A rotating machine including a thrust bearing configured to receive an axial thrust exerted by a rotor. The thrust bearing may be configured to transfer the axial thrust from the rotor to a housing or other structural component of the rotating machine using a plurality of ball bearings. The rotating machine includes a magnetic apparatus configured to cause the rotating machine to exert an axial force on the thrust bearing in the direction of the axial thrust of the rotor, such that the magnetic apparatus loads the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust. The magnetic apparatus may be configured to generate a magnetic field causing a first magnetic component of the magnetic apparatus to repel or attract a second magnetic component of the apparatus. The first magnetic component may be configured to rotate relative to the second magnetic component.

A magnetic bearing retains a rotatable shaft in a selected position by magnetic coupling between two circularmagnetic assemblies, one of which is connected to the shaft. Each magnetic coupling completes a magnetic circuit. Shaft rotation does not affect the magnetic circuit, but radial displacement of the shaft disrupts the magnetic circuit and increases magnetic reluctance. Increasing magnetic reluctance inhibits radial displacement. The shaft thereby supports a load while rotating freely, constrained to a selected position by forces of magnetic reluctance. A bearing may be employed to maintain gap distance between the magnetic assemblies.

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for axially supporting a shaft. In one aspect, a magnetic suspension system for supporting a shaft in a housing is provided. The magnetic suspension system includes an array of magnet members disposed between the shaft and the housing. The array of magnet members comprising a first magnet member, a second magnet member, and a third magnet member, wherein the first magnet member and the second magnet member generate a first force that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and the second magnet member and the third magnet member generate a second force that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft The first force and the second force are configured to position the shaft axially within the housing. In another aspect, a method of supporting a shaft along a longitudinal axis of a housing is provided. In a further aspect, a suspension system for supporting a shaft in a housing is provided.

Various embodiments provide a system for moving optical elements. The system includes a first rotor and a second rotor configured to rotate in opposite directions. The system further includes a first plurality of paddles coupled to the first rotor, each of the plurality of paddles having an aperture configured to receive a first optical element, and a second plurality of paddles coupled to the second rotor, each of the plurality of paddles having an aperture configured to receive a second optical element. The first rotor and the second rotor are configured to move the first optical element between a retracted position and a desired position and to move the second optical element between the desired position and a retracted position substantially simultaneously such that a reaction torque of the first rotor cancels a reaction torque of the second rotor.

In an electric motor, a magnetic bearing generates an electromagnetic force between multiple permanent magnets and a coil and rotatably supports an other side of a rotation shaft in an axis line direction. The rotation shaft is configured to be capable of being inclined with a rotation center line using a bearing side of the rotation shaft as a fulcrum. An electronic control device controls a current that flows to the coil such that an axis line of the rotation shaft approaches the rotation center line due to a supporting force which is the electromagnetic force between the multiple permanent magnets and the coil. Accordingly, the rotation shaft is rotatably supported to be freely rotatable by a magnetic bearing and the bearing.

A magnetic bearing system for controlling magnetic coupling between a mobile carriage and a guideway. The magnetic bearing system includes at least two engines successively arranged in a travel direction, wherein each of the at least two engines comprises at least two poles. The at least two engines have centerlines in the travel direction that are fixedly offset from each other, and the at least two engines are configured to be magnetically coupled to the guideway through air gaps.

A rotating machine including a thrust bearing configured to receive an axial thrust exerted by a rotor. The thrust bearing may be configured to transfer the axial thrust from the rotor to a housing or other structural component of the rotating machine using a plurality of ball bearings. The rotating machine includes a magnetic apparatus configured to cause the rotating machine to exert an axial force on the thrust bearing in the direction of the axial thrust of the rotor, such that the magnetic apparatus loads the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust. The magnetic apparatus may be configured to generate a magnetic field causing a first magnetic component of the magnetic apparatus to repel or attract a second magnetic component of the apparatus. The first magnetic component may be configured to rotate relative to the second magnetic component.

A magnetic bearing system for controlling magnetic coupling between a mobile carriage and a guideway. The magnetic bearing system includes at least two engines successively arranged in a travel direction, wherein each of the at least two engines comprises at least two poles. The at least two engines have centerlines in the travel direction that are fixedly offset from each other, and the at least two engines are configured to be magnetically coupled to the guideway through air gaps.

The invention relates to a bearing device arranged to support in a vertical direction a first part of an apparatus with respect to a second part of the apparatus, comprising a magnetic gravity compensator. The magnetic gravity compensator comprises: a first permanent magnet assembly mounted to one of the first part and the second part and comprising at least a first column of permanent magnets, the first column extending in the vertical direction, wherein the permanent magnets have a polarization direction in a first horizontal direction or in a second horizontal direction opposite to the first horizontal direction, wherein vertically adjacent permanent magnets have opposite polarization directions, a second permanent magnet assembly mounted to the other of the first part and the second part and comprising at least one other column of permanent magnets, the at least one other column extending in the vertical direction, wherein vertically adjacent permanent magnets of the at least one other column have opposite polarization directions in the first horizontal direction or the second horizontal direction, wherein the first permanent magnet assembly at least partially encloses the second permanent magnet assembly.

A flywheel apparatus that magnetically unloads a top rotor bearing is described. The apparatus includes a flywheel housing, a rotor with a vertical axis of rotation that includes a magnetic material, a magnet configured to apply a desired upward off-loading force along the vertical axis of rotation, an upper bearing connected to an upper shaft of the rotor, and a bearing housing disposed between the upper bearing and the flywheel housing that substantially prevents downward axial motion of the upper bearing. The magnet includes an electromagnet. A force sensor is used to measure a force on the upper bearing which is provided as input to a controller that updates the current to the electromagnet. The rotor is maintained in a fixed axial position and a spring disposed below a lower bearing absorbs axial dimension growth of the rotor.