Method and apparatus for gyroscopic propulsion
OwnerChris Hewattinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A propulsion system includes an engine and a rotating member rotatably engaging the engine. The rotating member comprises a plurality of drive members positioned around the circumference of the rotating member. Each of the drive members has an unlocked state in which the drive members apply substantially no torque to the rotating member, and a locked state, in which the drive members apply substantially a torque to the rotating member. At a selected time, a first set of the drive members are in the unlocked state and a second set of the drive members are in the locked state to provide a propulsive force.
Claims27
A propulsion system, comprising:
- an engine;
- and
- a rotating member rotatably engaging the engine, wherein the rotating member comprises at least one drive member positioned around the circumference of the rotating member, the drive member has an unlocked state in which the drive member applies substantially no torque to the rotating member and a locked state in which the drive member applies substantially a torque to the rotating member, whereby at a first time the drive member is in the unlocked state and at a second time the drive member is in the locked state to provide a propulsive force.
A propulsion method, comprising:
- rotating a rotating member, the rotating member operatively engaging a plurality of drive members;
- setting a first set of drive members to an unlocked state in which the drive members apply substantially no resistance to rotation of the rotating member;
- and
- simultaneously setting a second set of drive members to a locked state in which the drive members resist rotation of the rotating member.
A propulsion system comprising:
- a rotating member, the rotating member operatively engaging a plurality of drive members;
- means for setting a first set of drive members to an unlocked state in which the drive members apply substantially no resistance to rotation of the rotating member;
- and
- means for simultaneously setting a second set of drive members to a locked state in which the drive members resist rotation of the rotating member.
A propulsion method, comprising:
- (a) rotating a rotating member that engages one or more drive members;
- (b) at a first angular position, setting the drive member(s) to an unlocked state in which the drive members apply substantially no resistance to rotation of the rotating member;
- and
- (c) at a second angular position, setting the drive member(s) to a locked state in which the drive member(s) resist rotation of the rotating member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.