Patent ID: 6029538
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: F16C,F16F,H02K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A flywheel energy system comprising:at least one flywheel that has a rotor shaft for rotation about a rotor axis in a housing having an end plate, said housing end plate having a port that is substantially coaxial with said rotor axis; anda replaceable bearing cartridge assembly that can be mounted at said port, said assembly comprising:a hollow bearing cartridge having an inner surface, an outer surface, a longitudinal axis, a first axial end, and a second axial end, wherein a portion of said outer surface is fixedly mounted to said housing end plate at said port;an annular bearing having a rotational axis, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein said bearing outer surface is mounted to said cartridge inner surface near said first axial end and wherein said bearing inner surface at least partially supports said rotor shaft radially and axially, said bearing rotational axis being coaxial with said rotor axis; andan annular bearing retaining ring mounted to said cartridge adjacent to said bearing near said first axial end for retaining said bearing in said cartridge so that when said cartridge is removed from said port said bearing is also removed.