CLIAMS:1. A flywheel (100) for an automobile, configured with a body (7) having a first face (3) and a second face (4) to transmit power from an engine to transmission assembly of the automobile, the flywheel (100) comprising:
at least one cavity (1) provisioned in the body (7) in between the first face (3) and the second face (4) of the flywheel (100), wherein the at least one cavity (1) is adapted to accommodate a cooling medium (2),
wherein, the cooling medium (2) absorbs and transfers heat generated in the first face (3) of the fly wheel (100) to the second face (4) of the flywheel (100) during transmission of power from the engine to the transmission assembly of the automobile.

2. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity (1) extends throughout the circumference of the body of the flywheel (100) along axis (A-A).

3. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first face (3) of the flywheel (100) is a clutch engagement surface.

4. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling medium (2) is sodium.

5. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coolant is accommodated in the at least one cavity (1) in solid phase.

6. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sodium absorbs the heat generated in the flywheel (100) up to predetermined temperature by conduction.

7. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sodium transforms into a liquid phase after reaching the predetermined temperature.

8. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sodium in liquid phase circulates inside the at least one cavity to absorb the heat form the first face of the fly wheel (100).

9. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sodium in liquid phase transfers the absorbed heat to the second face (4) of the flywheel (100) by convection.

10. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second face (4) is exposed to atmosphere.

11. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transferred to the second face (4) of the flywheel (100) is dissipated to atmosphere by convection and radiation.

12. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises at least one provision (5) extending from second face (4) of the flywheel (100) to the at least one cavity (1) for filling the cooling medium (2).

13. The flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one provision (5) is closed by a sealing member (6).

14. A vehicle comprising a flywheel (100) as claimed in claim 1.
,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to a field of automobile engineering. Particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure discloses a transmission part of an automobile for transmitting power from an engine to a transmission assembly of the automobile. Further, embodiments of the disclosure disclose a flywheel of the automobile.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Generally, a flywheel is provided in almost all automobiles having an internal combustion engine for transmission of power from the engine to a transmission assembly which includes clutch and gear assembly. The transmission assembly in turn transfers the torque to the wheels to facilitate movement of the automobile.

Conventionally, the internal combustion engines which are used in the automobiles are reciprocating engines. The output obtained from such internal combustion engine is intermittent or unstable due to the reciprocatory motion of the pistons. Hence, the flywheel is configured in the transmission assembly to maintain a stable output for continuous motion to the wheels, thereby avoiding undulated movement of the automobile. This is achieved due to specific characteristics of the flywheel, which are high moment of Inertia and resistance to change rotational speed. When this intermittent output is coupled to the flywheel, the flywheel begins to rotate with a constant rotational speed. Any greater output from the internal combustion engine will be stored in the flywheel, which is then releases such stored energy when output of the internal combustion engine reduces.

The flywheel is connected in the transmission assembly such that, one end is linked to the output from the engine i.e. crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the other end is coupled to a transmission assembly i.e. the clutch assembly. The clutch in the clutch assembly selectively engages and disengages with the flywheel to facilitate power transmission and gear shifting respectively. During such engagement and dis-engagement of the clutch with the flywheel, heat is generated due to friction between the contact surfaces i.e. contact between the surfaces of the clutch and the flywheel. The heat generated in the flywheel results in cracks, clutch wear, pressure plate hot spots, warpage and the like in the flywheel. This hampers the output delivered to the wheels, and ultimately leads to failure of transmission assembly, which is a costly affair to fix. Also, there are chances that the flywheel cracks will break the flywheel, making these cracked pieces to act as shrapnel. These shrapnel may travel in haphazard manner at high speeds due to centrifugal force associated with the rotational speed of flywheel and damage the entire internal combustion engine housing.

To mitigate the above stated problems which are associated with the flywheel, few counter measures are implemented conventionally. Some conventional measures includes but not limiting to increasing the surface contact area of the flywheel, providing steel wear rings at the contact area of the flywheel with the clutch and a spacer. However, these implementations involve additional limitations such as space constraints, increase in weight, no improvement in dissipation of frictional heat generated and the link.

In the light of the foregoing discussion, there is a need to develop an improved flywheel which can overcome one or more limitations stated in the background.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the disclosure.

In one non limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a flywheel is provided for an automobile. The flywheel is configured with a body having a first face and a second face to transmit power from an engine to transmission assembly of the automobile. Also, the flywheel comprises at least one cavity provisioned in the body in between the first face and the second face of the flywheel and is adapted to accommodate a cooling medium. The cooling medium absorbs and transfers heat generated in the first face of the flywheel to the second face of the flywheel during transmission of power from the engine to the transmission assembly of the automobile.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one cavity extends throughout the circumference of the body of the flywheel along axis (A-A).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first face of the flywheel is a clutch engagement surface.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling medium is sodium and is accommodated in the at least one cavity in solid phase. The sodium absorbs the heat generated in the flywheel up to predetermined temperature by conduction and the sodium transforms into a liquid phase after reaching the predetermined temperature. Also, the sodium in liquid phase circulates inside the at least one cavity to absorb the heat form the first face of the fly wheel and transfer the absorbed heat to the second face of the flywheel by convection.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second face is exposed to atmosphere and the heat transferred to the second face of the flywheel is dissipated to atmosphere by convection and radiation.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flywheel comprises at least one provision extending from second face of the flywheel to the at least one cavity for filling the cooling medium and is closed by a sealing member.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The embodiments of the disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings

Figures 1 illustrates sectional perspective view of the flywheel connected to clutch assembly of a transmission assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 illustrates front view of the flywheel connected to clutch assembly of a transmission assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates magnified view of section B of flywheel as shown in figure 2.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the assembly illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its assembly and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

To overcome one or more limitations stated in the background, the present disclosure provides a flywheel for an automobile configured with a cooling arrangement for dissipating the heat generated in flywheel during transmission of power. The flywheel disclosed in the present disclosure is adapted to dissipate the heat generated during clutch engagement and dis-engagement with the face of the flywheel. To facilitate power transmission, the flywheel is configured with a body having a first face and the second face which transmits the power from an engine i.e. crank shaft to transmission assembly i.e. clutch and gear assembly of the automobile. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first face of the flywheel is the clutch engagement surface and the second face is exposed to the atmosphere to dissipate heat by convection. To facilitate effective heat dissipation from the flywheel, at least one cavity is provided on the body of the flywheel i.e. between the first face and the second face of the flywheel. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one cavity extends throughout the circumference of the body of the flywheel along the axis of rotation of flywheel. The at least one cavity is configured to accommodate a cooling medium via at least one provision. The cooling medium is accommodated in the at least one cavity in solid phase and transforms into liquid phase after absorbing heat from first face of the flywheel by conduction, and upon reaching a predetermined temperature. After transforming to liquid phase, the cooling medium absorbs and transfers heat to second face of flywheel by convection. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling medium absorbs and transfers heat by forced convection after the transformation of the cooling medium to liquid phase. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling medium is sodium. The heat transferred to the second face is dissipated to the atmosphere by convection and radiation. Also, the flywheel comprises at least one sealing member provided to the at least one provision, to prevent leakage of the cooling medium from the at least one cavity during operation of the flywheel.

During engagement or dis-engagement of the flywheel, heat will be generated at the contact surfaces i.e. between the first face of the flywheel and the clutch due to frictional contact. This heat is conducted to the cooling medium in the at least one cavity, thereby reducing the temperature at the contact surface. After absorbing a predetermined temperature, the cooling medium transforms to liquid phase. Due to the rotational speed of the flywheel, the liquid cooling medium in the at least one cavity also starts to circulate. Hence, forced convection begins in the at least one cavity due to rotation of the flywheel, and thereby the cooling medium absorbs the heat. The heat absorbed by the cooling medium is then transferred to the second face of the flywheel by forced convection. Since, the second face of the flywheel being exposed to the atmosphere, air continuously circulates around the flywheel. Due to this, forced convection occurs around the second face of the flywheel. Hence, the heat in the second face of the flywheel is then dissipated to the atmosphere due to forced convection. Additionally, the heat is dissipated from the second face of the flywheel to the atmosphere by radiation. Hence, the heat from the first face of the flywheel is dissipated at a rapid rate, thereby maintaining surface temperature of the flywheel. This enhances the durability of the flywheel and resolve heat related issues in the flywheel.

Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of drawings of a flywheel which is one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art can envisage various such embodiments without deviating from scope of the present disclosure.

Figures 1 and 2 are exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrating sectional perspective view and sectional front view of the flywheel (100) for an automobile. The flywheel (100) is used in automobile for transmitting power from an engine to transmission assembly. As shown in the Figure. 1 the flywheel (100) comprises of a body (7) of a circular shape, having a first face (3) and a second face (4). In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first face (3) of the flywheel (100) is the clutch engagement surface and the second face (4) of the flywheel (100) is exposed to the atmosphere. In the body (7) of the flywheel (100), at least one cavity (1) of predetermined shape is provisioned in between the first face (3) and the second face (4). In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape of the at least one cavity (1) is selected from group such as but not limiting to oblong [as shown in figure 1] and oval [as shown in figure 3]. The at least one cavity (1) is provisioned eccentric to the axis A-A of the flywheel (100). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the axis (A-A) is the axis of rotation of the flywheel (100). The at least one cavity (1) comprises at least one provision (5) for filling a cooling medium (2) [clearly shown in Figure 3]. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling medium (2) is sodium and is filled in the at least one cavity (1) in solid phase. The cooling medium (2) transforms from solid phase to liquid phase upon reaching a predetermined temperature [latent heat of fusion] by absorbing heat from the first face (3) of the flywheel (100). In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the predetermined temperature for sodium to transform from solid phase to liquid phase is in the range of 90 degree Celsius to 100 degree Celsius preferably about 97.3 degree Celsius. The cooling medium (2) is selected such that it is capable of operating and enduring its cooling properties even at high temperatures. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, other metals or metallic compounds can be used as cooling medium which serves the purpose of cooling the flywheel. The at least one cavity (1) extends throughout the circumference of the body (7) of the flywheel (100), so that the transformed cooling medium (2) can circulate in the at least one cavity (1), thereby promoting forced convection. The circulation of the cooling medium (2) in the at least one cavity (1) is due to moment of the rotating flywheel (100) in liquid phase. Further, a sealing member (6) is provisioned to at least one provision (5) to enclose the same after filling of the cooling medium (2). The sealing member also prevents leakage of the cooling medium (2) during operation. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing member (6) is selected from group comprising such as but not limiting to rubber seals.

As shown in FIG. 2 the clutch will engage and dis-engage with the first face (3) of the flywheel (100), which generates heat at the contact surface due to frictional contact. This heat is absorbed by the cooling medium (2) in solid phase. Upon reaching a predetermined temperature, the cooling medium (2) transforms to liquid phase. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the temperature at which sodium melts or melting point of sodium is 97.3 degree Celsius. The liquid cooling medium (2) now begins to circulate along with the flywheel (100), due to the momentum, thereby enabling forced convection. Due to forced convection, more heat is absorbed from the first face (3) of the flywheel (100) and transferred to the second face (4). Since second face (4) is exposed to the atmosphere and the flywheel (100) is rotating at high speed, air circulates around second face (4), thereby enabling forced convection. Due to the forced convection at the second face (4), heat is dissipated to the atmosphere.

Hence, the heat generated at the first face (3) due to frictional contact with the clutch (8) is dissipated to the atmosphere rapidly via the cooling medium (2) by conduction, forced convection in the at least one cavity (1), forced convection at the second face (4) and by radiation.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one cavity is provided throughout the circumference of the flywheel body, which is around the axis of rotation of the flywheel. One can design a flywheel with a plurality of such cavities within the flywheel body to facilities cooling. However, one should not construe such formation of cavities around the axis of rotation as limitation to the present disclosure. Since, one can design a flywheel with a cavity extending longitudinally from the axis of the flywheel without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling medium can be any other metal apart from sodium which serves the purpose of cooling. Such metals includes but not-limiting to potassium.

In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, cooling arrangement i.e. provision of cavity with a cooling medium disclosed in the present disclosure can be configured in any other automobile parts where such cooling is necessary. Such automobile parts includes but not limiting to engine valves, pressure plate, clutch, camshaft and cam-lobe.

Advantages
The present disclosure provides a flywheel for an automobile which rapidly dissipates the heat generated due to clutch engagement and disengagement to the atmosphere, thereby enabling longer service life and durability of the transmission assembly parts.

The present disclosure provides a flywheel for an automobile which is simple in construction and can be retro fitted.

Equivalents
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

REFERRAL NUMERALS
Referral Numerals Description
100 Flywheel
1 At least one cavity
2 Cooling medium
3 First face of the flywheel
4 Second face of the flywheel
5 At least one provision
6 Sealing member
7 Body of the flywheel
8 Clutch
A-A Axis of rotation of the flywheel
B Section of Figure 2