Rotational apparatus
Disclosed herein are apparatuses having a stator and a rotor configured to provide both a magnetic drive means and a magnetic bearing means for a rotatable element. The stator and rotor are configured to operate in unison to provide a magnetic force to rotate a rotatable element associated with the rotor about an axis and to control a radial, an axial, and a tilt position of the rotatable element about the axis. The rotor and stator assemblies are configured with complementary surface shapes to produce shapeable magnetic drive forces and shapeable magnetic bearing forces to drive and control an axial, a radial, and a tilt position of an associated rotatable element.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/593,608 filed Jan. 28, 2005, and entitled Rim-Driven Fluid Pump System, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a rotatable element, and more particularly, to a non-axle driven apparatus having a magnetic bearing and drive means.
One conventional technique to drive a rotation element such as an impeller of a rotational apparatus is through the use of an impeller drive shaft. The impeller drive shaft often penetrates a housing and the driven fluid to connect to a center hub of the impeller. Such a configuration causes the impeller drive shaft to travel through the pump housing and the driven fluid, thus, requiring features such as fluid seals or shaft housings to seal the shaft as it penetrates the housing to prevent the driven fluid from exiting the housing or through the point of shaft entry.
Recent improvements in rotational apparatus technology have eliminated the need for the drive shaft to drive to an impeller of a rotational apparatus and therefore, have eliminated the need for drive shaft seals and drive shaft housings. One improvement incorporates magnets or electromagnets as an impeller drive assembly in place of a drive shaft. However, a magnetic or an electromagnetic drive assembly alone still requires a mechanical bearing affixed to a spindle or shaft on which the impeller is mounted. One drawback to this arrangement is the mechanical bearing tends to wear over time requiring maintenance, downtime, and at some point replacement. Further, mechanical bearings still requires one or more seals, which tend to leak over time, to prevent contamination of the bearing, the driven fluid, or both.
Other recent improvements in rotational apparatus technology include a magnetic bearing assembly, separate from the magnetic drive assembly, in place of the mechanical bearing. Nevertheless, a magnetic bearing assembly located at a center portion of the impeller assembly tends to impede fluid movement through the rotational apparatus due to an increase in size of the center portion of an impeller to house the magnetic bearing assembly or otherwise accommodate a bearing assembly centrally located in the rotational apparatus. Furthermore, placement of the magnetic bearing assembly in relation to the magnetic drive assembly is critical in order to avoid magnetic interference between the magnetic bearing assembly and the magnetic drive assembly, for each magnetic assembly generates a unique and exclusive magnetic field. Further, a separate magnetic bearing assembly and a separate magnetic drive assembly often require complex control systems to compensate for changes in magnetic field strength during operation of the rotational apparatus such as at start up, shutdown, acceleration, or deceleration. Moreover, a magnetic bearing assembly centrally located in the fluid movement apparatus about which an impeller assembly rotates often requires one or more seals to prevent contamination of the bearing, the driven fluid, or both.
Thus, there exists a need for an apparatus having a magnetic drive assembly and a magnetic bearing assembly that avoids impeding the flow of a driven fluid, avoids the complexity of locating and controlling a magnetic drive assembly and a magnetic bearing assembly, and avoids the needs for seals to prevent contamination of the bearing, the driven fluid, or both.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the above-described limitations associated with an apparatus having a rotatable element, a magnetic drive assembly, and a magnetic bearing assembly. The present invention provides an approach to drive and support a rotatable element of an apparatus with a shaped stator assembly and a shaped rotor assembly. The stator assembly is configured to generate a shapeable magnetic field along a periphery of an inner wall of the stator assembly to drive the rotatable element about an axis of rotation using magnetic force and to control a radial, an axial, and a tilt position of the rotatable element about the axis of rotation using magnetic force. The stator assembly is configurable to include one or more electromagnets, one or more magnets, or any combination of magnets and electromagnets. The rotor assembly is configurable to form a distal portion of the rotatable element, configurable to fasten to a distal portion of the rotatable element, or configurable to fasten to an outer surface of the rotational element. Additionally, the rotor assembly is formable during manufacture of the rotatable element.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a rotational apparatus is disclosed. The rotational apparatus includes a rotational element having a circular cross section and a magnetic assembly having a stator. The stator is configured to generate a shapeable magnetic field along a periphery of an inner wall portion to drive the rotational element in axial rotation about an axis of rotation and to control a radial position and an axial position of the rotational element relative to the axis of rotation.
The stator is configurable to include a circular cross-section, an inner passage, an outer wall, and a shaped inner wall. In one aspect of the present invention, the outer wall of the stator has a convex shape. In one aspect of the present invention, the shaped inner wall of the stator has a concave shape. In other aspects of the present invention, the shaped inner wall of the stator has one of the following shapes, a polygon shape or a convex shape.
The magnetic assembly can include a rotor. The rotor is configurable to have a shaped outer wall and an inner wall attachable to the rotational element. The shape of the outer wall of the rotor complements the shape of the shaped inner wall of the stator.
The magnetic assembly is configured so that a change in magnitude of the shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator changes in substantially equal portions the drive of the rotational element and the control of the radial and the axial position of the rotation element. The shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator can control a tilt position of the rotational element relative the axis of rotation.
The stator of the rotational apparatus forms a portion of a magnetic bearing and a magnetic drive means. The stator of the rotational apparatus can be a magnet, an electromagnet, or both.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a fluid movement apparatus is disclosed. The fluid movement apparatus includes a housing, an impeller, and an impeller drive assembly. The housing has a circular cross-section, an inner passage having a longitudinal axis, a first portion adapted as an inlet to receive a fluid, and a second portion adapted as an outlet to provide an egress for the fluid. The impeller is disposed in the inner passage and has a number of impellers that radially extend from a center portion of the impeller. The impeller drive assembly includes a stator configured to generate a shapeable magnetic field to drive the impeller in an axial rotation about the longitudinal axis of the housing and to control a radial position and an axial position of the impeller in the inner passage of the housing. The stator has a circular cross-section, an inner passage, an outer wall, and a shaped inner wall. In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer wall of the stator has a convex shape. In one embodiment of the present invention, the shaped inner wall of the stator has a concave shape. In other embodiments of the present invention, the shaped inner wall of the stator has one of the following shapes, a polygon shape or a convex shape.
The fluid movement apparatus can further include a rotor. The rotor has a circular cross-section, a shaped outer wall, and an inner wall. The shape of the outer wall of the rotor complements the shape of the shaped inner wall of the stator. The inner wall of the rotor can include an aperture extending axially about the longitudinal axis. The inner wall of the rotor is configurable to adjoin a distal portion of one or more of the blades of the impeller.
The fluid movement apparatus has a configuration that allows a change in magnitude of the magnetic field to change in substantially equal portions the drive to the impeller and the control of the radial and axial position of the impeller.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the stator includes a magnet. In another embodiment of the present invention, the stator includes an electromagnet.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic field generated by the stator controls a tilt position of the impeller in the inner passage.
The stator of the fluid movement apparatus forms a magnetic bearing and a magnetic drive means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSThe foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and apparent from the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts through-out the different views. The drawings illustrate principles of the invention, and although not to scale, show relative dimensions.
The present invention discloses a stator assembly that generates a shapeable magnetic field along a periphery portion of an inner wall portion of the stator assembly. The shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator assembly has a magnetic force to drive a rotatable element about an axis of rotation and control a radial, an axial, and a tilt position of the rotatable element about the axis of rotation. The stator assembly of present invention can have a number of physical shapes that include, but are not limited to a substantially circular cross section and a concave inner wall to generate a shapeable magnetic field along the periphery of the concave inner wall to provide a magnetomotive force to drive the rotatable element about an axis of rotation and to control the radial, the axial, and the tilt position of the rotatable element about the axis of rotation. The physical shape of the stator assembly projects the shapeable magnetic field in a manner to interact with the magnetic field of a rotor assembly to produce a magnetic torque to drive the rotor assembly in rotation about an axis of rotation and to produce a magnetic force in the presence of the shapeable magnetic field to control an axial position, a radial position, and a tilt position of the rotor assembly relative to the axis of rotation. Other physical shapes of the stator assembly are discussed below in more detail.
The stator assembly of the present invention can include one or more magnets to provide a magnetic drive means to drive a rotatable element in rotation and to provide a magnetic bearing means to support the rotatable element and control a position of the rotatable element in relation to an axis of rotation. Additionally, the stator assembly of the present invention can include one or more electromagnets to produce the magnetic force to drive, to support, and to control the axial, the radial, and the tilt position of a rotatable element.
The stator assembly of the present invention avoids the need for a magnetic bearing or mechanical bearing centered along a central longitudinal axis of an apparatus about which a rotatable element rotates and further avoids the need for separate magnetic drive and magnetic bearing assemblies. As such, a stator assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention improves, amongst other physical and structural features, fluid movement through a fluid movement apparatus by reducing turbulent flow and increasing head pressure of the fluid movement apparatus. Additionally, a stator assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention beneficially avoids magnetic interference between separate magnetic drive means and magnetic bearing means and beneficially provides a single stator assembly that generates a magnetic force to drive a rotatable element in rotation and to control a position of the rotatable element relative to the axis of rotation.
The stator and rotor assembly of the present invention are well suited for use as a fluid movement apparatus, a motor, a generator, or other apparatus having a rotatable element.
Before continuing with the discussion below it is helpful to first define a few terms as used herein.
The term “fluid” refers to a substance such as a liquid or a gas tending to flow or conform to the outline of its container or flow channel.
The term “rotatable element” refers to a mechanical element rotatable about an axis or center.
The fluid movement apparatus 10 includes a stator assembly 12 and a rotatable element such as an impeller assembly 14. The impeller assembly 14 includes a number of impeller blades 16A-16D that extend radially from a center point 18. The center point 18 represents the point about which the impeller assembly 14 rotates and does not represent an axle or shaft having either mechanical bearings or magnetic bearings about which the impeller assembly 14 rotates. As such, the impeller assembly 14 minimizes any flow obstruction or flow impediment centrally located within the fluid movement apparatus 10, which, in turn, reduces turbulent flow therethrough. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the impeller assembly 14 is illustrated with four impeller blades merely for illustrative purposes and can include fewer than four impeller blades or more than four impeller blades depending on the application and use of the fluid movement apparatus 10. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate the impeller blades of the impeller assembly 14 can have a curved shape and be twisted depending upon the fluid material being handled and the application in which the fluid movement apparatus 10 operates.
The use of a number of magnets, electromagnets, or a combination of magnets and electromagnets to form an array of magnetic field generating elements for the stator assembly 12 allows for variation in material properties and magnet types. In this manner, the stator assembly 12 is configurable to vary or shape the magnetic field strength generated at various locations of the stator assembly 12 to accommodate a need to increase or decrease the magnetic force associated with driving the impeller assembly 14 about an axis of rotation, to increase or decrease the magnetic force associated with controlling a radial position of the impeller assembly, to increase or decrease the magnetic force associated with controlling an axial position of the impeller assembly 14, or to increase or decrease the magnetic force associated with controlling a tilt position of the impeller assembly 14. Thus, certain segments or areas of the stator assembly 12 can have an increased number of magnetic poles or have magnetic material with magnetic properties different from other portions of the stator assembly 12 to provide the field strength necessary to generate a magnetic force to act as a magnetic drives means and a magnetic bearing means for the impeller assembly 14. Such features of the present invention are discussed below in more detail in relation to
The arrows illustrated in the air gap 24 represent the shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator assembly 12. The shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator assembly 12 interacts with the magnetic field generated by the rotor assembly 22 to both drive a rotatable element associated with the rotor assembly 22 in rotation about an axis and to control an axial, a radial, and a tilt position of the rotatable element. In this manner, the stator assembly 12 and the rotor assembly 22 provide both a magnetic drive means and a magnetic bearing means for a rotatable element associated with the rotor assembly 22.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotor assembly 22 is affixed to a distal portion of one or more impeller blades 16A-16D of the impeller assembly 14. In another embodiment of the present invention, the rotor assembly 22 is formed as part of the impeller assembly 14 such as a distal portion of each impeller blade 16A-16D. One suitable method for forming the rotor assembly 22 as part of the impeller assembly is through injection molding. In the alternative, the rotor assembly 22 is attachable to the distal portion of one or more impeller blades 16A-16D of the impeller assembly 14. The rotor assembly 22 is formed of a material having magnetic properties. The strength or density of the magnetic material forming the rotor 22 can vary across a plane of the rotor 22. The magnetic properties of the rotor assembly 22 interact with the magnetic field of the stator assembly 12 to drive the impeller assembly 14 and to control an axial position, a radial position, wobble and tilt of the impeller assembly during start-up, shutdown, acceleration, deceleration, and at steady state operation about longitudinal axis 20. The magnetic properties of the rotor assembly 22 can be varied to complement or counteract the shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator assembly 12 to assist in supporting the impeller assembly 14, driving the impeller assembly 14, and controlling a radial position, an axial position, and a tilt position of the impeller assembly 14.
The shaped inner stator wall 26 and the shaped outer rotor wall 30 allow the stator assembly 12 to generate a shapeable magnetic field and project the shaped field in a number of directions to interact with the magnetic field of the rotor assembly to provide both a magnetic drive means to drive the impeller assembly 14 and magnetic bearing means to support and control a radial, an axial, and a tilt position of the impeller assembly 14. The magnetic force in the presence of the shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator assembly 12 acts on the rotor assembly 22 to position the rotor assembly 22 in a desired location within an inner circumference of the stator assembly 12. The magnetic force in the presence of the shapeable magnetic field generated by the stator assembly 12 and the shape of the shaped inner stator wall 26 cooperatively control the position and rotation of the rotor assembly 22 and, in turn, the rotation, the axial position, the radial position, and the tilt of the impeller assembly 14. The shaped inner stator wall 26 and the shaped outer rotor wall 30 allows the stator assembly 12 to proportionally increase or decrease the magnetic drive to drive the impeller assembly 14 in rotation about longitudinal axis 20 and to control an axial, a radial and a tilt position of the impeller assembly 14 within the air gap 24.
The fluid movement apparatus 10 can include one or more sensors 34A-34D for use in sensing a position of the shaped outer rotor wall 30 in relation to the shaped inner stator wall 26 to control the amount of magnetic force generated by the stator assembly 12 to drive and position the impeller assembly 14 within the inner passage of the stator assembly 12. One suitable position sensor for use with the fluid movement apparatus 10 is a Hall Effect sensor, which is responsive to changes in magnetic field density. The fluid movement apparatus 10 can include a touch down bearing 38 to support the impeller assembly 14 when the fluid movement apparatus 10 is not in use.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the location of the first coil assembly 46A and the second coil assembly 46B are merely illustrative and one or more of the coils can be placed at other locations along the periphery of the outer stator wall 28. Further, those skilled in the art will recognize one or more of the coils can be placed in channels or grooves along the outer stator wall 28, embedded in the stator assembly 12, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate the fluid movement apparatus 10 can include more than two coil assemblies, for example, a third coil assembly 48A having a circular cross-section configured to operate in conjunction with the first coil assembly 46A and the second coil assembly 46B to cause the stator assembly 12 to generated a magnetic force to drive the impeller assembly 14 and to control a position of the impeller assembly 14 within the stator assembly 12. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate the fluid movement apparatus 10 can include one coil assembly, for example, the coil assembly 48A which can wrap around the outer periphery of the outer stator wall 28 of the stator assembly 12. Still further, those skilled in the art will appreciate the properties and characteristics of one or more of the coils 46A, 46B, or 48A are configurable to obtain a desired magnetic force generated by the stator assembly 12.
For example, the second portion 82B of the stator assembly 12 can have an increased number of pole pairs as compared to the first portion 82A so that the stator assembly 12 produces a varied magnetic field along the periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26. The varied or shaped magnetic field is represented by the larger number of magnetic field arrows in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped inner wall 26 corresponding to stator assembly portions 82B as compared to the number of magnetic field arrow in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped inner wall 26 corresponding to stator assembly portions 82A. With such a configuration, the varied magnetic field in combination with the shaped inner stator wall 26 provides an increase in the magnetic force to drive the rotational drive of the rotational element 84 in rotation without increasing the force to control the axial, the radial, and the tilt position of the rotational element with respect to the axis of rotation.
Likewise,
The first portion 92A is configurable or formable of a first material type different from a second material type of the second portion 92B. In this manner, the magnetic force associate with the first portion 92A is configurable to be different from the magnetic force associated with the second portion 92B. As such, varying or shaping the magnetic force across the periphery of the shaped outer rotor wall 30 can assist in driving the rotational element 95 in rotation and in controlling an axial, a radial, and a tilt position of the rotational element 95 relative to the axis of rotation. Further, in addition to or in conjunction with, the different material types to generate the varied magnetic field across the periphery of the shaped outer rotor wall 30 the first portion 92A can have a number magnetic pole pairs different from the number of magnetic pole pairs associated with the second portion 92B. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the stator assembly 12 can also have portions having various magnetic properties in conjunction with the rotor assembly 22 having portions with various magnetic properties in order to configure a rotational apparatus in accordance with the teachings of the present invention to achieve a desired balance between driving and controlling a radial position, an axial position, and a tilt position of a rotational element. The increase in magnetic force generated by the rotor assembly 12 by portions 92B is represented by the larger number of magnetic field arrows in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped outer rotor wall 30 corresponding to rotor assembly portions 92B as compared to the number of magnetic field arrow in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped outer rotor wall 30 corresponding to rotor assembly portions 92A.
Likewise,
The stator assembly 12 is configured to have a flared portion (i.e., from wall thickness A to wall thickness B) such that the strength of the magnetic field generated by the flared portion is greater than the strength of the magnetic field generated by the stator assembly 12 along the substantially uniform wall thickness portions with thickness dimension A. The increased magnetic force generated by the flared portion of the stator assembly 12 is represented by the larger number of magnetic field arrows in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to the flared portion between thickness dimension A and thickness dimension B as compared to the number of magnetic field arrow in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to stator assembly portion having a thickness dimension A. As shown, the stator assembly 12 has a thickness dimension that gradually increases from a first dimension A to a second dimension B. Accordingly, the magnetic field strength can gradually increase from the first dimension A to the second dimension B along the corresponding inner periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26.
In operation, the increase in the magnetic field strength from the first dimension A to the second dimension B along the corresponding inner periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 in combination with the physical shape of the shaped inner stator wall 26 improves the ability of the rotational apparatus 100 to control the radial, the axial, and the tilt position of the rotatable element 105 without reducing or otherwise detracting from the magnetic field strength to drive the rotational element 105 in rotation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the portion of the stator assembly 12 having the increased wall thickness from thickness A to thickness B can also have an increased number of magnetic pole pairs, a material type with magnetic properties different from the portion of the stator assembly 22 having the wall thickness A, or both to increase the magnetic force used to control the radial, the axial, and the tilt position of the rotatable element 105 relative to the axis of rotation.
The increased magnetic field strength along the inner periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to the increased wall thickness dimension B increases the magnetic field strength in these areas to improve the control of an axial, a radial, and a tilt position of the rotatable element 115 without reducing or otherwise detracting from the magnetic field strength to drive the rotational element 115 in rotation. The increased magnetic field strength generated along the inner periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to the increased wall thickness dimension B of the stator assembly 12 is represented by the larger number of magnetic field arrows in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to the increased wall thickness dimension B as compared to the number of magnetic field arrow in the air gap 24 along the periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to stator assembly portion having a thickness dimension A. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the portion of the stator assembly 12 having the increased wall thickness B can also have an increased number of magnetic pole pairs, a material type with magnetic properties different from the portion of the stator assembly 22 having the wall thickness A, or both to increase the drive force used to control the axial, the radial, and the tilt position of the rotational element 115 relative to the axis of rotation.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the portion of the stator assembly 12 having the increased wall thickness A can also have an increased number of magnetic pole pairs, a material type with magnetic properties different from the portion of the stator assembly 22 having the wall thickness B, or both to increase the drive force used to drive the rotational element 125 in rotation about the axis of rotation. The increased magnetic field strength along the inner periphery of the shaped inner stator wall 26 corresponding to the increased wall thickness dimension A increases the magnetic field strength in this area to improve the magnetic drive force to drive the rotational element 125 in rotation without reducing or otherwise detracting from the magnetic field strength used to control an axial, a radial, and a tilt position of the rotatable element 125.
In operation, the shaped inner stator wall 26 depicted in
Some or all of the rotor blade members 31A-31H are coupled directly or indirectly to a distal portion of one or more of the impeller blades 16A-16D of the impeller assembly 14. That is, the inner wall 32 of each of the rotor blade members 31A-31H is attachable to an outer wall 33 of a tubular member 37. The tubular member 37 includes an inner wall 35 and has an inner circular cross-section adapted to conform to a rotatable element suitable for use with the rotational apparatus 140. One example of a suitable rotational element is the impeller assembly 14. Alternatively, as discussed in relation to
As discussed above and below in relation to
The various embodiments of the above described fluid movement apparatus and rotational apparatus are well suited for use in various industries such as boating, air handling, petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, automotive, aeronautic and other commercial, residential and industrial applications.
While the present invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments thereof, one skilled in the art will appreciate that there are changes in form and detail that may be made without departing from the intended scope of the present invention as defined in the pending claims. For example, the stator assembly 12 can have an outer wall with a shape different from a convex shape, such as a square shape, a rectangle shape, an elliptical shape, and the like. Additionally, the stator assembly 12 can include a number of poles in locations to increase the drive force on a rotational element with an increase of magnitude of current supplied to the stator assembly 12 without substantially increasing the control forces (i.e. magnetic bearing forces) that control a radial, an axial, and a tilt position of the rotational element about an axis of rotation. Further, the stator assembly 12 can include a number of poles to increase the magnetic force generated to control the position (i.e., magnetic bearing forces) on the rotational element with an increase in magnitude of current applied to the stator assembly 12 without increasing the drive to the rotational element.
Claims
1. A fluid movement apparatus comprising,
- a housing having a circular cross-section, an inner passage having a longitudinal axis, a first portion adapted as an inlet to receive a fluid, and a second portion adapted as an outlet to provide an egress for the fluid;
- an impeller disposed in the inner passage having a plurality of blades radially extending from a center portion of the impeller, and
- an impeller drive assembly having a stator configured to generate a shapeable magnetic field to drive the impeller in an axial rotation about the longitudinal axis of the housing and to control a radial position and an axial position of the impeller in the inner passage of the housing.
2. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stator comprises a circular cross-section, an inner passage, an outer wall, and a shaped inner wall.
3. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the outer wall of the stator comprises a shaped outer wall.
4. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shaped inner wall comprises a shape selected from the following: a polygon shape, a concave shape, or a convex shape.
5. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a rotor.
6. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rotor comprises a circular cross-section, a shaped outer wall, and an inner wall.
7. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inner wall of the rotor includes an aperture extending axially about the longitudinal axis.
8. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inner wall of the rotor adjoins a distal portion of one or more of the plurality of blades.
9. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 6, wherein the shaped outer wall of the rotor comprises a shape complimentary to the shaped inner wall of the stator.
10. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein a change in magnitude of the magnetic field changes in substantially equal portions the drive to the impeller and the control of the radial and axial position of the impeller.
11. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stator comprises a magnet.
12. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stator comprises an electromagnet.
13. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field controls a tilt position of the impeller in the inner passage.
14. The fluid movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stator comprises a magnetic bearing and a magnetic drive means.
15. A rotational apparatus comprising,
- a rotational element having a circular cross section; and
- a magnetic assembly having a stator configured to generate a shapeable magnetic field to drive the rotational element in axial rotation about an axis of rotation and to control a radial position and an axial position of the rotational element relative to the axis of rotation.
16. The rotational apparatus of claim 15, wherein the stator comprises a circular cross-section, an inner passage, an outer wall, and a shaped inner wall.
17. The rotational apparatus of claim 16, wherein the outer wall of the stator comprises a shaped outer wall.
18. The rotational apparatus of claim 16, wherein the shaped inner wall comprises a shape selected from the following: a polygon shape, a concave shape, or a convex shape.
19. The rotational apparatus of claim 18, wherein the magnetic assembly further comprises a rotor.
20. The rotational apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rotor comprises a shaped outer wall, and an inner wall.
21. The rotational apparatus of claim 20, wherein the inner wall of the rotor adjoins a distal portion of the rotational element.
22. The rotational apparatus of claim 20, wherein the shaped outer wall of the rotor comprises a shape complimentary to the shaped inner wall of the stator.
23. The rotational apparatus of claim 15, wherein a change in magnitude of the magnetic field generated by the stator changes in substantially equal portions the drive of the rotational element and the control of the radial and the axial position of the rotation element.
24. The rotational apparatus of claim 15, wherein the stator comprises one of a magnet or an electromagnet.
25. The rotational apparatus of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field generated by the stator further controls a tilt position of the rotational element relative the axis of rotation.
26. The rotational apparatus of claim 15, wherein the stator comprises a magnetic bearing and a magnetic drive means.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 5, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 7, 2006
Inventor: Robert Thibodeau (Gloucester, MA)
Application Number: 11/293,982
International Classification: F04B 35/04 (20060101);