US4886778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Superconducting rotating assembly
Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1988-08-01
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Granted: 1989-12-12
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Expires: 2008-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A non-contacting superconducting rotating assembly is described which includes a floating, unsupported and stable rotor. The assembly includes first and second bearings comprised of a material which exhibits Type II superconducting properties. The rotor includes a magnetic pole at each of its extremities, each pole resting in a bearing. The polar axis of each pole is colinear with the rotating axis of the rotor. A temperature bath is provided for maintaining the bearings at or below their critical superconducting temperature and a motive mechanism provides for rotation of the rotor. Each magnet pole is thereby levitated and adapted to rotate in a stable, non-contacting position by the field and pinning effects generated by the associated bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis C. Moon
- 👤 Rishi Raj
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 00:51
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/04; F16C32/0406; F16C32/0408; F16C32/0436; F16C32/0438; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A non-contacting, soft suspension, superconductive, rotating assembly comprising: first and second bearing means comprised of material exhibiting Type II superconducting properties, each said bearing means formed as a recess in said superconducting material, said material not totally enclosing a portion of the circumference of an extremity of a member placed therein; a rotatable member having two extremities aligned along a common axis, each extremity associated with a bearing means; magnet means at each extremity, each magnet means having a polar axis which is colinear with said common axis of said rotatable member, each magnet means thereby presenting a single poleface to a bearing means; means for maintaining each said bearing means at a temperature where said Type II superconducting properties are manifest; and means for rotating said rotatable member, whereby each said magnet means is levitated and is adapted to rotate in a stable non-contacting position by repulsive fields generated by said associated bearing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A non-contacting, soft suspension, superconductive, rotating assembly comprising: first and second bearing means comprised of material exhibiting Type II superconducting properties, each said bearing means formed as a recess in said superconducting material, said material not totally enclosing a portion of the circumference of an extremity of a member placed therein; a rotatable member having two extremities aligned along a common axis, each extremity associated with a bearing means; magnet means at each extremity, each magnet means having a polar axis which is colinear with said common axis of said rotatable member, each magnet means thereby presenting a single poleface to a bearing means; means for maintaining each said bearing means at a temperature where said Type II superconducting properties are manifest; and means for rotating said rotatable member, whereby each said magnet means is levitated and is adapted to rotate in a stable non-contacting position by repulsive fields generated by said associated bearing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotating means further includes additional magnet means mounted within said rotatable member; and coil means positioned thereabout to interact with said additional magnet means to cause said rotatable member to rotate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein each said bearing means comprises a semi-cylindrical, open ended recess, each said recess adapted to receive an extremity of said rotatable member, the extremities of said rotatable member being cylindrically shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein said maintaining means includes conductive pedestal means coupled to said bearing means for providing a thermal pathway to cool said bearing means to superconducting temperatures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as recited in claim 3, wherein the material comprising said bearing means is at least 5 mm in thickness about said recess.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said rotating means further includes additional magnet means mounted within said rotatable member; and coil means positioned thereabout to interact with said additional magnet means to cause said rotatable member to rotate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-06-12 | 1993-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-11 | 1997-06-12 | 1997-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-11 | 2001-06-12 | 2001-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |