A flywheel assembly 10 comprising: at least one flywheel mass support 14, the or each said support having a shaft 19 that extends along a rotational axis 18 about which the support 14 can rotate in use, the or each said support 14 comprising a plurality of openings 24 that are each offset from said rotational axis 18, a flywheel mass 12 comprising a plurality of openings 16 that are each arranged to align with a corresponding opening in said support; and means 23 for coupling said flywheel mass 12 to the or each said support 14 so that the mass 12 can rotate with the or each support 14 in use, said coupling means 23 being configured to extend through the aligned openings in the or each support 14 and said flywheel mass 12; wherein said flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of generally planar flywheel mass elements sandwiched together to form a stack of elements, each said element including a plurality of openings 16 that align with the openings 24 in the or each said support 14 and with openings in neighbouring elements in said stack, said flywheel elements being coupled together and aligned with one another to form said flywheel mass solely by means of the coupling means 23 that extends through the aligned openings in said elements and the or each said support 14.

A drive assembly for a vehicle drive train includes a base assembly including a base hub configured for non-rotatably connecting to an outer circumferential surface of a transmission input shaft. The base assembly includes a torsional damper fixed to the base hub. The torsional damper includes an input section and an output section drivingly connected by springs. The springs allow relative rotation between the input section and the output section. The output section of the torsional damper is non-rotatably fixed to the base hub. The drive assembly also includes a raw hub extension configured for non-rotatably connecting to an engine crankshaft. The raw hub extension is non-rotatably fixed to the input part of the torsional damper at an engine side of the torsional damper. The torsional damper allows relative rotation between the raw hub extension and the base hub.

A drive assembly for a vehicle drive train includes a base assembly including a base hub configured for non-rotatably connecting to an outer circumferential surface of a transmission input shaft. The base assembly includes a torsional damper fixed to the base hub. The torsional damper includes an input section and an output section drivingly connected by springs. The springs allow relative rotation between the input section and the output section. The output section of the torsional damper is non-rotatably fixed to the base hub. The drive assembly also includes a raw hub extension configured for non-rotatably connecting to an engine crankshaft. The raw hub extension is non-rotatably fixed to the input part of the torsional damper at an engine side of the torsional damper. The torsional damper allows relative rotation between the raw hub extension and the base hub.

A vibration control assembly for an aircraft including a housing operatively coupled to the aircraft. Also included is a cage disposed within an interior region of the housing, the cage rotatable within the housing about a first axis. Further included is a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis, wherein a controllable moment is imposed on the aircraft upon rotation of the gyroscope wheel to counter vibratory moments produced by the vehicle.

Reaction wheel assemblies having relatively compact and lightweight form factors (referred to as “small scale” RWAs) are disclosed. Such small scale RWAs are well-suited for deployment onboard relatively small satellites, but are not restricted to usage within any particular device or platform. In one embodiment, the small scale RWA includes a primary support platform to which a rotor is coupled for rotation about a spin axis. An axially-expanded face-to-face (DF) duplex bearing pair is disposed between the rotor shaft and the support platform. The DF duplex bearing pair includes first and second rolling element bearings positioned around an intermediate portion of the rotor shaft. The first and second rolling element bearings have first and second bearing load lines, respectively, which are spaced by a tailored bearing load line separation (SLL).

A number of flywheel units are arranged in a geometric pattern. Each of the flywheel units is enclosed in a containment unit. The containment unit includes a cylindrical tube, a cover, a bottom support, resting on the ground, on which the containment unit is mounted, and a fill medium surrounding each containment unit. The containment unit may also include a horizontal plate, mounted to the base of tube, which extends outward or radially from the base of tube a pre-determined length. In this case, the fill medium rests directly on top of the portion of the plate that extends outward from tube.

A number of flywheel units are arranged in a geometric pattern. Each of the flywheel units is enclosed in a containment unit. The containment unit includes a cylindrical tube, a cover, a bottom support, resting on the ground, on which the containment unit is mounted, and a fill medium surrounding each containment unit. The containment unit may also include a horizontal plate, mounted to the base of tube, which extends outward or radially from the base of tube a pre-determined length. In this case, the fill medium rests directly on top of the portion of the plate that extends outward from tube.

A variable inertia flywheel having revolute joint assemblies, a roller guide, a first actuator and a second actuator. The revolute joint assemblies are in engagement with a primary mover and include a first member, a second member and a roller. The roller guide is disposed about the revolute joint assemblies. An inner surface of the roller guide is in contact with the rollers and defines cam profiles that cause the rollers to extend and contract, creating a torque disturbance opposed to a primary mover torque ripple. The first actuator is in engagement with the roller guide and moves the roller guide, changing the amplitude and/or the phase angle of the torque ripple. The second actuator is in engagement with the roller guide and rotates the roller guide, changing the phase angle of the torque ripple.

A vehicle component positioning structure positions a second component for a vehicle on a first component for the vehicle. The vehicle component positioning structure includes a first hole portion provided in the first component; and a pin member fitted into the first hole portion and protruding from the first hole portion in order to support the second component. A gap is provided between a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the first hole portion and a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pin member, the portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pin member opposing the portion of the inner peripheral surface of the first hole portion.

A vehicle component positioning structure positions a second component for a vehicle on a first component for the vehicle. The vehicle component positioning structure includes a first hole portion provided in the first component; and a pin member fitted into the first hole portion and protruding from the first hole portion in order to support the second component. A gap is provided between a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the first hole portion and a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pin member, the portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pin member opposing the portion of the inner peripheral surface of the first hole portion.