GB2426315A

GB2426315A - Propulsion by inertia

Info

Publication number: GB2426315A
Application number: GB0510093A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mchale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-18
Filing date: 2005-05-18
Publication date: 2006-11-22
Also published as: GB0510093D0

Abstract

The invention is alleged to provide propulsion by using momentum for space vehicles. A pair of masses 19 which are pivoted about axes 9,10(fig.1) reciprocate in an arcing path, and collide against surfaces 16,20 so as to impart their momentum to the said surfaces 16, 20(see arrows) and thereby provide thrust and motion. Collisions of the masses against surfaces 20 compound to provide motion in a (forward) direction, while collisions against surfaces 16 are said to cancel out. The two masses 19 are connected via rigid arms 14 to cooperating gears 17,18 which operate together. A crank mechanism 21 operated by a drive wheel 22 may provide the rotational movement to the gears. Springs 15 are further claimed to aid the transfer of momentum. The invention appears to violate the Conservation of Momentum law as it does not take into account of the momentum when the masses are accelerated to collide with surface 20, which would result in reverse (backward) motion.

Description

Inverse Thruster This invention relates to a means of propulsion for

propelling a vehicle.

Space exploration is hindered by the limitations of rocket engines. Rocket engines effect thrust by expelling propellant. Typically propellants are carried in tanks and increase vehicular mass.

The object of this invention is a propulsion mechanism that allows for vehicles that need not carry propellants, even in the vacuum of space.

This invention proposes a system in which thrust is provided by the impacts of reciprocating mass pairs. The forces of the impacts cancel in the horizontal plane and add in the vertical plane so causing a strong forwards momentum on the structure without the expulsion of propellant.

A space vehicle could thus be accelerated by solar energy collected by solar panels or by energy released from an internal nuclear reactor.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows the operating principle of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in figure 1, the mass 3 reciprocates about axis 10 and follows path 2 to collide at surfaces 4 and 1. Similarly, mass 7 reciprocates about axis 9 and follows path 6 to collide at surfaces 5 and 8.

The collision interactions cause momentum to be transferred to the structure. The direction of this momentum transfer is forwards at positions I and 8 and inwards at positions 4 and 5.

11 shows that during the forwards collisions, forces add. 12 shows that during the inwards collisions, forces cancel.

As shown in figure 2, each mass can be as solid-structure 19 and have an attached spring 15. A spring makes the momentum transferred to the collision surfaces (e.g. 20, 16) and to the structure 13 greater.

Each mass can be rotatable about an axis by a rigid arm (e.g. 14) Each axis may be a freely rotating axle. One axle can be made to oscillate by a crank mechanism 21 engaged to drive wheel 22 and to gear 18 which is in turn engaged to the left axle.

The two axle-engaged gears (17 and 18) are shown to be meshed so that they rotate in opposite directions when the drive wheel 22 is spun about its axis 23. This causes an oscillating rotary motion on the masses as depicted by the two large arrows. The drive wheel 22 may be spun by means of an electric motor, gas turbine or internal combustion engine.

All of the collision surfaces and rotating axles can be and are shown as fixed to a rigid structure 13.

The rigid structure 13 may be fixed to a vehicle and when activated will supply an inverse thrust equivalent to the overall momentum transfer of collisions in the forwards direction.

Claims

1. A propulsion mechanism embodying one or more pairs of rotating masses, each mass reciprocating about an axis, where the two mass elements in the pair reciprocate about their respective axis in opposing rotational directions, where collisions between the rotating masses and one or more surfaces of the mechanism impart momentum.

2. A propulsion mechanism as claimed in claim 1 where each mass is a solid weight that rotates about an axis by means of a mechanical arm that is fixed to a pivoting axle.

3. A single mechanism as described in any preceding claim or multiple instances of the mechanism for the purpose of propelling a vehicle.

3. A propulsion mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim where the pivoting axles in a mass pair are engaged together with gears or belts and where a clockwise rotation in one will cause an anti-clockwise rotation in the other

4. A propulsion mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim where the oscillating motion is provided to the arms by a crank shaft linkage engaged to the axle and to a separate drive wheel.

5. A propulsion mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim where one or more springs are attached and where said springs make contact between a rotating mass and another face during the reciprocating motion cycle.

6. A propulsion mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim where the axle of the drive wheel is spun by an electric motor or by a gas turbine or by an internal combustion engine.

7. A propulsion mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim where solar panels or a nuclear reactor provides enerpy for spinning the drive wheel. a

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A propulsion mechanism for propelling a vehicle wherein the mechanism is of the type that includes means for reciprocating two hammer-like structures along arcing paths and wherein the mechanism contains assemblies that are positioned to intersect the paths so as to cause any number of internal collisions between the assemblies and the hammers when the oscillation occurs, wherein the mechanism comprises: an array of two fixed axis-rotatable gears that are positioned together so that if one gear in the array is rotated clockwise the other gear will rte anticlockwise; an array of two generally hammer-like massive structures so structured that they shift the centre of mass away from the centre of rotation, wherein each hammer is attached to a gear so that the hammer will rotate with the gear if the gear is rotated; fixed internal assemblies so positioned as to impede the motion of the said hammer-like structures in the general direction of their travel during the reciprocation cycle; a crank mechanism of the type that supplies a reciprocating rotary motion to the gears; a driveshaft connected to the said crank mechanism.

2. A propulsion mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein one or more springs are attached and wherein during the said reciprocating motion cycle the springs impede the motion of rotation so as to transfer momentum from the hammers.