Abstract: A machine having two co-axial and relatively rotatable rotors and a coaxial stator or housing with respect to which both rotors are rotatable is provided wherein two bearing arrangements mutually support the two rotors with respect to each other and with respect to the stator or housing. One of the bearing arrangements comprises multiple support bearings angularly spaced apart with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotors relative to the stator with the support bearings each having an axle or shaft that is fixed relative to one of the rotors or the stator. Each support bearing cooperates with a raceway provided on a concentric adjacent rotor or stator. The machine may be an electromechanical machine such as a wind turbine in which rotational movement of one of the rotors relative to the other and relative to the stator generates electrical energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical energy conversion system (11) which is particularly suited for use in wind energy conversion systems. The system includes two magnetically separated permanent magnet machines (25, 27) linked by a freely rotating rotor (19) housing permanent magnets (39). The first machine is typically a synchronous generator, and the second an induction generator. The synchronous generator (25) has a stationary stator (21) which is connectable to an electrical system such as an electricity grid, and the induction generator (27) has a rotor (17) which is connectable to a mechanical drive system such as, for example, a wind turbine.

Abstract: A machine having two co-axial and relatively rotatable rotors and a coaxial stator or housing with respect to which both rotors are rotatable is provided wherein two bearing arrangements mutually support the two rotors with respect to each other and with respect to the stator or housing. One of the bearing arrangements comprises multiple support bearings angularly spaced apart with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotors relative to the stator with the support bearings each having an axle or shaft that is fixed relative to one of the rotors or the stator. Each support bearing cooperates with a raceway provided on a concentric adjacent rotor or stator. The machine may be an electromechanical machine such as a wind turbine in which rotational movement of one of the rotors relative to the other and relative to the stator generates electrical energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical energy conversion system (11) which is particularly suited for use in wind energy conversion systems. The system includes two magnetically separated permanent magnet machines (25, 27) linked by a freely rotating rotor (19) housing permanent magnets (39). The first machine is typically a synchronous generator, and the second an induction generator. The synchronous generator (25) has a stationary stator (21) which is connectable to an electrical system such as an electricity grid, and the induction generator (27) has a rotor (17) which is connectable to a mechanical drive system such as, for example, a wind turbine.