Passive magnetic bearing system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a passive magnetic bearing system comprised of permanently magnetized materials arranged such that the system is stable with respect to both radial and tilt displacements.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a passive magnetic bearing system comprised of permanently magnetized rings and disks of simple cross section, magnetized axially, and arranged such that the system is stable with respect to both radial and tilt displacements.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a passive magnetic linear bearing system comprised of permanently magnetized bars of simple cross section, magnetized through their thickness, and arranged such that the system is stable with respect to both radial and tilt displacements.
An apparatus to accomplish these purposes uses two magnetic assemblies, movable relative to each other and separated by a gap.
The magnetic assemblies have a section in which permanent magnets act in direct opposition across the gap.
The magnetic assemblies have an additional section in which the outer diameter (edge) of one permanent magnet is substantially aligned with the inner diameter (edge) of another permanent magnet located in the other assembly on the opposite side of the gap.
Further, all permanent magnets located in any assembly share a common surface (plane or cylinder) next to the gap.
Such passive magnetic bearing systems are useful in many applications including, but not limited to: pumps, motors, flywheels, computer disk drives, and generators.