Filament rotor structures

Claim 2

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; matrix means for bonding the members together; and, a coating of low-vapor pressure material Disposed over the surface of the structure.

Claim 3

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, said members being formed into strips, the members within any given strip being parallel, and wherein the strips are disposed within the structure at an angle with respect to certain other strips of parallel members.

Claim 4

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, said members being formed into strips, the members within any given strip being parallel, and wherein the strips are disposed within the structure at an angle with respect to certain other strips of parallel members.

Claim 5

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein the members are formed into a substantially rectangular unit having a length at least ten times greater than its width.

Claim 6

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein the members are formed into a substantially rectangular unit having a length at least ten times greater than its width.

Claim 7

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein the members are formed substantially into a cylindrical unit of a length at least ten times greater than its diameter.

Claim 8

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein the members are formed substantially into a cylindrical unit of a length at least ten times greater than its diameter.

Claim 9

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein said structure has a symmetrical cross-sectional profile defined by opposed surfaces about the axis or rotation, said structure having a relatively thick center portion around said axis and relatively thin end portions, said surfaces of said profile each having the shape of an exponential curve and being symmetrical about a plane extending through the geometrical center of the structure and perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Claim 10

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein said structure has a symmetrical cross-sectional profile defined by opposed surfaces about the axis or rotation, said structure having a relatively thick center portion around said axis and relatively thin end portions, said surfaces of said profile each having the shape of an exponential curve and being symmetrical about a plane extending through the geometrical center of the structure and perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Claim 11

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axis of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein said structure is symmetrically contoured in cross-section about said axis of rotation and has a center portion of maximum thickness around said axis and end portions of minimum thickness at the end portions, the center portion of the structure having a cross-sectional thickness diminishing non-uniformly from said maximum to said minimum according to the relation: y yoe kx wherein: yo one-half of the thickness of the structure at the axis of rotation y one-half of the thickness of the structure at any point on the surface of the structure e the base of the natural system of logarithms x a spinning radius of a point on the surface of the structure k a numerical constant.

Claim 12

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axis of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein said structure is symmetrically contoured in cross-section about said axis of rotation and has a center portion of maximum thickness around said axis and end portions of minimum thickness at the end portions, the center portion of the structure having a cross-sectional thickness diminishing non-uniformly from said maximum to said minimum according to the relation: y yoe kx wherein: yo one-half of the thickness of the structure at the axis of rotation y one-half of the thickness of the structure at any point on the surface of the structure e the base of the natural system of logarithms x a spinning radius of a point on the surface of the structure k a numerical constant.

Claim 13

The energy storage structure of claim 6 wherein k is in the range of numerical values between 2.5 and 100.

Claim 14

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein each member is shaped according to the relation: y yoe kx wherein: yo one-half of the thickness of the structure at the axis of rotation y one-half of the thickness of the structure at any point on the surface of the structure e the base of the natural system of logarithms x a spinning radius of a point on the surface of the structure k a numerical constant.

Claim 15

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of straight anisotropic filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of said members being disposed parallel to each other; and wherein each member is shaped according to the relation: y yoe kx wherein: yo one-half of the thickness of the structure at the axis of rotation y one-half of the thickness of the structure at any point on the surface of the structure e the base of the natural system of logarithms x a spinning radius of a point on the surface of the structure k a numerical constant.

Claim 16

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrouGh, the structure comprising a plurality of initially straight anisotropic filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes, said members being oriented within said structure with the longitudinal axis of each member disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure, said structure further comprising, hub means for holding the members at their centers of rotation, rotation of the structure causing the members to fan out, each said member aligning substantially along the local principal stress vector acting thereon.

Claim 17

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrouGh, the structure comprising a plurality of initially straight anisotropic filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes, said members being oriented within said structure with the longitudinal axis of each member disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure, said structure further comprising, hub means for holding the members at their centers of rotation, rotation of the structure causing the members to fan out, each said member aligning substantially along the local principal stress vector acting thereon.

Claim 18

The energy storage structure of claim 9 wherein the members are initially formed substantially into a rectangular unit having a length at least ten times greater than its width.

Claim 19

The energy storage structure of claim 9 wherein the members are initially formed substantially into a cylindrical unit having a longitudinal dimension at least 10 times greater than its diameter.

Claim 20

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members, said members being formed into strips, the members within any given strip being parallel, and wherein the strips are formed into a generally disc shape comprising two opposing surfaces and a circular peripheral edge, the structure being symmetrically contoured in cross-section about said axis of rotation, and having a center portion of maximum thickness and edge portions of minimum thickness.

Claim 21

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members, said members being formed into strips, the members within any given strip being parallel, and wherein the strips are formed into a generally disc shape comprising two opposing surfaces and a circular peripheral edge, the structure being symmetrically contoured in cross-section about said axis of rotation, and having a center portion of maximum thickness and edge portions of minimum thickness.

Claim 22

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members, the structure being formed into a generally disc shape, a multiplicity of the members being bonded together into flat strips and having the longitudinal axis of each member oriented therein substantially parallel to adjacent members, the strips further extending through and perpendicular to the axis of rotation and being bonded together in a regularly offset angular relation to each other whereby each strip contacts at least one other strip on at least one of its surfaces.

Claim 23

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members, the structure being formed into a generally disc shape, a multiplicity of the members being bonded together into flat strips and having the longitudinal axis of each member oriented therein substantially parallel to adjacent members, the strips further extending through and perpendicular to the axis of rotation and being bonded together in a regularly offset angular relation to each other whereby each strip contacts at least one other strip on at least one of its surfaces.

Claim 24

The energy storage structure of claim 13 wherein adjacent strips are maintained in contacting relation with each other over major portions of their surfaces.

Claim 25

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of essentially anisotropic filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes, the members being bonded together into a plurality of essentially flat strips and having the longitudinal axis of each member oriented therein substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip, the strips extending through and perpendicular to the axis of rotation and progressively and successively surmounting each other and being built-up and bonded together in a regularly offset angular relation to each other with certain of said strips extending in a counterclockwise direction and certain other of said strips extending in a clockwise direction.

Claim 26

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, the structure comprising a plurality of essentially anisotropic filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes, the members being bonded together into a plurality of essentially flat strips and having the longitudinal axis of each member oriented therein substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip, the strips extending through and perpendicular to the axis of rotation and progressively and successively surmounting each other and being built-up and bonded together in a regularly offset angular relation to each other with certain of said strips extending in a counterclockwise direction and certain other of said strips extending in a clockwise direction.

Claim 27

In an energy storage system a rotatable shaft, an energy storage structure having its midpoint mounted for tilting movement on the shaft and having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the longitudinal axis of a cross-section taken through the structure is perpendicular to the shaft, said structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes.

Claim 28

In an energy storage system a rotatable shaft, an energy storage structure having its midpoint mounted for tilting movement on the shaft and having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the longitudinal axis of a cross-section taken through the structure is perpendicular to the shaft, said structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes.

Claim 29

The energy storage system of claim 16 wherein the filament-like members are oriented within the energy storage structure with the longitudinal axis of each said member disposed along a principal stress vector acting on the filament during rotation of the structure.

Claim 30

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis exteNding transversely therethrough, comprising, a multiplicity of anisotropic filaments having maximum strength-to-density along their respective longitudinal axes, the filaments being oriented within said structure with the longitudinal axis of each said filament disposed along the vector summation of the principal forces acting on the filament during rotation of the structure.

Claim 31

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis exteNding transversely therethrough, comprising, a multiplicity of anisotropic filaments having maximum strength-to-density along their respective longitudinal axes, the filaments being oriented within said structure with the longitudinal axis of each said filament disposed along the vector summation of the principal forces acting on the filament during rotation of the structure.

Claim 32

The energy storage structure recited in claim 18, including means engaging the structure at its midpoint and mounting said structure for rotation about said axis.

Claim 33

In an energy storage system, a shaft rotatable around a stationary axis, and a plurality of energy storage rotary structures mounted on the shaft, and having axes of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the longitudinal axes of respective cross-sections taken through the structures are perpendicular to the shaft, each of said structures comprising a plurality of straight, filament-like members, said members being oriented within each structure with their longitudinal axes disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a section of the rotary structure taken parallel to the member.

Claim 34

In an energy storage system, a shaft rotatable around a stationary axis, and a plurality of energy storage rotary structures mounted on the shaft, and having axes of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the longitudinal axes of respective cross-sections taken through the structures are perpendicular to the shaft, each of said structures comprising a plurality of straight, filament-like members, said members being oriented within each structure with their longitudinal axes disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a section of the rotary structure taken parallel to the member.

Claim 35

The energy storage system of claim 20 and further comprising hub means on each of the rotary structures, and pin gimballing means on each of said hub means, the shaft having a plurality of ports for receiving one each of said rotary structures therethrough and a plurality of recesses perpendicular to, aligned with and communicating with each of said ports for receiving said pin gimballing means, the rotary structures being capable of pivotal displacement around said gimballing means to relieve precessional loading on the shaft.

Claim 36

In an energy storage system, a rotatable shaft and, an energy storage structure having its midpoint mounted for tilting movement on the shaft and having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the longitudinal axis of a cross-section taken through the structure is perpendicular to the shaft, said structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members oriented with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other.

Claim 37

In an energy storage system, a rotatable shaft and, an energy storage structure having its midpoint mounted for tilting movement on the shaft and having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the longitudinal axis of a cross-section taken through the structure is perpendicular to the shaft, said structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members oriented with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other.

Claim 38

The energy storage system of claim 22 and further comprising, internal hub means on the said structure, pin gimbaling means on said internal hub means, and external hub means formed with the shaft for receiving the energy storage structure therethrough, said external hub means having recesses therein for receiving said pin gimballing means, the energy storage structure being capable of pivotal displacement around said gimballing means to relieve precessional loading on the shaft.

Claim 39

The energy storage system of claim 23 and further comprising an elastic sleeve disposed around the said structure and between said structure and said internal hub means.

Claim 40

An energy storage structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members rotatable about an axis extending transversely therethrough, said structure having a generally wedge-like cross-section with wedge-shaped leading and trailing surfaces, the structure being symmetrical about a plane extending through the geometrical center of said structure perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Claim 41

An energy storage structure comprising a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members rotatable about an axis extending transversely therethrough, said structure having a generally wedge-like cross-section with wedge-shaped leading and trailing surfaces, the structure being symmetrical about a plane extending through the geometrical center of said structure perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Claim 42

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel, and hub means including arcuately shaped spaced walls, said hub means engaging said members with the mid-portions of said walls in engagement with the mid-portions of said members, the members fanning out on rotation of the structure whereby the portions of said members within said hub means will bear against said walls and be supported thereby.

Claim 43

An energy storage structure rotatable about an axis extending transversely therethrough, comprising, a plurality of anisotropic filament-like members arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel, and hub means including arcuately shaped spaced walls, said hub means engaging said members with the mid-portions of said walls in engagement with the mid-portions of said members, the members fanning out on rotation of the structure whereby the portions of said members within said hub means will bear against said walls and be supported thereby.