ENGINE FLYWHEEL WITH VARIABLE MOMENT OF INERTIA

https://doi.org/10.33815/2313-4763.2019.1.20.048-054

Abstract

A piston engine flywheel design is proposed, where, when stratring the engine, the main flywheel mass, concentrates at the center of the hub, and upon reaching the engine idle speed, the main flywheel mass shifts to the tooth flange on the periphery of the flywheel. This is achieved by the fact that the levers are installed pivotally on the disc with the load weights on the end points or there are guides, fixed rigidly on the disc, at which the load weights are located. The levers are tightened to the hub in such a way, that the load weights bump into the hub or the load weights are tightened to the hub by the springs in such a way, that they bump into it. The spring force is designed so that when the flywheel rotation frequency is equal to the engine idle speed, the levers depart and the load weights bump into the flywheel flange or the load weights move by the guides and bump into the flywheel flange.

The following is the performance description of the flywheel with variable moment of inertia. Before the engine is started, the springs exert on the levers with the load weights or on the load weights and tighten the latter to the hub in such a way, that they bump into it. So while starting the engine, the flywheel inertia force is minimal. After the engine is started, the centrifugal force exerts on the load weights and deflects them from reaching the hub and upon engine reaching idle speed, tightens them to the tooth flange. In this position of the load weights, the flywheel inertia force is maximum. The use of the proposed flywheel will make it easier to start the engine and reduce energy consumption due to the redistribution of the bulk of the flywheel between the center and the periphery and the corresponding reduction or increase of the moment of inertia. The development is recommended for use in piston engines whose operating mode is associated with frequent stops and starts. To ensure that the mechanism of the mechanism is synchronized, the springs must be of the same length and rigidity. The proposed flywheel application will ease the engine start and reduce energy costs by redistributing the main flywheel mass between the center and periphery and corresponding increase or decrease of the inertia force.