Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Mulcahy

Thomas M. Mulcahy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Bearing design for flywheel energy storage using high-TC superconductors
    Patent number: 6153958
    Abstract: A high temperature superconductor material bearing system (38) This system (38) includes a rotor (50) having a ring permanent magnet (60), a plurality of permanent magnets (16, 20 and 70) for interacting to generate levitation forces for the system (38). This group of magnets are a push/pull bearing (75). A high temperature superconductor structure (30) interacts with the ting permanent magnet (60) to provide stabilizing forces for the system (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: John R. Hull, Thomas M. Mulcahy
  • Mixed-mu superconducting bearings
    Patent number: 5722303
    Abstract: A mixed-mu superconducting bearing including a ferrite structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet structure. The ferrite structure is levitated by said stationary permanent magnet structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: John R. Hull, Thomas M. Mulcahy
  • Low-loss, high-speed, high-T.sub.c superconducting bearings
    Patent number: 5640887
    Abstract: A flywheel energy storage device including an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet. The stationary permanent magnet levitates the iron structure while the superconductor structure can stabilize the rotating iron structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: John R. Hull, Thomas M. Mulcahy, Kenneth L. Uherka
  • Dual-keel electrodynamic maglev system
    Patent number: 5586504
    Abstract: A propulsion and stabilization system with a plurality of superconducting magnetic devices affixed to the dual-keels of a vehicle, where the superconducting magnetic devices produce a magnetic field when energized. The system also includes a plurality of figure-eight shaped null-flux coils affixed to opposing vertical sides of slots in a guideway. The figure-eight shaped null-flux coils are vertically oriented, laterally cross-connected in parallel, longitudinally connected in series, and continue the length of the vertical slots providing levitation and guidance force. An external power source energizes the figure-eight shaped null-flux coils to create a magnetic traveling wave that interacts with the magnetic field produced by the superconducting magnets to impart motion to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by The United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Jianliang He, Zian Wang, Donald M. Rote, Howard T. Coffey, John R. Hull, Thomas M. Mulcahy, Yigang Cal
  • Low-loss, high-speed, high-T.sub.C superconducting bearings
    Patent number: 5540116
    Abstract: A flywheel energy storage device including an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet. The stationary permanent magnet levitates the iron structure while the superconductor structure can stabilize and levitate the rotating iron structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: John R. Hull, Thomas M. Mulcahy, Kenneth L. Uherka