Superconducting magnetic bearing

Claim 1

A superconducting magnetic bearing assembly comprising an outer element having an axis and, disposed about said axis, said outer element having a first generally conical outer element surface and a second generally conical outer element surface, said first generally conical outer element surface being inverted relative to said second generally conical outer element surface, each said generally conical outer element surface being disposed at an acute angle to said axis, said generally conical outer element surfaces defining a volume, fixedly disposed within said volume, an inner element rotatable relative to said outer element, said inner element comprising a first conical inner element and a second conical inner element, said first conical inner element having a first inner element surface opposed to and spaced from said first generally conical outer element surface of said outer element, said first inner element surface lying generally parallel to the opposed said first generally conical outer element surface, and said second conical inner element having a second inner element surface opposed to and spaced from said second generally conical outer element surface of said outer element, said second inner element surface lying generally parallel to the opposed said second generally conical outer element surface, spacer means disposed between said first conical inner element and said second conical inner element for adjusting the axial spacing between the inner element surfaces of said conical inner elements, thereby to adjust the dimension of a space defined between the opposed first surfaces and the opposed second surfaces of said inner element and said outer element, a predetermined superconductive first element of one of said inner element and said outer element comprising superconductive material and a predetermined magnetic second element of another of said inner element and said outer element comprising a material adapted to generate a magnetic field, and means for forming a magnetic field about said predetermined magnetic second element, said predetermined superconductive first element adapted to expel said magnetic field in a manner to maintain the spaced apart relationship of the opposed first surfaces and the opposed second surfaces of said inner element and said outer element under load.