Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Patent
1993-09-15
1995-08-29
LaBalle, Clayton E.
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
505903, B60L 1304, H02K 709
Patent
active
054460182
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to superconducting bearing devices, for example, for use in hydraulic machines and machine tools which require high-speed rotation, or power storage apparatus for storing excessive electric power as converted to kinetic energy of a flywheel.
BACKGROUND ART
Superconducting bearings devices already known include those disclosed, for example, in the specifications of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,778 and 4,892,863.
These superconducting bearing devices have incorporated therein a Type II superconductor, i.e., a superconductor which permits penetration of the magnetic flux of a permanent magnet in a temperature environment which realizes a Type II superconducting state. The superconducting bearing device comprises a permanent magnet mounted on a rotary body, and a Type II superconductor provided on a fixed portion and opposed to the magnet.
However, the superconducting bearing device has the problem of being low in operation efficiency since the device has no mechanism for determining the position of the superconductor and the permanent magnet relative to each other when the device is to be initiated into operation. Further the device has the problem that the rotary body and parts therearound become damaged or broken should the superconductor be made normally conductive (quenched).
An object of the present invention is to provide a superconducting bearing device which is free of these problems.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a superconducting bearing device adapted to rotatably support a rotary body by a superconducting bearing in a noncontact state, the rotary body being so disposed as to be movable relative to a fixed portion in the direction of axis of rotation and in a direction orthogonal to the direction of rotation axis, the rotary body being rotatable relative to the fixed portion, the superconducting bearing device being characterized in that the superconducting bearing comprises a permanent magnet mounted on the rotary body, and a Type II superconductor attached to the fixed portion and opposed to the magnet, the permanent magnet being so mounted on the rotary body that the rotation of the rotary body will not alter the magnetic flux distribution around the axis of rotation of the rotary body, the Type II superconductor permitting the penetration of magnetic flux of the permanent magnet thereinto in a temperature environment realizing a Type II superconducting state and being so attached to the fixed portion as to be disposed at a position which is spaced apart from the magnet by a distance permitting a predetermined quantity of magnetic flux thereof to penetrate thereinto and which will not permit the rotation of the rotary body to alter the distribution of penetrating magnetic flux, opposed portions being provided between the fixed portion and the rotary body to position the former below the latter, a mechanical catcher bearing being disposed at the opposed portions and having a bearing member on the fixed portion side, an initial position determining mechanism being provided between the fixed portion and the rotary body for lifting the bearing member to determine the position of the fixed portion and the rotary body relative to each other.
Preferably, the mechanical catcher bearing is a thrust ball bearing provided concentrically with the rotary body, the thrust ball bearing having a bearing ring attached to the fixed portion and another bearing ring attached to the rotary body, the bearing ring on the fixed portion being movable upward and downward.
Alternatively, the mechanical catcher bearing is a thrust slide bearing provided concentrically with the rotary body and having a slide ring attached to the fixed portion. The slide ring is formed on an upper surface thereof with an upwardly tapered annular ridge, and is movable upward and downward. The rotary body is concentrically formed in a portion thereof opposed to the ridge with an annular recessed portion approximately inverted V-shaped in cross section for the ridge to fi
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Herbert Herkimer, Engineers' Illustrated Thesaurus, 1952, pp. 142-145.
Proceedings of the 20th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Energy for the Twenty-First Century. SAE P-164. vol. 2; Aug. 1985, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale Pa. (U.S.); pp. 2449-2453; "Design Considerations for Magnetically Suspended Flywheel Systems." by Anant et al.
Shibayama Motoaki
Takahata Ryoichi
Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd.
LaBalle Clayton E.
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