Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A permanent magnet bearing for sue with apparatus of the type including a fixed member and a member rotatable about an axis with respect thereto and having a preselected axial position, relative to said fixed member, comprising: a pair of permanent magnets; each of said magnets including a pole surface; said pole surfaces being opposed to one another and so magnetized as to bias said magnets into axial spaced-apart relationship to define an airgap therebetween; one of said magnets being associated with said fixed member and the other end of said magnets being connected to said rotatable member; and at least one nonmagnetic temperature-responsive means operatively associated with at least one of said magnets for axially displacing said magnet relative to its associated member according to the surrounding temperature to maintain said rotatable member substantially in said preselected axial position relative to said fixed member despite changes in the surrounding temperature and magnetic conditions of said magnets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A permanent magnet bearing for sue with apparatus of the type including a fixed member and a member rotatable about an axis with respect thereto and having a preselected axial position, relative to said fixed member, comprising: a pair of permanent magnets; each of said magnets including a pole surface; said pole surfaces being opposed to one another and so magnetized as to bias said magnets into axial spaced-apart relationship to define an airgap therebetween; one of said magnets being associated with said fixed member and the other end of said magnets being connected to said rotatable member; and at least one nonmagnetic temperature-responsive means operatively associated with at least one of said magnets for axially displacing said magnet relative to its associated member according to the surrounding temperature to maintain said rotatable member substantially in said preselected axial position relative to said fixed member despite changes in the surrounding temperature and magnetic conditions of said magnets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 9, wherein said temperature-responsive means comprises a fluid, which fluid either expands or contracts upon temperature changes to displace the magnet with which it is operatively associated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 2, further including an elastic container, said fluid being carried in Said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 9, wherein said temperature-responsive means comprises a bimetallic member
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 4, wherein said bimetallic member includes first and second portions, one of said portions having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion and the other of said portions having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 5, wherein said bimetallic member comprises a pair of concave discs, each of said discs having said first and second portions, said first portions including a concave metallic surface and said second portions including a convex metallic surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 6, wherein said first portions are comprised of an iron-nickel alloy and said second portions are comprised of a manganese-copper-nickel alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The permanent magnet bearing defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said magnets is retained in a carrier body and said temperature-responsive means is disposed intermediate said carrier body and said magnet.