EP0558818A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Superconducting bearings
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A superconducting bearing (10, 32, 18, 42) includes a laminated structure having at least two stacked magnets (16a-16c, 36a-36b, 24a-24f, 46a-46d) with at least one metallic shim (17, 26, 26, 76) being disposed between adjacent magnets. The magnets can be stacked in either opposing or alternating polarity. By stacking the magnets, flux lines are shortened. As a result, flux gradient density and, therefore, bearing stiffness are increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas K. Rigney Ii
- 👤 Marshall P. Saville
- 👤 Frederick B. Mccarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:36
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/04; F16C32/0406; F16C32/0408; F16C32/0436; F16C32/0438; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/725; Y10S505/727
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A superconducting bearing (10, 32, 18, 70) including a stator (12, 23, 22, 73) made of superconducting material and a rotor characterized by: a stack of at least two permanent magnets (16a-16c, 36a-36b, 56a-56d, 46a-46d), each said permanent magnet providing a magnetic field; and at least one metallic shim (17, 26, 26, 48) disposed between each pair of adjacent magnets to provide a gap (g) that increases flux density gradient, at least one surface of said stator being in communication with the magnetic fields from said magnets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bearing (10, 18) of Claim 1, characterized in that said magnets (16a-16c, 24a-24f) are stacked in alternating polarity and separated by non-permeable metallic shims (17, 26).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bearing (18) of Claim 2, further characterized in that said stator includes a cylinder (22) and that said magnets (24a-24f) are radially magnetized cylindrical magnets located within said cylinder (22), whereby said bearing (18) is a journal bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The bearing (10) of Claim 2, further characterized in that said stator includes a disk (12) and that said magnets (16a-16d) are magnetized axially, whereby said bearing (10) is a thrust bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bearing (32, 42) of Claim 1, characterized in that said magnets (36a-36b, 46a-46b) are stacked in opposing polarity and separated by permeable metallic shims (26, 48).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bearing (42) of Claim 5, further characterized in that said stator includes a cylinder (73) and that said magnets (46a-46d) are axially magnetized cylindrical magnets located within said cylinder (73), whereby said bearing (42) is a journal bearing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bearing (32) of Claim 5, further characterized in that said stator includes a disk (23), whereby said bearing (32) is a thrust bearing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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