US3737694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fanned circular filament rotor
Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
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Filing: 1972-06-21
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1992-06-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention is in inertial energy storage device wherein a central hub holds a multiplicity of anisotropic filaments, the filaments extending from the hub in fixed relation thereto and in parallel planes perpendicular to an axis of rotation taken through the hub. The majority of the filaments in each of the parallel planes are disposed in fixed, arcuately fanned positions, the radius of curvature of the filaments being dependent on the location of said filaments within the hub. A particular feature of the present invention is that each parallel plane of filaments is disposed at angles to adjacent planes of filaments to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the dynamic stability of the structure.
Inventors
- 👤 D Rabenhorst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:35
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/16; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2117; Y10T74/2119; Y10T74/212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, hub means for holding portions of the filament-like members, the hub means comprising disc-like laminae, each of said lamina having arcuate surfaces for holding the members in fixed, arcuate positions, the laminae being bonded together with their geometrical centers aligned along the axis of rotation of the device to produce a unitary hub structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, hub means for holding portions of the filament-like members, the hub means comprising disc-like laminae, each of said lamina having arcuate surfaces for holding the members in fixed, arcuate positions, the laminae being bonded together with their geometrical centers aligned along the axis of rotation of the device to produce a unitary hub structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The energy storage device of claim 1 wherein portions of the filament-like members are held within the hub means, the member disposed in a plane through the longitudinal axis of each lamina and perpendicular to the transverse axis thereof being straight and the members on either side of said plane having portions thereof within the lamina fixed into predetermined arcuate configurations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The energy storage device of claim 1 and further comprising torque extensions on each laminae, the extensions being disposed on either side of each of the members and in the plane occupied by the member, the extensions having bearing surfaces against which the member may be supported on displacement of portions of said member from their original positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The energy storage device of claim 1 and further comprising end masses attached to the filament-like members at their outer end portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
The energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of the fixed arcuate portion of each of the members in a particular lamina is dependent upon the distance of said member from a plane taken through the longitudinal axis of the lamina and perpendicular to the transverse axis thereof, the radius of curvature of each said member being determined according to the relationship: R ( 1/2 r2/D - D ) where: R radius of curvature of a given member; r radius of the hub means; and D distance from the given member to the said plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The energy storage device of claim 5 wherein adjacent laminae are disposed at angles of 90* to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The energy storage device of claim 6 wherein portions of the members extend externally of the hub means and are aligned along radii emanating from the axis of rotation of the device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The energy storage device of claim 1 wherein each lamina is essentially circular and further comprises arcuate internal walls which define a plurality of arcuately shaped gooves, one each of the filament-like members lying within each of said grooves and being biased to an arcuate configuration by said walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The energy storage device of claim 8 and further comprising an annulAr lip around the perimeter of the upper surface of each lamina and an annular shoulder around the perimeter of the lower surface of each lamina, the lips and shoulders of adjacent laminae mating on justaposition of said laminae with the geometrical centers of the laminae aligned along the axis of rotation of the device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The energy storage device of claim 8 wherein the longitudinal axes of the laminae are disposed at angles to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The energy storage device of claim 8 and further comprising matrix means for maintaining the members in fixed positions within the hub means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the laminae hold the members in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The energy storage device of claim 12 wherein the members are disposed around the full periphery of the hub means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of major portions of said members extending radially from the axis of rotation of the device; and, hub means for holding the members in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device. the hub means being comprised of discrete disc-like laminae, each said lamina having arcuate internal means for holding the filament-like members in fixed, predetermined positions, portions of the members within each lamina being arcuate, the longitudinal axes of the laminae being disposed at angles to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, the longitudinal axes of major portions of said members extending radially from the axis of rotation of the device; and, hub means for holding the members in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device. the hub means being comprised of discrete disc-like laminae, each said lamina having arcuate internal means for holding the filament-like members in fixed, predetermined positions, portions of the members within each lamina being arcuate, the longitudinal axes of the laminae being disposed at angles to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of anisotropic, filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes the longitudinal axes of major portions of said members extending radially from the axis of rotation of the device; and, hub means for holding the members in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device, the hub means being comprised of discrete disc-like laminae, each said lamina having arcuate walls internally thereof, the walls being curved toward each other and toward the axis of rotation of the device, the walls further holding the filament-like members in fixed, predetermined positions, portions of the members within each lamina being arcuate, the longitudinal axes of the laminae being disposed at angles to each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
129 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of anisotropic, filament-like members having maximum strength-to-density along their longitudinal axes the longitudinal axes of major portions of said members extending radially from the axis of rotation of the device; and, hub means for holding the members in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device, the hub means being comprised of discrete disc-like laminae, each said lamina having arcuate walls internally thereof, the walls being curved toward each other and toward the axis of rotation of the device, the walls further holding the filament-like members in fixed, predetermined positions, portions of the members within each lamina being arcuate, the longitudinal axes of the laminae being disposed at angles to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The energy storage device of claim 15 wherein adjacent laminae are disposed at angles of 90* to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, hub means for holding portions of the filament-like members at the centers thereof, and end masses attached to the filament-like members at their outer end portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, hub means for holding portions of the filament-like members at the centers thereof, and end masses attached to the filament-like members at their outer end portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, hub means for holding portions of the filament-like members, and torque extensions on said hub means, the extensions being disposed on either side of each of the members and in the plane occupied by the member, the extensions having bearing surfaces against which the member may be supported on displacement of portions of said member from their original positions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
An energy storage device having an axis of rotation extending transversely therethrough, comprising a plurality of filament-like members, hub means for holding portions of the filament-like members, and torque extensions on said hub means, the extensions being disposed on either side of each of the members and in the plane occupied by the member, the extensions having bearing surfaces against which the member may be supported on displacement of portions of said member from their original positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |