Housing for high speed flywheel storing energy - is made of bronze alloy with low melting point

摘要

The flywheel (1) on the shaft (2) rotates inside the housing made of two halves (3) and (4) which are reinforced with ribs (5), (6) and (7) and bolted together. A labyrinth seal (9) maintains a partial vacuum within the housing. In the event of the shaft (2) breaking, the energy of the flywheel is absorbed by friction with the housing, which is made of bronze containing less than 12% tin and a small addition of nickel. This alloy has a high coefficient of friction and a low melting point so that the heat of friction is absorbed by melting the alloy which has a low proof strength and high elongation to absorb shocks.