Patent ID: 9515531
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: F16C,H02K,H02P,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a central rotor configured as a flywheel to store energy, said central rotor extending vertically and rotating about a vertical axis; a magnetic bearing located above the central rotor to levitate the rotor along the vertical axis; a first bearingless motor located above the central rotor; and a second bearingless motor located below the central rotor; wherein the first bearingless motor and the second bearingless motor are configured to simultaneously suspend the central rotor in a radial direction relative to the vertical axis and to rotate the central rotor about the vertical axis; an active or a passive axial magnetic bearing configured to provide axial control of the central rotor; and wherein the active or passive magnetic bearing has a magnet bias configured to lift a portion or all of a weight of the central rotor near a nominal gap without current.