Combination radial and thrust magnetic bearing
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorKenneth A. Blumenstock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combination radial and thrust magnetic bearing is disclosed that allows for both radial and thrust axes control of an associated shaft. The combination radial and thrust magnetic bearing comprises a rotor and a stator. The rotor comprises a shaft, and first and second rotor pairs each having respective rotor elements. The stator comprises first and second stator elements and a magnet-sensor disk. In one embodiment, each stator element has a plurality of split-poles and a corresponding plurality of radial force coils and, in another embodiment, each stator element does not require thrust force coils, and radial force coils are replaced by double the plurality of coils serving as an outer member of each split-pole half.
Claims17
A combination radial and thrust magnetic bearing providing magnetic fields used to control a shaft in both radial and thrust axes comprising:
- (a) a rotor comprising a shaft, a first rotor pair having conical rotor elements separated from each other by a first spacer, and a second rotor pair having rotor elements separated from each other by a second spacer, said first rotor pair being separated from said second rotor pair by a sensor sleeve;
- and
- (b) a stator having first and second stator elements separated from each other by a magnet-sensor disk, said magnet-sensor disk having means to locate bias magnets and means to secure a plurality of position sensors, each of said first and second stator elements comprising:
- (i) an inner flux ring;
- (ii) an outer flux ring;
- (iii) a thrust coil;
- (iv) a plurality of split-poles with conically symmetric pole faces;
- and
- (v) a plurality of radial force coils, one for each of said plurality of split-poles and operatively connected thereto.
A combination radial and thrust magnetic bearing providing magnetic fields used to control a shaft in both radial and thrust axes comprising:
- (a) a rotor comprising a shaft, a first rotor pair having conical rotor elements separated from each other by a first spacer, and a second rotor pair having rotor elements separated from each other by a second spacer, said first rotor pair being separated from said second rotor pair by a sensor sleeve;
- and
- (b) a stator having first and second stator elements separated from each other by a magnet-sensor disk, said magnet-sensor disk having means to locate bias magnets and means to secure a plurality of position sensors, each of said first and second stator elements comprising:
- (i) an inner flux ring;
- (ii) an outer flux ring;
- and
- (iii)a plurality of split-poles with conically symmetric pole faces and with each split-pole having split-pole halves with a coil arranged therearound.
A method for providing magnetic fields used to control a shaft in both radial and thrust axes, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a rotor comprising a shaft, a first rotor pair having conical rotor elements separated from each other by a first spacer, and a second rotor pair having conical rotor elements separated from each other by a second spacer, said first rotor pair being separated from said second rotor pair by a sensor sleeve;
- and
- (b) providing a stator having first and second stator elements separated from each other by a magnet-sensor disk, said magnet-sensor disk having means for locating bias magnets and means for securing a plurality of position sensors, each of said first and second stator elements comprising:
- (i) an inner flux ring;
- (ii) an outer flux ring;
- (iii) a thrust coil;
- (iv) a plurality of split-poles with conically symmetric pole faces;
- and
- (v) a plurality of radial force coils one for each of said plurality of split-poles and operatively connected thereto.
A method for providing magnetic fields used to control a shaft in both radial and thrust axes, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a rotor comprising a shaft, a first rotor pair having conical rotor elements separated from each other by a first spacer, and a second rotor pair having conical rotor elements separated from each other by a second spacer, said first rotor pair being separated from said second rotor pair by a sensor sleeve;
- and
- (b) providing a stator having first and second stator elements separated from each other by a magnet sensor disk, said magnet sensor disk having means for locating bias magnets and means for securing a plurality of position sensors, each of said first and second stator elements comprising:
- (i) an inner flux ring;
- (ii) an outer flux ring;
- and
- (iii) a plurality of split-poles with conically symmetric pole faces and with each split-pole having split-pole halves with a coil arranged therearound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.