Concept of the Mechanically Powered Gyrobus

Abstract

The new gyrodrive concept is an innovation of the mechanical gyrobus transmission by Hampl & Vítek (2006). The legitimate aim of substituting urban buses with zero emission vehicles is actually very difficult to achieve. First of all, no existing non-rail vehicle for urban mass transport can compete with urban buses in terms of cost. Even trolleybuses on the busiest lines are less economically efficient. In addition, they lack the flexibility of buses. Electrobuses with their heavy and slow to charge accumulators are almost as expensive as fuel-cell buses whose specific problem is refueling with compressed or liquefied hydrogen. A gyrodrive does not face such problems and it is also reasonably safe. But even a modern electric system for power transmission from the flywheel to the driving axle is neither light nor cheap. A mechanical solution with CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) can be more advantageous. Such a system has been used for the recuperation of braking energy. The mechanical system described in this article uses an IVT system (Infinitely Variable Transmission) for the vehicle drive. If that system is used for flywheel charging at the terminal, it will be connected as a CVT (by using an external three-phase 50 Hz electromotor). The higher-than-average requirement for transmitted power should be met by the suggested special CVT solution with rigid friction members. Thanks to its planetary configuration it has acceptable dimensions and mass. The slip minimization and the fact that the pressure forces do not load the bearings should ensure good efficiency.

A review study on energy harvesting systems for vehicles

“…In the 1930s, the regenerative braking technology took part in the Baku-Tbilisi-Batumi railway line [33]. In the 1950s, the Swiss Oerlikon company developed a gyrobus, which uses flywheels as an energy storage unit [34]. In the systems that utilize flywheels as energy storage units, the kinetic energy of the slowing vehicle is transformed into rotational motion energy and is stored by the flywheel.…”