The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the

Other

The United States of America as Represented by the United States

Sandor Wayne Shapery

Philip Albert Studer

Shapery Enterprises

Philip A Studer

Michael Philip Goldowsky

James M Beggs

Allan Sherman

Alexander Daniels

John Paulkovich

Harold E Evans

Max G Gasser

Jack Evans

Israel A Moya

A method and system for magnetically levitating a load is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is a system for magnetically levitating a load, the system comprising at least two lift generators, each comprising a source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a rail via a leg on either side of the rail, at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the lift generators, and control circuitry configured to generate and modulate a magnetic current flux through the crossbeam so as to maintain gaps between the legs and rail, wherein the gaps defined by the legs on either side of the rail are of unequal size.

Magnetic suspension system with integrable propulsion

A method and system for transportation using a magnetic bearing structure is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for carrying a load comprises a source of magnetic flux and a controller configured to control the position of the source of magnetic flux relative to a magnetizable structure. The source of magnetic flux comprises a first upper portion and a first lower portion of opposite polarities. The first portions are spaced apart horizontally from a first side of the magnetizable structure. The source of magnetic flux further comprises a second upper portion and a second lower portion of opposite polarities. The second portions are spaced apart horizontally from a second side of the magnetizable structure. The second side is opposite the first side. The first and second upper portions are magnetically attracted to an upper portion of the magnetizable structure and the first and second lower portions are magnetically attracted to a lower portion of the magnetizable structure.

Method and system for transportation using a magnetic bearing structure

A system and method for moving an object is disclosed. In one aspect, there is a device for moving an object. The device comprises a penetrating structure comprising an externally threaded surface. The device further comprises a receiving structure comprising an internally threaded cylinder surrounding the penetrating structure. The device further comprises a source of magnetic flux configured to magnetize the externally threaded surface with a first polarity and to magnetize the internally threaded cylinder with a second polarity that is different from the first polarity. The device further comprises a conductor positioned between the penetrating structure and the receiving structure configured to conduct an electric current. The device further comprises a sensor configured to determine the radial position of the penetrating structure with respect to the receiving structure. The device further comprises a controller configured to control the electric current in the conductor based on the determined radial position.

Electromechanical transformer

This disclosure describes an electromagnetic system for efficient propulsion, suspension, and guidance. The track is inexpensive totally passive steel. This linear form of the D.C. motor provides traction motor characteristics without physical contact, The moveable element (vehicle) comprises both the integrated armature and field magnet flux source which induces magnetizing flux into pairs of rails each energizing a set of interdigitated poles of alternating polarity in the track against which its own armature conductors interact for thrust and braking. This source of magnetic flux requires no power and provides passive suspension at any speed and, with control, guidance. The permanent magnet and control flux in common airgaps multiply the effectiveness of lateral control for magnetic stabilization and to restrain external forces.

Linear brushless D.C. motor with stationary armature and field and with integratable magnetic suspension

A plurality of identical modules are serially connected together with each module including a base plate and a top plate interconnected by a universal joint assembly so that the top plate is adapted to pivotally nutate around the base plate to describe a cone in space. An array of twenty-four electromagnets, sequentially energized in sets of three, are arranged in a ring around the periphery of the base plate. Selective energization of the eight sets of electromagnets causes the rim of the top plate to be magnetically attracted to the energized electromagnets. The tilt of the top pivot plate is detected and controlled over a range of 360.degree., thus permitting a series string of modules to assume any desired elongated configuration.

Flexible robotic arm

A brushless DC motor is disclosed wherein armature forces can be produced and controlled as both radial forces and as torque couples. A structure is described in which the normal radial destabilizing forces due to the high levels of magnetic flux linking the stator and rotor are reduced and the force gradient is moderated. This is accomplished by locating the rotor between two concentric stator coil assemblies either of which may be used for bearing or torquing to join the rotor magnets via magnetically 'soft' iron, thereby reducing the rotor mass and inertia with the consequent improvement in dynamic performance. Since the forces on the rotor are the sum of the forces produced by each individual stator coil, it is possible to combine groups of stator coils in various ways and independently control them to achieve the dual purpose. Radial position sensors and commutation sensors are included, the former to control currents in diagonally opposite pairs of stator coils in response to eccentricity as measured by the position sensors and the latter to make the resultant radial force independent of the rotor magnets angular position and polarity. The same commutation sensors also provide rotor angular information for smooth torque production in the normal manner.

Combination electric motor and magnetic bearing

A three axis attitude control system for an orbiting body, such as a spacecraft, comprises a motor driven flywheel supported by a torque producing active magnetic bearing. Free rotation of the flywheel is provided about its central axis and together with limited angular torsional deflections of the flywheel about two orthogonal axes which are perpendicular to the central axis. The motor comprises an electronically commutated DC motor, while the magnetic bearing comprises a radially servoed permanent magnet biased magnetic bearing capable of producing cross-axis torques on the flywheel. Three body attitude sensors for pitch, yaw and roll generate respective command signals along three mutually orthogonal axes (x, y, z) which are coupled to circuit means for energizing a set of control coils for producing torques about two of the axes (x and y) and speed control of the flywheel about the third (z) axis. An energy recovery system, which is operative during motor deceleration, is also included which permits the use of a high speed motor to perform effectively as a reaction wheel suspended in the magnetic bearing.

Three axis attitude control system

A single degree of freedom suspension element exhibiting substantially zero natural frequency of vibration with electronically controllable response comprising the combination of a mechanical spring and an 'electromagnetic spring' which axially supports a mass located on a base. The electromagnetic spring includes two identical and symmetrical permanent magnet circuits having adjacent like-polarity poles joined by a permeable magnetic shunt member. The magnet circuits include an air gap between pairs of pole faces and within which prominences of a magnetically permeable armature extend therein and partially short each of the air gaps. An electromagnetic coil is located inwardly of the magnetic shunt between the magnetic circuits and encircles the armature between the prominences. The mechanical spring is coupled to the armature and acts to center the prominences in the air gap. Motion of the armature induces currents in the coil which are velocity dependent and opposed to the motion, yielding a viscous damping effect. Energization of the coil results in a differential magnetic flux in the air gaps, producing differential forces tending to move the armature in a predetermined axial direction.

Spring neutralized magnetic vibration isolator

A magnetic bearing including a circular stator member having a plurality of circumferential pole faces and a suspended annular ring member with corresponding number of inward facing circumferential pole faces separated by respective air gaps. A source of DC magnetic flux circulates flux between the circumferential pole faces of the stator and the ring to provide axial stability along a central longitudinal axis. Flux coil means are included on the stator member for providing variable flux density along predetermined radial paths to provide active radial stabilization. Additionally, flux coil means are included on the stator to actively modulate the magnitude of the magnetic forces as well as their direction of differential flux control involving the DC magnetic flux to produce torquing moments about a pair of mutually orthogonal axes which are perpendicular to the central axis.

Radial and torsionally controlled magnetic bearing

A vibration free fluid compressor particularly adapted for Stirling cycle cryogenic refrigeration apparatus comprising a pair of identical opposing ferromagnetic pistons (10, 12) located in a housing (22) and between a gas spring including a sealed volume (52, 54, 60) of a working fluid such as gas under pressure. The gas compresses and expands in accordance with movement of the pistons (10, 12) to generate a compression wave which can be vented out to other apparatus, for example, a displacer unit in a Stirling cycle engine. The pistons (10, 12) are urged outwardly due to the pressure of the gas; however, a fixed electromagnetic coil assembly (56), located in the housing adjacent the pistons, is periodically energized to produce a magnetic field which interlinks the pistons (10, 12) in such a fashion that the pistons are mutually attracted to one another. The mass of the pistons (10, 12) in conjunction with the compressed gas between them form a naturally resonant system which when the pistons are electromagnetically energized, produce an oscillating compression wave in the entrapped fluid medium.

Magnetically actuated compressor

A counter-rotating machine, such as a positive displacement pump having a pair of meshed, non-contacting helical screws (10,12), subjects its rotating members to axial and radial thrust forces when used for such purposes as compression of liquid or gaseous phase fluids while transporting them through a pump cavity (11,13). Each helical screw (10,12) has a shaft (17,17') which is actively suspended at opposite ends (11a,11b) of the pump cavity by a servo-controlled magnetic bearing assembly (19) and a servo-controlled rotary drive motor (20). Both bearing assemblies and drive motors are mounted on the outside of the pump cavity (11,13). Opto-electric angular position sensors (250) provide synchronization between radial orientation of the drive motors. The bearing assemblies and drive motors conjugately provide axial stabilization and radial centering of the helical screws during volumetric compression of aspirated liquid or gaseous phase fluids.

Actively suspended counter-rotating machine

A long lifetime Stirling cycle cryogenic cooler particularly adapted for space applications comprised of a compressor section (10) centrally aligned end to end with an expansion section (12) and respectively including a reciprocating compressor piston (14) and displacer (16) radially suspended in interconnecting cylindrical housings (18, 20) by active magnetic bearings (26, 28, 30, 32) and having adjacent reduced clearance regions (82, 84, 108) so as to be in non-contacting relationship therewith and wherein one or more of these regions operate as clearance seals. The piston (14) and displacer (16) are reciprocated in their housings (18, 20) by linear drive motors (48, 52) to vary the volume of respectively adjacent compression and expansion spaces (44, 46) which contain a gaseous working fluid and a thermal regenerator (95) to effect Stirling cycle cryogenic cooling. Electrical circuit means (140, 142) are additionally included for energizing the magnetic bearings (26, 28, 30, 32) and for controlling the stroke amplitudes and relative phase angle between the compressor piston (14) and displacer (16) during the cooling cycle.

Stirling cycle cryogenic cooler

A linear magnetic bearing includes a stator member (16) stationary relative to x, y and z axes and having a longitudinal axis on the z axis as well as a member (15) longitudinally translatable relative to said axes. The translatable member (15) is controlled to have a longitudinal axis coincident with the z axis. Permanent magnets (36 and 37) on one of the members positions the translatable member (15) in a plane defined by the x-y axes relative to the stationary member (16). The position of the translatable member (15) is sensed by sensors (41 and 42) relative to the stationary member (16) in the plane defined by the x-y axes. Electro-magnets (38 and 39) on one member (23) responds to the sensor (41 and 42) to center the longitudinal axis of the translatable member (15) on the z axis. First low reluctance magnetic flux paths for the permanent magnets (36 and 37) exist through both of the members and a radial air gap (32, 33, 34 and 35) between the members. Second low reluctance magnetic flux paths exist for the electro-magnets through both of the members and a radial air gap (34 and 35) so no net force is applied to the translatable member in the direction of the z axis by either the permanent magnet means or the electro-magnets. The first and second low reluctance flux paths are arranged so that both the electro-magnets and permanent magnets share a common air gap but the electro-magnet fluxes do not pass through the high reluctance permanent magnets. One of the members includes two fixedly spaced elements (23 and 24) along the z axis. Each fixedly spaced element (23 and 24) has four radial pole faces (27, 28, 29 and 30) for the permanent magnet flux paths.

Linear magnetic bearing

A magnetic bearing assembly (10) has an intermediate rotatable section (33) having an outer cylindrical member (30) coaxially suspended by a torsion wire (72) around an axially polarized cylindrical magnet (32). Axial alignment between the pole faces (40-43) of the intermediate section (33) and end surfaces (50-53) of opposed end bells (20, 22) provides a path of least reluctance across intervening air gaps (60-63) for the magnetic flux emanating from magnet (32). Radial dislocation increases the reluctance and creates a radial restoring force. Substitution of radially polarized magnets 107 fixed to a magnetically permeable cylinder (32') and insertion of pairs of armature coil windings (109-112) between the cylinder pair (33') provides an integral magnetic bearing and torsion motor (100) able to provide arcuately limited rotational drive.

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Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Philip A Studer