Three-axis magnetic suspension

Claim 1

A MAGNETIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING THREE AXIS MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OF A BODY AND COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ELECTROMAGNETS DISPOSED ADJACENT BUT SPACED FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BODY AND ALONG A SELECTED AXIS THEREOF, EACH ELECTROMAGNET COMPRISING AN ENERGIZING COIL AND MEANS PROVIDING A FLUX PATH THEREFOR, THE FLUX PATH INCLUDING A MAGNETIC POLE PIECE MOUNTED ON SUPPORTING MEANS, EACH POLE PIECE HAVING A POLE FACE WITH A PLURALITY OF COAXIAL ANNULARLY PROJECTING RINGS THEREIN, MEANS DISPOSED ON THE BODY FOR COMPLETING THE FLUX PATH INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND COAXIALLY DISPOSED MAGNETIC ARMATURES DISPOSED ADJACENT BUT SPACED FROM THE POLE PIECES, THE FIRST AND SECOND ARMATURES HAVING POLE FACES WITH PLURALITIES OF COAXIAL ANNULARLY PROJECTING RINGS THEREIN ASSOCIATED WITH AND CORRESPONDING IN CONFIGURATION WITH THE ANNULAR RINGS IN THE POLE FACES OF THE POLE PIECES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND ELECTROMAGNETS, RESPECTIVELY, CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTED WITH EACH COIL FOR APPLYING CONSTANT ALTERNATING VOLTAGE THERETO SO AS TO DEVELOP ATTRACTIVE MAGNETIC FORCES BETWEEN EACH ELECTROMAGNET AND ITS ASSOCIATED ARMATURE ON THE BODY, THE CONFIGURATION OF THE POLE FACES OF THE ARMATURES AND POLE PIECES OF THE ELECTROMAGNETS AFFORDING HIGH PERMEANCE GRADIENTS SO AS TO OBTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF STIFFNESS OF MAGNETIC SUSPENSION RESISTING DISPLACEMENTS OF THE ARMATURES TRANSVERSELY OF THE POLE FACES OF THE POLE PIECES OF THE ELECTROMAGNETS, THE POLE FACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND ARMATURES BEING EQUALLY SPACED FROM AND HAVING THEIR ANNULAR RINGS FACING THE CORRESPONDING ANNULAR RINGS IN THE POLE FACES OF THE POLE