US5254528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Brake device including magnet and superconductor
Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-08-29
•
Granted: 1993-10-19
•
Expires: 2011-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A brake device which performs a braking operation on a rotating body in a non-contact mode, thereby substantially eliminating the need for replacement of components. To achieve this object, the invention provides a brake device which is especially suitable for use at temperatures allowing Type II superconducting properties. A magnet and a superconductor are provided, one of which is provided on a rotating body to be braked. The quantity of magnetic flux from the magnet which permeates the superconductor is controlled so as to provide a counter-rotative force to the rotating body. According to a first aspect of the invention, a permanent magnet is provided, along with a displacing mechanism to change the distance between the permanent magnet and the superconductor. According to a second aspect of the invention, an electromagnet is provided, along with a control device for controlling the magnetic strength of the electromagnet.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryoichi Takahata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:23
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K49/00; H02K55/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A brake device for a rotating body comprising: magnet means; a Type II superconductor positioned relative to said magnet means to permit permeation of said superconductor by magnetic flux from said magnet means so that a circumferential distribution of the magnetic flux with respect to the rotational axis of the rotating body becomes non-uniform so as to apply braking force to the rotating body, the braking force being generated by virtue of a pinning effect between the superconductor and the magnet means; and displacing means for effecting variation of the distance between said magnet means and said superconductor so as to adjust the braking force applied to the rotating body; wherein one of said magnet means and said superconductor rotates with the rotating body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A brake device for a rotating body comprising: magnet means; a Type II superconductor positioned relative to said magnet means to permit permeation of said superconductor by magnetic flux from said magnet means so that a circumferential distribution of the magnetic flux with respect to the rotational axis of the rotating body becomes non-uniform so as to apply braking force to the rotating body, the braking force being generated by virtue of a pinning effect between the superconductor and the magnet means; and displacing means for effecting variation of the distance between said magnet means and said superconductor so as to adjust the braking force applied to the rotating body; wherein one of said magnet means and said superconductor rotates with the rotating body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The brake device of claim 1, wherein: said magnet means includes at least one permanent magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The brake device of claim 1, wherein: said magnet means is a disk-shaped permanent magnet affixed to an end of the rotating body; and said superconductor is a disk-shaped superconductor mounted for movement by said displacing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The brake device of claim 1, wherein: said superconductor is a disk-shaped superconductor affixed on an end of the rotating body; and said magnet means is mounted for movement by said displacing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The brake device of claim 1, wherein: said superconductor is an annular superconductor which is disposed about the rotating body; and said magnet means is displaced axially from the superconductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The brake device of claim 1, wherein: said magnet means comprises a single magnet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A brake device for a rotating body, comprising: electromagnet means having a controllable magnetic strength; a Type II superconductor positioned relative to said electromagnet means for permitting permeation of said superconductor by magnetic flux from said electromagnet means so that a circumferential distribution of the magnetic flux with respect to the rotational axis of the rotating body becomes non-uniform so as to apply braking force to the rotating body, the braking force being generated by virtue of a pinning effect between the superconductor and the magnet means; and control means for controlling the magnetic strength of said electromagnet means so as to adjust the braking force applied to the rotating body; wherein one of said electromagnet means and said superconductor rotates with the rotating body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A brake device for a rotating body, comprising: electromagnet means having a controllable magnetic strength; a Type II superconductor positioned relative to said electromagnet means for permitting permeation of said superconductor by magnetic flux from said electromagnet means so that a circumferential distribution of the magnetic flux with respect to the rotational axis of the rotating body becomes non-uniform so as to apply braking force to the rotating body, the braking force being generated by virtue of a pinning effect between the superconductor and the magnet means; and control means for controlling the magnetic strength of said electromagnet means so as to adjust the braking force applied to the rotating body; wherein one of said electromagnet means and said superconductor rotates with the rotating body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The brake device of claim 7, wherein: said superconductor is a disk-shaped superconductor affixed to an end of said rotating body; and said electromagnet means is axially spaced from said superconductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The brake device of claim 7, wherein: said superconductor is an annular superconductor disposed about said rotating body; and said electromagnet means is spaced radially from the superconductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The brake device of claim 7, wherein: said electromagnet means comprises a single electromagnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A brake device for a rotating body, comprising: magnet means; a Type II superconductor positioned relative to said magnet means to permit permeation of said superconductor by magnetic flux from said magnet means so that a circumferential distribution of the magnetic flux with respect to the rotational axis of the rotating body becomes non-uniform so as to apply braking force to the rotating body, the braking force being generated by virtue of a pinning effect between the superconductor and the magnet means; and means for adjusting the amount of said magnetic flux which permeates said superconductor so as to adjust the braking force applied to the rotating body; wherein one of said magnet means and said superconductor rotates with the rotating body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A brake device for a rotating body, comprising: magnet means; a Type II superconductor positioned relative to said magnet means to permit permeation of said superconductor by magnetic flux from said magnet means so that a circumferential distribution of the magnetic flux with respect to the rotational axis of the rotating body becomes non-uniform so as to apply braking force to the rotating body, the braking force being generated by virtue of a pinning effect between the superconductor and the magnet means; and means for adjusting the amount of said magnetic flux which permeates said superconductor so as to adjust the braking force applied to the rotating body; wherein one of said magnet means and said superconductor rotates with the rotating body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The brake device of claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting includes: displacing means for determining a displacement between said magnet means and said superconductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The brake device of claim 11, wherein: the magnet means includes electromagnet means having a controllable magnetic strength; and said means for adjusting includes a control means for controlling said magnetic strength of said electromagnet means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
72 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a rotatable member; providing a superconductor, cooled so as to have Type II superconductive properties; varying a magnetic field around the rotatable member while rotating it; and applying a resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member by using only the varied magnetic field and the superconductor, the resistance being generated by a pinning effect between the superconductor and a source of the magnetic field.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
72 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a rotatable member; providing a superconductor, cooled so as to have Type II superconductive properties; varying a magnetic field around the rotatable member while rotating it; and applying a resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member by using only the varied magnetic field and the superconductor, the resistance being generated by a pinning effect between the superconductor and a source of the magnetic field.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus, comprising: a rotatable member; a Type II superconductor means for varying a magnetic field around the rotatable member in conjunction with its rotation; and means for applying a resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member using only the varied magnetic field and the superconductor, the resistance being generated by a pinning effect between the superconductor and a source of the magnetic field.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus, comprising: a rotatable member; a Type II superconductor means for varying a magnetic field around the rotatable member in conjunction with its rotation; and means for applying a resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member using only the varied magnetic field and the superconductor, the resistance being generated by a pinning effect between the superconductor and a source of the magnetic field.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2066131A
Cited
US2130528A
Cited
US3889140A
Cited
DE1920138A1
Cited
US3609418A
Cited
US3742265A
Cited
US4058746A
Cited
US4151431A
Cited
US4164987A
Cited
JPS5364170A
Cited
JPS62247753A
Cited
JPH01295019A
Cited
US4931732A
Cited
US4886778A
Cited
US4939120A
Cited
US4908553A
Cited
US4979445A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-18 | 1997-04-19 | 1997-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-18 | 2001-04-19 | 2001-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-18 | 2005-04-19 | 2005-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |