A ferromagnetic shield in contact with a magnet bar at the opposite end from the working surfaces of the bar eliminates the field canceling effects that arise from the Amperian currents at that end. The optimum polarization direction for such bars is one that is parallel to the azimuthal coordinate of the bar. The field at the working surface of the bar approaches that of a bar of infinite length because the shield, located on the side opposite to that of the working surface, completely eliminates, or at least substantially reduces, the field cancellation effect that normally would occur. The magnet bars with shields can be assembled on rotors and stators in flywheel storage systems and other rotating machinery.

A magnetic bearing retains a rotatable shaft in a selected position by magnetic coupling between a circular magnet and one or more magnet arrays. Each magnetic coupling completes a magnetic circuit. The magnet arrays focus magnetic flux towards the circular magnet to facilitate magnetic coupling. Magnet arrays configured in Halbach series may be employed. Magnet arrays configured as electromagnets may also be employed. The shaft may be attached either to the circular magnet or the magnet arrays. Shaft rotation does not affect the magnetic circuit, but axial displacement of the shaft disrupts the magnetic circuit and increases magnetic reluctance. Increasing magnetic reluctance inhibits axial displacement. The shaft thereby supports a load while rotating freely, constrained to a selected position by forces of magnetic reluctance. A centering bearing may be employed to maintain gap distance between circular magnet and one or more magnet arrays.

A flywheel system includes a fixture including a bottom support, a rotor characterized by a gravitational load and configured to rotate above the bottom support about a rotation axis, and a bottom magnetic levitation bearing. The bottom magnetic levitation bearing includes (a) a ring of first magnets mechanically coupled with a bottom end of the rotor, (b) a ring of second magnets mechanically coupled to the bottom support, beneath the ring of first magnets, the second magnets repelling the first magnets to magnetically support at least a portion of the gravitational load above the bottom support, (c) a ring of third magnets mechanically coupled with the bottom end, and (d) a ring of fourth magnets mechanically coupled to the bottom support radially outwards from the ring of third magnets, the fourth magnets repelling the third magnets to at least reduce radial decentering of the rotor relative to the fixture.

A bearing 100 is provided between an outermost peripheral portion and an innermost peripheral portion of a flywheel 110. The bearing 100 includes a bearing rotor 120 firmly fixed to rotate integrally with the flywheel 110, and a bearing stator 130 provided inside the bearing rotor 120 in a fixed state, and includes a radially outer side magnet 121 and a radially inner side magnet 131 with the same magnetic pole on the bearing rotor 120 and the bearing stator 130 at positions facing each other. Accordingly, the bearing rotor 120 rotates at a position close to a rotating shaft 1, so that the rotation of the bearing rotor 120 and the flywheel 110 rotating with the bearing rotor 120 is stabilized, and the bearing 100 is compactly disposed at a position inside the outermost peripheral portion of the flywheel 110, thereby being capable of downsizing the device.

A solid steel flywheel rotor having improved material properties offers improved energy storage at reduced cost. A process for manufacturing the rotor is also provided.

A low-friction side load bearing assembly for accommodating severe side loads applied to a spindle is provided. The side load bearing assembly includes a sleeve member having a frustro-conical outer surface that is slidably mounted on the spindle, and a cageless rolling bearing circumscribing the sleeve member. The cageless rolling bearing includes an annular housing that contains an inner ring of ball bearings that engages the sleeve member, and an outer ring of rolling bearings that maintains angular spacing between the ball bearings of the inner ring. A spring-loaded biasing mechanism pushes the sleeve member along the axis of rotation of the spindle such that its frustroconical outer surface wedgingly engages the inner ring of ball bearings thereby obviating the need for a bearing cage and rendering the bearing assembly self-adjusting for wear.

An apparatus and method for unloading a rotor bearing is described. The apparatus includes an electromagnet for levitating the rotor. In one embodiment, a sensor of the magnetic field near the electromagnet is used to control the current to levitate the rotor. In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes rotating the rotor, increasing the current to levitate the rotor and decrease the gap between electromagnet and rotor, and then reducing the current to levitate the rotor with a minimal amount of electric power to the electromagnet.

A solid steel flywheel rotor having improved material properties offers improved energy storage at reduced cost. A process for manufacturing the rotor is also provided.

A flywheel energy storage device includes the Halbach Motor/Generator with rolling biphasic coil control, continuously variable torque transfer via magnetic induction and a reluctance magnetic levitation system known as the Axial-Loading Magnetic Reluctance Device. Electric energy input turns the magnetically coupled rotors of the Halbach motor, and torque is transferred to a flywheel through a copper cylinder variably inserted between the Halbach magnet rotors. In idle mode, the energy is stored kinetically in the spinning flywheel, which is levitated by a permanent magnet bearing. Electric energy output is achieved by transferring torque from the flywheel through the copper cylinder to the rotors of the Halbach Generator by magnetic induction. Rolling biphasic motor control includes dividing Halbach motor coils into increments, then energizing groups of contiguous increments into virtual coils, which revolve in tandem with the magnet rotors so to achieve continuous and optimal torque.

An electromechanical battery can include a rotary member made at least in part of a first material composition. The rotary member having an interior surface defining an internal core cavity and at least one central chamber. A plurality of permanent magnets supported by the interior surface of the core cavity. A core member can be disposed within the core cavity. At least one levitating magnet can be supported by an exterior surface of the core member. The rotary member levitated with respect to the core member by the permanent magnets and levitating magnet. A second material composition can reside within at least one of the rotary member and the core member. The first member material composition converts through chemical reaction when exposed to the second material composition into a third material composition. The third material composition characterized by energy absorption resisting continued rotation of the rotary member.