Integrated Flexible Flywheel for Vibration Damping and Lower Cost
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible flywheels have high production costs due to the separate components of elastic disks and inertia rings, requiring a complex fastening operation.
Innovation Solution
A flexible flywheel with a shaft fastening portion, an annular inertia ring, and elastic spoke portions that connect these components, along with weight portions, are integrally formed by casting or forging, eliminating the need for separate components and fastening operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic disk and inertia ring are made as separate components and fastened together, then the flywheel can absorb vibrations through elastic deformation, but the number of components increases and production cost becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the elastic disk and inertia ring into a single integrated flywheel structure. The elastic disk forms the main body while the inertia ring is constructed from weight portions arranged on the outer periphery, eliminating the need for separate fastening operations and reducing component count while maintaining vibration absorption functionality through the elastic properties of the integrated structure
2Reliability
If the elastic disk and inertia ring are made as separate components and fastened together, then the flywheel can store rotational energy by virtue of moment of inertia, but the fastening operation increases production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the elastic disk and inertia ring into one monolithic component manufactured through a single casting or forging process. The inertia ring is formed by arranging weight portions on the outer periphery of the elastic disk, eliminating multiple fastening operations and associated labor costs, thereby reducing production cost while preserving the moment of inertia required for rotational energy storage
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
This design reduces production costs while enhancing vibration attenuation by allowing both elastic spoke and weight portions to absorb vibrations, resulting in improved stability and reduced stress concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic spoke portions that extend in the radial direction between the shaft fastening portion and the inertia ring and connect the shaft fastening portion and the inertia ring to each other, the elastic spoke portions absorbing a vibration acting on the shaft by undergoing deflection
Implementation Method 2
the weight portions are shaken by the vibration. Therefore, the vibration of the shaft is also absorbed by the shaking of the weight portions
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible flywheel includes: a shaft fastening portion fixed to an end portion of an engine crankshaft; an annular inertia ring provided around the shaft fastening portion; a plurality of elastic spoke portions which extend in the radial direction between the shaft fastening portion and the inertia ring and connect the shaft fastening part and the inertia ring to each other, and that absorb vibration acting on the crankshaft by undergoing deflection; and weight portions provided between adjacent ones of the elastic spoke portions. The fastening portion, inertial ring, elastic spoke portions, and weight portions are formed integrally by casting or forging.