System for propelling and guiding a solid object with a beam of electromagnetic radiation

• US 5,520,356 A
• Filed: 08/14/1992
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ensley, Donald L.
• Original Assignee: Ensley, Donald L.
• Inventors: Ensley, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US07/930,820
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 244/62, 244/172, 244/159, 244/158 R, 60/202, 60/203.1, 60/204
• US Class Current: 244/62
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/409 Unconventional spacecraft propulsion systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 9/42 using liquid or gaseous propellants F02K9/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03H 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system for propelling a solid body having a transmit antenna for transmitting electromagnetic energy with a desired frequency and pattern. A solid body having a receiving antenna for receiving the transmitted energy and a fuel storage space, which receives fuel from the storage space and receives electromagnetic energy from the receiving antenna and in response thereto heats the fuel to produce a pressurized gas. A nozzle receives the pressurized gas and releases the gas from the solid body to produce a thrust force on the solid body.

Claims

1. A system for propelling a solid body along a radiation pattern, comprising:

an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic energy having a desired frequency and radiation pattern;

a solid body that travels within the radiation pattern, comprising;

a fuel storage means for storing fuel;

a receiving antenna for receiving electromagnetic energy from the transmitting antenna;

a plurality of resonant cavities for receiving fuel from the fuel storage means and electromagnetic energy from said receiving antenna and heating said fuel with said electromagnetic energy to convert said fuel to a pressurized gas;

thrust generating means for propelling the solid body by releasing said pressurized gas from said resonant cavities through corresponding nozzles, and

waveguides for transmitting electromagnetic energy from said receiving antenna to said resonant cavities, said waveguides being configured such that an asymmetrical distribution of radiation energy across said receiving antenna results in a corresponding asymmetrical distribution of energy among said resonant cavities to produce a correcting thrust force on the solid body, the inlet apertures of said waveguides being disposed symmetrically about the axis of said receiving antenna so that a translational deviation of the center of mass of the solid body from the axis of symmetry of the transmitted radiation pattern produces a correcting thrust on the side of the solid body that is farthest away from the axis of symmetry of the transmitted radiation beam, and an angular deviation of the axis of the receiving antenna from the axis of symmetry of the transmitted radiation beam produces a correcting thrust on the side of the solid body which is closest to the axis of symmetry of the transmitted radiation beam.