Satcon Technology Corporation

Francis E Nimblett

Marthinus Van Schoor

Dariusz Antoni Bushko

Richard L Hockney

Geoffrey B Lansberry

Gita P Rao

James L O'Rourke

Luka Serdar

William E Stanton

Stephen B Nichols

Michael E Amaral

A power supply device for providing uninterrupted power for a period of time is disclosed. The power supply device has a controller and a flywheel device. The flywheel device has a housing that contains a flywheel rotor and a motor/generator rotor. The flywheel rotor and the motor/generator rotor are mounted on a common shaft. An active axial magnetic bearing is located to support the shaft for frictionless rotation. The bearing provides support for the shaft, the flywheel rotor and motor/generator rotor. The axial magnetic bearing is attached to the housing and provides, in combination with the motor/generator rotor, a flux path and magnetic field to exert a magnetic force to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted.

Flywheel power supply having axial magnetic bearing for frictionless rotation

In the hydraulically assisted steering system disclosed herein, a hydraulic pump for powering a steering servo is in turn driven either from the vehicle's engine, through an electrically controlled clutch, or by an electric motor which can drive the pump independently of the vehicle's engine. A signal is provided which varies as a function of vehicle's speed and disengagement of the clutch is enabled for vehicle speeds above a predetermable threshold, thereby to reduce energy consumption. The clutch is engaged, independently of vehicle speed, under high load, e.g. emergency situations.

Clutched electric motor steering system

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Beverly, MA, United States of America

Francis E Nimblett