Patent ID: 8203316

Claim:
A generator rotor torsional damper system comprising: a prime mover for generating rotational force; a generator stator; a generator rotor rotatably supported relative to the generator stator and configured to receive a rotational force input from the prime mover; a flywheel rotationally supported relative to the generator rotor by bearings, the flywheel defining a mass; a hub mounted radially outward relative to the generator rotor, wherein the generator rotor, the flywheel and the hub are arranged concentrically about a common axis; and an eddy current coupling operably connected between the flywheel and the generator rotor such that rotation of the generator rotor induces rotation of the flywheel in a common rotational direction through engagement by the eddy current coupling, wherein the eddy current coupling comprises: a plurality of circumferentially arranged permanent magnets mounted to the flywheel; and a ring of non-ferrous eddy-current conducting material mounted to the hub in a magnetic field of at least a portion of the plurality of permanent magnets, wherein the ring is positioned radially outward of the flywheel.