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:
May. 21, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 07, 1994
Joseph K Scharrer, Fair Oaks, CA (US);
Rotodynamics-Seal Research, Inc., , CA (US);
Abstract
A foil bearing operable with a magnetic field providing for magnetic suspension of a shaft. In one embodiment, the bearing construction relies upon a plurality of magnetic field generating members arranged to provide a shaft forming space to envelopingly receive the shaft and effectively suspend same in a composite magnetic field. In one embodiment, each of the magnetic field generating member include coils which are energizable with an electric current. In another embodiment, the magnetic field generating members comprise permanent magnets which are used in combination to create the composite magnetic field. A foil is trained about each of the magnetic field generating elements and the foils on each of these elements effectively define the space or cavity which receives the shaft Thus, when the shaft is levitated in the space or cavity by the composite magnetic field, it can function as a rotor and can be caused to rotate through a force applied to the shaft or a housing which receives the shaft. If the magnetic fields should fail or weaken, the shaft is still supported by the foils in the same manner as with foil barings.