# US 10,482,790 B1 · Teaching aid for teaching the principles of an impulse driver > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,790 B1 - Document ID: US10482790B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/941,211 - Filed: 2018-03-30 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-23 - Applicants: Theodore N. Pittman - Inventors: Theodore N. Pittman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482790B1 ## CPC - G09B 23/10: of solid bodies - F03G 3/087: {Gravity or weight motors (using solid falling bodies F03G3/02; using sand or the like F03G3/04)} - G09B 9/00: Simulators for teaching or training purposes (for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; {protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131}) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) ## Abstract An educational tool for teaching principles of parametric resonance, linear force and angular momentum is presented herein. The tool includes a frame having a spindle assembly with a shaft. The upper end of the shaft is connected to an upper coupling and the lower end of the shaft is connected to a lower coupling. A turntable is positioned below the shaft and includes an offset mounting pin extending from a top surface thereof. Furthermore, a weight assembly is positioned through a hole in the shaft via an axle, wherein the axle is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation within the axle hole of the shaft. The upper motor will rotate the shaft in one direction, while the lower motor rotates the turntable in a second, opposite direction causing the weight assembly to rotate and oscillate about the longitudinal axis with a varying moment of inertia. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An educational tool for teaching principles of angular momentum, torque and linear force, comprising: a frame comprising an upper platform and a lower platform, an upper motor disposed on said upper platform, a lower motor disposed on said lower platform, a spindle assembly comprising a shaft comprising an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said shaft being connected to an upper coupling and said lower end of said shaft being connected to a lower coupling, a turntable comprising a mounting pin extending from a top surface thereof, the mounting pin being disposed in a offset position relative to a center axis of said turntable, said lower coupling being connected to said turntable via said mounting pin, said shaft comprising an axle hole disposed along a length thereof, an axle positioned through said axle hole of said shaft, wherein said axle is freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation within said axle hole, a weight assembly fixedly attached to said axle, wherein said weight assembly is rotatable with said axle about said longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein said longitudinal axis of rotation is offset from the center of mass of said weight assembly, and wherein said upper motor is structured to drivingly rotate said upper coupling about an upper axis, and wherein said lower motor is structured to drivingly rotate said turntable about a lower axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The educational tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said upper coupling is rotated in a first direction about said upper axis and said turntable is rotated in a second direction about said lower axis, said first direction being opposite said second direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The educational tool as recited in claim 2 wherein said upper axis and said lower axis are aligned with one another wherein said upper coupling and said turntable rotate about the same axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The educational tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said weight assembly comprises a first half fixedly connected to a first end of said axle and a second half fixedly connected to a second end of said axle; each of said first half and said second half of said weight assembly comprising a semicircular weight connected to a support plate; said support plate comprising a channel within which said axle is fixedly mounted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The educational tool as recited in claim 3 wherein rotation of said upper motor and said lower motor cause said weight assembly to torque upward at a greater radial distance, around said longitudinal axis of rotation, and said weight assembly torques downward around said longitudinal axis of rotation at a lesser radial distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The educational tool as recited in claim 3 wherein rotation of said upper coupling in said first direction and said turntable in said second direction causes said weight assembly and said axle to rotate and/or revolve about said longitudinal axis of rotation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The educational tool as recited in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to said frame, and a plurality of guides aligned with said plurality of roller assemblies. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The educational tool as recited in claim 7 wherein said plurality of pulley assemblies comprise a plurality of upper roller assemblies mounted to said upper platform of said frame and a plurality of lower roller assemblies mounted to said lower platform of said frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The educational tool as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of roller assemblies are structured to travel along said plurality of guides while said frame exhibits a linear force. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The educational tool as recited in claim 9 further comprising a counterweight interconnected to said frame via at least one attachment wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The educational tool as recited in claim 10 further comprising a suspension assembly configured to support said at least one attachment wire along a length thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The educational tool as recited in claim 11 wherein said weight of said counterweight is at least substantially equal to a weight of said frame.