Permanent magnetic bearing
AssigneeIndigo Energy, Inc.
InventorChristopher W. Gabrys
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetic bearing system for support of a body, such as an energy storage flywheel, for rotational about a substantially vertical axis of rotation through its center of mass. The bearing system includes a rotating portion and a stationary portion on each axial side of the center of mass. Two or more concentric axially magnetized ring poles on an axial surface of the rotating body are constructed of multiple individual permanent magnet pieces, arranged in rigs inside a containment cup in the end face of the rotor with radially adjacent rings having alternating magnetic polarities. On the stationary portion, two or more concentric axially magnetized pole rings of permanent magnet material cooperate with the rotating ring magnets to produce both an axial attractive force and a radial centering force.
Claims22
A magnetic bearing system for support of a rotating body having a center of mass about a substantially vertical axis of rotation through said center of mass, said bearing system comprised of a rotating portion and a stationary portion on each axial side of said center of mass;
- said rotating portions include of two or more concentric axially magnetized ring poles on an axial surface of the rotating body and arranged with radially alternating magnetic polarities;
- said rotating ring poles are constructed of multiple, circumferentially-adjacent, individual permanent magnet pieces;
- said rotating magnet pieces number at least four and are contained inside a containment cup having a rim and a web, and are axially held in said cup by magnetic attraction to said web and are radially supported by said rim;
- said stationary portions are comprised of two or more concentric axially magnetized poles of permanent magnet material that cooperate with said rotating ring magnets to produce both an axial attractive force and a radial centering force.
A magnetic bearing system for support of a rotating body about an axis of rotation, comprising:
- a rotating portion and a stationary portion;
- said rotating portion includes at least two concentric axially ring magnets disposed around a circumference of an axial surface of said rotating body and arranged with radially alternating magnetic polarities,
- said rotating ring magnets are constructed of multiple individual permanent magnet pieces around said circumference,
- said rotating magnet pieces are contained inside a containment cup, having a rim portion and a web portion;
- said rotating magnet pieces are magnetically attracted to said web;
- said stationary portions include two or more concentric axially magnetized poles of permanent magnet material that cooperate with said rotating ring magnets to produce both an axial attractive force and a radial centering force.
A magnetic bearing system for an energy storage flywheel, comprising:
- a passive radial magnetic bearing having a rotor portion and a stationary portion with said rotor portion attached to said flywheel;
- said rotor portion is constructed of multiple individual axially magnetized permanent magnet pieces around an axial circumference of said rotor;
- said permanent magnet pieces are contained inside a containment cup having a rim and a web;
- said permanent magnet pieces are magnetically attracted axially to said web and are centrifugally contained by said rim;
- said stationary portion is comprised of an axially magnetized permanent magnet ring that cooperates with said rotating ring magnets to produce both an axial attractive force and a radial centering force.
A process for fully magnetically supporting a high speed rotor for rotation about a substantially vertical axis comprising:
- rotating a containment cup, including a rim portion and a web portion, attached to an axial surface of said rotor, axially opposite and closely adjacent to a stator;
- magnetically attracting two or more concentric axially magnetized ring poles, to said web, and radially supporting said magnets against centrifugal force with said rim, wherein said ring poles are arranged with radially alternating magnetic polarities, and each ring pole is made of at least four individual circumferentially adjacent rotating permanent magnet pieces;
- said rotating ring magnets cooperating with said stationary portions comprised of two or more concentric axially magnetized poles of permanent magnet material to produce both an axial attractive force and a radial centering force;
- and
- axially balancing said rotor with an active axial magnetic bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.