Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLYWHEEL SPECIALLY USED FOR SPORTING GOODS & THE METHOD
OF MAKING THE SAME
BACK~ROUND OF THE INYENTION
The present invention relates to a flywheel
specially used for sporting goods and the method of
making the same, and more particularly to a flywheel
which is new in structure to save ~he cost of ma~erials
and ensure a stable turning movement.
One of conventional flywheels used for
sporting goods is made by sand molding (refer to Fig.
1). Although the method to make this kind of flywheel
is simple and easy, its has the following disadvantages:
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1. The flywheel of this kind is made by 100%
metal materials such as iron or aluminum, grea~ amount
of metal materials must be consumed if a higher turning
stability is required, so the production cost is
expensi~e.
2. Subject to the density and moisture oE
sand, temperature of liquid metal, and skill of the
operators, sand molding failure occurring from time to
time will give further burden on the production cost.
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~ 20 3. Sand molding operation is time consuming,
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particularly when a workpiece wi~h higher accuracy is
required. Besides, much time and fuel are also taken
for melting metal materials. Therefore, it is not
effective and economic to produce a 100% metal flywheel
by sand molding process.
~ . After molding, no such flywheel can be
used unless it has been subject to a machining work for
trimming, thus consuming more -time and money.
To solve the problems men~ioned above,
a method to make another conventional flywheel (A) as
shown in Fig. 2 has been disclosed. With this method,
the flywheel (A) is first divided into two pieces for
assembling together later. After assembly, a hollow
space is formed between the two pieces thus assembled,
and a thru-hole (B) is provided thereon at an adequate
position. Consequently, such materials as cement can
act as a substitute for metal to be poured into the
thru-hole (B) for filling the hollow space, thus making
up the weight required by a flywheel.
Although this method can reduce the cost of
materials to some extent, it would result in a major
disadvan-tage of uneven pouring. As it is impossible to
fully evacuate the air out of the hollow space upon
pouring operation, and the shrinkage factor would
greatly affect the distribution of cement paste in the
hollow space during the setting period. Therefore, the
flywheel produced by this method is likely to become
unstable and unsmoothed during its turning movement, it
is not suitable for practical use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished
tv solve the problems and disadvantages found in the
prior art. It is the maln object of the present
invention to provide a flywheel which can help the
manufacturers reduce the cost in production to a
considerable extent.
For this purpose, concrete and metal filings
(or metal powder} are applied to mix with each other for
casting into a s~heel body which will be used to replace
the more expensive wheel body made by 100% metal in the
prior art. As no pouring of molten metal and strict
accuracy are required in the present in~ention, it is
easier to have the wheel body cast in~.o shape. Further,
it is able to ensure the wheel body thus cast to be
maintained in a state of even setting state and require
no machining work after assembly. Therefore, the
flywheel in accordance with the present invention is
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much better than those of prior art in manufacturing
quality, production eEficiency, and economic benefit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described
in detail by way of example with reference to the
accompanied drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, together with a
sectional view, showing a prior art flywheel made by
100% metal;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view, together with a
sectional view, showing another prior art flywheel made
by pouring such materials as cement to substitute the
metal material; ~.
Fig. 3 i5 an exploded assembling view oE a
flywheel in accordance with the present invention; and
Fig. 4 is an assembling view, together with
a sectional view, showing the assembly condition of a
flywheel of Fig. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~ENT ~.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a flywheel 10 in ~ :
accordance with the present inventions is comprised of
an I-shaped body 207 a me~al rim 30, two side covers, :
and a shaft SO. ~
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The body 20 is cast into shape from a mixture
of metal filings (or metal powder) and concrete which
are mixed with each other in a certain ratio, and has a
thru-hole 22 at the center thereof. The metal rim 30 in
proper thickness is made to have an inner diameter
slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body 50
for a tight fit around the outer periphery of the body
20. Each of the two side covers 40 is formed by
stamping sheet metal into a shape corresponding to the
section at either side of the body 20, and has a thru-
hole 42 at the center thereof, so that when these side
covers 40 are Eitted to the body 20 at both sides
thereof and assembled together with the body 20 and
metal rim 30 by welding, the shaft 50 can be put though
the corresponding thru-holes 22 and 42 of the body 20
and the side covers 40, and be kept by welding in place
therein.
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It is obviously and easily known that the
flywheel 10 in accordance with the present invention i5
20 . made as follows: Mix metal filings (or metal powder)
and concrete in a certain ratio, then cast the resultant
mixture into an I-shaped body 20. After that, have a
me~al rim 30 tightly fitted around the ou~er periphery
of the body 20. On the other hand, two side cover 40
are formed by stamping sheet metal into a shape
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corresponding to the section at either side of the body
20 for fitting to the same by welding. Thereafter, put
a shaft 50 though the corresponding thru-holes 22 and 42
of the body 20 and the side covers 40 for welding in
place therein. Finally, use a lathe to carry out a
machining work on the metal rim 30 (i.e., the outer
periphery of the body 20) to cut a groove 32 in adequate
depth for receiving therein a driving rope (not shown)
equipped by any kind of spor~ing goods.
As far as the mixing ratic in regard to the
content of the body 20 is concerned, it is subject to
the weight of the body 20 required. If it is required
to have a lighter body 20 in weight, for example, one
can reduce the parts of metal filings (or me~al powder)
and increase the parts of concrete; or one can increase
the parts of metal filings (or metal powder) and reduce
the parts oE concrete if a heavier body 20 is needed.
Further, each side cover 40 is
provided with a flange 44 in proper width at the inner
peripheral edge thereof relative to the other side cover
40. When the side covers 40 are fitted to the body 20
at both sides thereof, the flanges 44 can press against
the metal rim 30, thereby firmly holding such me~al rim
30 in place.
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As the body 20 in accordance with the present
invention can be cas-t into shape more rapidly, and the
side covers 40 are formed by a simple stam~ing process,
the manufacturing eEficiency and output for the flywheel
5of the present invention will be much better than those
prior art ones.
Also, it is easier to control the body 20 of
the present inven~ion in quality, thereby giving a
turning movement more stable than that made in
10accordance with the prior art.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the
art that various changes and modification can be made
without departing from the basic teachings of the
invention, and the invention is not to be considered
15limited to what is shown in the drawings and described
in the specification. Fore example, the side covers 40
may be formed by plastic material and fastened to the
body 20 by way of bolts.
In conclusion, the body 20 of the present
20invention is cast into shape from a mixture of metal
filings (or metal powder) and concrete to be mixed with
each other in a certain ration, and the flywheel
produced therefrom can entirely replace conventional
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ones, so as to save the production cost with higher
manufacturing efficiency and quality.
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