Electric Percussion Drive With Flywheel Energy Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Percussion and tamping devices with electric drives experience significant power fluctuations, leading to high peak currents that degrade battery efficiency, service life, and runtime, necessitating robust battery and motor electronics design to handle these currents.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an energy storage device, such as a flywheel, within the drive train to store and release energy during the impact or tamping cycle, thereby smoothing energy consumption and reducing peak currents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If an electric motor is used to drive the percussion or tamping device, then the device can be operated with electric power from a battery, but high peak currents occur during impact cycles that reduce battery efficiency and service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery efficiencyVSAvoidbattery service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flywheel stores energy in advance during the non-impact phase of the cycle, preparing energy reserves before the high-power impact event occurs. This preliminary energy storage prevents the battery from having to supply peak currents during impact, thereby protecting battery efficiency and service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system operates in periodic cycles where the flywheel alternates between storing energy during low-power phases and releasing energy during high-power impact phases. This periodic energy exchange smooths out current demands on the battery, converting erratic peak currents into a more uniform power consumption pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Power

If the battery is designed to handle high peak currents, then the motor can operate during impact cycles, but the battery control system and motor electronics become more complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor powerVSAvoidbattery control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flywheel acts as an intermediary energy storage component between the battery and the motor. It absorbs the shock of high-power demands during impact cycles, preventing these peak currents from reaching the battery control system and motor electronics. This intermediary role simplifies the design requirements for the control system and electronics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Force

If high peak currents flow through the system during impact, then the motor can overcome kickback force, but cooling requirements increase and overall efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekickback resistanceVSAvoidcooling energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The flywheel accumulates rotational kinetic energy before the impact event, creating a reservoir of mechanical energy that can be rapidly deployed. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the motor to maintain steady-state operation with lower current draw, reducing thermal generation and subsequent cooling requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flywheel system stabilizes energy consumption, reducing peak currents by up to 25% and minimizing cooling requirements, thus enhancing battery life and overall efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating an energy storage device, such as a flywheel, within the drive train to store and release energy during the impact or tamping cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlywheel: Flywheel

Implementation Method 2

an additional rotating mass in or on the motor to increase inertia

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMoment of Inertia: Moment of Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP4636163A1Percussion and/or tamping device with improved electric drive
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 WACKER NEUSON PRODUKTION GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4636163A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4636163A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4636163A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A percussion or tamping device is specified, comprising a working device for generating a percussion or tamping movement; an electric motor (1) for driving the working device; and a drive train (4) for transmitting a rotary movement generated by the electric motor (1) to the working device; wherein an energy store (8) is provided in the drive train (4); and wherein the energy store (8) is designed such that it alternately stores and releases energy during a percussion or tamping cycle in order to even out the energy consumption of the electric motor (1).