Patent ID: 6657344
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A passive magnetic bearing for providing a rotational degree of freedom for an object about an axial axis comprising:a restoring element including: a multiple-pole Halbach array attached to the object; an array of shorted, electrically conductive circuits separated from the Halbach array by a variable distance; and a magnetic repelling force repelling the Halbach array from the circuit array, being induced by rotation of the Halbach array relative to the circuit array, and being inversely related to the distance; and a levitating element including an annular member attached to the object, an arcuate member and a magnetic attracting force attracting the annular member to the arcuate member, whereby the axial axis is placed in an equilibrium position by the levitating element, and restored to the equilibrium position by the restoring element when displaced from the equilibrium position.