The principles and structure of variable-inertia flywheels

Abstract: The conventional flywheel is often used for (1) energy storage (2) pulse absorption, and its internal characteristics are fixed so that ernergy absorption and release always manifest themselves as a speed increase during energy storage and a speed decrease during energy release. The present invention relates to the priciples and structure of variable-inertia flywheels which enable the control and adjustment of the relationship between energy storage and release, and speed; when flywheel is used speed rate change can be minimized due to moment change, and due to dynamic energy is in direct proportion to the square of inertia mass times speed, where if flywheel speed is defined as (2 -Rn) then dynamic energy stored in the flywheel is: E = 1/2gc x m (2 -Rn) 2 = 2- 2 /gc x mR 2 n 2 where, E: energy, ft lbf or J m: flywheel mass, lbm or kg gc: converting factor = 32.2 lbm FT/(lbf S 2 ) = 1.0 kg/(N S 2 ) R: gyration radius, ft or m n: rotation per second (r/min)/60

Description: SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The conventional flywheel is often used for energy storage pulse absorption, and its inertial energy structure is at a solid state so that its energy absorption and release always appears speed increase during continuing energy storage and appears speed decrease during energy release. The present invention relates to provide a principle and structure of actively driving or centrifugal linear following dynamic flywheel effect to make fixed relationship between said energy storage, energy release and speed controllable and adjustable; when flywheel is used speed rate change can be minimized due to moment change, and due to dynamic energy storage, energy release and speed controllable and adjustable, wherein dynamic energy is direct proportional to the inertia mass times square number of speed. Among motive mechanisms, flywheel is an extremely important device, except made in wheel type, which may include other geometrical shapes such as star and polygon, etc. for fitting a variety of purposes, and the capacity of energy storage for flywheel is determined subject to inertia mass speed, and due to said effect it is widely applied to steady operation so as to reduce root motion and energy storage. However, conventional flywheels comprise a fixed structure so that its inertia mass is permanent, and as far as a free flywheel is concerned, dynamic energy absorption would make rotational speed increasing and energy release would reduce its rotational speed. The principle and structure of actively driving or centrifugal linear structure of actively driving or centrifugal linear following dynamic flywheel effect is to breakthrough the characteristics of fixed inertia mass of said conventional flywheels, and to mount at least two sets of inertia bodies radially along the centre of flywheel, and apply active driving by fluid or mechanical power externally controlled to change its inertia mass and rotational speed by driving the distance between inertia block with the centre, and besides the displacing block can be mounted with spring or compressive fluid which can store energy when inertia block is displacing/sliding radially so that when energy storage is increasing in speed, with centrifugal force with makes said radially displacing inertia block displacing outward radially to increase inertia mass, and when energy is released, inertia block is pushed back toward the centre to reduce inertia mass due to speed reduction and further reducing the change in its speed against energy storage or release. US-A-4,995,282 (Schumacher) describes a device according to the preamble of claim 1, a flywheel including a control device for the rotational inertia of the flywheel during rotation. The flywheel attached to a drive shaft has at least two control masses attached such that they can move radially approximately orthogonal to the rotational axis in channels and slots on the flywheel structure. The control masses are mechanically attached to a shaft collar, whose axial position on the drive shaft is controlled by an electrical actuator. According to the invention, there is provided a device including the features of claim 1. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an embodiment of inertia block with radially stretching and intermediate supporting arm and spring extensive motion type tension arm. FIG. 2 is an embodiment of inertia block with radially stretching and intermediate supporting arm and spring compressive motion type tension arm. The basic principle of the present invention is described below: FIG. 1 is an embodiment of inertia block with radially stretching and intermediate supporting arm and spring extensive motion type tension arm comprising: inertia block set permitted for radial displacement: for energy storage and release rotary driving radially and radiant-type uniform externally radial arm 801, and external end at one side of its radial arm has inertia block 803 (or another side with spring appearing thrust with axial) appearing tension against axial to make spring at tension state when inertia bock 803 extending outward during speed up, and another side of radial arm contracts inward; when speed down the resilience of spring would enable radial arm and inertia block to return and release energy. The dotted line portion as shown in FIG. 1 is the embodiment of energy storage of matched fluid-pressure driving wing piece and related structure of driving device wherein radial arm 801 swings along swinging axial 802 and the radial arm with inertia block 803 has tension spring 804, tail end of axis 805 has oriented tail wing B, and frontal end has commutator hood M facing air stream, and fluid tail wing F mounted at radial arm 801, once facing air fluid it would be engaged in relative operation to employ the axis 805 as the centre; when speed is increased, inertia block extending outward due to centrifugal force to enable radial arm to lean backward whereby gyration inertia mass of the whole device is increased; when fluid speed down and rotational speed is reduced, inertia block contacts inward gradually to release energy and accomplish speed regulation at rather stable condition. FIG. 2 is an embodiment of inertia block with radially stretching and intermediate supporting arm and spring compressive motion type tension arm. The spring of the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also can be in substitute by compressive fluid cylinder, piston and link, and besides the principle and structure of actively driving or centrifugal linear following dynamic flywheel effect can combine with other machines to construct jointly centrifugal linear following adjustment effect. To conclude above-said description, the principle of a structure of actively driving or centrifugal linear following dynamic flywheel effect according to the present invention relates to provide a principle and structure of actively driving or centrifugal linear following dynamic flywheel effect to make fixed relationship between said energy storage, energy release and speed controllable and adjustable; when flywheel is used speed rate change can be minimized due to moment change, and due to dynamic energy is direct proportional to the inertia mass times square number of speed, so that we can change the characteristics of inertia mass absorption or release through the variation of inertia body radius R. It is new and applicable to energy storage steady pulse, etc. to provide industrial value.

Claims: A device for storage and release of energy using centrifugal force, the device comprising: a body rotatably connected to a centre shaft, two arms, two inertia blocks, one connected to the end of each arm, two springs, each spring connecting a respective arm to the body, the inertia blocks being displaced radially by centrifugal force from an at rest position adjacent to the body, the springs thereby being extended and storing energy therein, wherein the springs urging the inertia blocks to return toward the at rest position, thereby releasing the stored energy and sustaining the rotation of the body, characterised in that it comprises a hood connected to the centre shaft and extending forwardly of the body, a directional tail fin connected to the centre shaft and extending rearwardly of the body, a pair of fins pivotably connected to the body, the fins being mounted diametrically opposed to one another and extending outwardly from the body, each fin being connected to an one of said arms at approximately a right angle thereto, each arm having an end oriented toward the hood, wherein, an air stream directed toward the device is deflected by the hood toward the fins, the directional tail fin maintaining the body facing toward the air stream, the air stream engaging both fins and forcing the fins to pivot rearwardly toward the directional tail fin and thereby rotating the body about the centre shaft, and wherein, when the air stream force decreases, the springs urging the inertia blocks to return toward the at rest position, thereby releasing the stored energy and sustaining the rotation of the body. A device according to claim 1, wherein the springs are connected to respective arms near the inertia block. A device according to claim 1, wherein the respective arms each have a second end, the second ends extending rearwardly toward the directional tail fin, the springs being connected near the second end of each arm.

Inventors: YANG TAI-HER, YANG, TAI-HER
Applicants: YANG TAI HER, YANG, TAI-HER
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F16F15
IPC codes: F16H33, F16F15, F03D9, H02K7, H02J9