Composite flywheel

Abstract

An electro-mechanical battery having an annular rotor structure with magnetic levitation components integrally mounted in the rotor structure providing a passive levitation system in conjunction with a central core having permanent magnet elements mounted thereon, eliminating the need for the shaft and hub typically used on such devices. The rotor structure and central core are disposed in an evacuated housing. The rotor comprises a composite core wrapped with one or more layers of high-strength composite filaments, wherein the first layer is wrapped over the composite core in a continuous filament spiral-wound pattern, the second layer is wound in the same pattern, but in a counter-rotating direction and the third layer is wound in sequential planes radial to the axis of the rotor. Preferably, the closed-circuit conductive coils are embedded in the rotor structure and the magnet elements are configured in a Halbach Array.

1 . A composite flywheel rim, comprising: 
 a plurality of hoop-wound filaments bound in an epoxy matrix forming a composite core; and    a first layer of continuous composite filament wound in a first continuous filament spiral-wound pattern around said composite core.    
   
   
       2 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 1 , where in said composite core is formed in a generally teardrop shape.  
   
   
       3 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 1 , wherein said rim has an outside diameter to inside diameter ratio of approximately 2 to 1.  
   
   
       4 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 1 , wherein said composite core comprises carbon fiber filaments bound in an epoxy matrix.  
   
   
       5 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 1  further comprising a second layer of continuous composite filament wound in a continuous filament spiral-wound pattern around said first layer of continuous composite filament, said second continuous filament spiral-wound pattern applied in a counter-rotating direction to said first continuous filament spiral-wound pattern.  
   
   
       6 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 5  further comprising a third carbon filament layer wrapped around said second carbon filament layer, said third carbon filament layer wrapped around said second carbon filament layer in sequential planes radial to the vertical axis of said composite flywheel rim.  
   
   
       7 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 1 , wherein said composite rim comprises a plurality of closely spaced closed-circuit embedded conductive coils.  
   
   
       8 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 7 , wherein said conductive coils are wrapped around said composite core and said composite flywheel rim further comprises a second composite core disposed around said conductive core, wherein said first layer of continuous composite filament is wound around both said composite core and said second composite core.  
   
   
       9 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 8  further comprising a second layer of continuous composite filament wound in a continuous filament spiral-wound pattern around said first layer of continuous composite filament, said second continuous filament spiral-wound pattern applied in a counter-rotating direction to said first continuous filament spiral-wound pattern.  
   
   
       10 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 9 , wherein said composite core is formed in a generally teardrop shape.  
   
   
       11 . The composite flywheel rim of  claim 9 , wherein said rim has an outside diameter to inside diameter ratio of approximately 2 to 1.