Gyrostat propulsion system

• US 5,090,260 A
• Filed: 08/06/1990
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mortimer S. Delroy
• Original Assignee: Mortimer S. Delroy
• Inventors: Delroy, Mortimer S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Application Number:
  US07/563,081
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5.34, 74/5.37, 74/84 S
• US Class Current: 74/537
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 3/08 using flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/02 Rotary gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18536 Space machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20696 Finger lever release

Abstract

A thrust producing apparatus comprising a gyrostat having a gyrostat wheel, apparatus for supporting the gyrostat, apparatus for toppling the gyrostat creating precessional force in a predetermined direction against the supporting apparatus, and apparatus for rotating the gyrostat into an orientation whereby it can again be toppled while avoiding the creation of precessional force in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Controlled unidirectional movement of the apparatus based on gyrostatic precession is thereby obtained.

Claims

1. A thrust producing apparatus comprising a gyrostat having a gyrostat wheel, means for supporting the gyrostat, means for toppling the gyrostat creating precessional force in a predetermined direction against the supporting means, and means for rotating the gyrostat into an orientation whereby it can again be toppled while avoiding the creation of precessional force in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

2. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the rotating means is comprised of means for rotating the supporting means around a principal axis while rotating the axis of rotation of the gyrostat wheel about the axis of the supporting means to a position perpendicular to said principal axis during creation of said precessional force in said predetermined direction, and to a position parallel to said principal axis otherwise.

3. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim-1, in which the rotating means is comprised of a means for rotating the supporting means about a principal axis while rotating the axis of rotation of the gyrostat wheel through 360°

, in which the axis of rotation of the gyrostat is parallel to said predetermined direction while said supporting means is about 90°

from the axis of said predetermined direction, parallel to said predetermined direction while said supporting means is about 270°

from the axis of said predetermined direction and with the axis of rotation of the gyrostat wheel in the same direction as its orientation taken when the supporting means is about 90°

from the axis of said predetermined direction, perpendicular to said predetermined direction while the supporting means is about on said axis of said predetermined direction but at a position behind said principal axis with respect to said predetermined direction, and perpendicular to said predetermined direction but reversed in rotational direction from the position behind the principal axis while the supporting means is about on said axis of said predetermined direction but at a position ahead of said principal axis with respect to said predetermined direction.

4. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the rotating means is comprised of a means for rotating the supporting means about a principal axis while rotating the axis of rotation of the gyrostat wheel through 360°

, in which the axis of rotation of the gyrostat is parallel to said predetermined direction while said supporting means is about 90°

from the axis of said predetermined direction, parallel to said predetermined direction while said supporting means is about 270°

from the axis of said predetermined direction and with the axis of rotation of the gyrostat wheel in the same direction as its orientation taken when the supporting means is about 90°

from the axis of said predetermined direction, perpendicular to said predetermined direction while the supporting means is about on said axis of said predetermined direction but at a position behind said principal axis with respect to said predetermined direction, and perpendicular to said predetermined direction but reversed in rotational direction from the position behind the principal axis while the supporting means is about on said axis of said predetermined direction but at a position ahead of said principal axis with respect to said predetermined direction.

5. A first and a second thrust producing apparatus each as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the gyrostat of the second apparatus is located at a position directly opposite the first thrust producing apparatus with respect to the principal axis, and having a gyrostat supporting means coupled to the first gyrostat supporting means through said principal axis.

6. A first and a second thrust producing apparatus each as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the gyrostat of the second apparatus is located at a position directly opposite the first thrust producing apparatus with respect to the principal axis, and having a gyrostat supporting means coupled to the first gyrostat supporting means through said principal axis, the lengths of supporting means being equal.

7. A first and a second thrust producing apparatus each as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the gyrostat of the second apparatus is located at a position directly opposite the first thrust producing apparatus with respect to the principal axis, and having a gyrostat supporting means coupled to the first gyrostat supporting means through said principal axis, the distances of the axis of rotation of each of the gyrostat wheels from the principal axis being selected to produce a predetermined thrust.

8. A plurality of thrust producing apparatus each as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which gangs of said thrust producing apparatus are coupled through the same principal axis.

9. A plurality of thrust producing apparatus including a first and a second thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the gyrostat of the second apparatus is located at a position directly opposite the first thrust producing apparatus with respect to the principal axis, and having a gyrostat supporting means coupled to the first gyrostat supporting means through said principal axis, in which gangs of said thrust producing apparatus are coupled through the same principal axis.

10. A plurality of thrust producing apparatus including a first and a second thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the gyrostat of the second apparatus is located at a position directly opposite the first thrust producing apparatus with respect to the principal axis, and having a gyrostat supporting means coupled to the first gyrostat supporting means through said principal axis, the distances of the axis of rotation of each of the gyrostat wheels from the principal axis being selected to produce predetermined thrust, in which gangs of said thrust producing apparatus are coupled through the same principal axis.

11. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the means for topping and the means for rotation is comprised of a differential gear mechanism rotated about said principal axis, a pair of rods extending in opposite directions from said mechanism 90°

from the principal axis and rotating by said mechanism in opposite directions, and means for fixing the axes of rotation of the gyrostat wheels to said rods.

12. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the means for toppling and the means for rotation are comprised of a differential gear mechanism rotated about said principal axis, a pair of rods extending in opposite directions from said mechanism 90°

from the principal axis and rotating by said mechanism in opposite directions, and means for fixing the axes of rotation of the gyrostat wheels to said rods.

13. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the means for toppling and the means for rotation are comprised of a differential gear mechanism rotated about said principal axis, a pair of rods extending in opposite directions from said mechanism 90°

from the principal axis and rotating by said mechanism in opposite directions, means for fixing the axes of rotation of the gyrostat wheels to said rods, and a motor coupled to the differential gear mechanism for rotating said mechanism, and thereby rotating said rods in opposite directions.

14. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the means for toppling and the means for rotation are comprised of a differential gear mechanism rotated about said principal axis, a pair of rods extending in opposite directions from said mechanism 90°

from the principal axis and rotating by said mechanism in opposite directions, the mechanism being adapted to rotate each of the rods through 360°

about their own axes while being rotated themselves 360°

about the principal axis, and means for fixing the axes of rotation of the gyrostat wheels to said rods.

15. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the means for toppling and the means for rotation are comprised of a differential gear mechanism rotated about said principal axis, a pair of rods extending in opposite directions from said mechanism 90°

from the principal axis and rotating by said mechanism in opposite directions, the mechanism being adapted to rotate each of the rods through 360°

about their own axes while being rotated themselves 360°

about the principal axis, means for fixing the axes of rotation of the gyrostat wheels to said rods, said supporting means being further supported by a supporting rod extending along the principal axis into said mechanism, for rotating said mechanism, and a frame for receiving said force coupled via bearings to said supporting rod.

16. A thrust producing apparatus comprising a gyrostat having a gyrostat wheel for rotation about a rotational axis, a principal axis for the apparatus, means for supporting the gyrostat a distance perpendicular to the axis whereby the plane of the rotational axis is tangent to a circle centered on the principal axis, means for rotating the gyrostat about the principal axis while rotating the rotational axis about 360°

in said plane while rotating the support 360°

about the principal axis, whereby precessional thrust is created in a direction orthogonal to the principal axis.

17. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which the means for rotating the rotational axis is a stepping motor.

18. A thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which the means for supporting is comprised of a rod along the principal axis and an arm for supporting the gyrostat extending perpendicular to the rod fixed to the rod for rotation about the axis of the rod, and further including means for rotating the rod about its axis.

19. Thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16, 17 or 18 in which the rotating means is adapted to rotate said rotational axis so that it is at least approximately orthogonal to the principal axis when located between a small angle less than 90°

and 90°

to said directional of precessional thrust and when located between about 270° and

a small angle greater than 270°

to said direction of precessional thrust but with the axis of rotation reversed 180°

.

20. Thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16, 17 or 18 in which the rotating means is adapted to rotate said rotational axis so that it is at least approximately orthogonal to the principal axis when located between a small angle less than 90°

and 90°

to said directional of precessional thrust and when located between about 270° and

a small angle greater than 270°

to said direction of precessional thrust but with the axis of rotation reversed about 180°

, and further comprising a second similar apparatus disposed in a position directly opposite to the first thrust producing apparatus and similarly supported on the same principal axis.

21. Thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16, 17 or 18 in which the rotating means is adapted to rotate said rotational axis so that it is at least approximately orthoqonal to the principal axis when located between a small angle less than 90°

and 90°

to said directional of precessional thrust and when located between about 270° and

a small angle greater than 270°

to said direction of precessional thrust but with the axis of rotation reversed about 180°

, and further comprising a second apparatus disposed in a position directly opposite to the first thrust producing apparatus and similarly supported on the same principal axis, the distances of the rotational axes of the gyrostats from the principal axis being predetermined to obtain predetermined thrust.

22. Thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16, 17 or 18 in which the rotating means is adapted to rotate said rotational axis so that it is at least approximately orthogonal to the principal axis when located between a small angle less than 90°

and 90°

to said directional of precessional thrust and when located between about 270° and

a small angle greater than 270°

to said direction of precessional thrust but with the axis of rotation reversed about 180°

, and further comprising a second similar apparatus disposed in a position directly opposite to the first thrust producing apparatus and similarly supported on the same principal axis, and means for varying the length of the gyrostat supporting means for selectably varying the distances of the rotational axes of the gyrostats from the principal axis whereby the direction of output force can be reversed depending on said distances.

23. Thrust producing apparatus as defined in claim 16, 17 or 18 in which the rotating means is adapted to rotate said rotational axis so that it is at least approximately orthoqonal to the principal axis over when located between a small angle less than 90°

and 90°

to said directional of precessional thrust and when located between about 270° and

a small angle greater than 270°

to said direction of precessional thrust but with the axis of rotation reversed about 180°

, and further comprising a second similar apparatus disposed in a position directly opposite to the first thrust producing apparatus and similarly supported on the same principal axis, and means for varying the length of the gyrostat supporting means for selectably varying the distances of the rotational axes of the gyrostats from the principal axis.