Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A flywheel for rotational energy storage, comprising: (a) a plurality of circular layers joined concentrically, each layer being composed of a plurality of glassy metal alloy strips joined in planar fashion to allow nearly a 100% packing fraction, said strips having high isotropic specific strength and substantially equal thickness and aspect ratio, said ratio being at least about 5; and (b) bonding means for providing a joining shear strength between said layers and between said strips within each layer at least about equal to the tensile strength of said strip material divided by said aspect ratio, to form a substantially mechanically monolithic composite structure having nearly the full isotropic strength of said strips.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A flywheel for rotational energy storage, comprising: (a) a plurality of circular layers joined concentrically, each layer being composed of a plurality of glassy metal alloy strips joined in planar fashion to allow nearly a 100% packing fraction, said strips having high isotropic specific strength and substantially equal thickness and aspect ratio, said ratio being at least about 5; and (b) bonding means for providing a joining shear strength between said layers and between said strips within each layer at least about equal to the tensile strength of said strip material divided by said aspect ratio, to form a substantially mechanically monolithic composite structure having nearly the full isotropic strength of said strips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flywheel, as in claim 1, wherein said strips within each layer are arranged sequentially in planar parallel fashion and joined edgewise longitudinally.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A flywheel, as in claim 1, wherein said strips within each layer are interlaced and joined in a woven pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said glassy metal alloy has an iron-boron compositional base and a specific strength of at least about 1.8×10 6 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flywheel, as in claim 4, wherein said glassy metal alloy consists essentially of about 75 atom percent iron and about 25 atom percent boron and has a specific strength of at least about 2.3×10 6 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said glassy metal alloy has a titanium-beryllium compositional base and a specific strength of at least about 1.3×10 6 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A flywheel, as in claim 6, wherein said glassy metal alloy consists essentially of about 50 atom percent titanium, about 40 atom percent beryllium, and about 10 atom percent boron or zirconium and has a specific strength of at least about 2.4×10 6 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said layers and said strips within each layer are joined adhesively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said layers and said strips within each layer are joined by soldering at a temperature less than the glass transition temperature of said glassy metal alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said layers and said strips within each layer are joined by brazing at a temperature less than the glass transition temperature of said glassy metal alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said layers are angularly disposed and joined such that the angles formed by the planar axes of adjacent layers are substantially equal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A flywheel, as in claim 11, wherein said angles are equal to about 90°.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A flywheel, as in claims 2 or 3, wherein the radii of said circular layers are selectively varied in symmetrical fashion about the central layers in a substantially hyperbolic constant stress producing fashion.