Patent ID: 9484779
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: F03B,H02K,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. A mechanical assembly for maintaining an air gap between a stator and rotor in an electro-mechanical energy converter, the assembly comprising: a structural sleeve; a plurality of stator sections attached to an inner surface of the structural sleeve; a hub enclosed by the structural sleeve and concentric with the structural sleeve; a plurality of rotor sections flexibly coupled to the hub and enclosed by the structural sleeve; and a rail system positioned within the structural sleeve and concentric with the structural sleeve, the rail system for guiding the rotor sections in a substantially circular path and for defining an air gap between the plurality of stator sections and plurality of rotor sections; wherein each of the rotor sections is flexibly coupled to the hub by: a drive dog fixed to the rotor section and adapted for transferring torque between a given rotor section and the hub; and a holding spring disposed between the given rotor section and the hub, and adapted for providing a radial force pushing against the hub to push the given rotor section against the rail system.