Multi-rim flywheel attachment
First Claim
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1. A method of storing energy in a flywheel having a shaft with spokes of a predetermined radius and a plurality of nested rims having an inner radius less than the radius of said spokes, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning spacer means between each pair of adjacent rims in radial alignment corresponding to each of said spokes;
positioning the rim assembly on the spokes of said shaft in a non-circular configuration with said spacer means aligned with said spokes to increase non-circularity of the rim outside each of said spacer means; and
causing rotational motion of said flywheel at a speed at which said rim assembly assumes a substantially circular configuration.
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Abstract
Spacers are positioned between adjacent rims of a multi-rim composite flywheel in alignment with hub spokes thereof to improve flywheel performance while minimizing radial stress.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of storing energy in a flywheel having a shaft with spokes of a predetermined radius and a plurality of nested rims having an inner radius less than the radius of said spokes, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning spacer means between each pair of adjacent rims in radial alignment corresponding to each of said spokes; positioning the rim assembly on the spokes of said shaft in a non-circular configuration with said spacer means aligned with said spokes to increase non-circularity of the rim outside each of said spacer means; and causing rotational motion of said flywheel at a speed at which said rim assembly assumes a substantially circular configuration.
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2. A method of constructing a flywheel having a shaft with spokes of a predetermined radial dimension, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of nested cylindrical rims having an inner radius less than said predetermined radial dimension; positioning spacer means between each adjacent pair of said rims in radially aligned sets; deforming said cylindrical rim to produce a plurality of enlarged points on said rims having a radial dimension not less than said predetermined radial dimension, each of said sets of spacer means being positioned at one of said enlarged points to increase the radial dimension of said enlarged points outside said spacer means; mounting said rims on said spokes with the enlarged points respectively aligned with said spokes; and releasing said rims to firmly engage said spokes.
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3. A method of constructing a flywheel having a shaft with spokes of a predetermined radial dimension, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming first rim means on the spokes of said shaft in a non-circular configuration; positioning first spacer means on said first rim means at positions radially aligned with said spokes; and forming second rim means around said first rim means and spacer means such that the non-circularity of said second rim means is enhanced by said spacer means. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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- 5. A flywheel comprising hub means, and a plurality of nested rims positioned on said hub means, said rims having a non-circular configuration with a plurality of enlarged points when said flywheel is at rest and having a substantially circular configuration when said flywheel is spinning at a preselected speed, a plurality of spacer means being positioned between adjacent pairs of rims in radial alignment at each of said enlarged points for increasing non-circularity of the rim outside each of said spacer means.
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7. A method of constructing a flywheel having at least two rims disposed around a hub having a plurality of spokes, said method comprising the steps of:
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constructing a first tubular rim; securing spacers at predetermined positions around said first tubular rim; constructing a second tubular rim on the first tubular rim and spacers without adhesion between the second rim and said first tubular rim and spacers; and mounting the first rim, spacers and second rim in a non-circular configuration on said hub with said spacers in radial alignment with said spokes for increasing the non-circularity of said second rim. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A flywheel comprising:
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hub means and a plurality of nested rims positioned on said hub means first rim means having a plurality of enlarged points generally uniformly distributed therearound; a plurality of spacer means positioned around an outer surface of said first rim means at each of said enlarged points; and second rim means having a plurality of enlarged points generally uniformly distributed therearound mounted on said first rim means and said spacer means with the radial dimension of each enlarged point of said second rim means enhanced by said spacer means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification