Patent ID: 7806820
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: B04B,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for mass centering an unbalanced load, comprising: a support chassis having a peripheral flange; a rotor operatively coupled to the support chassis; a rotor drive shaft adapted to mount the rotor and rotate the rotor; a lower drive shaft adapted to connect to a source of rotation; a flexible coupling attaching the rotor drive shaft to the lower drive shaft, wherein the flexible coupling is adapted to transfer a rotational force applied by the source of rotation to the rotor while permitting relative lateral motion between the rotor drive shaft and the lower drive shaft; an independent damping bearing comprising a plurality of ball bearings located between the rotor and the peripheral flange of the support chassis; and the damping bearing adapted for traveling laterally relative to and independent of the support chassis and rotor during inertial mass centering of the rotor, and providing lateral frictional resistance to the relative lateral motion between the rotor drive shaft and the lower drive shaft.