Combined passive magnetic bearing element and vibration damper

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873570

Post, Richard F ^[1]

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1. Walnut Creek, CA

A magnetic bearing system contains magnetic subsystems which act together to support a rotating element in a state of dynamic equilibrium and dampen transversely directed vibrations. Mechanical stabilizers are provided to hold the suspended system in equilibrium until its speed has exceeded a low critical speed where dynamic effects take over, permitting the achievement of a stable equilibrium for the rotating object. A state of stable equilibrium is achieved above a critical speed by use of a collection of passive elements using permanent magnets to provide their magnetomotive excitation. In a improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,221, a magnetic bearing element is combined with a vibration damping element to provide a single upper stationary dual-function element. The magnetic forces exerted by such an element, enhances levitation of the rotating object in equilibrium against external forces, such as the force of gravity or forces arising from accelerations, and suppresses the effects of unbalance or inhibits the onset of whirl-type rotor-dynamic instabilities. Concurrently, this equilibrium is made stable against displacement-dependent drag forces of the rotating object from its equilibrium position.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6191515
• OSTI ID: 873570
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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accelerations
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achievement
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bearing
bearing element
collection
combined
combined passive
concurrently
contains
contains magnetic
critical
dampen
damper
damping
directed
displacement-dependent
drag
dual-function
dynamic
dynamic effects
dynamic equilibrium
effects
element
elements
enhances
equilibrium
exceeded
excitation
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external
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force
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forces exerted
gravity
hold
improvement
inhibits
instabilities
levitation
magnetic
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magnetic force
magnetic forces
magnetic subsystems
magnetomotive
magnets
mechanical
onset
passive
passive elements
passive magnetic
permanent
permanent magnet
permanent magnets
permitting
position
provide
provided
rotating
rotating element
rotor-dynamic
single
speed
stabilizers
stable
stable equilibrium
stationary
subsystems
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suppresses
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transversely
type rotor
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upper
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whirl-type