Methods of making an anisotropic flywheel
First Claim
1. A process for constructing a substantially anisotropic flywheel, comprising the steps of:
- providing a rim having a predetermined inner diameter;
positioning within the rim a hub having a predetermined outer diameter;
providing a plurality of tubes which each have a diameter greater than one-half the difference between the rim inner diameter and the hub outer diameter;
compressing at least one tube; and
placing each tube between the rim and the hub.
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Accused Products
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.
41 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A process for constructing a substantially anisotropic flywheel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a rim having a predetermined inner diameter;
positioning within the rim a hub having a predetermined outer diameter;providing a plurality of tubes which each have a diameter greater than one-half the difference between the rim inner diameter and the hub outer diameter; compressing at least one tube; and placing each tube between the rim and the hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification