GYROSCOPE DEVICE

• US 20140090493A1
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fahnline, Richard Alan
• Original Assignee: Fahnline, Richard Alan
• Inventors: Fahnline, Richard Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/08 electrically driven G01C19/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1282 with rotor drive

Abstract

A gyroscope device and method are disclosed. An example of the gyroscope device includes a gyroscope element and a frame. A drive element for spinning the gyroscope element which also results in torque on the frame parallel to an axis of rotation of the gyroscope. A first torque application element is mounted on the frame to counter torque produced by the drive element to subsequently restrict the frame from freely rotating in a direction counter to the gyroscope element. A second torque application element imposes a torque on the frame perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gyroscope element to tilt the axis of the gyroscope and effect direction of motion.

Claims

1. A gyroscope device, comprising:

a gyroscope element;

a frame;

a drive element for spinning the gyroscope element which results in torque on the frame parallel to an axis of rotation of the gyroscope element which is reverse torque imposed on the gyroscope element;

a first torque application element mounted on the frame to counter torque produced by the drive element to subsequently restrict the frame from freely rotating in a direction counter to the gyroscope element; and

a second torque application element imposing torque on the frame perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gyroscope element to tilt the axis of the gyroscope and effect direction of motion.

2. The gyroscope device of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft located at the axis of rotation of the gyroscope element, the drive shaft connected at a top end to the drive element, and the drive shaft having a substantially rounded bottom end.

3. The gyroscope device of claim 2, wherein the torque imposed on the frame perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gyroscope element tilts the axis of rotation of the gyroscope element in a direction perpendicular to torque generated by the gyroscope, and subsequently tilts the drive shaft so that the bottom of the drive shaft makes rolling contact with a surface and propels the gyroscope device forward, backward, and sideways, based upon a location of the torque imposed on the frame.

4. The gyroscope device of claim 1, wherein the torque application element includes at least one air jet.

5. The gyroscope device of claim 1, wherein the first torque application element is configurable to shift weight on the frame to alter the center of gravity of the device.

6. The gyroscope device of claim 5, wherein the first torque application element includes movable batteries for the drive element.

7. The gyroscope device of claim 1, wherein the first torque application element includes a tail section on the frame, the tail section operable in combination with restraining barriers on a track.

8. The gyroscope device of claim 1, wherein the drive element produces torque on the frame.

9. The gyroscope device of claim 8, wherein the first torque application element produces a counter-torque relative to the torque on the frame.

10. The gyroscope device of claim 1, wherein tilting of the frame due to gyroscopic effect produces a force on a portion of the frame to effect linear movement.

11. The gyroscope device of claim 1, wherein the gyroscope element includes a shaft and a disk, the shaft and the disk rotatable together in a same direction.

12. A method comprising:

providing a gyroscope element in association with a frame;

driving the gyroscope element independent of the frame; and

applying a torque on the frame to move a bottom portion of a shaft of the gyroscope along a surface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a downward force on a front of the frame for forward motion, and applying a downward force on a back of the frame for reverse motion.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a downward force on a side of the frame for sideways motion.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a downward force to the frame in a direction parallel to an axis of the gyroscope for motion in a same direction as an orientation of the downward force.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising restricting free rotation of the frame.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising tilting the frame from a neutral axis to cause rolling contact of the bottom portion of the shaft of the gyroscope with the surface.

18. A gyroscope device comprising:

means for driving a gyroscope element independent of a frame connected to the gyroscope element; and

driving means for developing a torque parallel to an axis of rotation of the gyroscope element, the driving means mounted for countering the torque produced by the driving means to subsequently restrict the driving means from freely rotating in a direction counter to the gyroscope element; and

means for imposing a torque on the frame perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gyroscope element to tilt the axis of the gyroscope and effect direction of motion.

19. The gyroscope device of claim 18, further comprising means for applying the downward force on a front of the frame for forward motion, and means for applying the downward force on a back of the frame for reverse motion.

20. The gyroscope device of claim 18, wherein the torque imposed on the frame perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gyroscope tilts the axis of rotation of the gyroscope in a direction perpendicular to torque generated by the gyroscope, and subsequently tilts a drive shaft so that the bottom of the drive shaft makes rolling contact with a surface and propels the gyroscope device forward, backward, and sideways, based upon a location of the torque imposed on the frame.