Compact position sensor arrangement for magnetic rotor bearing - contg. inductive axial and radial displacement feedback sensors

摘要

A compact sensor arrangement for determining the axial or radial position of a rotor, esp. with a magnetic bearing having reference surfaces for the sensors provides highly accurate position signals at low cost. The position signals provide feedback to control regulating the bearing coil currents. Inductive sensors (1 to 8) are provided for the generation of signals corresp. both to the distance between sensor and reference surface and to the lateral alignment of the sensor and surface. All the sensors (1-8) are contained in a single unit and/or all sensors work in conjunction with a single cylindrical reference surface (38). A set of four sensors (1 to 4) equally spaced about the rotor axis (9) measuring radial positions is radially and axially offset from a set of four sensors (5 to 8) measuring axiall rotor positions.