Viscous fluid damper for rotor - has magnetic ball loosely fitted in sealed curved fluid tube between magnet poles

摘要

The damper for the casing of a rotor (5) rotating about an axis (3) is completely fluid-tight and uses a magnetic obstruction positioned in a viscous fluid in an arcuate tube, instead of a mechanical rod and piston linkage which requires careful sealing which in turn produces awkward friction effect. The radius of curvature of the tube (7) corresponds to the distance from the rotor axis (3). The obstruction 79) is a sphere of magnetic material (soft iron) which has a rest position between the poles of a permanent magnet (11). The tube moves past the ball and magnet with its movement damped by the viscous fluid passing through the narrow clearance between the ball and the circular tube interior.