Magnetically leviated superconducting bearing

Patent · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868985

Weinberger, Bernard R ^[1]

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1. Avon, CT

A magnetically levitated superconducting bearing includes a magnet (2) mounted on a shaft (12) that is rotatable around an axis of rotation and a Type II superconductor (6) supported on a stator (14) in proximity to the magnet (2). The superconductor (6) is positioned so that when it is cooled to its superconducting state in the presence of a magnetic field, it interacts with the magnet (2) to produce an attractive force that levitates the magnet (2) and supports a load on the shaft (12). The interaction between the superconductor (6) and magnet(2) also produces surface screening currents (8) that generate a repulsive force perpendicular to the load. The bearing also has means for maintaining the superconductor at a temperature below its critical temperature (16, 18). The bearing could also be constructed so the magnet (2) is supported on the stator (14) and the superconductor (6) is mounted on the shaft (12). The bearing can be operated by cooling the superconductor (6) to its superconducting state in the presence of a magnetic field.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Hartford, CT)
• Patent Number(s): US 5256638
• OSTI ID: 868985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/505/310/
12
14
16
18
attractive
attractive force
axis
bearing
below
constructed
cooled
cooling
critical
critical temperature
currents
field
force
generate
ii
ii superconductor
interaction
interacts
leviated
levitated
levitates
load
magnet
magnetic
magnetic field
magnetically
magnetically levitated
maintaining
means
mounted
operated
perpendicular
positioned
presence
produce
produces
proximity
repulsive
rotatable
rotation
screening
shaft
stator
superconducting
superconducting bearing
superconductor
supported
supports
surface
temperature
temperature below
tractive force
type
type ii