the chamber containing a spring and a plug, the plug being located between the spring and the fluid to transfer a force from the spring to the fluid or the fluid to the spring.

A flywheel device comprising:

• a housing containing a flywheel rotor and a motor/generator comprising a motor/generator rotor, the flywheel rotor and the motor/generator rotor being mounted on a common shaft, an active axial magnetic bearing being located to support the shaft for frictionless rotation, the bearing providing support for the shaft, the flywheel rotor and motor/generator rotor, the axial magnetic bearing being connected to the housing and providing, in combination with the motor/generator rotor, a flux path and magnetic field tending to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted,
• wherein the motor/generator is located between the axial magnetic bearing and the flywheel rotor,
• wherein a single flux path extends through the motor/generator rotor and axial magnetic bearing providing the magnetic field tending to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted,
• the flywheel device further comprising a damping device positioned at one end of the shaft, the damping device comprising a plate member having a center bore and a sleeve positioned in the center bore and fitting around the shaft, the plate member having a chamber for containing a fluid, the chamber communicating with the center bore by means of a bore hole for fluid passage therebetween, the chamber containing a spring and a plug, the plug being located between the spring and the fluid to transfer a force from the spring to the fluid or the fluid to the spring.