Inertial energy storage device
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorGary D. Roberge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft power system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure includes, among other possible things, a battery, a motor/generator coupled to the battery, an inertial drum rotatable about an axis of rotation and coupled to the motor/generator, wherein the motor/generator drives rotation of the inertial drum in a first operating mode and is driven by the inertial drum in a second operating mode; and a housing defining a chamber for the inertial drum, the chamber filled with low-viscosity medium to reduce friction on the inertial drum.
Claims20
An aircraft power system comprising:
- a battery;
- a motor/generator coupled to the battery;
- an inertial drum rotatable about an axis of rotation and coupled to the motor/generator, wherein the motor/generator drives rotation of the inertial drum in a first operating mode and is driven by the inertial drum in a second operating mode;
- and
- a housing defining a chamber for the inertial drum, the chamber filled with low-viscosity medium to reduce friction on the inertial drum.
An inertial energy storage device comprising:
- an external housing defining an interior space, the interior space filled with a low-viscosity medium;
- an inertial energy storage means supported within the interior space;
- and
- a motor/generator coupled to the inertial energy storage means and configured to rotate the inertial energy storage means in a first operating mode and be rotated by the inertial energy storage means in a second operating mode.
A method of operating an aircraft power system comprising:
- driving a motor/generator with input electric energy to rotate an inertial drum at a predefined rotational speed;
- decoupling the motor/generator from the inertial drum such that the inertial drum spins freely separate from the motor/generator;
- and
- coupling the motor/generator to the inertial drum such that the inertial drum drives the motor/generator to produce electric energy in response to a demand for power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.