Hollow, magnetic flywheel and related generator systems
AssigneeMattur Holdings, Inc.
InventorKris Kesler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for improved power generation are provided. In one embodiment, a flywheel is provided for use in a generator. The flywheel may include hollow disks that each contain a plurality of magnets that are angularly distributed around the hollow disks. The hollow disks may be fastened together using disk attachment brackets that attach to attachment points on the hollow disks. Stator disks, which may be separate from the flywheel, may be positioned between adjacent pairs of the hollow disks. The stator disks may contain multiple coils of wire that are angularly distributed around the stator disks. In operation, the flywheel may rotate while the stator disks remain stationary.
Claims35
A flywheel for use in a generator, the flywheel comprising:
- a plurality of rotor disks, each rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks comprising:
- a plurality of magnets angularly distributed around that rotor disk;
- and
- a plurality of attachment points distributed around that rotor disk inward relative to where the plurality of magnets are located, wherein each rotor disk defines a first hollow portion inward to where the plurality of attachment points are located;
- a plurality of disk attachment brackets wherein each disk attachment bracket of the plurality of disk attachment brackets is fastened to at least two rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks via the plurality of attachment points, wherein each disk attachment bracket of the plurality of disk attachment brackets defines a ring having a second hollow portion inward to where that disk attachment bracket is fastened to the two rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks that is concentrically aligned with the first hollow portion of each rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks when so fastened;
- and
- a flywheel attachment bracket connected to a first rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks on a first side and to a bearing housing of the generator on a second side, opposite to the first side,
- wherein the first rotor disk of plurality of rotor disks is spaced apart from a second rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks via a first disk attachment bracket of the plurality of disk attachment brackets connected to each of the first rotor disk and the second rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks to accommodate a first stator disk positioned between the first rotor disk and the second rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks, and the second rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks is spaced apart from a third rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks via a second disk attachment bracket of the plurality of disk attachment brackets connected to each of the second rotor disk and the third rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks to accommodate a second stator disk positioned between the second rotor disk and the third rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks.
A generator comprising:
- a flywheel comprising:
- a plurality of rotor disks, each rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks comprising:
- a plurality of magnets angularly distributed around that rotor disk;
- a plurality of attachment points distributed around that rotor disk inward relative to where the plurality of magnets are located, wherein each rotor disk defines a first hollow portion inward to where the plurality of attachment points are located;
- and
- a plurality of disk attachment brackets each fastened to two rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks via the plurality of attachment points, wherein each disk attachment bracket of the plurality of disk attachment brackets defines a ring having a second hollow portion inward to where that disk attachment bracket is fastened to the two rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks that is concentrically aligned with the first hollow portion of each rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks when so fastened;
- and
- a plurality of stator disks positioned between adjacent rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks, the plurality of stator disks containing a plurality of coils angularly distributed around the plurality of statordisks, wherein the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion define an unoccupied hollow extending along an axis of rotation that extends an entire length of the flywheel and is enclosed by the plurality of rotor disks and the plurality of disk attachment brackets.
A device comprising:
- a plurality of rotor disks disposed in a coaxial arrangement and configured to rotate about a rotor axis, the plurality of rotor disks including a first rotor disk and a second rotor disk adjacent to the first disk in the coaxial arrangement;
- a first plurality of magnets disposed in the first rotor disk, the first plurality of magnets angularly distributed about the rotor axis according to a distribution pattern;
- and
- a second plurality of magnets disposed in the second rotor disk, the second plurality of magnets angularly distributed about the rotor axis according to the distribution pattern, and
- wherein:
- first angular positions of the first plurality of magnets about the rotor axis are offset from corresponding second angular positions of the second plurality of magnets,
- the first rotor disk and the second rotor disk define an unoccupied hollow that extends for an entire length of the coaxial arrangement along the rotor axis,
- each rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks each comprise a plurality of attachment points distributed around that rotor disk inward relative to where respective magnets are located, wherein each rotor disk defines a first hollow portion inward to where the plurality of attachment points are located;
- and
- further comprising:
- a plurality of disk attachment brackets each fastened to at least one rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks via the plurality of attachment points, wherein each disk attachment bracket of the plurality of disk attachment brackets defines a ring having a second hollow portion inward to where that disk attachment bracket is fastened to one or more rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks that is concentrically aligned with the first hollow portion of each rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks when so fastened;
- and
- a plurality of stator disks positioned between adjacent rotor disks of the plurality of rotor disks, the plurality of stator disks containing a plurality of coils angularly distributed around the plurality of stator disks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.