GB2130541A - Space vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A space vehicle has lift-producing units 3 each comprising a plate 9 over which is blown a high speed air jet to produce a reduced pressure on its upper surface. A number of units 3 are mounted side by side on beams 4 in a sealed upper chamber 1 of the vehicle. Thrusters 5 on the vehicle side walls provide forward drive. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Self lifting space craft The self lifting space craft is shown diagramatically in Figure 1. of the drawings. The space craft has two separated chambers. The upper chamber 1 is sealed and pressurised as explained later. The lower chamber is for the crew, passengers, luggage or freight etc., and is maintained at atmospheric pressure as in conventional aircraft. The degravitating units 3 of which there are eight given for example, are detailed in Figures 2. and 3. The upward thrust created by the degravitating surface is transmitted to the space craft walls internally through beams 4. The jet engines 5 fixed externally to the two sides of the space craft, the further one not being shown for clarity, are for forward motion. Navigating is effected by rotating the craft by apply-thrust from one enigne and afterwards firing both jet engines together.The space craft would have a normal aircraft construction as the speed and acceleration would be as for modern jet aircraft. The construction would be stronger than usual however as the difference in internal pressure to external pressure would be more than is normally experienced in conventional aircraft. The materials used would be duralluminium using the usual prestressed skin riveted to an alluminium framework. The degravitating unit shown in Figures 2 & 3 has a strong fibreglass duct system 6. The air is drawn through the input opening 8. and discharged across the blown surface 9 through outlet opening 10. At slow speed the reduction of pressure in chamber 1. caused by the outflow of air through input side 8 would be equal to the increase of pressure caused by the discharge of air through the output side 10.As the velocity of the airstream increased by applying more power to the electrical fan 7. The air will tend to be passed directly from output to input without exchange with the air in chamber 1. Hence a high energy airstream is built up having a reduced pressure. the distance between the outlet and inlet openings 8 & 10 would be set for maximum uplift for the available energy supply. The angle at which the drafting current is set in relation to the blown surface may be 5 or 10 degrees to keep the airstream in contact with the surface 9. This surface is shown with rolled edges 12 for rigidity.

The separating plate 11 divides the air stream from that of the adjacent degravitator. To increase the press-difference across the lifting area the internal pressure of chamber 1 may be increased using pumping fans not shown. For a given velocity of airstream the internal pressure of this airstream would remain constant. The pressure acting underneath the surface could be increased causing greater lift. The limitation of this device would be that turbulance would result from the higher static air breaking into the high energy air stream. Note that the first separating plate 11 is not shown for clarity.

The space craft must have no resultant force applied to it so that the airstreams of adjacant degravitators are reversed. The couples formed by the reaction of the electric fans are cancelled out with more than four degravitating units. The direction of rotation of the fans must also be reversed for each adjacant unit, so that no resulting torque is applied to the space craft.

The present application is a further step in the development of the principle of generating lift by means of a blown surface. The pressure in a flow of air is reduced as its kinetic energy increases, according to Bernouli's theorem. The pressure underneath the blown surface remains at the initial pressure. The difference in pressure causes a dynamic force, uniformally distributed over the blown area. The force acts on the blown laminar in the direction of the reduced pressure region. Now the well known second law of Sir Isaac Newton must be tested by the above statement of observed fact. The law states that for every action there must be an equal and opposite reaction. The law is said to explain the action of all motive forces. The forward push of a man pushing a grass cutter must equal his backward thrust on the lawn.The forward thrust of a rocket in space must be equal to the loss of momentum imparted to the exhaust gases. It was for this reason that every known originating force in scientific discovery was thought to obey Newton's 2nd Law of motion. As a matter of common knowledge it was therefore thought impossible to produce a degravitating machine. The gravitational attraction of two masses in space is a basic law of God's creation which has so far defied explanation. To produce an active uplifting force on a space craft always required a downward reaction according to Newton's second law. However if the explanation of the lift imparted to a wing moving in air at atmospheric pressure was simply that the lift component of the force corresponds to the downward momentum of air caused by the angle of incidence, then the 'every' in Newton's second law would have heid true.But as more than two orthree times the upward force produced by the angle of incidence is produced by the reduction of pressure above the wing it is necessary to arrive at the conclusion that this latter originating force is an exception to the rule. Hence with a blown surface one has the basis for a self lifting space craft. The implications of this invention are far reaching in the field of space travel and ordinary long distance journeys between places on earth. By degravitating to a height of say 10 miles it will be possible to make forward motion almost effortlessly after the initial acceleration. There being no resistance the cost of the journey would be nothing in terms of paying for forward motion. The cost of moving from one place to another would be mainly the cost of degravitating for the required time.The self lifting space craft would be capable of competition with the American space program but its commercial use would outway its scientific possibilities. The possibility of cheaper travel to other continents without the need for more airport space would alter the country's development program. The cost of any journey is in overcoming resistance which is due to friction and air resistance.

The invention would overcome this problem. Breaking at the end of a journey would be effected by moving down into the denser atmosphere.

The invention itself is the internally blown surface which has the unique feed back system. The difficulties to be overcome would be the electrical supply which would have to be from a nuclear reactor as in a submarine. It may be found that there is excessive turbulance in the degravitating chamber and that baffles would be necessary on the upper surface internally to prevent a reduction of pressure there.

Whereas the present space craft has jet engines which produce enough thrust to accelerate the space craft to reach a forward speed necessary for its parking orbit the present invention is characterised by the following features which produce a force acting against gravity on the space craft which gives a stable condition to the space craft without any forward motion whilst in earth's gravitational field.

Claims (6)

1. A self lifting space craft containing internal degravitating devices.

2. The degravitating devices being more than four in number to cancel all reactions on the space craft, are arranged as described in the specification.

3. The degravitating devices having blown surfaces kept in motion by the feed back system described, giving a recycled airstream reducing energy loss.

4. A degravitating chamber having a pressurised air content to increase the lift potential of the system.

5. A self lifting space craft having external jet engines for initial forward acceleration as described.

The front of the space ship providing the necessary breaking on descentto denser atmosphere.

6. A self lifting space craft described by the accompanying specification and drawings.

6. A self lifting space craft according to claim 1, substantially described by the accompanying specification and drawings.

Superseded claims 1-6 New or amended claims:- 1-6 as on appended sheet.

CLAIMS Whereas in the prior art an increase of verticle lift was achieved by passing air at high kinetic energy and low internal pressure over the lifting surfaces, in the present invention:

1. The blown surface is housed within the craft so that the environment in which lift is produced is embodied within the craft.

2. A space craft having lifting devices being more than four or multiple thereof having couples and torques arranged to cancel out.

3. A space craft having an internal feedback system as described which enables the lifting force to operate within the pressurised chamber.

4. A space craft having a degravitating chamber pressurised to increase its lift potential.

5. A self lifting space craft having external jet engines for initial forward acceleration as described.