A damper device includes a plurality of rotational elements, a plurality of elastic bodies, a rotary inertia mass damper and a housing that houses the plurality of rotational elements, the plurality of elastic bodies and the rotary inertia mass damper, the housing including a front cover. The rotary inertia mass damper is configured to include a planetary gear that includes a sun gear, a plurality of pinion gears, and a carrier that rotatably supports the plurality of pinion gears. The carrier is centered by either the sun gear or a member that rotates integrally with the sun gear by being radially supported by either the sun gear or the member that rotates integrally with the sun gear. In addition, the carrier is spline-engaged to the front cover when a lockup clutch is engaged.

A damper device includes a plurality of rotational elements, a plurality of elastic bodies, a rotary inertia mass damper and a housing that houses the plurality of rotational elements, the plurality of elastic bodies and the rotary inertia mass damper, the housing including a front cover. The rotary inertia mass damper is configured to include a planetary gear that includes a sun gear, a plurality of pinion gears, and a carrier that rotatably supports the plurality of pinion gears. The carrier is centered by either the sun gear or a member that rotates integrally with the sun gear by being radially supported by either the sun gear or the member that rotates integrally with the sun gear. In addition, the carrier is spline-engaged to the front cover when a lockup clutch is engaged.

A method for storage of excess energy which would otherwise be lost, the regulation of angular velocity, and prevention of excessive velocities is disclosed. The device consists of a bowl shaped container, divided into sections by radially oriented vertical walls, which holds a fluid (any appropriate liquid or set of small solid particles), and spins on its vertically oriented axis at various angular velocities. The floor of the device is formed in successive shapes of bowls and shelves, which allows for a kind of “gearing”. The invention allows more and more energy to be input into the device while the angular velocity is regulated within a particular range. A typical embodiment of the invention would include its attachment by a shaft at the axis to a vertical axis wind turbine.

A method for storage of excess energy which would otherwise be lost, the regulation of angular velocity, and prevention of excessive velocities is disclosed. The device consists of a bowl shaped container, divided into sections by radially oriented vertical walls, which holds a fluid (any appropriate liquid or set of small solid particles), and spins on its vertically oriented axis at various angular velocities. The floor of the device is formed in successive shapes of bowls and shelves, which allows for a kind of “gearing”. The invention allows more and more energy to be input into the device while the angular velocity is regulated within a particular range. A typical embodiment of the invention would include its attachment by a shaft at the axis to a vertical axis wind turbine.

A vibration damping device includes: a supporting member that rotates integrally with a rotation element, to which torque from an engine is transmitted, around a rotation center of the rotation element; a restoring force generation member that is coupled to the supporting member so as to transmit and receive torque to and from the supporting member and that is configured to swing in accordance with rotation of the supporting member; and an inertia mass body that is coupled to the supporting member via the restoring force generation member and that swings around the rotation center in conjunction with the restoring force generation member in accordance with rotation of the supporting member, in which the restoring force generation member swings around a swing center that is set so that a relative position with respect to the inertia mass body does not change, and a distance between a center of gravity of the restoring force generation member and the swing center changes in accordance with a change in a swing angle of the restoring force generation member with respect to the inertia mass body.

A vibration damping device includes: a supporting member that rotates integrally with a rotation element, to which torque from an engine is transmitted, around a rotation center of the rotation element; a restoring force generation member that is coupled to the supporting member so as to transmit and receive torque to and from the supporting member and that is configured to swing in accordance with rotation of the supporting member; and an inertia mass body that is coupled to the supporting member via the restoring force generation member and that swings around the rotation center in conjunction with the restoring force generation member in accordance with rotation of the supporting member, in which the restoring force generation member swings around a swing center that is set so that a relative position with respect to the inertia mass body does not change, and a distance between a center of gravity of the restoring force generation member and the swing center changes in accordance with a change in a swing angle of the restoring force generation member with respect to the inertia mass body.

An example flywheel energy storage device includes a fiber-resin composite shell having an elliptical ovoid shape. The example device also includes an axially oriented internal compressive support between the axial walls of the shell. The example device also includes an inner boss plate and an outer boss plate on each side of the shell. The example device also includes a plurality of radially oriented, fiber-resin composite helical wraps forming the shell and coupling the shell to the inner and outer boss plates for co-rotation and torque transfer. The example device also includes boss plate attachments on internal boss plate supports to mount the shell for co-rotation and torque transfer via resin bonding, friction, and compression between the inner and outer boss plates.

An example flywheel energy storage device includes a fiber-resin composite shell having an elliptical ovoid shape. The example device also includes an axially oriented internal compressive support between the axial walls of the shell. The example device also includes an inner boss plate and an outer boss plate on each side of the shell. The example device also includes a plurality of radially oriented, fiber-resin composite helical wraps forming the shell and coupling the shell to the inner and outer boss plates for co-rotation and torque transfer. The example device also includes boss plate attachments on internal boss plate supports to mount the shell for co-rotation and torque transfer via resin bonding, friction, and compression between the inner and outer boss plates.

Robust electro-static (ES) device embodiments, with application to energy storage flywheels as an example, are described that provide reliable, high-efficiency operation in the presence of thermal and mechanical perturbations, as well as seismic events. Electro-static generators and motors, when augmented with magnetic bearings, passive three-dimensional stabilization techniques and dynamic touch-down bearings, enable robust performance in the face of these environmental concerns, as well as efficient operation during typical operational sequences, including spin-up and steady-state modalities.

The present device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a plurality of conversion mechanisms. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with the rotor and be rotatable relative to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of at least one of the rotor and the mass body. Each of the plurality of conversion mechanisms is configured to convert the centrifugal force into a circumferential force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction. The circumferential force is directed to reduce the relative displacement. The respective plurality of conversion mechanisms are disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction.