Energy-absorbing housing for high-speed flywheels
The invention provides a flywheel system with energy-absorbing housing. The system provides a novel liner and restraint ribs which serve to de-energize debris particles resulting from the catastrophic failure of a flywheel. Also provided are energy-absorbing housing systems comprising a rotatable liner, one or more restraint ribs, and a fluid film bearing to control and dissipate the energy from the failure of a rotating mass.
1. A flywheel system comprising:
a substantially cylindrical housing comprising a wall portion;
a substantially cylindrical liner positioned within the housing;
a flywheel rotatably disposed within the liner; and,
means contacting the wall portion and the liner for restraining the liner in relation to the housing when the liner is subjected to a torque below a predetermined threshold and releasing the liner when the liner is subjected to a torque substantially equal or greater than the predetermined threshold.
2. The flywheel system of claim 1 wherein the means is fixedly coupled to the wall portion and the liner.
3. The flywheel system of claim 2 wherein the means comprises a restraint rib that releases the liner as a result of shear failure.
4. A flywheel system comprising:
a substantially cylindrical housing comprising a wall portion;
a substantially cylindrical liner positioned within the housing;
a flywheel rotatably disposed within the liner; and,
means contacting the wall portion and the liner for restraining the liner in relation to the housing when the liner is subjected to a torque below a predetermined threshold and releasing the liner and forming a fluid film between the liner and the wall portion when the liner is subjected to a torque substantially equal or greater than the predetermined threshold.
5. The flywheel system of claim 4 wherein the means comprises a restraint rib formed from a material selected from the group consisting of solder, rose metal, cerobend, metal alloys, plastics and polymers.
6. The flywheel system of claim 4 wherein the means releases the liner by melting.
7. A energy-absorbing housing for a flywheel system comprising:
a substantially cylindrical housing comprising a wall portion;
a substantially cylindrical liner positioned within the housing;
a flywheel rotatably disposed within the liner; and,
means contacting the wall portion and the liner for restraining the liner in relation to the housing when the liner is subjected to a torque below a predetermined threshold and releasing the liner when the liner is subjected to a torque substantially equal or greater than the predetermined threshold.
8. The energy-absorbing housing of claim 7 wherein the means forms a fluid film bearing between the liner and the wall portion when the liner is subjected to the torque substantially equal or greater than the predetermined threshold.
9. The energy-absorbing housing of claim 8 wherein the means comprises a restraining rib.