Vehicle Wheel Assembly With Counter-Rotating Flywheel Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems face challenges in managing gyroscopic effects during turning, leading to reduced maneuverability and increased fuel consumption, while current kinetic energy recovery systems are inefficient in storing energy during braking and require movement to charge batteries.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wheel assembly with a further rotating member, such as a flywheel, connected via a transmission system that allows counter-rotation and braking, enabling kinetic energy storage and retrieval for improved agility and reduced fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flywheel is connected directly to the vehicle wheel (transmission ratio = +1), then the system structure is simple, but the gyroscopic effect increases and maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable transmission ratio mechanism that can dynamically change between different ratios (including +1 and -1). This allows the system to adapt its configuration based on operational needs, switching between direct connection for simplicity and counter-rotation for improved maneuverability, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission ratio is changed as a controllable parameter. By varying the transmission ratio between different values (particularly between +1 and -1), the system can optimize performance for different operating conditions, balancing structural complexity against maneuverability requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the flywheel counter-rotates with the vehicle wheel (transmission ratio = -1), then vehicle maneuverability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic transmission mechanism that can switch between different operational modes. The variable ratio transmission allows the system to implement counter-rotation only when maneuverability is needed, rather than maintaining constant counter-rotation, thus reducing the overall complexity while preserving the maneuverability benefit.
3Loss of energy
If kinetic energy is recovered during braking, then energy efficiency is improved, but the system requires movement to charge batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The flywheel energy storage system stores kinetic energy during braking events for later use during acceleration. This preliminary energy storage action eliminates the need for external charging during movement, as the recovered energy is immediately available for reuse, resolving the contradiction between energy recovery and charging requirements.
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 solution enhances vehicle agility by managing gyroscopic effects and efficiently stores and retrieves kinetic energy, reducing fuel consumption and environmental impact by allowing energy storage during braking and stationary conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one kinetic energy recovery device (10), or inertial motor, operatively connected to said at least one further rotating member (4)... adapted to store the kinetic energy transmitted to said at least one further rotating member (4), to make it available for subsequent use
Implementation Method 2
controlling of the vehicle attitude in forward travel conditions is a complex phenomenon based on the dynamic balance which is biased by the gyroscopic effect... the gyroscopic effect provides a stabilizing effect to the vehicle to be mounted in rolling conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Assembly (1) comprising at least one vehicle wheel (2), adapted to rotate about a vehicle wheel axis (X2) and adapted to perform a rolling movement on an advancement surface for the vehicle; at least one further rotating member (4), which can be operatively connected to said vehicle wheel (2); at least one transmission (6) adapted to transmit kinetic power between said vehicle wheel (2) and said at least one further rotating member (4); wherein said transmission (6) achieves a transmission ratio other than +1; at least one braking device (18) acting on said at least one further rotating member (4) in order to brake said vehicle wheel (2) by means of a braking action acting on said at least one further rotating member (4) which is transmitted to the vehicle wheel (2) by means of said transmission (6).