Torque induced propulsion system

• US 6,860,166 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nathaniel Joseph Hintz
• Original Assignee: Nathaniel Joseph Hintz
• Inventors: Hintz, Nathaniel Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US10/309,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5.R, 74/57, 74/58, 74/54.7, 74/52.2, 74/87.R, 74/84.S
• US Class Current: 74/5.47
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/00 Drive mechanisms for toys in general
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/409 Unconventional spacecraft propulsion systems
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/10 Alleged perpetua mobilia using hydrostatic thrust F03B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/125 creating a thrust by violating the principle of momentum conservation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1254 by motor torque
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1282 with rotor drive

Abstract

A gyroscopic device includes a drive gimbal drive ring spinning about a drive gimbal axis, a precession gimbal spinning about a precession gimbal axis substantially perpendicular to the drive gimbal drive ring, and a gyro coupled to the drive gimbal drive ring rotating about the precession gimbal axis and spinning about a moving gyro spin axis substantially parallel to the drive gimbal ring. The gyro rotation and spin generates a precession force about the drive gimbal axis that is either opposite or coincident the direction of the drive gimbal spin when the depending upon the direction of the gyro. The precession force can be used to propel an object.

Claims

1. A gyroscopic device comprising:

a base;

a drive gimbal including a substantially planar drive gimbal drive ring coupled to said base;

a motor mounted on said base and coupled to said drive gimbal to spin said drive gimbal continuously and completely about a drive gimbal axis;

a precession gimbal spinning continuously and completely about a precession gimbal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said drive gimbal drive ring; and

a gyro simultaneously rotating about said precession gimbal axis and spinning about a moving gyro spin axis in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said drive gimbal drive ring, the spin of said gyro coupled to and guided by said drive gimbal drive ring such that said gyro is caused to spin when said motor drives said drive gimbal drive ring to spin, the gyro rotation and spin generating a precession force about the drive gimbal axis that is transmitted to said precession gimbal and, in turn, to said base through said drive gimbal and is opposite the direction of the drive gimbal spin when the gyro is guided in a first direction and coincident the direction of the drive gimbal spin when the gyro is guided in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a platform, said gyroscopic device mounted on said platform such that the precession force is parallel to said platform.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a second gyroscopic device mounted to said platform such that the precession forces of the two gyroscopic devices are parallel.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the second gyroscopic device is mounted to said platform such that the precession forces of the two gyroscopic devices are coplanar.

5. The device of claim 3 further comprising a pivot disposed perpendicular to said precession forces about which said platform may rotate such that at least a component of the rotational forces generated by said gyroscopic devices and transmitted to said platform are converted to linear force.

6. A device comprising:

a base;

a stationary gimbal including a substantially planar stationary gimbal drive ring fixed to said base;

a drive gimbal including a substantially planar drive gimbal drive ring;

a motor mounted on said base and coupled to said drive gimbal to spin said drive gimbal continuously and completely about a drive gimbal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said stationary gimbal drive ring;

a precession gimbal spinning about a precession gimbal axis substantially perpendicular to said drive gimbal drive ring, said precession gimbal coupled to said stationary gimbal drive ring and said drive gimbal to drive said precession gimbal to spin continuously and completely about said precession gimbal axis when said drive gimbal is spun; and

a gyro rotating about said precession gimbal axis and spinning about a moving gyro spin axis in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said drive gimbal drive ring, said gyro coupled to said drive gimbal drive ring and said precession gimbal to cause said gyro to rotate about said precession gimbal axis and spin about said gyro spin axis when said precession gimbal and said drive gimbal drive ring are spun, the direction of the gyro rotation and spin generating a precession force about the drive gimbal axis opposite the direction of the drive gimbal spin that is transmitted to said drive gimbal through said precession gimbal, to said motor through said drive gimbal, and to said base through said motor to said base through said motor.