Impulse momentum propulsion apparatus and method
OwnerMark Joseph Skowronskiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An impulse momentum propulsion apparatus includes a power source and a track arranged radially relative to a vertical axis with a proximal end of the track nearest the vertical axis and a distal end of the track farthest from the vertical axis, the track powered by the power source to rotate about the vertical axis. The apparatus further includes a mass constrained to move along the track and a linear actuator that moves the mass from the distal end of the track to the proximal end of the track when the primary mass arrives at the distal end of the track due to centrifugal force acting on the mass caused by the rotation of the track. A net reaction force acting on the track over a full rotation of the track includes a non-zero propulsive force component in a propulsion direction.
Claims21
An impulse momentum propulsion apparatus comprising:
- a power source;
- a primary track arranged radially relative to a vertical axis with a proximal end of the primary track nearest the vertical axis and a distal end of the primary track farthest from the vertical axis, the primary track powered by the power source to rotate about the vertical axis in a first rotational direction;
- a primary mass constrained to move along the primary track;
- and
- a primary linear actuator that moves the primary mass from the distal end of the primary track to the proximal end of the primary track when the primary mass arrives at the distal end of the primary track due to centrifugal force acting on the primary mass caused by the rotation of the primary track, wherein
- a net reaction force acting on the primary track over a full rotation of the primary track includes a non-zero propulsive force component in a propulsion direction.
A spacecraft comprising:
- a hull;
- a power source;
- a primary track arranged radially relative to a vertical axis with a proximal end of the primary track nearest the vertical axis and a distal end of the primary track farthest from the vertical axis, the primary track powered by the power source to rotate about the vertical axis in a first rotational direction relative to the hull;
- a primary mass constrained to move along the primary track;
- and
- a primary linear actuator that moves the primary mass from the distal end of the primary track to the proximal end of the primary track when the primary mass arrives at the distal end of the primary track due to centrifugal force acting on the primary mass caused by the rotation of the primary track, wherein
- a net reaction force acting on the primary track over a full rotation of the primary track includes a non-zero propulsive force component in a propulsion direction of the hull.
A method of impulse momentum propulsion comprising:
- providing a track arranged radially relative to a vertical axis with a proximal end of the track nearest the vertical axis and a distal end of the track farthest from the vertical axis;
- providing a mass constrained to move along the track;
- rotating the track about the vertical axis;
- as the mass moves from the proximal end of the track to the distal end of the track due to centrifugal force acting on the mass caused by the rotation of the track, controlling the track and/or the mass such that the movement of the mass from the proximal end of the track to the distal end of the track occurs over the course of a predetermined portion of a rotation of the track;
- and
- moving the mass from the distal end of the track to the proximal end of the track when the mass arrives at the distal end of the track, wherein
- a net reaction force acting on the track over a full rotation of the track includes a non-zero propulsive force component in a propulsion direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.