Patent ID: 7876010

Claim:
A passive magnetic bearing system, comprising: a rotor having a vertical axis of rotation; a first circular magnetic element fixedly attached to an upper portion of said rotor; a second circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said first circular magnetic element and said second circular magnetic element attract each other; a third circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a lower portion of said rotor; a fourth circular magnetic element fixedly attached to a support structure external to said rotor, wherein said third circular magnetic element and said fourth circular magnetic element repel each other; a shaft fixedly attached external to said rotor and collinear with said vertical axis of rotation; and at least one journal bearing element attached to said rotor, wherein said journal bearing comprises a hole that allows passage of said shaft, wherein said shaft passes through said hole and wherein said shaft is not fixedly attached to said rotor.