A foil bearing operable with a magnetic field providing for magnetic suspension of a shaft. In one embodiment, the bearing construction relies upon a plurality of magnetic field generating members arranged to provide a shaft forming space to envelopingly receive the shaft and effectively suspend same in a composite magnetic field. In one embodiment, each of the magnetic field generating member include coils which are energizable with an electric current. In another embodiment, the magnetic field generating members comprise permanent magnets which are used in combination to create the composite magnetic field. A foil is trained about each of the magnetic field generating elements and the foils on each of these elements effectively define the space or cavity which receives the shaft Thus, when the shaft is levitated in the space or cavity by the composite magnetic field, it can function as a rotor and can be caused to rotate through a force applied to the shaft or a housing which receives the shaft. If the magnetic fields should fail or weaken, the shaft is still supported by the foils in the same manner as with foil barings.
The invention relates to means and methods by which a rotor is rotationally journalled relative to a stator in a magnetic field provided concentrically about a longitudinal axis, coincident with the rotor and the stator axis such that an annular gap is formed between the rotor and the stator. A flexible, sheet metal foil of non-magnetic and electrically conductive material is arranged for insertion in the annular gap in relative rotation to the rotor. The foil is shaped for generating a fluid film in cooperation with the revolving periphery of the rotor, and effective to counteract oscillating rotation of said rotor due to the formation of eddy currents that are induced in the sheet metal foil upon displacement within the magnetic field.
A multi-lobe bearing is of simple construction such that a foil sheet in the form of a closed loop is arranged on a journal shaft by joining both ends of two sheets together, with a bearing gap therebetween and filling a viscoelastic body in an air gap between the foil sheet and an inside of a bearing holding member, whereby the bearing gap between the journal shaft and the foil sheet is configured to be liable to generate a fluid pressure. Also, the bearing is simply constructed to be made easy in assembly, and in particular, appropriate in bearing the journal shaft having a small diameter.
A frameless torque motor with a transport securing device wherein the torque motor includes a ferromagnetic primary element and a secondary element, having magnets oriented in a direction toward the primary element, wherein the primary element and the secondary element are fixed to each other by a magnetic force generated by the magnets. A transport securing device that maintains the magnets spaced apart from one another, wherein the transport securing device includes a spacer in an air gap between the primary element and the secondary element.
A cylindrical shaft including a rotor rotates within a housing. A foil bearing comprised of flexible foil segments encircles the rotor, and is located in between the rotor and the housing. The foil segments are attached to the housing, and are installed with a flexion to press against the rotor. A split ring is situated near each end of the foil bearing. Each ring is suspended in an circumferential groove in the rotor by springs which also apply a force tending to keep the ring closed. When the rings are closed, the foil segments can press against and support the rotor. The rings can be opened by respective solenoid-operated plungers to press against the foil segments and force them apart from the rotor.
A power generation system including a housing defining a cavity and having an inlet for receiving a fluid that is used to cool and pressurize the cavity and an outlet for removing the fluid from the cavity. The system also may include a rotor having a first end positioned within the cavity of the housing and a second end, a plurality of bearings, positioned to contact the rotor, for providing radial support to the rotor, and a turbine connected to the second end of the rotor. Further, the system may include a heat sink positioned within the cavity and between the housing and the rotor, and an electronic component attached to the heat sink.
