Flexible magnet directional stiffening methods

摘要

Magnets and methods of their manufacture are disclosed for use in flywheel assemblies, such that the magnets comprise oriented fibers, such as, for example, axially-oriented fibers in a flexible rotor magnet composition to predictably allow the magnet to expand dimensionally upon rotation only in a predetermined and predictable fashion while maintaining critical contact with a rotor surface.

主权项

1. A flywheel assembly for storing and releasing energy comprising:
a substantially cylindrical rotor assembly comprising a rotor having an inner and outer surface; a stator assembly in close proximity with the rotor assembly; at least one rotor magnet affixed to the inner surface of the rotor, said rotor magnet comprising an effective amount of magnetic powder in a binding medium with an effective amount of fiber-containing material, said fiber-containing material oriented to impart directional stiffness to the magnet; a plurality of stator magnets affixed to the stator;wherein the rotor magnet and stator magnet are positioned relative to one another to facilitate levitation of the rotor during operation, and wherein the rotor magnets experience a dimensional change of from about 0% to less than about 1% in a longitudinal direction at circumferential velocities of from about 500 m/s to about 3000 m/s.