Composite dual-mass flywheel, system comprising said flywheel, and related method
OwnerEdi BONDIOLIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite flywheel (13), comprising a primary flywheel (15) integral with an input shaft (31) and a secondary flywheel (17) coaxial with the primary flywheel (15). The secondary flywheel (17) and the primary flywheel (15) are constrained so that they can rotate freely with respect to each other. A coupling device (61) is further provided, adapted selectively to: transmit power from the input shaft (31) to the secondary flywheel (17); and disengage the secondary flywheel (17) from the input shaft (31).
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a power source;
- a driven machine actuated by said power source through a mechanical transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft;
- in said power transmission, a composite flywheel, comprising:
- a primary flywheel torsionally constrained to the input shaft to rotate therewith;
- a secondary flywheel coaxial with the primary flywheel, wherein the secondary flywheel and the primary flywheel are coupled so that they can rotate freely with respect to each other;
- a coupling device adapted selectively to transmit power from the input shaft to the secondary flywheel, and to disengage the secondary flywheel from the input shaft;
- wherein the system is adapted to:
- start rotation of the mechanical transmission and of the primary flywheel with the coupling device disengaged and gradually increasing the rotation speed of the primary flywheel, while keeping the secondary flywheel idle and disengaged from the primary flywheel;
- and when a switching operational condition has been achieved, switching the coupling device so as to transmit torque from the input shaft to the secondary flywheel.
A method for actuating a driven machine through a power source and a mechanical transmission comprising a composite flywheel, said composite flywheel comprising a primary flywheel integral with an input shaft, a secondary flywheel coaxial with the primary flywheel, and a coupling device adapted selectively to transmit power from the input shaft to the secondary flywheel, and disengage the secondary flywheel from the input shaft;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- starting rotation of the transmission and of the primary flywheel with the coupling device disengaged, gradually increasing the rotation speed of the primary flywheel keeping the secondary flywheel disengaged from the primary flywheel and idle on an output shaft of the composite flywheel;
- when a switching operational condition has been achieved, switching the coupling device so as to connect the secondary flywheel to the primary flywheel and to transmit torque from the primary flywheel to the secondary flywheel.
A method for braking a driven machine actuated by means of a power source and a mechanical transmission including a composite flywheel, said composite flywheel including a primary flywheel integral with an input shaft, a secondary flywheel coaxial with the primary flywheel, and a coupling device adapted selectively to transmit power from the input shaft to the secondary flywheel, and disengage the secondary flywheel from the input shaft;
- said method comprising the step of disengaging the secondary flywheel from the primary flywheel through the coupling device, and braking the driven machine with the secondary flywheel idle with respect to the mechanical transmission.
A composite flywheel, comprising:
- a power input shaft;
- a primary flywheel torsionally constrained to the input shaft;
- a secondary flywheel torsionally constrained to a support shaft of the secondary flywheel coaxial with the primary flywheel;
- the secondary flywheel and the primary flywheel being coupled so that they can rotate freely with respect to each other;
- a coupling device adapted selectively to couple and decouple torsionally the primary flywheel and the secondary flywheel with respect to each other;
- a power output shaft, on which the secondary flywheel is rotatably supported;
- wherein bearings arranged inside the support shaft of the secondary flywheel are configured for rotatably supporting the secondary flywheel on the output shaft;
- wherein the primary flywheel is integral with a support shaft of the primary flywheel, coaxial with the support shaft of the secondary flywheel, and wherein bearings are interposed between the support shaft of the primary flywheel and the support shaft of the secondary flywheel and rotatably support the support shaft of the primary flywheel and the support shaft of the secondary flywheel, one with respect to the other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.