IP Library Granted Patent US 7,786,636
Granted Patent B2
US 7,786,636 · App. 10/591,626 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Magnetic bearing device and a turbo molecular pump with the magnetic bearing device mounted thereto

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,786,636
App. No.
10/591,626
Granted
Aug 31, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic bearing device has a rotor, electromagnets that control axial/radial positions of the rotor, and a power source that supplies power to the electromagnets. A switching circuit switches a voltage of a common node connected to each one end of the electromagnets. The switching circuit includes a first switch element that connects and disconnects between one end of the power source and the common node, and a first rectifier element connected between the other end of the power source and the common node. An excitation control circuit controls excitation of each of the electromagnets by a supply current that flows through the electromagnets in one direction or a regenerated current that flows through the electromagnets in one direction. The excitation control circuit includes a second switch element that connects and disconnects between the other end of one of the electromagnets and the other end of the power source, and a second rectifier element connected between the other end of one of the electromagnets and the one end of the power source.

Claims (35)

1. A magnetic bearing device, comprising:

a rotor;

three or more electromagnets for controlling a radial position and/or an axial position of the rotor;

a power source for supplying power to the electromagnets;

a common node commonly connected to each one end of the electromagnets;

switch means for switching a voltage of the common node; and

excitation control means for controlling excitation of each of the electromagnets by a supply current that is supplied from the other end of one of the electromagnets to a negative electrode of the power source and that flows through the electromagnets in one direction, or by a regenerated current that is regenerated from the other end of one of the electromagnets to a positive electrode of the power source and that flows through the electromagnets in one direction;

wherein the switch means includes:

a first switch element for connecting and disconnecting between the positive electrode and the common node; and

a first rectifier element for causing a current to flow from the negative electrode to the common node; and

wherein the excitation control means includes:

a second switch element for connecting and disconnecting between the other end of one of the electromagnets and the negative electrode without being connected in parallel with a rectifier element; and

a second rectifier element for causing a current to flow from the other end of one of the electromagnets to the positive electrode without being connected in parallel with a switch element.

2. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the current caused to flow through each of the electromagnets is increased, decreased, or maintained to be constant by adjusting a switching phase of the switch means and a control phase of the excitation control means within a common control cycle.

3. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first rectifier element includes a third switch element connected in parallel therewith.

4. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 1 , further comprising current detecting means for detecting a value of the current when a constant current is caused to flow through the electromagnets.

5. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 4 , wherein the current detecting means includes a resistance having one end connected to the negative electrode, and a detection portion for detecting a current flowing through the resistance.

6. A turbo molecular pump comprising the magnetic bearing device according to claim 1 mounted thereto, wherein the rotor has rotary vanes and a rotor shaft placed at the center of the rotary vanes; and each of the electromagnets levitates the rotor shaft by a magnetic force.

7. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second switch element and the second rectifier element are formed of a single switch element and a single rectifier element, respectively.

8. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second switch element is not connected in parallel with a rectifier element through which flywheel current flows.

9. A magnetic bearing device, comprising:

a rotor;

three or more electromagnets that control a radial position and/or an axial position of the rotor;

a power source that supplies power to the electromagnets;

a common node commonly connected to each one end of the electromagnets;

a switching circuit that switches a voltage of the common node, the switching circuit including a first switch element for connecting and disconnecting between one end of the power source and the common node, and a first rectifier element connected between the other end of the power source and the common node; and

an excitation control circuit that controls excitation of each of the electromagnets by a supply current that flows through the electromagnets in one direction or a regenerated current that flows through the electromagnets in one direction, the excitation control circuit including a second switch element that connects and disconnects between the other end of one of the electromagnets and the other end of the power source without being connected in parallel with a rectifier element, and a second rectifier element connected between the other end of one of the electromagnets and the one end of the power source without being connected in parallel with a switch element.

10. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 , wherein the second switch element and the second rectifier element are formed of a single switch element and a single rectifier element, respectively.

11. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 , wherein the current caused to flow through each of the electromagnets is increased, decreased, or maintained to be constant by adjusting a switching phase of the switching circuit and a control phase of the excitation control circuit within a common control cycle.

12. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 , wherein the first rectifier element includes a third switch element connected in parallel therewith.

13. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 , further comprising a current detecting circuit that detects a value of the current when a constant current is caused to flow through the electromagnets.

14. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 13 , wherein the current detecting circuit includes a resistance and a detection portion for detecting a current flowing through the resistance.

15. A turbo molecular pump comprising the magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 mounted thereto, wherein the rotor has rotary vanes and a rotor shaft placed at the center of the rotary vanes; and each of the electromagnets levitates the rotor shaft by a magnetic force.

16. A turbo molecular pump comprising the magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 mounted thereto.

17. The magnetic bearing device according to claim 9 , wherein the second switch element is not connected in parallel with a rectifier element through which flywheel current flows.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Nov 17, 2008
From: EDWARDS JAPAN LIMITED
To: EDWARDS JAPAN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021838/0595 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS/CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 16, 2008
From: BOC EDWARDS JAPAN LIMITED
To: EDWARDS JAPAN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 020375/0243 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2006
From: KAWASHIMA, TOSHIAKI
To: BOC EDWARDS JAPAN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 018288/0832 →