The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 1979
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1977
Joseph Lyman, Kennebunk, ME (US);
Cambridge Thermionic Corporation, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A magnetically suspended rotor system is provided capable of operating at rotational speeds of 100,000 rpm or greater. The system comprises a rotor assembly and electric motor means for producing rotation of the assembly about an axis thereof. Electromagnetic means disposed near one end of the rotor is energized to exert an attractive force on the rotor to support it and preferably cooperates with permanent magnet means affixed to the rotor assembly near one (the upper) end thereof. An additional permanent magnet affixed to the rotor near the opposite (lower) end thereof cooperates with another permanent magnet disposed in juxtaposition thereto to exert an attractive force on the rotor tending to oppose the force exerted by electromagnetic means and produces a radial constraining force on the rotor tending to center the lower end of the rotor assembly. A conductive element is interposed between the lower end of the rotor assembly and the latter permanent magnet which cooperates with the magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet in the lower end of the rotor assembly to inhibit nutation of the lower end of the rotor assembly by virtue of eddy currents induced therein. Means are provided responsive to displacement of the rotor in the direction of its axis of rotation for controlling the currents supplied to the electromagnetic means so as to tend to restore the rotor to its position prior to such displacement. The rotor may be driven by a motor utilizing regenerative commutation of the sort disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 695,507, filed June 11, 1976. The system disclosed makes possible the achievement of unusually high rotational speeds by minimizing or eliminating undesired resonances in the rotor assembly.