초록 ▼

Method and system providing enhanced mechanical stability in an electrically-powered vehicle. The system includes an electrical power subsystem arranged on a vehicle structure. At least two counter-rotating energy storage flywheels are mounted to a flywheel mounting plate. Torque sensors are arrange

Method and system providing enhanced mechanical stability in an electrically-powered vehicle. The system includes an electrical power subsystem arranged on a vehicle structure. At least two counter-rotating energy storage flywheels are mounted to a flywheel mounting plate. Torque sensors are arranged between the flywheel mounting plate and the vehicle structure for sensing a net torque on the vehicle resulting from the pair of flywheels and generating a torque signal indicative thereof. A vehicle attitude sensor produces an attitude signal and detects disturbances to the vehicle. A vehicle attitude actuator and electronic processing equipment are connected to the pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels, the torque sensors, the vehicle attitude sensor, the vehicle attitude actuator, and the electrical power subsystem. The electronic processing equipment processes the attitude signal and the torque signal to provide a control signal to the vehicle attitude actuator for reducing the net torque on the vehicle. The system also adjustably controls an attitude of the vehicle in response to the output of the sensors and counteracts disturbances resulting from the at least two counter-rotating energy storage flywheels.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An energy storage system providing enhanced mechanical stability in an electrically-powered vehicle, said system comprising:at least one pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels arranged on the vehicle, each flywheel producing a component torque that combine to generate a f

[ I claim:] [1.] An energy storage system providing enhanced mechanical stability in an electrically-powered vehicle, said system comprising:at least one pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels arranged on the vehicle, each flywheel producing a component torque that combine to generate a first net torque on the vehicle;torque sensing means for sensing the first net torque generated by the flywheels and producing a net torque output;vehicle control means for controlling attitude of the vehicle;vehicle attitude sensing means for sensing attitude changes caused by an external disturbance to the vehicle and providing an output indicative of the attitude;means, responsive to the output of the vehicle attitude sensing means and the net torque output of the torque sensing means, for adjusting a relative speed or orientation of at least one of the flywheels thereby counteracting the external disturbance and the first net torque; anda vehicle control actuator, separate and apart from said pair of flywheels, for generating a second net torque, said first and second net torques combining to adjust the vehicle attitude.