Method and apparatus for balancing a flywheel
First Claim
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1. A method of balancing a flywheel having a relatively dense outer rim, the method incorporating the steps of:
- rotating the flywheel in a vacuum chamber containing at least a partial vacuum,controlling admission of a gas into the vacuum chamber so as to admit a predetermined amount of a gas into the vacuum chamber while the flywheel is still rotating, such that the admitted gas interacts with surface irregularities of the flywheel to vaporize, melt, sublimate, erode, or abrade the surface irregularities to reduce their size and thereby improve the balance of the flywheel.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flywheel for energy storage, specifically a method for finely balancing the flywheel during manufacture, the method being especially useful in conjunction with flywheels having a composite construction, and the method also being suitable for simultaneously proving the structural integrity of the flywheel.
77 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of balancing a flywheel having a relatively dense outer rim, the method incorporating the steps of:
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rotating the flywheel in a vacuum chamber containing at least a partial vacuum, controlling admission of a gas into the vacuum chamber so as to admit a predetermined amount of a gas into the vacuum chamber while the flywheel is still rotating, such that the admitted gas interacts with surface irregularities of the flywheel to vaporize, melt, sublimate, erode, or abrade the surface irregularities to reduce their size and thereby improve the balance of the flywheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for balancing a flywheel of the type having a relatively dense outer rim, comprising:
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a vacuum chamber; a flywheel rotatably mounted within the vacuum chamber; a motor, engine or dynamo for causing the flywheel to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, the predetermined rotational speed being such that a surface of the flywheel rim moves substantially at or in excess of the speed of sound; and a valve for enabling control of confinement of a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber, and admission of a predetermined amount of gas into the chamber while the flywheel is still rotating, such that the admitted gas interacts with surface irregularities of the flywheel to vaporize, melt, sublimate, erode or abrade the surface irregularities to reduce their size and thereby improve the balance of the flywheel.
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Specification