Synchronous magnetic drive assembly with laminated barrier

Abstract

A magnetic drive assembly includes a housing having a pair of end flanges, an annular drive member containing a plurality of drive members and internally thereof a driven member containing a plurality of driven magnets. The drive and driven members are bearingly supported by the end flanges so that rotation of the drive member results, through magnetic interaction, on rotation of the driven member. A barrier separates the driven and drive members and extends between the end flanges to hermetically seal the driven member. The barrier is formed from a plurality of abutting axially adjacent annular laminations held in axial compression by the end flanges, the laminations being formed of a non-magnetic material. In one embodiment the laminations have a chevron shape in radial cross-section whereby adjacent laminations are nestable with each other. In a second embodiment the laminations are rectangular in radial cross-section and are additionally supported by a thin wall non-magnetic sleeve extending between the end flanges. The laminated barrier reduces power loss and heat generation due to eddy currents generated by the magnetic flux, and still provides sufficient stability in shear and end thrust for use in pressure vessel applications.