Patent Application
20150204418
Some implementations relate generally to flywheels, and, more particularly, to variable inertia flywheels configured to store and then release kinetic energy to meet changing power load demands.
Flywheels are made in a variety of shapes and sizes, and of a variety of materials depending on the application in which the flywheel will be used. A flywheel may be a solid cylinder of any diameter and thickness. Many solid flywheels are thinner near the center of the flywheel and thicker near the perimeter to position the greatest mass at the perimeter of the flywheel. A flywheel also may consist of an outer rim connected to a central hub by spokes. Other configurations of flywheels also have been used. Flywheels may be designed to operate in a horizontal or vertical position. Flywheels generally are constructed of metal, such as various grades of steel, aluminum, sintered aluminum, and other metals, or of non-metallic materials or composites, such as carbon fiber, carbon/epoxy, fiberglass/epoxy, KEVLAR®/epoxy, E-. GLASS®/epoxy, and other composites. The configuration of the flywheel and the materials used are determined by the requirements of the application in which the flywheel will be used.
Variable inertia flywheels are utilized in rotation machinery to store energy that may be released quickly to meet a sudden energy demand. Variable inertia flywheels frequently are used with machines that are called upon to do considerable work, but in which the work demand is not constant. Known variable inertia flywheels vary inertia by interconnecting multiple flywheels having different inertia, or by moving a mass connected with the flywheel radially with respect to the axis of rotation. The moveable mass can be a solid or a liquid.
In the case of multiple interconnecting flywheels, complicated gearing and transmission systems are required to control the moment of inertia of each flywheel and transfer the angular momentum from at least one flywheel to an output shaft. Solid masses may be moved slidably toward or away from an axis, for example, by centrifugal force, with a spaced chain pulley having the solid masses attached, other mechanical apparatus, or hydraulic pressure. In the case of the liquid mass, movement generally is facilitated, for example, by use of an electromechanical, electromagnetic, oil, or other type pump.
The more moving parts in any apparatus, the greater the chance of failure during operation of the apparatus. In addition, known mechanical and electromechanical devices lack responsiveness when dealing with a sudden increase in demand for power.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,627 issued to Maxwell on Jun. 22, 1982 discloses a hydraulic flywheel which varies the moment of inertia by increasing of the fluid in one hollow structure and decreases the fluid in another by separating the structures and releasing the fluid. As the fluid is introduced into the hollow structure, centrifugal force causes it to flow to the peripheral regions of the hollow structure. As the fluid accumulates within the hollow structure the moment of inertia of the flywheel increases.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,382 issued to Pinson on Apr. 5, 1988 uses a pair of annular rotating housings mounted on a shaft. The housings include individual compartments having a fill and a drain line connected to a pump. The compartments receiving material which is compartmentalized to accurately control the mass distribution during the rotation of the housing for maintaining speed as energy is withdrawn or generated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,553 issued to Wagner on May 29, 1990 uses a complicated gearing and transmission system along with two pairs of variable inertia flywheels, one pair for energy storage and transfer and the second pair for control of inertia.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,399 B2 issued to Burstall on Apr. 26, 2005 uses electrical hydraulic pumps to move a fluid between chambers to vary inertia.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,669 issued to Pitkanen on Jan. 24, 1978 uses an inertial turbine system which stores energy in a rotating flywheel shell by passing a fluid, such as mercury, in and out of the shell during braking or acceleration of a vehicle in which the system is installed.
Although the above five patents are directed to various types of variable inertia flywheels, the methods to vary the moment of inertia described in the above five patents is in contrast to the subject matter of the present disclosure, which includes action of liquid passing through one or more one-way restriction valves and not into a separate compartment or other liquid chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,948 issued to Jerome on Aug. 11, 1981 discloses a motor vehicle propulsion system wherein a small engine drives a liquid filled flywheel to store kinetic energy in the liquid. Power is transferred to the vehicle propulsion wheels on driver demand by releasing the liquid, through nozzles by a manually operated valve controller system, to a turbine which is connected to the drive wheels through a drive train. Jerome's flywheel and turbine assembly rotate independently of each other and Jerome provides no operational way to seal the union between the flywheel and turbine for the liquid to be retained in the system. Other problems with Jerome's include: no provision for filling the flywheel, only an opening that returns the liquid from the turbine back into the flywheel; the liquid to be released through the nozzles would be slung out by centrifugal force only and not under any pressure, so any energy transferred to the turbine would be minimal at best, lacks any workable way to recapture the liquid that “falls to the bottom of the turbine and returns through the channel to the center of the flywheel”; any seal, that Jerome made no provision for between the flywheel and turbine, would create a substantial friction drag and related overheating problems. Furthermore, this patent does not attempt to vary the moment of inertia, nor is it a variable inertia flywheel. And, while it incorporates similar parts as subject patent, the objective, operation and accomplished results vary greatly.
In some implementations, the variable inertia flywheel of the present disclosure comprises a relatively simple device having few moving parts. The liquid moveable mass incorporated in the flywheel is moved by the centrifugal force and friction within the rotating liquid chamber with the rotational force being provided via a hub and flywheel body.
Some implementations can include a liquid chamber disposed around the periphery of the flywheel. The liquid chamber is equipped with one or more symmetrically spaced filling holes for introducing a liquid into the liquid chamber and expelling air there from, with corresponding counter balance weights as appropriate to maintain rotational balance. The liquid chamber also is fitted with one or more symmetrically spaced one-way restriction valves that allow the liquid to flow in the direction opposite of rotation of the flywheel body, again with corresponding counter balance weights as appropriate. When the flywheel encounters increased load conditions and slows its rate of rotation, the movement of the liquid closes the one-way restriction valves and prevents the liquid from slowing down or reversing direction. Thus, the kinetic energy stored in the liquid is released to meet the increased load demand.
Optionally, one or more manually adjustable vanes also may be attached by a central pin to the front and rear surfaces of the liquid chamber of the flywheel in a manner such that the manually adjustable vanes protrude into the liquid chamber at an adjustable angle. This manually adjustable vane system comprises a central pin, stem, stem seal, handle and a lock. The flywheel of the present invention also may contain multiple independent liquid chambers. The variable inertia flywheel of the present invention may be suitable for use in applications in which flywheels in general are used.
Some implementations can include a variable inertia flywheel comprising a central mounting hub and a flywheel body attached to the central mounting hub, the flywheel body extending radially from the hub. The flywheel can also include a single liquid chamber being disposed around the periphery of the flywheel body and connected to the hub via the body, the single liquid chamber having an outer wall and an inner wall. The flywheel can further include a liquid substantially filling an inside space of the single liquid chamber, said liquid having a rotational speed lagging behind a rotational speed of the single liquid chamber at start up and rotating in unison with the single liquid chamber at operational speed, thereby lowering moment of inertia at start up and increasing moment of inertia at operational speed.
The flywheel also comprising a one-way restriction valve attached to an inside surface of the single liquid chamber, the one-way restriction valve being configured to permit the liquid within the single liquid chamber to rotate in a first direction relative to the single liquid chamber and to prevent the liquid from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the single liquid chamber. The flywheel further comprising at least one filling hole in the outer wall configured to permit the liquid to be introduced into the single liquid chamber, and a plug configured to seal the at least one filling hole in a first position and configured to be removed from the at least one filling hole in a second position, wherein when the plug is in the first position, the single liquid chamber is not in communication with any other liquid chamber.
The flywheel also comprising one or more valve seats attached to the inner wall and extending radially inward from the inner wall into the inside space of the single liquid chamber, the one or more valve seats being disposed around an inner periphery of the inside space of the single liquid chamber so as to substantially contact each free edge of the one-way restriction valve when the one-way restriction valve is in a closed position. In some implementations, the flywheel body can include a solid body. In other implementations, the flywheel body can include a spoked body having two or more spokes.
The one or more valve seats can be configured to permit the one-way restriction valve to rest against the one or more valve seats when the one-way restriction valve is in the closed position. The flywheel can further comprising one or more manually adjustable vanes configured to increase or decrease friction against the liquid at start up and acceleration of rotation of the flywheel. The manually adjustable vanes can be comprised of a handle, a central pin, a stem, a lock, and a stem seal. The single liquid chamber can have a cross sectional shape including one of substantially round, substantially oval, substantially square, and substantially rectangular.
Some implementations can include a method of making a variable inertia flywheel. The method can include providing a central mounting hub, and attaching a flywheel body to the central mounting hub, the flywheel body extending radially outward from the hub. The method can also include providing a single liquid chamber being disposed around the periphery of the flywheel body and connecting the single liquid chamber to the hub via the flywheel body, the single liquid chamber having an outer wall and an inner wall.
The method can further include providing a liquid substantially filling an inside space of the single liquid chamber, said liquid having a rotational speed lagging behind a rotational speed of the single liquid chamber at start up and rotating in unison with the single liquid chamber at operational speed, thereby lowering moment of inertia at start up and increasing moment of inertia at operational speed. The method can also include forming a one-way restriction valve configured to provide a seal for the one-way restriction valve and attaching the one-way restriction valve to an inside surface of the single liquid chamber, the one-way restriction valve being configured to permit the liquid within the single liquid chamber to rotate in a first direction relative to the single liquid chamber and to prevent the liquid from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the single liquid chamber.
The method can further include forming at least one filling hole in the outer wall configured to permit the liquid to be introduced into the single liquid chamber, and providing a plug configured to seal the at least one filling hole in a first position and configured to be removed from the at least one filling hole in a second position, wherein when the plug is in the first position, the single liquid chamber is not in communication with any other liquid chamber. The method can also include forming one or more valve seats attached to the inner wall and extending radially inward from the inner wall into the inside space of the single liquid chamber, the one or more valve seats being disposed around an inner periphery of the inside space of the single liquid chamber so as to substantially contact each free edge of the one-way restriction valve when the one-way restriction valve is in a closed position.
Some implementations can include a method of storing and releasing energy. The method can include providing a variable inertia flywheel as described herein. The method can also include storing energy in the variable inertia flywheel by causing the variable inertia flywheel to rotationally accelerate to an operational speed. The method can further include releasing energy from the variable inertia flywheel by placing a rotational load on the variable inertia flywheel that causes the one-way restriction valve to move to a closed position.
In some implementations, the flywheel body can include a solid body. In other implementations, the flywheel body can include a spoked body having two or more spokes.
The one or more valve seats can be configured to permit the one-way restriction valve to rest against the one or more valve seats when the one-way restriction valve is in the closed position. The flywheel can further comprising one or more manually adjustable vanes configured to increase or decrease friction against the liquid at start up and acceleration of rotation of the flywheel. The manually adjustable vanes can be comprised of a handle, a central pin, a stem, a lock, and a stem seal. The single liquid chamber can have a cross sectional shape including one of substantially round, substantially oval, substantially square, and substantially rectangular.
An example flywheel implementation is illustrated in
In this embodiment,
The one-way restriction valve 5 may be of any known configuration. The one-way restriction valve 5 may, be constructed of any material suitable for the type of valve being used and the application in which the flywheel will be used. For example, a flapper or hinge valve would be constructed of an inflexible material having sufficient strength to resist the combined mass of the contained liquid 10. For example, metals, hard plastics, carbon fiber, various composites, or other materials may be used so long as such materials are both inflexible and resistant to the liquid 10 used to fill the liquid chamber 2.
During acceleration, as shown in
Optionally one of more manually adjustable vanes 8 also may be attached by a central pin 12 to the front and rear surfaces of the liquid chamber 2 of the flywheel body 11, as shown in
Optionally, the flywheel 1 of the present invention may contain multiple independent liquid chambers (not shown in drawings). If each of the multiple independent liquid chambers holds less liquid than one single chamber, but the total weight of the liquid 10 in both cases is the same, the total liquid 10 in the multiple independent chamber flywheel will accelerate to the rotational velocity of the flywheel faster than the liquid 10 in the single chamber, because the liquid 10 in the multiple independent chambers is exposed to a greater surface area, and therefore to greater frictional effects than the liquid 10 in just one chamber. Each of the multiple independent chambers may be filled with the same liquid or with different liquids.
The flywheel 1 of the present invention having a liquid chamber 2 and one-way restriction valves 5 and valve seat 19 requires less energy to attain its desired steady rotational speed than a traditional solid flywheel, because the liquid 10 in the liquid chamber 2 slides over the surrounding surfaces as the flywheel body 11 begins to rotate requiring significantly less energy for the flywheel body 11 to attain optimum speed. Near or at optimum speed the liquid 10 is rotating at the same speed as the flywheel body 11 due to the action of friction and centrifugal forces upon the liquid 10. The flywheel 1 of the present invention that also has manually adjustable vanes 8 will require a minimal increase in start-up energy than a flywheel without the manually adjustable vanes 8, but will accelerate to the rotational speed of the flywheel 1 more rapidly. Existing traditional flywheels may be retrofitted with an external peripheral liquid chamber 2 and one-way valves 5 and valve seat 19 which will significantly increase the stored kinetic energy of the flywheel while requiring only a minimal increase in start-up energy.
The variable inertia flywheel of the present invention is suitable for use in applications in which flywheels in general are used, for example, with internal combustion engines, continuously variable transmissions, and electrical power generation/storage equipment among others.
While some implementations have been described in terms of a general embodiment with several specific modifications, it is recognized that persons skilled in this art will readily perceive many other modifications and variations of the embodiments described above. Applicant intends to embrace any and all such modifications, variations and embodiments.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/136,064, entitled “Variable Inertia Flywheel” and filed on Jul. 22, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/833,611 filed Aug. 3, 2007, now abandoned, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13136064 | Jul 2011 | US |
| Child | 14672204 | US | |
| Parent | 11833611 | Aug 2007 | US |
| Child | 13136064 | US |
