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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Prestressed elastomer for energy storage

Patent ·
OSTI ID:864232
Disclosed is a regenerative braking device for an automotive vehicle. The device includes a power isolating assembly (14), an infinitely variable transmission (20) interconnecting an input shaft (16) with an output shaft (18), and an energy storage assembly (22). The storage assembly includes a plurality of elastomeric rods (44, 46) mounted for rotation and connected in series between the input and output shafts. The elastomeric rods are prestressed along their rotational or longitudinal axes to inhibit buckling of the rods due to torsional stressing of the rods in response to relative rotation of the input and output shafts.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Eaton Corporation (Cleveland, OH)
Patent Number(s):
US 4333553
OSTI ID:
864232
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English