Rotor With Stabilizing Magnets

The invention relates to rotors of electrical motors or magnetic couplings which exhibit a spherical magnetic airgap between the rotor and the driving stator or an outer magnetic ring driven by a motor. Such spherical motors or spherical magnetic couplings are becoming more and more important in modern pump design. The rotors or spherical motors or couplings are held in position by magnetic forces pressing the rotor against a stationary mounted ball. The impellers of pumps which form a unit with the driven rotor produce hydraulic thrust counteracting the magnetic thrust. When the electricity is switched off, the magnetic force of the driven stator stops immediately. In contrast, the hydraulic thrust, caused by the difference of pressure generated by the rotating impeller, decreases slowly as the rpm of the impeller decreases. The result is a tendency of the hydraulic forces to lift the impeller and the rotor away from the step bearing. The same change in the direction of axial thrust occurs in magnetic couplings, if the hydraulic forces can exceed the magnetic forces during operation. It is therefore necessary to support the rotor not only in the direction of the magnetic forces, but also to prevent movement in the opposite direction by means of a spherical bearing consisting of a cap and a ball. The fact that the rotor is supported by a step bearing makes it necessary, for the stator to point downwardly after installation. This is a serious drawback. Several methods are known for preventing movement in the opposite direction of the driving magnetic forces using mechanical means, such as the use of rings gliding on an undercut area of the ball. Their disadvantage is wear as well as unavoidable deformation during assembly.

The invention overcomes these disadvantages by applying magnetic forces. According to the invention a rotating and a stationary ring having the same polarity are arranged concentrically to the air gap thus generating a constant force in the direction towards the spherical step bearing. The repelling magnetic thrust prevents axial movement of the rotor while simultaneously realigning the rotor back into the plane of rotation when radial forces occur. This arrangement allows the pump to be installed in any position.

FIG. 1 shows a pump with radially magnetized rings and a channel through the stator;

FIG. 2 shows a similar pump with axially magnetized rings;

FIG. 3 shows a spherical pump with axially magnetized rings;

FIG. 4 shows a similar pump with rings surrounding the eye of the impeller.

The pump shown in cross-section in FIG. 1 comprises a stator 25, 28 in its dry compartment and an armature 3 forming a unit with an impeller 11,14 in the wet compartment. These compartments are separated by a magnetically permeable separation wall 8 having a spherical configuration. The armature 3 is attracted by the axial vector of the magnetic forces generated by the stator 25,28 and is pivotably supported by the spherical bearing consisting of a rotating bearing cap 15 and a ball 5 mounted on a stationary strut 7. The armature 3 forms a unit with ring 20 made of permanent magnetic material. This ring 20 is facing a second magnetic ring 22 mounted stationary. Both magnetic rings 20 and 22 are axially magnetized with a polarity producing repellant thrust. This repellant force prevents movement of the armature-impeller-unit 3,11,14 in the direction of arrow 23 and counteracts radial forces which try to tilt the armature-impeller-unit.

FIG. 2 shows a similar design with two concentric, cylindric, permanent magnetic rings 10 and 12, which enclose a radial air-gap, and have the same magnetic polarity toward the air-gap, 6a. This embodiment is preferred in pumps which have sufficient axial thrust forces so that mainly forces trying to tilt the armature-impeller-unit are to be compensated.

FIG. 3 shows a pump of the sphero-pump-type. The stator 38 attracts the armature-impeller-unit 33,34 by magnetic forces, while the impeller 34 produces hydraulic thrust in the direction of the arrow 35. When the power is switched off, the magnetic force stops immediately while the hydraulic thrust in the direction of arrow 35 disappears gradually with decreasing rpm. The two repelling magnetic rings 30 and 32 generate a permanent magnetic thrust larger than said hydraulic thrust, preventing axial movement of the armature-impeller-unit 33,34. These rings also prevent tilting of the armature-impeller-unit if there is an inconsistant distribution of radial forces over the circumference of the impeller 34.

FIG. 4 shows a similar design with conically shaped magnetic rings 40 and 42. This configuration is able to counteract radial as well as axial forces.