Magnetic Bearing Patents (Class 310/90.5)
  • Patent number: 7800334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system comprising a control unit (1), which is connected to drive units (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) via a data bus (2) for the exchange of data. According to the invention, one drive unit (3a, 3b) is connected to the drive motor (7a, 7b) in order to control the latter (7a, 7b) and an additional drive unit (3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) is connected to a magnetic bearing (11c, 11d, 11e, 11f, 11g) of a magnetic spindle bearing arrangement (23) in order to control said bearing (11c, 11d, 11e, 11f, 11g). The invention thus provides a drive system, in which a magnetic spindle bearing arrangement (23) is integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Hamann, Uwe Ladra, Dietmar Stoiber, Bernd Wedel
  • Patent number: 7800268
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method to enhance thrust load capacity in a rotor bearing system. The load-enhancing device comprises a stator and a rotor arranged in such as way as to achieve a magnetic thrust load capacity enhancement by employing a number of permanent magnets, which produce an attracting force of an expulsing force between the rotor and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Danfoss Turbocor Compressors B.V.
    Inventors: Lin Xiang Sun, Huai Lu Lin
  • Patent number: 7800269
    Abstract: In a hybrid magnetic bearing, the electromagnet has a core wound with a control coil and has a main pole and a commutating pole with a commutating pole permanent magnet provided approximately parallel to each other at predetermined intervals in a protruding condition radially or axially to the rotor. In the magnetic bearing provided radially, two electromagnets are placed oppositely to each other across the rotor in an approximately horizontal position, and the rotor is arranged so as to have a predetermined gap with the main pole and the commutating pole, and the permanent magnet is provided between the adjacent electromagnets. In the magnetic bearing provided axially, two electromagnets are placed in parallel in an approximately horizontal position, and the rotor is arranged so as to have a predetermined gap with the main pole and the commutating pole, and the permanent magnet is provided between the adjacent electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Iwaki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Onuma, Toru Masuzawa, Yohji Okada
  • Patent number: 7800274
    Abstract: A stator includes a bracket having a shaft bearing portion at a center, a stator base including a flexible printed wiring board outwardly attached to the shaft bearing portion, single-phase air-armature coils disposed on the stator base, and a drive circuit member disposed on the stator base so as not to overlap with the single-phase air-core armature coils. The bracket has a through hole at the section corresponding to the bottom of the drive circuit member. The stator base is embedded at least partly in the thickness direction in the through hole and fixed using a resin, and a detent torque generation member is contained in, and is no thicker than, the stator base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Yamaguchi, Katsuhito Sohara
  • Publication number: 20100231076
    Abstract: Provided is a bearingless motor capable of stably performing magnetic levitation and rotation even when a thrust disk is not provided and gap length is wide. A unit 101 of a first bearingless motor is formed of a stator 41 and a core 61, while a unit 103 of a second bearingless motor is formed of a stator 43 and a core 63. A thrust magnetic bearing unit 102 formed of a core 62 and a stator 42 while having the functions of a thrust magnetic bearing is newly arranged between the unit 101 and the unit 103. A stator-side annular thrust permanent magnet 73 and a rotor-side annular thrust permanent magnet 81 are arranged between the unit 101 and the unit 103, while a stator-side annular thrust permanent magnet 75 and a rotor-side annular thrust permanent magnet 83 are arranged between the unit 102 and the unit 103.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Akira Chiba, Masatsugu Takemoto, Tadashi Fukao
  • Publication number: 20100231061
    Abstract: A gimbal arrangement comprises a socket (6) having a partially spherical inner surface with a first radius; a ball (2) located within the socket and having a partially spherical outer surface with a second radius smaller than the first radius; a first array of electromagnets (5) mounted at the outer surface of the ball; a second array of electromagnets (7) mounted at the inner surface of the socket (6); and means for supplying power selectively to different ones of the electromagnets of the two arrays to support the ball within the socket in a position where the partially spherical surfaces of the ball and socket are substantially concentric about a common centre and to control the orientation of the ball relative to the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Carel Van Der Walt
  • Publication number: 20100231075
    Abstract: Disclosed is a large capacity hollow-type flywheel energy storage device. The energy storage device includes a hollow shaft, a vacuum chamber receiving the hollow shaft, a flywheel having a predetermined weight and disposed at an inner edge of the vacuum chamber, and a hub connecting the flywheel to the hollow shaft and disposed in the vacuum chamber to be rotatable together with the flywheel. A superconductive bearing and an electromagnet bearing are disposed inside and outside the hollow shaft, respectively, such that magnetic forces thereof can be shielded from each other. Thus, magnetic interference between the superconductive bearing and the electromagnet bearing is shielded by the magnet shield interposed therebetween, thereby preventing rotation loss by stabilizing a structural mechanism during rotation while improving design adaptability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Young Hee HAN, Se Yong Jung, Jeong Phil Lee, Byung Jun Park, Byeong Cheol Park, Nyeon Ho Jeong, Tae Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 7795770
    Abstract: Stable levitation of an object in an alternating magnetic field can be achieved by eliminating coupling between the rotational and translational forces acting on the object. Stable levitation can also be achieved by varying the coupling between the rotational and translational forces acting on the object, while maintaining one or more of the rotational and translational forces steady in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Romero, Todd Christenson, Eugene A. Aronson
  • Publication number: 20100225114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid bearing, comprising: a first bearing shell with a sliding face and a second bearing shell with a second sliding face, with the first sliding face and the second sliding face being located opposite one another at a bearing gap, and with the first bearing shell comprising a first support body and the second bearing shell comprising a second support body; elements which are made of slide bearing material and which are attached to the first support body and to the second support body, with the elements made of slide bearing material forming at least part of the first sliding face and of the second sliding face; permanent magnets which are connected to the first support body and the second support body, with the permanent magnets being arranged spaced apart from the first sliding face and the second sliding face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: VOITH PATENT GMBH a, corporation
    Inventors: Norman Perner, Benjamin Holstein
  • Patent number: 7786636
    Abstract: A magnetic bearing device has a rotor, electromagnets that control axial/radial positions of the rotor, and a power source that supplies power to the electromagnets. A switching circuit switches a voltage of a common node connected to each one end of the electromagnets. The switching circuit includes a first switch element that connects and disconnects between one end of the power source and the common node, and a first rectifier element connected between the other end of the power source and the common node. An excitation control circuit controls excitation of each of the electromagnets by a supply current that flows through the electromagnets in one direction or a regenerated current that flows through the electromagnets in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: BOC Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7786637
    Abstract: A calcium zinc phosphate-type coating is formed on at least one of those surfaces of an inner ring, an outer ring and rolling elements (balls) and further a cage (if the cage is used) (which form a touchdown bearing) contacting other members, and further a molybdenum disulfide coating is formed thereon. By doing so, the adhesion of the molybdenum disulfide coating is enhanced by microscopic pits and projections due to crystal grains on the surface of the calcium zinc phosphate-type coating, and also even when the molybdenum disulfide coating is worn out, the wearing-out of a substrate can be suppressed by the lubricating ability of the calcium zinc phosphate-type coating underlying it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sekimoto, Akira Koyama, Masaaki Ootsuki
  • Patent number: 7786638
    Abstract: An electric machine having a hybrid bearing for the purpose of supporting a rotor with respect to a stator, the hybrid bearing consisting of a radial bearing, taking the form of a fluid dynamic bearing, and an axial bearing that is made up of magnetic elements, wherein the magnetic elements comprise at least one permanent magnet and one flux guide element that are disposed so as to be located opposite each other in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mineba Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Andrey Pulnikov, Vladimir V. Popov, Igor Ross
  • Publication number: 20100213777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a body of revolution, in particular for a centrifugal, which comprises a rotator, an electric motor with a stator and a rotor wherein said latter is fixed to the rotator for rotational movement therewith, a support to which the stator of the electric motor is attached and a bearing unit for rotational arrangement of the rotor around an axis of rotation which comprises at least one bearing adapted to coact with an electromagnetic stabilizer unit in such a way that disturbing forces and/or disturbing vibrations of the rotator are counteracted and/or compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Hanning Elektro-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf de la Haye, Thomas Henke, Andreas Levermann, Wolfgang Amrhein, Siegfried Silber, Herbert Grabner
  • Publication number: 20100215526
    Abstract: An electric machine comprising a stator having a stator winding, a housing accommodating the stator, a rotor, and an air gap having a generally cylindrical configuration. A plurality of circumferentially distributed, radial, first cooling gas ducts are provided in a stator core. Jets of cooling gas are directed to regions of an end winding which are relatively distant from the stator core, in order to achieve impingement cooling thereof. Flows of cooling gas are directed to portions of the end winding which are between the impingement cooled regions of the end winding and the respective front face of the stator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SUNDYNE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juha Saari, Charles B. Powell, Arttu Reunanen, Erkki Lantto
  • Publication number: 20100213723
    Abstract: A novel wind turbine configuration utilizes a permanent magnetic male and female levitation support for magnetic levitation. The novel wind turbine has a female part attached to a payload which is magnetically levitated above a male part of the levitation support. The female part and the payload are further operatively attached to a vertical axle structure which is held stationary by a point of contact. The point of contact and the vertical axle structure provide a stable axis of rotation for the payload and the female part, which can be rotated with near-zero friction due to the magnetic repulsion provided by same polarity of the female part and the male part within a conical region of the female part. In one embodiment of the invention, an alternator structure is uniquely arranged to enable the novel wind turbine to generate electricity with a high level of efficiency and durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Sanza T. Kazadi
  • Patent number: 7781924
    Abstract: A drive apparatus which is small in size, short in axial length, low in cost, and high in output. A stepping motor as the driving apparatus includes a first coil, a second coil, a magnet, and a rotor comprised of a core and a rotary shaft. First through fourth outer magnetic pole portions are opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the magnet with a predetermined gap between them. The first and the second coils are disposed adjacent to the magnet in an axial direction of the rotary shaft and disposed at respective ends of the rotary shaft. The first and second outer magnetic pole portions are inserted inside the first and second coils, respectively. As viewed in the circumferential direction of the magnet, the third and fourth outer magnetic pole portions are disposed close to the first and second outer magnetic pole portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Mizumaki
  • Publication number: 20100207468
    Abstract: A flywheel power supply includes a motor-generator having a polyphase stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Claude Michael Kalev, Heath F. Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20100201216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing device (100) for the contactless bearing of a rotor in relation to a stator (101). Said bearing device (100) comprises a rotor provided with a shaft (102) and at least one rotor disk (103), and a stator (101) provided with at least two stator disks (105, 106). Said stator (101) at least partially surrounds the rotor at a certain distance and the rotor disks (103) protrude into the intermediate chamber (104) between the rotor disks thus forming a bearing gap (107). Said bearing device (100) also comprises a magnetic bearing part for bearing the rotor in a radial manner and an air bearing part for bearing the rotor in an axial manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Kummeth, Martino Leghissa
  • Patent number: 7772951
    Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, Mark D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100194225
    Abstract: A magnetic bearing system and related method that utilizes self-sensing in order to determine and adjust the position of a shaft within the bearing. Magnetic bearings levitate a rotating object with a magnetic field and are unstable in open-loop operation. Position feedback control is required to maintain a rotor in a centered position. The system and related method uses a unique design to sense the position of the rotating object with greater accuracy. It comprises coils which are used both to detect and adjust the position of the rotating object and a control system which supplies signals in a time-multiplexed manner in order to determine the position with accuracy while still allowing the same coils that are used to detect position to also supply a field to control the position of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Paul E. Allaire, Wei Jiang
  • Publication number: 20100194224
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor having a central axis extending between the two opposing ends and a radial surface, and is rotatable about the central axis. At least one electromagnet is disposed proximal to and configured to exert magnetic force on a portion of the rotor. Further, a channeling member is disposed generally adjacent to the electromagnet and has a radial surface disposed adjacent to the rotor radial surface. As such, magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet extends generally radially between the electromagnet and the rotor portion and generally axially between the rotor portion and the channeling member so that the magnetic force biases the rotor both radially and axially to maintain the rotor at a desired position. Preferably, the assembly includes a plurality of magnets proximal to each end, two channeling members, and a tubular body extending between the channeling members and enclosing the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: SKF USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Russell Smithanik, Tracy Kathryn Strem, Daren Paul Tremaine
  • Publication number: 20100187926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a jacketed axial magnetic bearing for a rotary machine having a rotor in contact with a gaseous atmosphere that is corrosive, acid, or carrying particles, the bearing comprising a rotor armature in the form of a disk secured to the rotor and placed in the gaseous atmosphere, and a stator magnetic circuit secured to a stationary support device and placed facing the rotor armature, the magnetic circuit of the stator comprising at least one coil and a ferromagnetic body placed in a metallic protective enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: SOCIETE DE MECANIQUE MAGNETIQUE
    Inventors: Luc Baudelocque, Maurice Brunet, David Moulin
  • Publication number: 20100181855
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic bearing control device and the use of a three-phase converter for controlling a magnetic bearing. According to the invention, a three-phase converter (70) is used for controlling a magnetic bearing (10, 66, 68), all three phase currents (40, 42, 44) of the converter (70) being used for controlling the magnetic bearing (10, 66, 68). A first solenoid of a couple of solenoids (10) of the magnetic bearing (10, 66, 68) is connected to a first (U) and a third (W) phase current output of the converter (70) while a second solenoid of the couple of solenoids (10) is connected to the first (U) and a second (V) phase current output of the converter such that the couple of solenoids (10) can be differently controlled by means of said one converter (70). The converter (70) can also be connected to magnetic bearings that already have a bias winding, which is advantageous for retrofitting such existing magnetic bearings, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Denk, Hans-Georg Köpken, Dietmar Stoiber, Bernd Wedel
  • Publication number: 20100181854
    Abstract: A method is provided for supporting rotatable devices, particularly a medical scanner having an inner ring and an outer ring. According to the invention, the inner ring and outer ring are guided without contact in the axial and/or radial direction by the magnetic field of electromagnets, and the distance between them is monitored and controlled by means of distance sensors. For a bearing implementing said method according to the invention, the outer ring is made in multiple parts and has a U-shaped cross section that is open to the inside in the assembled state, into which the inner ring (1, 10, 11) extends, and electromagnets and distance sensors are disposed in the axially and radially opposite areas of the inner ring or outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Uwe-Otto Breucker, Wolfgang Claus, Jörg Rollmann, Freidrich Löser, Qinghua Zheng, Markus Bauer
  • Fan
    Patent number: 7759832
    Abstract: A fan includes a frame, a stator, a rotor and a magnetic member. The frame comprises a base. The stator is connected to the frame. The rotor has a shaft. The magnetic member, corresponding to the shaft, is disposed on the base to attract the shaft. The magnetic member and the shaft are spaced apart with the base disposed therebetween. The magnetic member may be disposed outside or inside the frame or on the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ko-Chieh Lin, Lee-Long Chen, Wen-Tsao Lee, Kuo-Tung Hsu
  • Patent number: 7755239
    Abstract: A magnetic repulsion type bearing includes a plurality of induction iron pieces, a stator, a rotor, an outer casing, an inner casing and a current controlling device. The rotor is disposed inside the stator, and the iron pieces of the rotor and the iron pieces of the stator are arranged in an alternate manner so that the rotor may be fixedly held in the stator through the magnetic repulsion between them. Also, the outer casing and the inner casing enclose the rotor and the stator so as to shield the electromagnetic force. In addition, the current controlling device may be used to control the amount of current and the direction of the current flow so as to control the strength of the electromagnetic force and the polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventor: Chuy-Nan Chio
  • Patent number: 7753661
    Abstract: A vacuum pump evacuates gas from a chamber by coaction of a rotationally driven rotor and a stator. An electrical equipment section that rotates the rotor is housed within a stator column integral with the stator. A cooling water pipe is buried in a wall of the stator column near the electrical equipment section. One end of the cooling water pipe branches into a plurality of water inlet ports and the other end branches into a plurality of water outlet ports. One pair of water inlet and outlet ports opens to the outside of the vacuum pump at a side surface of the stator column and another pair of water inlet and outlet ports opens to the outside at the underside of the stator column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Boc Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Okudera, Yasushi Maejima, Yoshiyuki Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20100172775
    Abstract: A maglev motor and a pump using the maglev motor can be provided with strong magnetic bearing force generated by a simple structure, rotation losses of a rotor reduced with the generation of an eddy current suppressed, and a configuration of magnetic bearing can downsize by using a thin rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: IWAKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onuma
  • Patent number: 7750777
    Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, Mark D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7750778
    Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, Mark D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7750779
    Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, Mark D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100164315
    Abstract: A rotary floater (30) for supporting an object to be processed (W) is floated by the magnetic attraction of a floating electromagnet assembly (F), and the rotary floater (30) is rotated by the magnetic attraction of a rotary electromagnet assembly (R) while its horizontal position being controlled by the magnetic attraction of a positioning electromagnet assembly (H). The floating electromagnet assembly (F) causes the magnetic attraction to act vertically upwardly, so that the rotary floater (30) is floated and suspended without contact with the inner wall of a processing container (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masamichi Nomura, Kenjiro Koizumi, Shigeru Kasai
  • Patent number: 7746205
    Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, Mark D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100158718
    Abstract: A magnetic-gas bearing disposed in a compressor is provided. The magnetic-gas bearing includes an axis, multiple magnetic elements, multiple magnetic coils and a static pressure gas restrictor. The magnetic elements encircle the axis, and each magnetic element has two ends wound around by the magnetic coils respectively, such that the two ends of each magnetic element form a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole respectively. The static pressure gas restrictor encircles the axis and has a jet opening, such that the gas pass through the jet opening to form a gas-film between the static pressure gas restrictor and the axis. Besides, an oil-free centrifugal blade compressor including the magnetic-gas bearing mentioned above is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Teng-Yuan Wu, Cheng-Chung Yen, Chung-Ping Chiang, Jiing-Fu Chen
  • Publication number: 20100156219
    Abstract: A flywheel levitation apparatus and associated method are described for use in a flywheel driven power storage system having a rotor and which provides for an upward vertical movement of the rotor along an axis of rotation. The rotor includes a rotor face defining a cutaway section. A magnetic lifting force is applied to the rotor to at least in part serve in levitating the rotor. The magnetic lifting force exhibits a modified gap sensitivity that is smaller as compared to a conventional gap sensitivity that would be exhibited in an absence of the cutaway section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Jimpo Wang
  • Patent number: 7741745
    Abstract: A resolver stator portion is attached to a resolver stator portion side attaching portion formed at a position facing to a resolver rotor portion via an elastic ring. Thus, it is possible to absorb a dimensional error of the resolver stator portion side attaching portion on the basis of an elastic deformation of the elastic ring even in the case that the dimensional error is generated in the resolver stator portion side attaching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Junya Takekawa
  • Publication number: 20100148600
    Abstract: The fluid dynamic bearing system according to the invention for the rotatable support of an electric motor comprises a substantially cylindrical bearing bush having a bearing bore, a shaft rotatably supported about a rotational axis accommodated in the bearing bore, a bearing gap formed between mutually adjacent surfaces of the bearing bush and the shaft that is filled with a bearing fluid and extends in an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis, at least one radial bearing that is disposed along the bearing gap and formed by bearing surfaces of the bearing bush and the shaft, and at least one axial bearing that is formed as a magnetic bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Martin Bauer, Vladimir V. Popov, Guido Schmid
  • Patent number: 7737590
    Abstract: Problem of the present invention is to enable elimination or reduction of a signal wire in a dedicated cable for a magnetic bearing device for supplied an electric power from a control device to a magnetic bearing main unit via the dedicated cable. A magnetic bearing device 100 according to the present invention has a magnetic bearing main unit 10 having an electromagnet 12M for magnetically levitating and rotatably supporting a magnetic rotating body 11 and functioning as a magnetic bearing, a control device 20 having a compensating circuit 25 for generating a control signal for controlling a levitation position of the magnetic rotating body 11, and an electricity supply line 30L for supplying an electric power from the control device 20 to the magnetic bearing main unit 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Oyama
  • Publication number: 20100133936
    Abstract: An electromagnetic attraction type magnetic bearing includes at least a pair of electromagnets (1, 2) arranged to face each other, a float (3) arranged between the electromagnets and held at the middle position thereof, a sensor (4) for detecting the displacement of the float (3) from a balance position, and/or the speed thereof, and a controller (5) for controlling the electromagnets (1, 2). The controller (5) determines a variable Z proportional to acceleration in the control direction from the displacement and speed of the float (3), and operates to set the control current of one of the electromagnets to zero and to control only the control current of the other of the electromagnets, depending on the positive and negative values of the variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gen Kuwata
  • Publication number: 20100133838
    Abstract: A turbine rotor for a wind or hydropower plant or for propulsive means for a vessel where the turbine rotor comprises a generally doughnut-shaped hub. The doughnut-shaped hub is configured as a closed, hollow profile in a cross section B, and wherein the doughnut-shaped hub is formed either in the shape of a torus, the torus being circularly shaped in cross section B and the torus being ring-shaped in cross section A wherein the outer and inner circumferences of the ring are circular, or in the shape of a quasi-torus, the quasi-torus being polygonally or circularly shaped in cross section B and the torus being ring-shaped in cross section A wherein the outer and inner circumferences of the ring are polygonally or circularly shaped, on which torus or quasi-torus at least one rotor blade is provided. There is also provided a wind, hydro or tidal plant comprising the turbine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SWAY AS
    Inventor: Eystein Borgen
  • Publication number: 20100126374
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel magnetic suspension and propulsion technologies, which are named as Magnetostatic Suspension (MSS) and Magnetostatic Propulsion (MSP) respectively because of their magnetostatic nature of forces generated. A spring-like magnetic force is produced through interactions between magnets and ferrous materials such as steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: QIGEN JI
  • Publication number: 20100127589
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing device (100) having a magnetic bearing (210) for mounting a shaft (101) and a damping device (200). The damping device (200) comprises a first disc-shaped damper part (201) that is part of the shaft (101), and a yoke-shaped second damper part (202) that comprises side parts (211) guiding the magnetic flow and means (212) for producing a magnetic field. The side parts (211) guiding the magnetic flow are disposed at a distance from one another to form an annular-cylindrical intermediate chamber in the axial direction relative to the axis (A). The first damper part (201) protrudes into said intermediate chamber in a radial fashion relative to the axis (A). The second damper part (202) completely surrounds the disc-shaped first damper part (201).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Kummeth
  • Patent number: 7724114
    Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, Mark D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7723883
    Abstract: The device includes a rolling bearing unit supporting a radial load and a magnetic bearing unit supporting an axial load and/or a bearing preload; an electromagnet fitted to a spindle housing so as to confront, on a non-contact basis, a flange shaped thrust plate mounted on a main shaft; a motor rotor of a motor for driving the shaft, and a motor stator opposed to the rotor, the shaft being driven by magnetic or Lorentz forces developed between the rotor and the stator; and a sensor detecting an axial force acting on the bearing unit, and a controller controlling the electromagnet. In this device, the stiffness of a composite spring formed by the bearing unit and a support system for the bearing unit is chosen to be higher than the negative stiffness of a composite spring of a motor part comprised of the electromagnet and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Koichi Okada, Hiroyuki Yamada, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7723884
    Abstract: A permanent magnetic motor having a magnetic axial bearing and one or more fluid bearings, wherein a stator unit is disposed on a baseplate, the stator unit being disposed opposite a magnet ring made up of permanent magnets and being separated from the magnet ring by an air gap, and the magnet ring is fixed to the inside circumference of a circumferential hub that is supported with respect to a bearing bush by means of the fluid bearings via a shaft, and at least one fluid dynamic axial bearing is preloaded with an axial attractive force component that is at least partly generated by a ferromagnetic pull ring that is fixed to the baseplate and disposed below the magnet ring and permeated by its field lines, characterized in that, seen magnetically, the stator unit is centered with respect to the magnet ring and has no significant axial offset and that the pull ring has no or only relatively low electrical conductivity at high magnetic permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Bauer, Vladimir V. Popov, Frank Brechtefeld
  • Patent number: 7719152
    Abstract: A rotating shaft is accommodated in a case. A ferromagnetic portion is formed on the rotating shaft, and electromagnets are provided to the case. Many projecting portions are formed so as to be arranged in a direction along which the movement of the rotating shaft is required to be regulated. Furthermore, Many projecting portions are likewise formed on the ferromagnetic portion. According to this construction, magnetic flux occurring in the electromagnets concentrates, so that restoring force occurs in the axial direction with suppressing reduction of the attractive force in a radial direction to the ferromagnetic portion. Therefore, the movement in the axial direction of the rotating shaft can be regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamakata, Kiyoshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7719151
    Abstract: An active magnetic bearing (100) with autodetection of position, the bearing comprising at least first and second opposing electromagnets (120, 130) forming stators disposed on either side of a ferromagnetic body (110) forming a rotor and held without contact between said electromagnets. The first and second electromagnets (120, 130) each comprising a magnetic circuit (121; 131) essentially constituted by a first ferromagnetic material and co-operating with said ferromagnetic body to define an airgap, together with an excitation coil (122; 132) powered from a power amplifier whose input current is servo-controlled as a function of the position of the ferromagnetic body relative to the magnetic circuits of the first and second electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Societe de Mecanique Magnetique
    Inventors: Yann Tremaudant, Maurice Brunet, Ulrich Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20100116924
    Abstract: A power source for a vehicle includes at least one toroidal ring positioned in a housing. The toroidal ring includes magnetic material such as permanent magnets. The toroidal ring is magnetically levitated in the housing. A propulsion winding is coupled with the housing and energizable via a power signal to move the toroidal ring. Once moving, the magnetic material and the propulsion winding cooperate to produce electrical power and/or provide a stabilizing effect for the vehicle. In some applications, such as in an aircraft application, two or more toroidal rings may be used and rotated at counter directions so as to produce a predetermined net angular momentum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Bastian Family Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Bastian, II, Elizabeth Sobota
  • Patent number: 7714471
    Abstract: A motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is relative to the stator, and has a rotation axis. A magnet and a magnetic-material member magnetically interact with each other. The magnet and the magnetic-material member are provided for enabling the stator and the rotor to magnetically attracting each other. The magnet has a shape of a ring, and is coaxial with the rotation axis. The magnet has an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The inner circumference and an outer circumference have a common center. The magnet has a plurality of N and S poles alternately arranged along a circumferential direction thereof. At least one of boundaries between the N and S poles extends on a straight line out of the common center. A method of manufacturing the motor, and a method of magnetizing a raw member for the magnet are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Futoshi Yoshimatsu
  • Patent number: 7712982
    Abstract: An actuator includes a rotor, a stator containing the rotor, and a bearing to support the rotor to be rotatable with respect to the stator about the central axis of the rotor and an axis perpendicular to the central axis. The rotor includes rotor central magnetic poles, a rotor upper magnetic pole, and a rotor lower magnetic pole. The stator includes stator central magnetic poles larger in number than the rotor central magnetic poles, stator upper magnetic poles, stator lower magnetic poles, central coils to appropriately magnetize the stator central magnetic poles, upper coils to appropriately magnetize the stator upper magnetic poles, and lower coils to appropriately magnetize the stator lower magnetic poles. The length of each stator central magnetic pole along a central axis of the stator is larger than a length of each rotor central magnetic pole along the central axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshikatsu Akiba