A motor driven omnidirectional treadmill that allows users to walk, jog, or run in any direct ion. When the treadmill is coupled with computer-generated immersive environments users can maneuver their way on-foot through 360-degree VR environments of infinite expanse and scope.

A tool includes a device including a housing and a rotor, the rotor to rotate about a longitudinal axis, and an axial gap generator including a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor. The axial gap generator generates a voltage signal as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing being parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Aspects of the present disclosure include turbomachines designed and configured for high temperature and pressure operation and increased power level output that minimize pressure vessel design requirements, and increase dry gas seal reliability. In some examples, a first radial bearing is located in a high temperature and/or pressure region of the turbomachine between a rotor of the machine and a dry gas seal while other bearings are located outside of the high pressure region.

A downhole-type system includes a rotatable shaft, a downhole-type magnetic bearing coupled to the rotatable shaft, a downhole-type sensor, a surface-type controller, and a surface-type amplifier coupled to the magnetic bearing. The magnetic bearing can control levitation of the rotatable shaft. The downhole-type sensor can detect a position of the rotatable shaft in a downhole location and generate a first signal based on the detected position. The surface-type controller can receive the first signal, determine an amount of force to apply to the shaft, and generate a second signal corresponding to the determined amount of force. The surface-type amplifier can receive the second signal, amplify the second signal to a sufficient level to drive the magnetic bearing to apply force to the rotatable shaft to control the levitation of the rotatable shaft at the downhole location, and transmit the amplified second signal to the magnetic bearing.

A tool includes a device including a housing and a rotor, the rotor to rotate about a longitudinal axis, and an axial gap generator including a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor. The axial gap generator generates a voltage signal as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing being parallel to the longitudinal axis.

A vapor compression system including a motor having a housing and a shaft having an axis, the shaft urgable into rotational movement by the motor for powering a system component. A primary bearing and a secondary bearing are positioned in the housing for rotatably supporting the shaft, the primary bearing rotatably supporting the shaft during normal system operation. A first bearing stop and a second bearing stop are positioned on opposite sides of the secondary bearing for transmitting axial forces generated along the shaft for reaction by the motor housing during abnormal system operation. At least a portion of corresponding surfaces of each of the first bearing stop and the second bearing stop facing the secondary bearing have a protective overlying layer of material applied thereto.

The present invention provides a protective structure for a magnetic bearing and a magnetic bearing assembly. The protective structure for a magnetic bearing comprises: a first radial bearing protective component, sleeved on a shaft and in a position corresponding to a magnetic bearing, a first gap being radially formed between the first radial bearing protective component and the shaft; and a second radial bearing protective component, sleeved on the shaft and in a position corresponding to the magnetic bearing, a second gap being radially formed between the second radial bearing protective component and the shaft; the height of a working gap being greater than the height of the second gap, the height of the second gap being greater than the height of the first gap. The protective structure for the magnetic bearing and the magnetic bearing assembly effectively solve the problem of lower security between a magnetic bearing and a shaft, since a protective structure for the magnetic bearing is prone to failure in the prior art.

In a method for monitoring a magnetic bearing apparatus a first pair of at least essentially diametrically opposed sensors and a second pair of at least essentially diametrically opposed sensors are arranged in offset relation about an angle. A distance of each of the sensors from a rotating body arranged inside the first and second pairs of sensors is determined by temporal averaging of a plurality of distance measurements. The distances of the sensors from the rotating body are compared and a warning signal is outputted when a difference in the distances exceeds a limit value.

An inner barrel shaft is separate from the shaft of the first rotating machine. A first bearing assembly is configured to support the inner barrel shaft. The first bearing assembly is separate from the first rotating machine. An outer barrel includes an outer barrel shaft that is separate from a shaft of a second rotating machine. The outer barrel is configured to be coupled to the shaft of the second rotating machine. The second rotating machine is configured to drive or be driven by the first rotating machine. The outer barrel is fluidically isolated from the inner barrel. The outer barrel is configured to surround the inner barrel. The outer barrel is magnetically coupled to the inner barrel to co-rotate with the inner barrel. A second bearing assembly is configured to support the outer barrel shaft. The second bearing assembly is separate from the second rotating machine.

A fluid module includes a fluid rotor configured to rotatably drive or be driven by fluid produced from a wellbore. A first shaft is coupled to the fluid rotor. The first shaft is configured to rotate in unison with the fluid rotor. A thrust bearing module includes a thrust bearing rotor. A second shaft is coupled to the thrust bearing rotor. The second shaft is configured to rotate in unison with the thrust bearing rotor. The second shaft is coupled to the first shaft. An electric machine module includes an electric machine rotor. A third shaft is coupled to the electric machine rotor. A third shaft is configured to rotate in unison with the electric machine rotor. The third shaft is coupled to the second shaft. The third shaft is rotodynamically isolated from the first shaft and the second shaft.