Hub and cylinder design for flywheel system for mobile energy storage
First Claim
1. A flywheel assembly storing energy and rotatable in response to the rotation of a shaft, comprising:
- a hub containing a substantially cylindrical region disposed proximate to the shaft, a constant stress intermediate region and an outer connecting region forming a flexible cylinder substantially parallel to and concentric with the shaft; and
a cylinder portion wherein a majority of the mass of said flywheel assembly is concentrated wherein;
said cylinder portion includes an innermost cylinder and an outermost cylinder;
said innermost cylinder mechanically connects said flexible cylinder to said outermost cylinder;
said outermost cylinder includes an inner first region and an outer second region;
said innermost cylinder, said first region and said second region are composed of a first strength fiber, a second strength fiber and third strength fiber, respectively; and
the respective strength of said fibers is selected responsive to distance from the shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flywheel assembly for storing energy and rotatable in response to the rotation of a shaft includes a hub having a transition portion having a constant stress intermediate region operatively coupled to the shaft and an outer connecting portion forming a flexible cylinder, wherein the shaft and the flexible cylinder are substantially coaxial, and an outer cylinder wherein a majority of the mass of the flywheel assembly is concentrated. The flexible cylinder includes connecting pads disposed at opposing edges of the outer side of the flexible cylinder thereby permitting connection to the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder increases radially responsive to a corresponding increase in rotational speed of the flywheel assembly, while the diameter of the transition portion of the hub follows the radial increase of the outer cylinder.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A flywheel assembly storing energy and rotatable in response to the rotation of a shaft, comprising:
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a hub containing a substantially cylindrical region disposed proximate to the shaft, a constant stress intermediate region and an outer connecting region forming a flexible cylinder substantially parallel to and concentric with the shaft; and
a cylinder portion wherein a majority of the mass of said flywheel assembly is concentrated wherein;
said cylinder portion includes an innermost cylinder and an outermost cylinder;
said innermost cylinder mechanically connects said flexible cylinder to said outermost cylinder;
said outermost cylinder includes an inner first region and an outer second region;
said innermost cylinder, said first region and said second region are composed of a first strength fiber, a second strength fiber and third strength fiber, respectively; and
the respective strength of said fibers is selected responsive to distance from the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A flywheel assembly storing energy and rotatable in response to the rotation of a shaft, comprising:
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a first cylinder section fixedly connected to the shaft;
a transition member having a constant stress intermediate region fixedly connected to said first cylinder;
a flexible cylinder fixedly connected to said transition member; and
an outer cylinder fixedly connected to said flexible cylinder at at least one point, wherein;
said outer cylinder includes an innermost cylinder and an outermost cylinder;
said innermost cylinder mechanically connects said flexible cylinder to said outermost cylinder;
the shaft, said first cylinder, and said flexible cylinder are substantially coaxial;
said innermost and said outermost cylinders comprise a first strength fiber and a second strength fiber, respectively;
the respective strength of said first and second strength fibers is selected responsive to distance from the shaft; and
a majority of the mass of the flywheel assembly is concentrated in said outer cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A flywheel assembly storing energy and rotatable in response to the rotation of a shaft, comprising:
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first means for storing a majority of the stored energy present in the flywheel assembly;
second means operatively attached to said first means for following radial changes in said first means responsive to variations in applied centrifugal force;
third means fixedly attached to said second means for providing a substantially constant stress at each point along a radial section between the shaft and said second means;
fourth means for fixedly connecting said third means to the shaft, wherein;
the first means includes innermost and outermost regions containing first and second strength fibers, respectively the respective strength of said first and second strength fibers is selected responsive to distance from the shaft; and
the shaft and said first, second, third and fourth means are substantially coaxial. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification