Patent · US Expired

Lightweight flywheel containment

US6203924A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
1References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 1998
Grant dateMar 20, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/24149
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A lightweight flywheel containment composed of a combination of layers of various material which absorb the energy of a flywheel structural failure. The various layers of material act as a vacuum barrier, momentum spreader, energy absorber, and reaction plate. The flywheel containment structure has been experimentally demonstrated to contain carbon fiber fragments with a velocity of 1,000 m/s and has an aerial density of less than 6.5 g/square centimeters. The flywheel containment, may for example, be composed of an inner high toughness structural layer, and energy absorbing layer, and an outer support layer. Optionally, a layer of impedance matching material may be utilized intermediate the flywheel rotor and the inner high toughness layer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.