Patent ID: 9590468
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: F16C,H02K,Y02E

Claim:
1. An electric machine, comprising: a first stator; a first rotor that in use is rotatable about a longitudinal axis with respect to the first stator; a first wire bearing assembly which positions the first rotor for rotation with respect to the first stator, the first wire bearing assembly comprising a first plurality of wire race members, and a first plurality of bearings retained by the first plurality of wire race members; at least a second wire bearing assembly which positions the first rotor for rotation with respect to the first stator, the second wire bearing assembly comprising a second plurality of wire race members, and a second plurality of bearings retained by the second plurality of wire race members, the first stator and the first rotor electrically isolated from one another; a third wire bearing assembly which positions the first rotor for rotation with respect to the first stator, the third wire bearing assembly comprising a third plurality of wire race members, and a third plurality of bearings retained by the third plurality of wire race members; and a fourth wire bearing assembly which positions the first rotor for rotation with respect to the first stator, the fourth wire bearing assembly comprising a fourth plurality of wire race members, and a fourth plurality of bearings retained by the fourth plurality of wire race members, and wherein the first and the third wire bearing assemblies are spaced on a first side of a midpoint of along the longitudinal axis and the second and the fourth wire bearing assemblies are spaced on a second side of the midpoint of the longitudinal axis, the second side being opposed to the first side.