Lightweight flywheel containment
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Californaia
InventorJames R. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight flywheel containment composed of a combination of layers of various material which absorb the energy of a flywheel structural failure. The various layers of material act as a vacuum barrier, momentum spreader, energy absorber, and reaction plate. The flywheel containment structure has been experimentally demonstrated to contain carbon fiber fragments with a velocity of 1,000 m/s and has an aerial density of less than 6.5 g/square centimeters. The flywheel containment, may for example, be composed of an inner high toughness structural layer, and energy absorbing layer, and an outer support layer. Optionally, a layer of impedance matching material may be utilized intermediate the flywheel rotor and the inner high toughness layer.
Claims9
A combination of flywheel and containment structure therefor, said containment structure consisting of three radially positioned layers comprising:
- a structural layer;
- an energy absorbing layer, and
- a support layer.
A combination of flywheel and containment structure therefore, said containment structure including:
- a structural layer composed of material having high toughness;
- an energy absorbing layer;
- a support layer;
- and
- a layer of impedance matching material intermediate said structural layer and said flywheel,
- said layer of impedance matching material being constructed of material that matches the mechanical impedance of rotor fragments of said flywheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.