Study of electrical characteristics of the ball bearing motor
(EN)
Hatzikonstantinou, Paul
(EN)
Moyssides Paul, G
(EN)
The electrical characteristics of the ball bearing electric motor are studied for applied steady currents ranging from 43.5 to 70.15 A. It is found that the ball bearing behaves like a motor when it starts self-rotating meaning that the shaft and inner race of the pair of the ball bearing system start rotating by themselves without the help of any external agent, but with a small efficiency at high currents. During self-rotation, the motor's counterelectromotive force depends on the angular velocity of the shaft and inner race. The ball bearing's behavior at low currents is also explained when it is not self-rotating, (i.e., rotating with the help of a conventional motor). In the latter case, the motor does not behave like a generator. A theory, based on the electromagnetic interactions developed within each ball, is proposed to explain the action of the ball bearing as a motor. These interactions are caused by the ball's primary currents and magnetic fields and the effects of the induced magnetic field from the current of the motor's shaft.
(EN)