SUPERCONDUCTIVE BEARING DEVICE.

摘要

A superconductive bearing device for supporting rotatably a shaft (rotor) (2) rotating at a high speed, under a non-contact state. A superconductive bearing (4) for supporting the shaft (2) under a non-contact state to a housing (1) includes a permanent magnet (14) fitted to the shaft (2) and a second kind of superconductor (17) so fitted to the housing (1) as to be spaced apart from, and to oppose in a vertical direction, the permanent magnet (14). A touchdown bearing (21) consisting of a thrust ball bearing is disposed at the opposed portion between the housing (1) and the shaft (2). There is disposed an initial positioning mechanism which sets relative positions of the housing (1) and the shaft (2) by moving up and down a race (23) of the touchdown bearing (21) on the housing (1) side. This initial positioning mechanism can set the relative positions between the second kind superconductor (17) and the permanent magnet (14) on the side of the shaft (2), and the superconductive bearing (4) can be operated efficiently by setting suitably the relative positions. Breakage of the shaft (2) and components near the shaft (2), when the superconductor (17) of the superconductive bearing (4) changes to a normal conductor, can be prevented by the touchdown bearing (21).