WO1997003289A1

WO1997003289A1 - Moment of momentum engine

Info

Publication number: WO1997003289A1
Application number: PCT/HU1996/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: István HÓDI
Original assignee: Hodi Istvan
Priority date: 1995-07-11
Filing date: 1996-07-11
Publication date: 1997-01-30
Also published as: HU9502100D0; AU6366996A; HUT75330A; HU213979B

Abstract

The invention relates to a moment of momentum engine that includes a driving unit (3) connected to a body (4) to be moved as well as a driving mechanism (1) connected to the said driving unit (3), said driving mechanism (1) having a rotational axis (12) and an energy collecting element (11) in the form of a solid of rotation and pulled on the rotational axis (12), while the energy collecting element (11) is in connection with the body (4) to be moved through a motion transfer subassembly (13) located between the rotational axis (12) and the body (4) to be moved. The characteristic feature of the solution is that a mechanism limiting the sense of rotation (2) is inserted between the energy collecting element (11) and the rotational axis (12) of the driving mechanism (1), the motion transfer subassembly (13) has an internal motion transfer part (13a) and an external motion transfer part (13b) and a bearing part (13c) surrounded by the two latter parts as well as a coupling part (13d) connected to the bearing part (13c) so as to allow rotational motion and fastened to the body to be moved (4), while the rotational axis (12) of the driving mechanism (1) and the longitudinal axis (131d) of the coupling part (13d) on the motion transfer subassembly (13) are parallel to each other.

Description

Moment of momentum engine

The invention relates to a moment of momentum engine that includes a driving unit connected to a body to be moved as well as a driving mechanism connected to the said driving unit, having said driving mechanism a rotational axis and an energy collecting element in the form of a solid of rotation and pulled on the rotational axis, while the energy collecting element is in connection with the body to be moved through a motion ^"transfer subassembly located between the rotational axis and the body to be moved.

A number of solutions for driving various types of vehicles - land vehicles, aircrafts, watercrafts - and for changing their states of motion were already developed. Devices of this kind also include those operating on the principle of pulse momentum.

Driving devices of this kind play an important part especially in the navigation of devices used in the space research. Among them, the rocket engines are considered to be the most generally known devices which, according to the theorem of center of mass, forces the spacecraft to be moved in the direction opposed to the direction of material flowing out of the rocket engine.

The disadvantage of these reactive engines that the implementation of motion requires large mass of fuel to be combusted which shall be carried by the vehicle as a ballast instead of other payload. A further disadvantage is that the fuel involves the risk of fire and explosion which requires special handling and storage, thus further increasing the investment and operational costs anyway significant.

There also exist mechanisms in which a body of high inertia is put in motion in a specific way which, as a consequence of being put in motion, changes the state of motion of the system - that consists of the body of high inertia and the body carrying it -; in fact, in the case of proper design, the body of high inertia causes the center of mass to be displaced, which results in that the driven system - that may be any kind of vehicles - is capable of accelerating, slowing down or changing its direction without using any external force. Mechanism involving such results is presented in the USA patent description No. 3.653.269, in which the vehicle carrying the engine starts on getting the mechanism that includes several driving motors, transmission mechanisms and flywheels started, without using any external force.

However, the disadvantage of the mechanism is, that the large number of moving parts and the control system necessary for their coordination makes it cost intensive and, at the same time, also increases the possibility of failures to a significant extent.

A further disadvantage is that, due to the large size of mechanism, it can be used for practical purposes only with difficulty and, in spite of the size, its efficiency is low.

The international patent application No. WO88/04364 describes a unit which includes a rotating axis, a supporting head mounted on the rotating axis as well as discs connected by means of pins to the supporting head and capable of rotating in relation thereto. As a result of the rotation of the rotating axis, the discs displace and the rotating axis performs linear motion.

The design has the disadvantage that the high risk of vibration and the bending out require the component parts to be made of high quality material; in addition, only an alternating motion of given amplitude can be o generated.

A common disadvantage of the known moment of momentum engines that, due to their complicated design and, consequently, their high mass and size, they could not find their practical use in vehicles, especially in spacecrafts.

The invention aims at eliminating the disadvantages of the known solutions and creating a version which, in spite of its simple design and small number of moving parts, enables the motion to be generated with higher efficiency in a way that it is connected only to the body to be moved while bringing it into motion or enabling it to be navigated or the direction of its motion to be changed under the effect of the internal stimulus in the system.

The solution according to the invention is based on the recognition that, if an inert body designed as a mechanism known in itself and capable of performing rotational motion is forced, by inserting special structural parts to limit its sense of rotation, to perform regulated rotation and the generating force necessary to rotation is transferred by means of original elements to the body serving for rotation, the task can be solved.

According to the objective set, the moment of momentum engine according to the invention - that includes a driving unit connected to a body to be moved as well as a driving mechanism connected to the said driving unit, having said driving mechanism a rotational axis and an energy collecting element in the form of a solid of rotation and pulled on the rotational axis, while the energy collecting element is in connection with the body to be moved through a motion transfer subassembly located between the rotational axis and the body to be moved - is designed in a manner that a mechanism limiting the sense of rotation is inserted between the energy collecting element and the rotational axis of the driving mechanism, the motion transfer subassembly has an internal motion transfer part and an external motion transfer part and a bearing part surrounded by the two latter parts as well as a coupling part connected to the bearing part so as to allow rotational motion and fastened to the body to be moved, while the rotational axis of the driving mechanism and the longitudinal axis of the coupling part on the motion transfer subassembly are parallel to each other. A further criterion of the moment of momentum engine according to the invention may be that the mechanism limiting the sense of rotation consists in a free-running subassembly allows the uni-directional rotation of the energy collecting element.

In respect of the embodiment, it is advantageous that the energy collecting element consists of a flywheel provided with wheel hub including a nest; spacers starting from the wheel hub as well as a ring supported by the spacers. The distance between the rotational axis of driving mechanism and the coupling part of the motion transfer subassembly is at least 0.5-times, however, up to 2-times the reduced radius of the flywheel.

In another version of the moment of momentum engine, the internal motion transfer part of motion transfer subassembly has a force input zone serving for connection to the driving unit, while the distance between the centre of force input zone and the coupling part is equal to the distance between the coupling part and the rotational axis of driving mechanism.

In another embodiment of the solution, the body to be moved is equipped with at least two driving mechanisms, while the coupling parts of the motion transfer subassemblies are parallel to each other and located in a symmetrical arrangement parallel to the symmetry axis passing through the mass center of the body to be moved.

In a further version of the invention, a braking subassembly is inserted between the energy collecting element and the body to be moved. The braking subassembly is provided with a friction surface protruding from the body to be moved, while the friction surface is temporarily compressed by the ring of the energy collecting element.

The advantage of the moment of momentum engine according to the invention is, that it enables the state of motion of a body to be changed without applying an external force outside of the system, by converting the rotational energy fed in the engine into a kinetic energy generating essentially rectilinear motion and feeding it back into the system.

It shall also be considered to be advantageous, that the engine is built with a small number of parts, therefore, the manufacturing and assembly costs are more favourable as compared to those of the traditional versions and, in addition, it is less susceptible to failures.

It shall be considered to be favourable that, due to its design and small number of parts, the efficiency of the engine is improved, which enables it to be appropriately operated both manually and by using solar energy, thus making it suitable to be used in devices of space research for the purpose of changing their state of motion; in fact, no energy carrier set for this specific purpose is required to be transported.

It shall also be considered to be an advantage that, due to its low mass and small size, the vehicles driven by the engine according to the invention are capable of transporting an increased mass of payload which also plays an important part in the space research. Due to this feature, the mechanism can also be used as an engine for tools, thus being capable of developing the physical condition and ability of the player.

In the following, the invention is described in detail in connection with exemplary embodiments, based on a drawing. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a top view on a possible version of the moment of momentum engine

Fig. 2 shows the version represented in Fig. 1 as viewed from the direction II, Fig. 3 shows a magnified sectional view of Fig. 1 across the plane III-III.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of the moment of momentum engine according to the invention. It can be shown that part of the 4 body to be moved that carries the moment of momentum engine is formed by a 5 carrier body provided with the 5c bearing extensions, the 5a shafts passing through the bearing extensions as well as the 5b wheels fastened to the 5a shafts, whit the 5b wheels resting on the ground.

Furthermore, the 5 carrier body holds the 3 driving unit and, in this particular embodiment, the two moment of momentum engines which together form the 4 body to be moved.

The moment of momentum engine is provided with the 1 driving mechanism that includes the 11 energy collecting element, the 13 motion transfer subassembly as well as the 12 rotational axis inserted between the 11 energy collecting element and the 13 motion transfer subassembly, furthermore, the 2 mechanism limiting the sense of rotation arranged between the 12 rotational axis and the 11 energy collecting element.

In this version, the 11 energy collecting element consists in a lla flywheel which includes the lib wheel hub, the lid spacers protruding from the latter and the lie ring of high inertia connected to the end of lid spacers. The 13 motion transfer subassembly - as shown well in Fig. 1 - includes the 13a internal motion transfer part, the 13b external motion transfer part and the 13c bearing part.

At the end of 13a internal motion transfer part, the 13e force input zone is arranged, with the 31 connecting device of the 3 driving unit connected to its 131e centre. It shall be noted here that the 3 driving unit may be an electric motor, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or even, human force as well. The essence is, that it shall be capable of performing alternating motion.

It is also obvious that the 5b wheels of the 5 carrier body are also not indispensable. In the case of watercraft or space research device, they are not necessary at all.

The 13 motion transfer subassembly and the 5 carrier body are connected together by means of the 13d coupling part which consists of an axle-pin in this particular case. The 13d coupling part is firmly fastened to the 5 carrier body, on the one part, and is led through the 13c bearing part designed as a bushing provided with bearing that allows rotational motion, arranged between the 13a internal motion transfer part and the 13b external motion transfer part of the 13 motion transfer subassembly, on the other part.

Fig. 3 shows that the 12 rotational axis is firmly fastened to the 13b external motion transfer parts of the 13 motion transfer subassembly, on the one part, and the said 12 rotational axis is led through the lie nest in the 11 energy collecting element of the 1 driving mechanism, on the other part. At the lie nest in the 11 energy collecting element, the 2 mechanism limiting the sense of rotation is arranged, which consists in an idler provided with ratchet mechanism with the task of preventing the 11 energy collecting element from rotating in 6 one sense of rotation while enabling it to rotate in the 7 other sense of rotation. It is also obvious that the 2 mechanism limiting the sense of rotation can be any other device in addition to an idler, which meets the requirements of unidirectional free movement. Anyway, the use of an idler with fine- pitch ratchet mechanism is preferred.

Referring to Fig. 1 again, it is also shown that the moment of momentum engines are mounted in a central symmetrical arrangement in respect to the 4a symmetry axis passing through the mass centre of the 4 body to be moved. The 12 rotational axis of the 1 driving mechanism and the 131d Iongitudinal axis of 13d coupling part on the 13 motion transfer subassembly lie parallel to each other. It shall be noted here that one 4 body to be moved can also be provided with more than two moment of momentum engines. In this case, of course, each of the moment of momentum engines shall fulfill the given conditions.

There may also be a special case that the 1 driving mechanism is located at the 4a symmetry axis passing through the mass centre of the 4 body to be moved. In this case, one single moment of momentum engine is sufficient.

It is also shown that the distance "Tl" between the lie nest and the 13c bearing part is equal to the distance "T2" between the 13c bearing part and the 131e centre of the 13e force input zone. This uniformity of dimensions is the condition for the optimum operation; although any deviation within specified limits impairs the efficiency without obstructing the function.

In respect of operation, a further significant aspect is that the distance "Tl" between the lie nest and the 13c bearing part shall preferably be equal to the value "R" of reduced radius that can be calculated from the dimensions of the lie ring of lla flywheel.

Fig. 1 also shows that the 5 carrier body is also provided with the 8 braking subassemblies the 8a friction surfaces of which come into temporary contact with the 11 energy collecting elements during the movement of the moment of momentum engine and brake their movement.

During the operation of the moment of momentum engine according to the invention, the 31 connecting device begins to move when the 3 driving unit is switched on and - in the state shown in Fig. 1 - moves upwards. The 31 connecting device displaced applies force on the 13e force input zone on the 13a internal motion transfer part of the 13 motion transfer subassembly, while also causing the 13 motion transfer subassembly to be rotated around the 131d longitudinal axis of the 13d coupling part.

The rotational motion of the 13a internal motion transfer part of 13 motion transfer subassembly also causes the 13b external motion transfer part to turn away while also carrying the 11 energy collecting element of 1 driving mechanism mounted on the 12 rotational axis. Although the 11 energy collecting element receives a pulse excitation during its motion, the 2 mechanism limiting the sense of rotation - that is designed to obstruct the rotation in the 6 one sense of rotation of the 11 energy collecting element - prevents it from beginning to rotate.

When the 31 connecting device of the 3 driving unit reaches its dead point position, the 13 motion transfer subassembly is also stops rotating. At this position, the 11 energy collecting element mounted on the 12 rotational axis will start to rotate under the effect of the external accelerating force applied by the 13 motion transfer subassembly on it, in the 7 other sense of rotation opposite to the 6 one sense of rotation.

Then, during its alternating movement, the 31 connecting device starts to move downwards, thus also forcing the 13 motion transfer subassembly of driving mechanism to rotate in the direction opposite to the previous direction around the 131 d longitudinal axis of the 13d coupling part. At this point, the 11 energy collecting element that rotated only around the 13d coupling part under the effect of the external pulse during the previous phase of motion, continues to rotate - without being obstructed by the 2 mechanism limiting the sense of rotation - around the 12 rotational axis in the 7 other sense of rotation, thus further increasing the angular velocity of the 11 energy collecting element in this direction.

When the 13 motion transfer subassembly reaches its original starting position, the rotating 11 energy collecting element comes into contact with the 8a friction surface of the 8 braking subassembly that protrudes from the 5 carrier body, thus being slowed down and transferring its energy to the 4 body to be moved. Under the effect of the energy package thus transferred, the 4 body to be moved mowes away in a specified direction.

As a final result of the cycle, the 13 motion transfer subassembly reaches its starting position and the 11 energy collecting element stops. The next cycle can be started which proceeds in the same way as described above.

The moment of momentum engine according to the invention is well suitable to be used in applications that required thrust engines to be used for changing the state of motion of a given body so far; especially in the navigation of spacecrafts. It can also be used for every kind of vehicles and motion generating tools where high acceleration is not required.

List of references

driving mechanism 11 energy collecting element lla flywheel lib wheel hub lie nest lid spacers protruding

He ring

12 rotational axis

13 motion transfer subassembly 13a internal motion transfer part 13b external motion transfer part 13c bearing part 13d coupling part 131 d longitudinal axis 13e force input zone 131e centre mechanism limiting the sense of rotation driving unit 31 connecting device body 4a symmetry axis carrier body 5a shafts

5b wheel

5c bearing extensions

6 one sense of rotation

7 other sense of rotation

8 braking subassembly 8a friction surface "R" reduced radius

"Tl" distance "T2" distance

Claims

CLA I M S

1. moment of momentum engine according to the invention, that includes a driving unit connected to a body to be moved as well as a driving mechanism connected to the said driving unit, having said driving mechanism a rotational axis and an energy collecting element in the form of a solid of rotation and pulled on the rotational axis, while the energy collecting element is in connection with the body to be moved through a motion transfer subassembly located between the rotational axis and the body to be moved, characterized by that a mechanism limiting the sense of rotation (2) is inserted between the energy collecting element (11) and the rotational axis (12) of the driving mechanism (1), the motion transfer subassembly (13) has an internal motion transfer part (13a) and an external motion transfer part (13b) and a bearing part (13c) surrounded by the two latter parts as well as a coupling part (13d) connected to the bearing part (13c) so as to allow rotational motion and fastened to the body to be moved (4), while the rotational axis (12) of the driving mechanism (1) and the longitudinal axis (131 d) of the coupling part (13d) on the motion transfer subassembly (13) are parallel to each other.

2. Moment of momentum engine as in claim 1, characte¬ rized by that the mechanism limiting the sense of rotation (2) consists in a free-running subassembly allows the uni-directional rotation of the energy collecting element (11).

3. Moment of momentum engine as in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the energy collecting element (11) consists of a flywheel (lla) provided with wheel hub (lib) including a nest (lie), spacers (Hd) starting from the wheel hub (lib), as well as a ring (He) supported by the spacers (lid).

4. Moment of momentum engine as in claim 3, characte¬ ri z e d by that the distance between the rotational axis (12) of driving mechanism (1) and the coupling part (13d) of the motion transfer subassembly (13) is at least 0.5-times, however, up to 2-times the reduced radius (R) of the flywheel (Ha).

5. Moment of momentum engine as in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the internal motion transfer part (13a) of motion transfer subassembly (13) has a force input zone (13e) serving for connection to the driving unit (3), while the distance (Tl) between the centre (131e) of force input zone (13e) and the coupling part (13d) is equal to the distance (T2) between the coupling part (13d) and the rotational axis (12) of driving mechanism (1).

6. Moment of momentum engine as in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the body to be moved (4) is equipped with at least two driving mechanisms (1), while the coupling parts (13d) of the motion transfer subassemblies (13) are parallel to each other and located in a symmetrical arrangement parallel to the symmetry axis passing through the mass center (4a) of the body to be moved (4).

7. Moment of momentum engine as in any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized by that a braking subassembly (8) is inserted between the energy collecting element (11) and the body to be moved

(4).

8. Moment of momentum engine as in claim 7, characte¬ rize d by that the braking subassembly (8) is provided with a friction surface (8a) protruding from the body to be moved (4), while the friction surface (8a) is temporarily compressed by the ring (He) of the energy collecting element (11).