Gyroscopic apparatus
AssigneeNoel Carroll
InventorALexander D. Kidd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gyroscopic apparatus (100), having application as a prime mover, comprises a pair of discs (102) disposed opposite one another with arms (104) rotatably supporting the discs (102) connected at a pivot point, the pivot axis thereof lying in a plane midway between the discs (102). A drive arrangement (124, 126, 180) operates to spin the discs (102) in opposite directions while simultaneously rotating the whole assembly of discs (102) and arms (104) about a second axis in the same plane as, but perpendicular to, the pivot axis. A camming arrangement (144, 146, 152) working in conjunction with the rotation about the second axis periodically forces the spinning discs (102) to pivot about the pivot axis to thereby generate a force along the second axis which can be used to perform useful work.
Claims20
A gyroscopic apparatus comprising:
- a pair of rotatable masses disposed opposite one another;
- means for mounting said masses which enable said masses to pivot about a pivot axis, said pivot axis lying in a mirror image plane which is directly between said masses;
- drive means for driving said masses so as to give said masses respective opposite angular momentums, having directions substantially perpendicular to and directed away from said plane second drive means, and for driving said apparatus so as to rotate said masses about a central axis which is in said plane and perpendicular to said pivot axis;
- means for periodically forcing said masses towards one another from a predetermined position and allowing said masses to return to said predetermined position so as to generate a pulsatile force in said mounting means.
A gyroscopic apparatus comprising:
- a first shaft adapted to be rotated about a precession axis;
- at least two second shafts generally disposed orthogonally to said first shaft and coupled to said first shaft and each second shaft having an end carrying a rotatable mass thereon, said masses being substantially diametrically disposed and being rotatable in different directions about a respective shaft axis;
- drive means adapted to rotate said orthogonal second shafts and said rotatable masses as said apparatus spins about said precession axis;
- mass support means coupled between said first shaft and each orthogonal shaft for supporting each mass during rotation of said gyroscopic apparatus about said precession axis;
- mass reciprocating means coupled between said first shaft and said mass support means for causing said masses to reciprocate in rectilinear movement as said masses rotate about said precession axis;
- and
- thrust bearing means disposed on said first shaft at an upper end thereof for transmitting thrust axially along said precession axis, the arrangement being such that, in use, said gyroscopic apparatus is rotated about said precession axis and said masses are rotated about each respective shaft axis and are also reciprocated in a direction substantially orthogonal to said precession axis, and as the speed of rotation reaches a predetermined value, pulsatile force is created which acts through said mass support means to create an upward thrust on said first shaft which transmits said upward thrust to said thrust bearing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.