Methods for producing bearing surfaces

• US 5,466,977 A
• Filed: 09/10/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trinity Flywheel Power (American Flywheel Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Flywheel Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bitterly, Jack G., Bitterly, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, E.
• Application Number:
  US08/119,707
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 310/90, 310/90.5, 310/74, 384/12, 384/13, 384/100, 384/97, 384/234, 384/132, 74/572, 74/573 F
• US Class Current: 310/74
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/55 Flywheel systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/044 Active magnetic bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 39/06 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/30 Flywheels F16F15/16, F16F15/28 take precedence; suppression of vibrations in rotating systems using elastic members or friction-damping members moving with the system, i.e. split flywheels or single masses connected to a hub by elastic members or friction-damping members F16F15/12; rotary-body aspects in general F16C13/00, F16C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/305 made of plastics, e.g. fibre reinforced plastics [FRP] , i.e. characterised by their special construction from such materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/3156 Arrangement of the bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/165 radially supporting the rotor around a fixed spindle; radially supporting the rotor directly H02K5/167, H02K5/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/025 for power storage
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/09 with magnetic bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49481 Wheel making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/212 Containing fiber or filament

Abstract

Flywheel-based energy storage devices are provided along with methods for their use and fabrication. The devices have the capacity to store electric energy as kinetic energy and to generate electric energy from the stored kinetic energy. Preferred devices comprise a pair of counter-rotating anisotropic flywheels which are designed to rapidly rotate within an evacuated housing. The flywheels comprise a lightweight hub and a circumferentially-wound fiber rim. The hub and rim are fabricated from materials having high tensile strength and are connected with system of novel tube assemblies positioned around the hub parallel to the axis of rotation, The flywheel are principally supported by magnetic bearings and are further stabilized during rotation by a self-restoring liquid bearing system.

Claims

1. In a system comprising:

a shaft which defines an axis of rotation; and

a body adapted to rotate around said axis wherein;

said body comprises at least one continuous surface which faces toward the axis; and

a portion of said body is disposed between said continuous surface and said shaft;

a process for producing a bearing surface, comprising the steps of;

placing a liquid proximate the continuous surface;

rotating the body around the axis such that the liquid forms a substantially uniform layer in contact with the continuous surface; and

positioning a member opposite the bearing surface.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the body is a substantially anisotropic flywheel.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid comprises a silicone vacuum grease,

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising contacting said member and said uniform layer.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said member is arcuate.