Flywheel Arrangement With Pendulum Weights And Ring Member

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal pendulum absorbers in flywheels for engines, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles, require frequent servicing due to wear, leading to high maintenance costs, and there is a need for improved durability and reduced friction to enhance their performance.

Innovation Solution

The flywheel arrangement separates the flywheel and ring member into different materials, allowing for tailored properties, with the ring member positioned outside the pendulum weights to reduce friction and use of lubrication, and incorporates a tautochrone curve pendulum path with rolling elements for efficient damping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the flywheel and ring member are made as separate parts with different materials, then the durability and friction resistance are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flywheel arrangement is divided into separate components: the flywheel body and the ring member. The ring member is positioned radially outside the pendulum weights and is connected for common rotation with the flywheel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the flywheel for thermal conductivity and the ring member for hardness and friction resistance - thereby improving overall durability without requiring a complete redesign of the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If the ring member is positioned radially outside the pendulum weights, then friction is reduced and service life is extended, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ring member is positioned in a different radial dimension - specifically, radially outside the pendulum weights rather than integrated with them. This dimensional repositioning reduces friction between the ring member and pendulum weights during operation, thereby extending service life. The separate positioning also allows for simplified manufacturing of each component individually before assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If different materials are used for the ring member and flywheel, then material properties can be optimized for specific functions, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial property optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different material properties are assigned to different components based on their specific functional requirements. The flywheel is made from material optimized for thermal conductivity to dissipate heat from clutch slip, while the ring member is made from material optimized for hardness and friction resistance. This local quality optimization allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 improves durability by reducing friction and maintaining effective vibration damping, extending the service life of the centrifugal pendulum absorber and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

Centrifugal pendulum absorbers for flywheels include a number of pendulum weights arranged circumferentially around a center axis of the flywheel, which pendulum weights are movable with respect to the flywheel, thereby dampening vibrations.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The ring member and the flywheel may be made as separate parts, which are assembled when manufacturing the flywheel arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4711640A2A flywheel arrangement, a vehicle and a method of manufacturing a flywheel arrangement
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4711640A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4711640A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4711640A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A flywheel arrangement (1) for an engine (5) of a vehicle (3), comprising: - a flywheel configured to be connected to a crankshaft of the engine for common rotation around a center axis, - at least one pendulum weight arranged between the center axis and a radially peripheral surface of the flywheel, the at least one pendulum weight being movable with respect to the flywheel along a predetermined pendulum path, - a ring member positioned radially outside of the at least one pendulum weight, the ring member being connected for common rotation with the flywheel around the center axis, - at least one pair of cooperating bearing surfaces, each pair of cooperating bearing surfaces comprising an outer bearing surface provided on the ring member and an inner bearing surface provided on the at least one pendulum weight, the at least one pair of cooperating bearing surfaces together defining the predetermined pendulum path.