Dual stiffness bearing damping system
US6747378B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2119
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention discloses a dual-stiffness damping system for an evacuated energy storage system, the damping system comprising one or more flexible dampers and a plurality of more rigid bumpers, and a method of damping an evacuated energy storage system using dual-stiffness damping. Indeed, under normal operating conditions, a flexible damper, having a stiffness of about 500 lb/in to about 4000 lb/in, minimizes the rigid body critical speed of the rotor assembly of the energy storage system, allowing relative displacement between the stator assembly and rotor assembly but preventing the assemblies from physically contacting each other. Under more extreme external loading conditions, e.g., during an earthquake, the plurality of more rigid bumpers, having a stiffness of about 50,000 to 250,000 lb/in, engages the outer race of the bearing assembly to arrest further relative displacement substantially. In another aspect of the present invention, the dual stiffness damping system is combined with a bearing assembly and a mounting unit to produce a self-contained damping system that can be quickly and easily installed and replaced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.