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:
Jul. 27, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1992
Nigel H New, Harrow, GB;
The Glacier Metal Company Limited, Middlesex, GB;
Abstract
An assembly in which a rotating shaft is supported by a magnetic bearing has a backup bearing to support the shaft in the event of failure of the magnetic bearing. If the bearing portion of the backup bearing comprises a ball race, the radially outer raceway thereof is secured to an anchorage, such as a housing for the assembly. A low stiffness damper member in the form of an annular shaped body of resilient material also is included in the backup bearing, between the bearing portion thereof and the anchorage. Advantageously, when the magnetic bearing has failed, and the shaft is being brought to rest by being in contact with the backup bearing, the resilient body is in shear, and the body has a lower stiffness than otherwise would be the case. Thus, any tendency for the backup bearing, and/or the anchorage, to be damaged while the shaft is being brought to rest, is reduced, because the provision of the low stiffness damper causes the shaft to have a low natural frequency of oscillation.