Flywheel set for accumulating kinetic energy of rotation

Claim 1

In combination with a rotatable substantially vertical high speed flywheel rotor assembly for accumulating kinetic energy of rotation, the rotor assembly having an upper extremity supported with the aid of a magnetic radial bearing having a polarly magnetized ring mounted concentrically to the upper end of the rotor assembly so as to rotate with the rotor assembly, a stationary identically polarized magnetic upper ring arranged concentrically to the rotatable ring and separated from the rotatable ring by a gap whereby the stationary and rotatable rings face each other and magnetically attract each other to support the rotor assembly and stabilize the rotor assembly against radial movement, an electric motor generator unit having an electrical stator concentric with and surrounding the rotor assembly for performing a motor function as well as a generator function, lower support means including axial thrust bearing means engageable with the lower part of the rotor assembly for rotational support of the rotor assembly, upper support means at the upper end of the rotor assembly for rotational support of the upper part of the rotor assembly, said supporting means at both rotor ends having means, permitting radial displacements of these ends which are corrected by centring restoring forces, these means comprising damping means and being so dimensioned that the critical speed of the rotor assembly as resulting from the elasticity of the supporting means is lower than the lowest operational speed of the rotor assembly, by means of the supporting member of the damping means of the axial thrust bearing having a relatively low resilience.