Light weight, high performance radial actuator for magnetic bearing systems

摘要

A magnetic bearing and positioning system provides a radial actuator for positioning a shaft without mechanical contact between the actuator and the shaft. As disclosed, the actuators use a homopolar structure without slots between the poles and with the poles of the magnetic bearing being at the same polarity at a given axial position, thereby advantageously reducing hysteretic and eddy current losses in the rotor material.