Controllable gyroscopic propulsion apparatus

• US 5,054,331 A
• Filed: 01/18/1990
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew T. Rodgers
• Original Assignee: Andrew T. Rodgers
• Inventors: Rodgers, Andrew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krolikowski, Julie
• Application Number:
  US07/466,995
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 74/84 R, 74/84 S, 74/60, 74/87, 74/61
• US Class Current: 74/84.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/00 Other motors, e.g. gravity or inertia motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 33/20 for interconversion, based essentially on inertia, of rotary motion and reciprocating or oscillating motion for converting into a linear propulsion force, i.e. inertia motors F03G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18336 Wabbler type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18528 Rotary to intermittent unidirectional motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18552 Unbalanced weight

Abstract

A controllable gyroscopic propulsion apparatus comprising a base, a shaft rotatably mounted on the base, a cylindrical frame attached to the shaft and rotating therewith, a plurality of rods slidably and horizontally carried by the frame, weights attached by a pulley and cable system to the rods so that sliding the rods horizontally causes the weights to move radially, and a rotatable, tiltable plate for changing on command the horizontal positions of the rods so that the apparatus develops propulsion in the desired direction. The ends of the rods bear against the plate that can be rotated and tilted using a paid of cylinders. A motor may be attached to the base of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting rotary motion to linear motion, said apparatus comprising:

a base;

a shaft rotatably mounted on said base, said shaft having a long axis;

a cylindrical frame attached to said shaft and rotating therewith;

a plurality of rods slidably and horizontally carried by said cylindrical frame;

a plurality of weights connected to with said shaft and rotating therewith;

attaching means for attaching each one of said plurality of weights to one of said plurality of rods so that said weights move radially as said rods slide horizontally within said cylindrical frame; and

controlling means for controlling said plurality of rods so that each of said weights is moved by one of said rods a desired distance between a first and a second position, each one of said desired distances relating to each other of said desired distances so as to form one set of a plurality of sets of related desired distances, each of said sets propelling said apparatus in one direction.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of rods has a bearing end and said controlling means further comprises:

a plate surrounding said shaft, said bearing ends of said plurality of rods engaging said plate;

rotating means for rotating said plate azimuthally with respect to said shaft, said rotating means attached to said frame; and

tilting means for tilting said plate, said tilting means attached to said base, said rotating and tilting means rotating and tilting said plate so that said rods, said bearing ends engaging said plate and sliding longitudinally, move said weights radially to said one set of said plurality of sets of related desired distances.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said attaching means further comprises:

a pulley; and

a cable running over said pulley, said cable having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said one of said plurality of rods, said second end attached to said one of said plurality of weights.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a turning means for turning said shaft, said turning means attached to said base.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said attaching means further comprises:

a pulley; and

a cable running over said pulley, said cable having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said one of said plurality of rods, said second end attached to said one of said plurality of weights.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a turning means for turning said shaft, said turning means attached to said base.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said attaching means further comprises:

a pulley; and

a cable running over said pulley, said cable having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said one of said plurality of rods, said second end attached to said one of said plurality of weights.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means further comprises:

a pulley; and

a cable running over said pulley, said cable having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said one of said plurality of rods, said second end attached to said one of said plurality of weights.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said rods has a bearing end and said controlling means further comprises:

a tilting plate, said bearing ends of said rods engaging said plate; and

rotating tilting means for rotating and tilting said tilting plate so that said rods are slid horizontally, said rotating and tilting means operatively connected to sid tilting plate.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said rotating and tilting means further comprises:

an azimuthal plate attached to said base and said tilting plate;

a first cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said azimuthal plate, said second end attached to said base;

a second cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second cylinder attached to said base, said second end attached to said azimuthal plate, said second end of said second cylinder attached to said azimuthal plate, said second cylinder adapted for rotating said tilting plate and said azimuthal plate with respect to said base.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means further comprises:

a plurality of pulleys; and

a plurality of cables, each cable running over one of said pulleys, said each cable having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to one of said plurality of rods, said second end attached to one of said plurality of weights.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said attaching means further comprises:

a plurality of pulleys; and

a plurality of cables, each cable running over one of said pulleys, said each cable having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to one of said plurality of rods, said second end attached to one of said plurality of weights.