Multiple ring inertial energy storage wheel with improved inter-ring connector

An inertial energy storage wheel comprising a plurality of concentric, inertial energy storage rotors, means for supporting an innermost rotor so that its axis is vertically oriented, means for rotating the wheel about a vertical axis concentric with the axes of the rotors, and a spacer ring disposed between each set of adjacent rotors for supporting the outer rotor of each set from the inner rotor of such set and for maintaining the rotors concentric while permitting their radial dilation when subjected to high rates of rotation, the spacer ring being constructed of a metallic material and comprising a multiplicity of opposing, side-by-side and interconnected U-shaped members arranged to define a cylindrical spacer ring, each U-shaped member being defined by a pair of parallel legs and a portion interconnecting one end of the legs so as to define a slot between each pair of legs, adjacent slots alternatingly terminating at opposite axial ends of the spacer ring, a plurality of first and second tab means secured to the interconnecting portions of the U-shaped members at upper and lower end faces of the ring, respectively, the first tab means extending radially inward from the upper end face and the second tab means extending radially outward from the lower end face of the spacer ring, first groove means at an upper end of the inner rotor for snugly nesting the first tab means, and second groove means at a lower end of the outer rotor for snugly receiving the second tab means, whereby the first tab means concentrically positions the spacer ring with respect to the inner rotor and the second tab means concentrically positions the outer rotor with respect to the spacer ring, and whereby the spacer ring further supports the outer ring on the inner ring and the U-shaped members define a continuous, cylindrical, radially resilient spring support accommodating a differential radial expansion between the outer and the inner rotors when subjected to high rates of rotation.

An inertial energy storage wheel comprising:

• a central, generally disc-shaped hub for rotation about a vertical axis, the hub including a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending peripheral tabs disposed in a common plane;
• a first, cylindrical inertial energy storage rotor including upper and lower end faces each including a plurality of radially oriented grooves, the grooves in the lower end face corresponding in number, orientation and dimensioning to the radial tabs of the hub for snugly receiving the tabs to thereby support the first rotor on the hub and position it concentric with respect thereto;
• a spacer ring having a generally Z-shaped cross-section defining upper and lower end flanges extending radially inward and outward, respectively, from an intermediate, cylindrical portion having an inner and an outer diameter, the spacer ring including a plurality of first and second slots extending from an upper end face of the spacer ring towards the lower end face thereof, and from the lower end face towards the upper end face, respectively, but terminating short thereof so as to segment the radial flanges into a plurality of inwardly and outwardly extending radial tabs, the inwardly extending tabs being snugly received within the radial grooves in the upper end face of the inner rotor to thereby concentrically position the spacer ring with respect to the inner rotor and support it thereon;
• and
• at least one outer rotor including upper and lower axial end faces, the lower end face of the outer rotor including a plurality of radially oriented grooves dimensioned to snugly receive the outwardly extending tabs of the spacer ring to thereby support the outer rotor on the spacer ring and concentrically position it with respect to the spacer ring, the inner rotor and the hub, the outer rotor having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the spacer ring in its relaxed state;
• whereby upon the rotation of the wheel the outer rotor expands by a greater amount than the inner rotor and the spacer ring is permitted to expand by the same amount as the outer rotor so as to maintain firm contact therewith at all times while the inwardly extending tabs continue to be supported and concentrically positioned by the inner rotor.