US4785212A — Large angle magnetic suspension system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuators spaced from each other along a primary axis, each including: a stator including a curved support shell having a plurality of coil windings; a rotor including a curved annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell and including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; each said gap extending away from the other said gap and converging arcuately toward said primary axis; and means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in each said gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuators spaced from each other along a primary axis, each including: a stator including a curved support shell having a plurality of coil windings; a rotor including a curved annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell and including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; each said gap extending away from the other said gap and converging arcuately toward said primary axis; and means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in each said gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which said support shells are hemispherical.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 2 in which each said curved annular gap is hemispherical.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which each said support shell has two pairs of coils.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 4 in which one coil of each pair is disposed opposite the other coil of that pair.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which said means for selectively exciting includes means for sensing the position of said rotors along the axial and two radial axes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 6 in which said means for selectively exciting further includes means, responsive to said means for sensing, for determining the position of the center of mass of each said rotor and for maintaining its center of mass at a predetermined position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 7 in which said coil windings of said stators exert forces on said rotors to maintain the center of mass of each said rotor at the predetermined position as controlled by said means for selectively exciting.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which said stators are disposed such that they are diametrically opposed to each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which said means for selectively exciting includes means for measuring rotation of each said rotor about two radial axes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 10 in which said means for selectively exciting further includes means, responsive to said means for measuring, for adjusting the rotation angle of each said rotor about the two radial axes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 11 in which said stators apply torques to said rotors to adjust the rotation angles of said rotors.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which each said means for providing a magnetic field provides a homopolar field.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 13 in which each said means for providing a magnetic field is an annular permanent magnet.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 further including a motor/generator having a stator and a rotor which has a curved annular gap for rotatably receiving said motor/generator stator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 15 in which said motor/generator stator is hemispherical.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 16 in which said motor/generator rotor gap is hemispherical.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 15 in which said motor/generator rotor is attached to both said actuator rotors.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 96 words

A rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuator bearings spaced from each other each including: a stator including a hemispherical support shell having a plurality of coil windings; and a rotor including a spherical annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell and including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in the gap and to produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor; and a motor/generator including a hemispherical stator and a rotor having a hemispherical gap for rotatably receiving said motor/generator stator.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 96 words

A rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuator bearings spaced from each other each including: a stator including a hemispherical support shell having a plurality of coil windings; and a rotor including a spherical annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell and including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in the gap and to produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor; and a motor/generator including a hemispherical stator and a rotor having a hemispherical gap for rotatably receiving said motor/generator stator.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The rotary machine of claim 19 in which said motor/generator stator is disposed inside of and is concentric with said hemispherical support shells.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 further including structure coupling together said rotors.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which said means for selectively exciting includes means for controlling the position of each said rotor along the axial and two radial axes.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 61 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 1 in which the curvature of each said gap matches the curvature of the respective shell to enable each stator to remain at substantially the same distance from respective rotor structure bounding the respective gap as said rotor and said stator move relative to each other transverse to the direction of rotation of said rotor.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 125 words

A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuators spaced from each other along a primary axis, each including: a stator including a curved support shell having a plurality of coil windings; a rotor including a curved annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell to enable movement of said rotor and said stator relative to each other transverse to the direction of rotation of said rotor, said rotor further including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; each said gap extending away from the other said gap and converging arcuately toward said primary axis; and means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in each said gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 125 words

A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuators spaced from each other along a primary axis, each including: a stator including a curved support shell having a plurality of coil windings; a rotor including a curved annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell to enable movement of said rotor and said stator relative to each other transverse to the direction of rotation of said rotor, said rotor further including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; each said gap extending away from the other said gap and converging arcuately toward said primary axis; and means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in each said gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 62 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 24 in which the curvature of each said gap matches the curvature of the respective shell to enable each said stator to remain at substantially the same distance from respective rotor structure bounding the respective gap as said rotor and said stator move relative to each other transverse to the direction of rotation of said rotor.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The magnetic suspension system of claim 24 in which said curved annular gaps enable tilting of said primary axis by at least ten degrees.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 125 words

A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuators spaced from each other each including: a stator including a hemispherical support shell having at least two pairs of coils; a rotor including a hemispherical annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell and including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; said stators sharing a primary axis and being diametrically opposed to each other, said gaps of said rotors enabling tilting of said primary axis in any radial direction; and means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in each said gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor and for controlling the position of each said rotor along the axial and two radial axes.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 125 words

A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine comprising: two magnetic actuators spaced from each other each including: a stator including a hemispherical support shell having at least two pairs of coils; a rotor including a hemispherical annular gap for rotatably receiving said shell and including means for providing a magnetic field in said gap; said stators sharing a primary axis and being diametrically opposed to each other, said gaps of said rotors enabling tilting of said primary axis in any radial direction; and means for selectively exciting said coils to interact with the magnetic field in each said gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending each said rotor and for controlling the position of each said rotor along the axial and two radial axes.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-11-15	1992-05-16	1992-11-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-11-15	1996-05-16	1996-11-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-11-15	2000-05-16	2000-11-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Large angle magnetic suspension system

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