Variable flywheel mechanism and flywheel apparatus

Abstract

A variable flywheel mechanism is capable of varying the moment of inertia is disclosed. The wheel mechanism includes a sun gear, planetary gears, pivotable arms swung by the planetary gears, and weights mounted on the pivotable arms. The positions of the weights are controlled by rotation of the sun gear.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flywheel apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the flywheel apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the part shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5B is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the part shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A through 6D are schematic views illustrating an operation of the flywheel apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a diagrammatical view illustrating in simplified manner the principle of the flywheel apparatus shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7B is a diagrammatical view illustrating the principle of a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a diagrammatical view illustrating the principle of a separate modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7A; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing partly in section a conventional variable flywheel.

Claims

1. A variable flywheel mechanism having a rotational center and a plurality of weights and being capable of varying a distance from the rotational center to the weights, the mechanism comprising: a sun gear designed to be connected to an output shaft of an engine;a plurality of planetary gears for meshing with the sun gear;a plurality of carrier shafts for rotatably supporting the planetary gears;a plurality of pivotable arms swingably mounted on the carrier shafts and swung by the planetary gears; anda plurality of weight-accommodating parts located near the rotational center for accommodating the weights,the weights being mounted on the pivotable arms.

2. The variable flywheel mechanism of claim 1, wherein the carrier shafts are reinforced with a carrier-reinforcing member extending radially from the rotational center and including a plurality of ribs, the ribs being bent so as to form the weight-accommodating parts.

3. A flywheel apparatus comprising: a variable flywheel mechanism having a rotational center and a plurality of weights and being capable of varying a distance from the rotational center to the weights; anda switching clutch mechanism located between the variable flywheel mechanism and an output shaft of an engine so as to enable switching between a mass control mode for varying the distance from the rotational center to the weights and a power transmission mode for transmitting motive power of the engine to a load while the distance from the rotational center to the weights remains constant,wherein the variable flywheel mechanism comprises:a sun gear connected to the output shaft of the engine;a plurality of planetary gears for meshing with the sun gear;a plurality of carrier shafts for rotatably supporting the planetary gears;a carrier assembly for linking distal ends of the carrier shafts together;a flywheel output shaft extending from the carrier assembly; anda plurality of pivotable arms swingably mounted on the carrier shafts and swung by the planetary gears, the weights being mounted on the pivotable arms.

4. The flywheel apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a control device for performing a series of control operations that include reading load information pertaining to the engine, switching from a power transmission mode to a mass control mode in accordance with the load information, changing the distance from the rotational center to the weights, and returning to the power transmission mode.