Patent ID: 6819017
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: F04D,F16C

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:a plurality of motors coupled to a single drive shaft disposed through a center portion of said plurality of motors, a plurality of motor control devices coupled to the plurality of motors, and a first bearing set and a second bearing set each coupled to the motors and the shaft, each of the plurality of bearing sets including a plurality of bearings arranged circularly, said first bearing set and said second bearing set sharing a common rotating sleeve disposed between said first bearing set and said second bearing set, said first bearing set coupled to another rotating sleeve, where said common rotating sleeve and said another rotating sleeve are coupled with a frangible link, wherein the plurality of motors, the plurality of motor control devices and the plurality of bearings continue to control the shaft rotation speed upon failure of one of the plurality of motors, the plurality of motor control devices, and the plurality of bearings.