Patent ID: 6066909
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: F16C,G11B,H02K

Abstract:
A bearing assembly for a reluctance electric motor, the electric motor including a substantially flat stator and a substantially flat rotor, the stator having a plurality of stator poles and a center, the rotor having a central aperture therein and a plurality of rotor poles, the central aperture having a first diameter, the bearing assembly comprising:a bearing surface, a first portion of the bearing surface having a shape that is substantially a portion of a sphere, the first portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter of the central aperture of the rotor, the rotor being rotatably mounted relative to the stator on the first portion of the bearing surface, the first portion of the bearing surface further defining a rotational axis;wherein the first portion of the bearing surface supports and centers the rotor relative to the rotational axis when the central aperture of the rotor is placed on at least the first portion of the bearing surface.