Patent ID: 6144128
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: B60K,B60L,B62M,F16F,H02K,Y02E,Y02T,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A safety system for a high energy density flywheel assembly, comprising:a vacuum housing;an energy absorbing suspension fluid;an outer housing; anda reinforcing wrapping,arranged in the recited order and arranged to form a multiple barrier and energy dissipation means for protecting a vehicle and associated passengers from accidental sudden release of energy from the flywheel assembly,and further comprising a mechanical gimbal including shearable gimbal pins protecting the passengers and the vehicle from sudden transfer of angular momentum resulting from bearing seizure of at least one of a plurality of bearings or contact between said vacuum housing and said flywheel assembly, wherein gimbal pins in said gimbal shear so as to permit said vacuum housing to gradually spin down against the fluid disposed between said vacuum housing and said outer housing.