Patent ID: 9334866
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: F04D,H02K

Claim Text:
1. A centrifugal compressor, comprising: a housing having a stator defining a diffuser channel and a return channel within the housing, the stator having a stationary wall interposing the diffuser channel and the return channel; a rotatable shaft having a main portion connecting a first end and a second end, wherein the main portion is disposed within the housing and at least one end extends from the housing to allow the rotatable shaft to be coupled to an external driver, the rotatable shaft supported at each end with one or more radial bearings; a rotor assembly having an impeller coupled to the rotatable shaft and being rotatable therewith, the impeller having a hub-side disposed axially-adjacent a stationary wall; and one or more magnets coupled to the stationary wall and configured to magnetically attract the hub-side of the impeller toward the stationary wall, thereby reducing a net impeller thrust, wherein magnetic attraction forces generated by the one or more magnets hold the one or more magnets within a slot defined in the stationary wall.