Patent ID: 8696331
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: F04D,F16C,H02K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a pump comprising a plurality of fluid pumping elements, wherein said plurality of fluid pumping elements comprises at least one rotating impeller coupled to a shaft; said shaft spanning at least the pump; a plurality of spaced-apart magnetic bearings supporting the shaft, each of said plurality of magnetic bearings having a first portion coupled to the shaft and a second portion apart from the shaft, wherein at least some of said plurality of fluid pumping elements are positioned between said plurality of magnetic bearings; and a first can separating the first portion of a first of said plurality of magnetic bearings from the second portion of the first magnetic bearing, the first can at least partially defining a bearing cavity encompassing the second portion of the first magnetic bearing and a first pressure environment that is independent of a second, different pressure environment exterior of the bearing cavity.