Advanced magnetically-stabilized couplings and bearings, for use in mechanical drives
US6093989A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/19702
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rotary-arm drive includes a wobble-absorbing magnetic bearing (WAMB). One end of the arm engages a load-carrying surface. The other end rotates with a power-carrying rotary shaft. The arm transmits power at least one way between surface and shaft. The WAMB is between the first end of the arm and the surface. As to one aspect of the invention, the WAMB directly transmits force mechanically, but absorbs mismatched motion, between end and surface. Preferably the bearing has at least two elements (more preferably rolling elements, ideally balls) fastened to neither the end nor the surface. As to a second aspect, the drive is a traveling antirotation module. The first end rides on a fixed guideway that defines the surface; the other is fixed to a mechanical element forming the shaft and travels, carrying the arm, along a drive direction and is subject to undesired rotation about the axis. Thus the arm and its engagement with the guideway help restrain the element against rotation. The WAMB, at the first end of the arm, includes (1) the surface defined by the guideway, and (2) at least one other bearing surface traveling with the element and arm, and is magnetically secured against the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.