Patent ID: 8304947
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A magnetic bearing for balancing a rotor, the magnetic bearing comprising: a support structure; a plurality of electro-actuators mounted on the support structure, each of the plurality of electro-actuators including a first electrode spaced apart from a second electrode and an electro-active material positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electro-active material of each of the plurality of electro-actuators are configured to deform in response to a voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a plurality of layers of ferromagnetic material, each layer of ferromagnetic material secured to a surface of the first electrode of a respective electro-actuator, each layer of ferromagnetic material being configured to move relative to the rotor as the electro-active material deforms in response to the voltage difference, wherein moving the layer of ferromagnetic material causes a magnetic field in the magnetic bearing to be adjusted.