| The Energy Generated from the Solar Cell Array Powers a Low-voltage,
high torque, D.C. Motor that causes a rimed wheel to Turn.
The motor's torque is transferred to the wheel's spindle via a tapered
pulley arrangement, thus allowing a variable ratio of gearing for maximum
startup efficiency.
As it turns--building up speed--two one inch steel balls that start
off at the center (minimizing load) are thrown outward--by centrifugal
force--toward the rim of the wheel; the rate of which is determined by
the slope of the conical taper (from the center to the rim) of the rimed
wheel.
When the balls reach the rim they remain there giving maximum weight
and balance to the flywheel effect.
This outward movement of the balls and the rotational acceleration of
the wheel are optimized to get the greatest efficiency from the energy
applied to the motor
As the light times out (= < 15 sec) a brake is made to move into
the path of the "Stop Spur" on the outer edge of the wheel.
When the brake meets the Stop Spur the disk's rotation is abruptly halted,
causing one of the steel balls to fly in the direction of rotation.
Adding to the projection of this "first" ball, is an arrangement whereby
the second steel ball's inertia is transferred to the first ball via a
cantilever arrangement having an offset fulcrum. The leverage, created
by this arrangement, projects--at a magnified rate of travel--the thrusting
pin to the rear of the first ball, adding to its acceleration.
To achieve the most efficient Ballistic Trajectory: as the disk rotates,
a thread is made to wind up at the bottom of the gimbled vertical axis.
Due to the path and the attachment to the top of the axial rod, this progressively
shortening thread causes this axis to tilt, such that when the ball is
released, its path is angled upward for the most efficient ballistic trajectory.
At startup the tilting function is at its minimum rate of wind up due to
the taper of the spindle, i.e., the final tilt angle occurs nearer the
end of the 15 second interval.. |
