To assemble an end portion (12) of a crankshaft (10) defining an axis (100) of revolution, forming at least one first bearing surface (30), turned radially outward, and a shoulder (32), on which threaded holes (34) lead outward, with a flywheel (24) comprising axial bores (36) and a bearing (28) for guiding the crankshaft relative to an engine housing (26) in rotation about the axis of revolution, attachment screws (16) passing through the axial bores of the flywheel and screwed into the threaded holes in the crankshaft end portion are provided, thus rigidly connecting the flywheel to the crankshaft end portion. The guide bearing comprises at least one unitary guide ring (42) positioned on the first bearing surface (30) and having a first, transverse surface (44) axially bearing on the shoulder (32). The unitary guide ring comprises axial bores (48) which are aligned with the threaded holes (34) in the crankshaft, and the axial bores of the flywheel (36) and have the screws (16) passing therethrough.

A flywheel for kinetic energy storage and its construction using composite materials. The present invention provides a flywheel assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular rotor and a rotor support for coupling the rotor to an axial shaft, wherein the rotor comprises fibers in a matrix material, and a ring comprising fibers in a matrix material is mounted on the outer circumference of the rotor support and the rotor is mounted on the outer circumference of the ring, the rotor, rotor support and ring each having longitudinal axes which are coincident with the longitudinal axis of the assembly. The presence of the intermediate ring formed of a composite material assists in the fabrication of the assembly and increases its durability by providing a suitable interface between the rotor and a rotor support.

A system may include a stacking device having a base portion and one or more walls, the base portion having a first axle receiver that holds a first axle at a first defined position, the one or more walls extending from the base portion, the stacking device receiving one or more flywheel plates onto the first axle. A system may include a clamping device adapted to couple with the stacking device using one or more alignment mechanisms, the clamping device including a second axle receiver that holds a second axle at a second defined position, the first defined position and the second defined position being in line when the clamping device is coupled with the stacking device.

A flywheel system may include one or more massive plates. A system may include two or more clamping plates including a bottom clamping plate and a top clamping plate, the one or more massive plates being located between the two or more clamping plates. A system may include two or more axles including a top axle and a bottom axle, the bottom axle being physically disconnected from the top axle. A system may include a plurality of fasteners coupling the top clamping plate with the bottom clamping plate, the plurality of fasteners applying a clamping force on the one or more massive plates using at least one of the two or more clamping plates and the two or more axles.

A system may include an enclosure base having a bottom surface and one or more side walls coupled with the bottom surface. A system may include an enclosure lid having a top surface, the enclosure lid coupling with the one or more side walls of the enclosure base to create an enclosed space, the enclosed space containing a massive flywheel, the massive flywheel having one or more axles. A system may include one or more bearings coupling the one or more axles to the enclosure base and the enclosure lid, the one or more bearings holding the one or more axles at an axis of rotation. Aspects of the invention include components coupled with the system, such as a vacuum assembly, adjustment and locking mechanisms, and other components.

A system may include a massive flywheel including a rotatable mass component and one or more axles coupled with the rotatable mass component, the one or more axles extending from a top of the rotatable mass component and from a bottom of the rotatable mass component. A system may include a bottom bearing assembly coupled with the one or more axles at the bottom of the rotatable mass component. A system may include a top bearing assembly coupled with the one or more axles at the top of the rotatable mass component. A system may include a support structure coupled with the top bearing assembly and the bottom bearing assembly. A system may include a motor coupled with the one or more axles at the top bearing assembly.

A system may include a massive flywheel including a rotatable mass component and one or more axles coupled with the rotatable mass component. A system may include a magnetic lift component having one or more magnets positioned around a center perforation, the one or more axles passing through the center perforation in the magnetic lift component, the one or more magnets pulling the massive flywheel toward the magnetic lift component. A system may include a support structure coupled with the magnetic lift component, the support structure holding the magnetic lift component at a stationary location relative to the support structure. A system may include one or more bearings coupled with the support structure and the one or more axles to maintain the one or more axles at an axis of rotation.

A multiple-keyed crankshaft and flywheel provides for different ignition timing options for an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft of the engine includes multiple keyways set at designated angular displacements of the crankshaft that correspond with keyways on a flywheel for providing different timing options for the engine. The flywheel may be mounted to the crankshaft by aligning one of the keyways of the flywheel to one of the keyways of the crankshaft related to a particular ignition timing selection.

A flywheel used for kinetic energy storage and the construction of the flywheel using composite materials. The present invention provides a rotor support for coupling an annular flywheel rotor to a shaft for rotation with the shaft, the support comprising a body having a longitudinal axis about which it rotates in the finished flywheel assembly, wherein the body comprises a stack of sheets of a composite material including fibers, the stack includes at least two unidirectional sheets, each having substantially all of their fibers extending in the same direction, and the fibers of one of the unidirectional sheets are orientated at a different angle to the longitudinal axis of the body to the fibers in another unidirectional sheet. The body includes at least one side layer of woven fabric provided over a side of the stack of sheets. The rotor support configuration of the present invention provides a stiff construction.

A transmission includes a transmission housing having an output shaft flange including a central passage. An output shaft extends through the central passage. The output shaft defines a shaft axis and including an axial end portion. A vibration dampener is mounted to the axial end portion of the output shaft, and a mechanical fastener is received by the axial end portion of the output shaft. The mechanical fastener operatively connects the vibration dampener to the output shaft.