Abstract: The invention relates to a kinetic wheel arrangement comprising a stator and a rotor, magnetic bearings formed by cooperating parts respectively connected to the stator and to the rotor in order magnetically to suspend the rotor with respect to the stator, mechanical bearings to allow the stator to support the rotor when the latter is not suspended magnetically, an inertia flywheel constituting a part of the rotor, and means for monitoring, along the axis of rotation Z--Z defined by the stator, the axial position of the rotor with respect to the stator. According to the invention, this arrangement is characterized in that it comprises a magnetic system for giving the radial rigidity of the rotor with respect to the stator, in at least one fixed radial direction, a value different from that presented by said radial rigidity in the other radial directions. The invention is more particularly applicable to the kinetic storage of energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kinetic wheel arrangement comprising a stator and a rotor and magnetic bearings for magnetically suspending the rotor with respect to the stator. According to the invention, for the magnetic bearing parts connected to the stator, an elastic suspension system is provided which is rigid in a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation Z-Z of the rotor, rigid in a second direction V-V at right angles to the axis of rotation of the rotor and flexible in a third direction U-U at right angles to the two directions Z-Z and V-V. The invention is more particularly applicable to the accumulation of energy.