Abstract: A toy decorative curtain/door adapted for temporary installation between vertical jambs of an entrance opening for use in play by young children and the like includes a sheet of thin flexible curtain material mounted on an elongated roller adapted to extend between said opposite jamb surface. At least one end portion of the roller includes means for biasing the roller in a longitudinal direction toward the opposite end for supporting a roller between the jamb surfaces at a selected elevation. The flexible sheet material has an upper edge secured to the roller and a pair of longitudinal downwardly extending opposite edges adjacent the jamb surfaces and a free bottom edge to form a closing curtain for the entrance opening. At least one face of the sheet material has a decorative image thereon preferably of a living creature with an eye at an intermediate level.

Abstract: A toy vehicle movable on a track operates an accessory with its wheels when it abuts a stop member. A manually operable remote control is used to then reverse the rotation of the wheels to remove the vehicle from the stop member.

Abstract: A portable solar garden which is large enough to accommodate an individual for gardening operations, yet is portable for movement within a given living area and outdoors.The portable solar garden includes a self-contained water supply and a removable top which may also be used for hanging pots and tools. Box-like shelves are also included for broadening the possible gardening operations which can be performed within the portable solar garden.

Abstract: An ornamental and protective vehicle door edge guard comprises a metallic strip of generally U-shaped cross section which is self-retaining on the door. A non-metallic insulating strip of generally U-shaped cross section forms an insulating liner between the metallic strip and the door. The non-metallic strip is applied to the door edge by itself before the metallic strip and comprises a longitudinally conformable material which allows it to be readily conformed to the contour of the door edge. The free edges of the non-metallic strip seal between the free edges of the legs of the metallic strip and opposite sides of the door edge.

Abstract: The machine includes a base supportable on a horizontal surface and a framework mounted to the base and supporting thereon three rollers in fixed positions with the axes of the rollers extending parallel to each other and the projection thereof forming a right angle triangle in a plane normal to and traversing the axes. The hypotenuse of the right angle triangle faces downwardly, a first leg of the right angle triangle extends horizontally and a second leg of the right angle triangle extends vertically downwardly from the first leg such that the belt received on the machine has a fixed active upwardly facing horizontal flight extending along the first leg of the right angle triangle and a fixed active vertical flight extending along the second leg of the right angle triangle. A first backup platen is fixed to the framework and positioned beneath the horizontal active flight and a second backup platen is fixed to the framework behind the vertical active flight.

Abstract: A wing screw earth anchor formed by a metal casting adapted to be rotatably embedded in the ground by a powered device generally referred to as a digging machine. The particular design of the earth anchor of this invention has a central body projecting to a point. Opposite the point is a drive nut which receives the shaft of a digging machine for screwably embedding the anchor in the earth. Between the point and the drive nut is a cylindrical anchor cylinder from which projects an anchoring spiral. The spiral projects outward from the point in a 90.degree. arc from zero to four inches, which is the maximum radius of the anchoring spiral. In the subsequent, central segment, which extends from 180.degree., the radius is constant at four inches. The final segment of the anchoring signal is a trailing taper which extends from 120.degree. terminating in a trailing point.

Abstract: A thermally insulated wall panel for building construction having a metal liner panel and a metal facing panel with interconnected side-joint profiles which provide positive connections of facing panels of adjoining wall panels when outward stress is applied. Positive connections of the liner panels of adjoining wall panels can be obtained when outward stress is applied.

Abstract: Frame comprised of I-beam verticals linked by spaced horizontals, fillers serving to separate the horizontals. Assembly involves inserting the horizontals within facing I-beam channels and separating said horizontals by fillers snapped into the I-beam channels.

Abstract: A bag support and dispensing apparatus having a support shaft for supporting a plurality of stacked bags by engaging each bag in the stack through aligned apertures in the front and rear walls of the bag. A pivotally mounted, extending hanger is positioned opposite the support shaft to engage a front wall of the top-most bag in the stack through an associated aperture in the front wall, so that the bag is supported in an open loading position by the support shaft at the rear wall and the extending hanger at the front wall. The extending hanger may be pivoted forwardly and upwardly to disengage the hanger from the bag and to allow the bag to be easily removed from the bag support apparatus. The hanger falls back to a loading position after it is released.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming objects into groups and inserting successive groups into containers, which includes a grouping station, an individual item conveyor for guiding the objects individually to the grouping station, a group conveyor for conveying the objects in groups away from the grouping station, a container conveyor for conveying successive containers relative to the group conveyor, and a mechanism for inserting groups of objects conveyed by the group conveyor into successive containers, and in which the item conveyor and the group conveyor convey the objects at least approximately in the same direction into the inserting mechanism, and the inserting mechanism includes a vertically movable holding device movable between an upper position in which it holds a group of objects and a lowered position at which it can release such group of objects within an open container which has been brought into position by the container conveyor.

Abstract: A lawn mower engine having a lightweight top rotor of low polar inertia drives a rotary blade through a clutch-flywheel rotor having sufficient inertia to provide the major flywheel effect for the engine. Clutch faces at the rotor periphery engage a surrounding blade-carrier drum and have a maximum torque arm for positively driving the blade. The faces are preferably on centrifugal shoes which slip at load-reduced speed so as to maintain engine operation, and release at idling speed to allow engine starting with the blade stopped. A brake band or ring about the drum is spring-pressed ON to stop the blade when a deadman control is released. The preferred clutch-flywheel rotor is made of two heavy circular plates (e.g., 1/4".times.6") riveted together against spacer slugs and a shouldered hub. Wide clutch shoes are mounted on such rotor by end tangs and springs between the plates. The top rotor plate substantially closes the top of the drum. Access and hub openings in the two plates provide rotor spacer slugs.

Abstract: A rotary blade type cutting system for cutting grass or the like at a uniform height either on a flat surface, an inclined surface, or along the border adjacent a surface depression. The system is especially useful for cutting the bordering grass around golf course sand traps.

Abstract: The method for winding yarn in the form of a cone onto a bobbin carried by a spindle in a spinning or twisting frame consists in passing the yarn to be wound through a traveler mounted on a revolving ring, in lifting and lowering the ring cyclically around the bobbin in order to form the winding cone, and in producing a cyclic variation in the spindle speed in accordance with the cycle of up-and-down motion of the ring support plate.

Abstract: A system for preparing a composite crimped filament (2) using a nipping type false-twisting apparatus (7) which has two endless intercrossing belts (13), (16) whose working surfaces are urged against each other in their intercrossing region (17) to nip the filament yarns (2) therebetween. A liquid is applied to the yarns (2) upstream of the false twister (7) to reduce friction and heat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of converting non-hypergolic, liquid, rocket propellants into hypergolic propellants. The method to accomplish the conversion relates to the use of ammonium metavanadate as an additive to the liquid oxidant, such as, red fuming nitric acid (RFNA). The RFNA with additive is hypergolic with the usual fuels with which RFNA has been employed where a separate ignition system is normally required. RFNA with additive is also hypergolic with fuels which have been non-hypergolic and which have not been so used in the past with RFNA. These additional fuel blends include a fuel material selected from turpentine, aniline, triethylamine, furfuryl alcohol or blends of these fuel materials.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for controlling particulate emissions from a combustion apparatus, as a diesel engine. Diesel engine exhaust particles are electrically charged during the formation of the particles in the engine combustion chamber. A particle collector is used to collect the electrically charged particles on collecting structures connected to a high voltage power supply and ground. The collecting structures of the particle collector can be a plurality of parallel metal plates, spaced cylindrical rods, or concentrically located cylindrical members. A fibrous matrix can be located adjacent the particle collecting structure to collect the charged particles as they move through the matrix. In one embodiment, the collected particles separate from the collecting structures and return to the engine intake. In another embodiment, a removable collecting cartridge has electrically conductive plates for collecting the charged particles. The entire cartridge is removed for cleaning or replacement.

Abstract: A counterweighted elongate buoyant body that floats on the surface of the sea or a lake has at least one sail supporting mast extending upwardly therefrom as well as vanes that tend to maintain the sails substantially normal to the direction of movement of the wind. The buoyant body is by frame means maintained within the confines of a circular series of piles. The counterweight and means for pivoting each sail from a position normal to the direction of the wind to substantially parallel thereto cooperate to impart a transverse rocking motion to the buoyant body that has an eccentric transverse arcuate member depending therefrom that is engaged by a pair of rollers, as the transverse member moves relative to the pair of rollers a bellows is receprocated upwardly and downwardly to draw water into and discharge it from a check valve controlled confined space to a reservoir situated at a substantial distance above the surface of the body of water.

Abstract: A cross compound turbine apparatus and method of operating the same wherein the apparatus includes a first turbine generator having a high pressure turbine and a first low pressure turbine connected to a first generator driving shaft, with the second turbine generator having an intermediate pressure turbine connected to a second generator driving shaft. Driving steam is supplied to the high pressure turbine and a primary steam line communicates exhaust steam from the high pressure turbine to drive the intermediate pressure turbine during a steady state operation of the first and second turbine generator sections. A bypass steam line communicates steam from the system supplying driving steam to the high pressure turbine to the intermediate pressure turbine in a bypassing relationship to the high pressure turbine.

Abstract: A temperature control system which can be used for regulating the temperature within a building while at the same time providing ventilation by means of providing refrigeration apparatus having a heating and cooling section and passing incoming air over one of the sections and outgoing air over the other section whereby heat taken in by the refrigeration apparatus from one of the air flows is transferred to the other air flow with preheating and precooling of the air flows by guiding them against opposite faces of the wall of the building before passage over the sections of the refrigeration apparatus.

Abstract: A monitor for a vapor compression refrigerant system that accumulates contaminant gases generated in an operating system and provides a readout indicative of the presence of significant amounts of contaminant gases which readout serves to provide an indication of an incipient malfunction of the refrigerant system. Embodiments are disclosed which provide selective accumulation and/or analysis of contaminant gases to provide an indication of both the existence and general nature of the incipient malfunction.

Abstract: An evaporator coil defrost control system for a refrigeration system comprising refrigerant compression means, a condenser coil, an evaporator coil, and an electric motor operated fan positioned adjacent to said evaporator coil and adapted, when energized, to blow air through said evaporator coil, said defrost control system comprising: strain sensing means connected to said fan blades and adapted to measure force applied to said fan and to produce a signal indicative of said measured force; controller means connected to said strain sensing means to receive the signal therefrom and having operative connections to said system, said controller being adapted to place said system in a defrost mode of operation upon said signal of said strain sensing means having a characteristic indicative of a significant frost build-up on said evaporator coil.

Abstract: A flash subcooler is provided to meter a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the condenser to the evaporator to an intermediate heat exchanger to subcool refrigerant flowing from the condenser to the evaporator. This diverted refrigerant is flashed to provide subcooling and is then redirected to the compressor as is the flow of refrigerant from the evaporator. Both the refrigeration system and and subassemblies for accomplishing the above are disclosed as well as methods of operation thereof.

Abstract: A heat recovery and hot water circulation system for use with refrigeration means and a hot water reservoir is disclosed. A hot water distribution conduit is coupled intermediate the cold water inlet and hot water outlet of the reservoir for supplying hot water to a remote station having a number of faucets coupled to the distribution conduit, and a pump is coupled to the distribution conduit for continuously circulating hot water to the faucets. A heat exchange circulation conduit is connected in parallel fluid circuit relation with the distribution conduit and in series fluid circuit relation with the pump.

Abstract: A system and method for concentrating aqueous beverages such as fruit juices, beer, wine, vinegar, tea, coffee, and the like in which a slurry of feed liquid and seed crystals is formed in a scraped surface heat exchanger of a first stage and supplied to a recrystallizer where larger crystals grow, the liquid in the recrystallizer being withdrawn with part recirculated to the heat exchanger of a succeeding stage. The slurry of larger crystals in the recrystallizer of the first stage is also withdrawn and the crystals separated in a wash column. The larger crystals grown in the second stage recrystallizer are supplied to the recrystallizer of the first stage where the seed crystals melt and reform on the larger crystals and the larger crystals from the third stage are similarly supplied to the recrystallizer of the second stage.

Abstract: A circular warp knitting machine is designed for knitting hosiery pieces and comprises a stationary needle cylinder, knitting needles which are installed in grooves of two concentrically arranged annular guide bars, racking mechanisms for racking the guide bars together with the guide needles along the front of the knitting needles and rocking mechanisms for rocking the guide needles between the knitting needles. The needle cylinder accomodates a sleeve movable therealong which controls the movement of the sinkers. A holder movable along the needle cylinder is arranged inside the needle cylinder and carries the knitting needles mounted therein, and sliding frames of the rocking mechanisms of the guide needles and concentrically arranged rotatable casings carrying the annular guide bars are installed over the needle cylinder coaxially therewith. This arrangement ensures a simple and compact structure of the machine.

Abstract: A yarn conditioning plant for processing of yarn at high temperature is improved by provision of arrangements for enabling a plurality of yarn threads that have simultaneously been processed upon a single yarn transport to be wound individually upon separate spools. In accordance with a first preferred embodiment, a tension balancing means is provided which includes a potentiometer that is acted upon by the thread tension of yarn threads passing thereover so as to control the operating speed of individually driven spools. According to a further embodiment, the tension of the individual yarn threads is compensated by the use of two separate storage devices upon which the individual processed yarns can be separately wound in a manner so as to achieve a uniform tensioning thereof.

Abstract: A bolt assembly used for locking and unlocking a door-leaf, which comprises a bolt movable from the outside by a key introduced into the barrel of a safety cylinder, the housing of the barrel comprising a flange which can be immobilized in rotation and translation by three plates fixed to the outer surface of the door by bolt means, a fourth plate covering said bolt means. This plate is treated against drilling, and the last three plates are soldered to each other and lodged in a housing.By loosening the bolt means and removing the first plate, the safety cylinder can be replaced.

Abstract: A protective arrangement for a drawing press which includes a detector arrangement for detecting at least one of a presence of a workpiece, a semi-finished workpiece, and a correct workpiece feed whereby the drawing press is immobilized or shut down in the event the detector arrangement detects a fault. The detector arrangement is adapted to detect contours of a workpiece which have been drawn by the drawing press and is disposed downstream of a drawing station of the drawing press.

Abstract: A tube extrusion press extrudes tubes through the annular space formed when a mandrel projects into the aperture of an extrusion die. In order to prevent oxidation of the extruded product, the outside of the tube passes into a cooling section immediately downstream of the die, and a protective gas is blown into the interior of the tube through the mandrel which is hollow and has an opening in its tip. Both the inside and the outside of the tube may be coated with a liquid emulsion, and the hollow mandrel can have internal channels for the passage of a cooling liquid.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing seamless wheel rims while maintaining a predetermined outside diameter dimension and predetermined cross-sectional shape of the rims at a high precision, without requiring any correcting work. A ring-shaped material is interposed between a rotatable die having a surface corresponding to an outer peripheral shape of a wheel rim and a rotatable pressing roll provided within the die, either of the die or roll is driven to rotate, and the pressing roll is moved toward the die so as to roll and shape the material, while restraining the outside diameter dimension by the die.

Abstract: A can body suitable for inward necking of the flange region is disclosed in which the flange region thereof includes a plurality of corrugations to increase the effective thickness and thus the stiffness of the metal in this flange region. A method and apparatus for producing these can bodies are also disclosed. The apparatus employed includes a pair of generally circular matched die members which are positioned on either side of the flange region of the can body to be corrugated and a means for rotating the can body, and thus the die members, when contacting the flange region of the can body.

Abstract: Wandering of a strip in a hot rolling line is prevented by the provision of a hot roller leveler and a side guide between a finishing mill and a coiler. At least one of the leveler rolls is made angularly adjustable in a horizontal plane and/or in a vertical plane with respect to the strip.

Abstract: A roll forging machine has a pair of opposed work rolls carrying cooperating dies and a pair of support rails mounted on each work roll on opposite sides of the die thereon. The support rails provide the work rolls with a high spring constant, so that the supporting framework can have a relatively low spring constant. During forging the work rolls are urged together with a force substantially greater than the force required to forge the workpiece, and the opposed support rails are pressed together to prestress the work rolls. The dies and support rails occupy only preselected segments of the circumferences of the work rolls, and a pair of backup rolls bear against each work roll on the balance of the circumference. The two backup rolls for each work roll are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the plane of the workpiece, with the backup roll on the feed side of the work roll being located farther away from the plane of the workpiece than is the other backup roll.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing a metal collar from the lower portion of the piston of a metal extrusion press which may be attached to the press. A pivotally mounted frame has a portion which can be moved toward and away from the piston while it is retracted from the metal container and the frame carries two cutting knives and two divaricating members disposed alternately around the piston axis. Each knife and each divaricating means is movable parallel to the axis of the piston and radially outwardly of the piston by a pair of pivotally interconnected fluid-actuable, cylinder and piston assemblies. The frame may also carry apparatus for loading container sealing discs on the press metal container and may be in the form of a cage with an openable side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to single actuator blanking and draw pad force control for a drawing press, which includes a unique swivel for the hold down pad comprising a confined elastomeric member which has high axial stiffness, but relatively low rotational or pivoting stiffness about an axis normal to the actuator axis. Further, the pad can be combined with air pressure for holding a sheet of material during the blanking and drawing operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the alcohol content of the breath of a test person comprising, measuring the alcohol content of the breath to produce an alcohol content signal, measuring the change in the alcohol content signal, measuring a flow of the breath of the test person, and indicating the alcohol content using the alcohol content signal only when the change in the signal per unit time is below a preselected change value and the flow is above a preselected flow value and where the flow has not dropped below the predetermined flow value since it first reached the predetermined flow value. The change in the signal is determined by the change in the signal per unit time, times the inverse of the instantaneous value for the signal. When the change in the signal satisfies the requirement, a control signal is fed to an AND gate.

Abstract: The continuous flow of sample fluid, e.g., the elution from the column of a chromatograph, is modulated with the aid of a storage volume such that the flow of sample fluid into the fluid input of a detector varies between maximum and minimum values at a given frequency, the flow of reference fluid to the fluid input of the detector is modulated out of phase, and the differences in output of the detector resulting from these modulated flows is derived by a synchronous detector or demodulator.

Abstract: Sample and reference fluids are made to alternately fill the volume of a concentration detector and remain there while measurements are made.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining rheological parameters of viscoelastic fluids is provided. The apparatus comprises two similar cylinder-piston assemblies ending at identical flow orifices. The pistons are pushed conjointly by a motor at an adjusted speed. A differential manometer is arranged between the cylinders immediately upstream of the orifices. One of the cylinders contains fluid to be studied and the other a Newtonian comparison fluid. The strain rates of the fluids are defined by the adjusted flow rates, and the pressure differential expresses elongation stress of the viscoelastic fluid. This apparatus is applicable in the rheological study of dilute solutions of macromolecular compositions.

Abstract: The digital moisture meter includes means for taring an empty sample pan placed on the balance platen. After the balance has been tared, a small sample is placed in the sample pan and a heat lamp energized. At this same time, the initial weight of the sample is stored in memory and after twenty seconds a first calculation is made to determine the percent weight loss, the value of which is also stored in memory. Subsequent percent weight loss values are calculated and if the latest percent weight loss is greater than the one that has been stored in memory, the stored one is then replaced with the latest value. However, if the latest percent weight loss value is less or equal to the stored value, the stored value is retained in memory for comparison with the next percent weight loss value that is calculated.

Abstract: A smooth surface of a diamond or cubic boron nitride crystal is bombarded with ions sufficiently to penetrate the surface and impart an ion implanted region in the crystal in a predetermined pattern, the resulting crystal is charged electrostatically, and a powder is applied to the charged smooth surface producing a pattern thereon which is a delineation of the implanted region and can be used to identify or fingerprint the crystal.

Abstract: A fluid-pressure measuring means for a well, which is adapted to be coupled into adjacent sections of a delivery or riser pipe in the area of the environment in which pressure is to be measured, having two concentric pipes, the inner one being in communication with the environment through a conduit extending through the annular space between the pipes, a valve within the inner pipe to close the conduit, and a pressure sensing device that can be lowered into the inner pipe to open the valve and close off a chamber within the inner pipe to sense the environmental pressure then prevailing in the chamber. The valve is spring biased to closed position and opens under the force of the weight of the pressure sensing device.

Abstract: The invention herein is a method and apparatus for passively measuring and recording the thermal fluence from radiative heat sources. This is a non-electronic apparatus that includes a transducer whose sensing elements include a stack of thin sheets of stretched polystyrene. Each of the sheets of polystyrene are essentially opaque to infra-red radiation and upon exposure to a radiative heat source, soften and shrink as a function of the trapped bi-directional stresses within the sensing element material. These plastic elements integrate the time dependent thermal flux, i.e., they deform in direct proportion to the total incident fluence. This transducer is also direction dependent and has the ability to record the direction of the peak incident thermal fluence. Such a transducer is useful in mapping the incident heat input to large structures exposed to simulated nuclear and other types of intense thermal radiation.

Abstract: A temperature detection apparatus is provided which comprises at least one light source, light guide and light detector. The light guide is placed in thermal communication with target areas whose temperatures are of interest, particularly for application in electromechanical apparatus where the target area whose temperature is of interest is relatively inaccessible and/or an electrical temperature probe would encounter interference. The light guide itself indicates temperature changes since it only transmits light when the temperature-dependent refractive index of its core exceeds that of its cladding.

Abstract: Rate of turn indicator for a nautical vessel, aircraft, and the like indicating the rate of turn or swing in units such as degrees per unit of time from a particular course of travel. The indicator includes a magnetic gyro wheel including a flexible hub rotating about an axis on the same plane as the course of travel and electromagnetic sensing coils receiving the deviations of strength of the electromagnetic field of the magnetic gyro wheel from an axis on turning from the course of travel. The magnetic gyro wheel includes a plurality of permanent magnets of alternating poles positioned about a circumferential axis of a circular member, and a flexible hub material affixed to the interior diameter of the circular member. The hub is affixed to an axially supported shaft. Adjusting bolts provide for adjusting the distance of the flexible hub magnetic gyro wheel from the electromagnetic sensing coils.

Abstract: In a method of plotting section images of objects subjected to ultrasonic examination, a section surface of the object is scanned with a sound beam and echoes generated in response to the pulses of the sound beam are converted into echo signals which are plotted on a plotting surface, such as a fluorescent screen or a record carrier, to form a section image. The sound beams scans the section surface at a varying velocity. The pulse repetition period of the sound pulses is varied so that the section surface is scanned with a uniform transverse resolution. In equipment for carrying out the method, the pulse repetition frequency of the sound pulses is controlled by a trigger which generates trigger pulses at times which are functionally related to the scanning movement of the sound beam. The trigger may comprise programmed memory.

Abstract: A method is presented for measuring fluid flow rate in a system having a conduit through which the fluid flows. The method is particularly useful for measuring blood flow rate in a cardiovascular system. A substance which provides a plurality of microbubbles is added to the fluid flow system upstream of the measurement position in the conduit. An ultrasonic pulse is generated from a position opposite and spaced from the conduit as the microbubbles pass therethrough. A reflected ultrasonic image, created by reflection of the pulse from at least the wall of the conduit which is distal from said position, is measured. The fluid flow rate within the conduit is determined from these ultrasonic images using dye dilution techniques. In a living being, the pulse is preferably generated adjacent the rib cage or in the esophagus and the conduit is preferably the heart or the pulmonary artery, whereby, the blood flow rate determined is equal to the volumetric cardiac output rate.

Abstract: A flowmeter having a rotary body which has at least one helical spiral on its outer periphery and which is rotatably supported in a flow channel. A first bearing is arranged upstream of the rotary body and a second bearing is arranged downstream. A first journal is supported freely displaceably in the axial direction in the first bearing and a second journal is fixed in axial direction in the second bearing, the latter being formed as a thrust bearing. The second bearing is adjustable in the direction of flow with self-locking action.

Abstract: A soil sampler assembly includes an adjustable frame to facilitate its mounting on a motor vehicle. A motor of the sampler assembly is mounted so its vertical position can be adjusted to permit obtaining soil samples of significant depth by adjusting the motor to a lower-most position relative to the vehicle. The motor is of the hydraulic type and is powered with a portable electric motor driven hydraulic pump and a four-way valve control. The soil sampler assembly can be quickly and easily mounted on or dismounted from a motor vehicle such as a pick-up truck.

Abstract: A gyro rotor is freely suspended in a housing for simultaneous rotation about a spin axis and a pair of precession axes in turn orthogonal to the spin axis, by a pair of magnetic suspensions spaced along the spin axis. Each magnetic suspension comprises a magnetically permeable stator member and a cooperative magnetically permeable rotor member relatively arranged so as to define axially spaced annular magnetically permeable gaps. Each magnetic suspension includes a permanent magnet for producing a fixed or passive magnetic flux in each gap and an electromagnet coil for producing a controllable or active magnetic flux in each gap. The passive flux provides passive stabilized suspension of the rotor parallel to two of said axes, while the active flux provides active stabilized suspension of the rotor parallel to the third of said axes using a closed servo loop.