US5540116A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low-loss, high-speed, high-TC superconducting bearings
Assignee: University of Chicago
•
Filing: 1993-03-03
•
Granted: 1996-07-30
•
Expires: 2013-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A flywheel energy storage device including an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet. The stationary permanent magnet levitates the iron structure while the superconductor structure can stabilize and levitate the rotating iron structure.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Hull
- 👤 Thomas M. Mulcahy
- 👤 Kenneth L. Uherka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:11
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/30; F16F15/315; F16F15/3156; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/04; F16C32/0406; F16C32/0408; F16C32/0436; F16C32/0438; F16C2361/00; F16C2361/55; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/16; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2117; Y10T74/2119
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet structure, said iron structure being levitated by said stationary permanent magnet structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet structure, said iron structure being levitated by said stationary permanent magnet structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said stationary superconductor material structure and said stationary permanent magnet structure are disposed within at least a portion of said iron structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said iron structure comprises ferromagnetic steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said iron structure comprises a ring-shaped structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said iron structure comprises a cylindrical-shaped structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said stationary superconductor material structure comprises a superconductor material capable of allowing magnetic flux to penetrate said material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said stationary superconductor material structure is disposed between said iron structure and said stationary permanent magnet structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: iron structure means for rotating adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure means for stabilizing said iron structure means and said iron structure means further disposed for rotating adjacent a stationary permanent magnet means for levitating said iron structure means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: iron structure means for rotating adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure means for stabilizing said iron structure means and said iron structure means further disposed for rotating adjacent a stationary permanent magnet means for levitating said iron structure means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said stationary superconductor material structure means and said stationary permanent magnet means are disposed within at least a portion of said iron structure means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said iron structure means comprises ferromagnetic steel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said iron structure means comprises a ring-shaped structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said iron structure means comprises a cylindrical-shaped structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said stationary superconductor material structure means comprises a superconductor material capable of allowing magnetic flux to penetrate said material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said stationary superconductor material structure means is disposed between said iron structure means and said stationary permanent magnet means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: iron structure means for rotating outside of and adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure means for stabilizing said iron structure means and said iron structure means further disposed for rotating adjacent a stationary permanent magnet means for levitating said iron structure means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: iron structure means for rotating outside of and adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure means for stabilizing said iron structure means and said iron structure means further disposed for rotating adjacent a stationary permanent magnet means for levitating said iron structure means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: a rotary member consisting of iron and disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet levitating means, said rotary member being levitated solely by said stationary permanent magnet levitating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: a rotary member consisting of iron and disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet levitating means, said rotary member being levitated solely by said stationary permanent magnet levitating means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: iron structure means for rotating adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure means for stabilizing said iron structure means and said iron structure means further disposed for rotating adjacent a stationary permanent magnet means for levitating said iron structure means without any intervening magnet structure between said iron structure means and said stationary permanent magnet means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A flywheel energy storage device, comprising: iron structure means for rotating adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure means for stabilizing said iron structure means and said iron structure means further disposed for rotating adjacent a stationary permanent magnet means for levitating said iron structure means without any intervening magnet structure between said iron structure means and said stationary permanent magnet means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3026151A
Cited
US3493274A
Cited
US3572854A
Cited
US4151431A
Cited
US4132130A
Cited
US4464943A
Cited
US4658659A
Cited
US4643034A
Cited
US4702090A
Cited
US4961352A
Cited
US4870310A
Cited
US4885489A
Cited
US4939120A
Cited
US4886778A
Cited
US5245270A
Cited
US5330967A
Cited
GB2248690A
Cited
US5209068A
Cited
US5436516A
Cited
US5214981A
Cited
US5314868A
Cited
US5220232A
Cited
US5270601A
Cited
US5256638A
Cited
US5325002A
Cited
US5396136A
Cited
US5482919A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |