Reciprocating chemical muscle(RCM) and method for using same

A method for producing power through a noncombustive catalytic reaction and utilizing the power for propelling an apparatus, said method comprising:

• controllably metering a monopropellant fuel into a reaction chamber, the reaction chamber having a catalyst disposed therein such that a chemical reaction between the monopropellant fuel and the catalyst produces heat and gas;
• utilizing at least a portion of the heat and gas to produce reciprocating motion;
• transmitting the reciprocating motion to a propulsor such that the propulsor generates motion of the apparatus;
• utilizing at least a portion of the heat and gas to produce acoustic waves;
• directing the acoustic waves toward an object external to the apparatus;
• and
• altering a motion characteristic of the apparatus in response to a determined range of the object, the range of the object being determined by analyzing reflected ones of the acoustic waves.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling flight of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port and an exhaust port, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable flight of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a flight characteristic of said apparatus during flight;
• wherein said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism comprises first and second bellows and a guide bushing disposed therebetween, said first and second bellows being configured to alternately pressurize and vent such that said guide bushing reciprocates along a longitudinal axis between a first position, corresponding to said first bellows being vented and said second bellows being pressurized, and a second position, corresponding to said first bellows being pressurized and said second bellows being vented;
• and
• wherein said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism has a self-actuating valve moveable between a first valve position and a second valve position, in said first valve position said self-actuating valve being configured to pressurize said first bellows and vent said second bellows, in said second valve position said self-actuating valve being configured to vent said first bellows and pressurize said second bellows, said guide bushing being configured to initiate movement of said self-actuating valve between said first valve position and said second valve position.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling flight of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port and an exhaust port, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable flight of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a flight characteristic of said apparatus during flight;
• a wave generator configured to receive at least a portion of said remaining gas from said exhaust port, said remaining gas being under pressure, said wave generator being configured to propagate acoustic waves therefrom in response to receiving said remaining gas;
• and
• a controller configured to receive transmission information corresponding to acoustic waves transmitted from said wave generator and reception information corresponding to reflected ones of said acoustic waves received by said apparatus, said reflected ones of said acoustic waves being reflected from objects external to said apparatus, said controller being configured to correlate said transmission information with said reception information and generate a control signal in response thereto, said control signal being configured to alter a flight characteristic of said apparatus.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling flight of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port and an exhaust port, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable flight of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a flight characteristic of said apparatus during flight;
• a wave generator configured to receive at least a portion of said remaining gas from said exhaust port, said remaining gas being under pressure, said wave generator being configured to propagate acoustic waves therefrom in response to receiving said remaining gas;
• a controller configured to receive transmission information corresponding to acoustic waves transmitted from said wave generator and reception information corresponding to reflected ones of said acoustic waves received by said apparatus, said reflected ones of said acoustic waves being reflected from objects external to said apparatus, said controller being configured to correlate said transmission information with said reception information and generate a control signal in response thereto, said control signal being configured to alter a flight characteristic of said apparatus;
• and
• wherein said wave generator comprises a resonant cavity and a piston movably arranged therein, said resonant cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of said remaining gas and, in response thereto, generate acoustic waves, a frequency of said acoustic waves corresponding to a position of said piston within said resonant cavity.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling flight of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port and an exhaust port, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable flight of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a flight characteristic of said apparatus during flight;
• and
• a gas bearing configured to receive at least a portion of said remaining gas from said exhaust port, said gas bearing comprising a first surface and a second surface configured to move relative thereto, said first surface having a perforation formed therethrough, said perforation being configured to receive a flow of said remaining gas and direct said flow toward said second surface such that said second surface is urged away from said first surface, thereby reducing friction between said first surface and said second surface.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling flight of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port, an exhaust port, a piston, and a spool valve, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable flight of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a flight characteristic of said apparatus during flight, said piston and said spool valve being reciprocatingly engaged within said body, said piston being movable between a first reciprocating position and a second reciprocating position, said spool valve defining a first channel and a second channel and being movable between a first position and a second position, in said first position said spool valve enabling at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas from said exhaust port to pass through said first channel and urge said piston from said first reciprocating position toward said second reciprocating position, in said second position said spool valve enabling at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas from said exhaust port to pass through said second channel and urge said piston from said second reciprocating position toward said first reciprocating position;
• and
• a pair of wings, said wings configured to move in response to reciprocating motion of said piston such that said wings generate lift thereby enabling flight of said apparatus.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling flight of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port, an exhaust port, a piston, and a spool valve, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable flight of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a flight characteristic of said apparatus during flight, said piston and said spool valve being reciprocatingly engaged within said body, said piston being movable between a first reciprocating position and a second reciprocating position, said spool valve defining a first channel and a second channel and being movable between a first position and a second position, in said first position said spool valve enabling at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas from said exhaust port to pass through said first channel and urge said piston from said first reciprocating position toward said second reciprocating position, in said second position said spool valve enabling at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas from said exhaust port to pass through said second channel and urge said piston from said second reciprocating position toward said first reciprocating position;
• a pair of wings, said wings configured to move in response to reciprocating motion of said piston such that said wings generate lift thereby enabling flight of said apparatus;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas is directed to said wings for influencing a flight characteristic of said apparatus.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling motion of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port and an exhaust port, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable motion of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a motion characteristic of said apparatus;
• wherein said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism comprises first and second bellows and a guide bushing disposed therebetween, said first and second bellows being configured to alternately pressurize and vent such that said guide bushing reciprocates along a longitudinal axis between a first position, corresponding to said first bellows being vented and said second bellows being pressurized, and a second position, corresponding to said first bellows being pressurized and said second bellows being vented;
• and
• wherein said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism has a self-actuating valve moveable between a first valve position and a second valve position, in said first valve position said self-actuating valve being configured to pressurize said first bellows and vent said second bellows, in said second valve position said self-actuating valve being configured to vent said first bellows and pressurize said second bellows, said guide bushing being configured to initiate movement of said self-actuating valve between said first valve position and said second valve position.

An apparatus for generating power from a non-combustive chemical reaction, the power enabling motion of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port and being configured to receive monopropellant fuel, said reaction chamber containing a catalyst, said catalyst being chemically reactive with said monopropellant fuel;
• a fuel metering device communicating with said input port and being configured to meter said monopropellant fuel into said reaction chamber through said input port of said reaction chamber such that a chemical reaction between said monopropellant fuel and said catalyst occurs, said chemical reaction producing heat and gas, at least a portion of said heat and gas being expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber;
• a reciprocating motion-producing mechanism having an intake port and an exhaust port, said intake port communicating with said output port of said reaction chamber, said reciprocating motion-producing mechanism being configured to generate reciprocating motion from said heat and gas expelled through said output port of said reaction chamber and provide remaining heat and gas to said exhaust port, said reciprocating motion being adapted to enable motion of said apparatus, at least a portion of said remaining heat and gas being utilized to influence a motion characteristic of said apparatus;
• a wave generator configured to receive at least a portion of said remaining gas from said exhaust port, said remaining gas being under pressure, said wave generator being configured to propagate acoustic waves therefrom in response to receiving said remaining gas;
• and
• a controller configured to receive transmission information corresponding to acoustic waves transmitted from said wave generator and reception information corresponding to reflected ones of said acoustic waves received by said apparatus, said reflected ones of said acoustic waves being reflected from objects external to said apparatus, said controller being configured to correlate said transmission information with said reception information and generate a control signal in response thereto, said control signal being configured to alter a flight characteristic of said apparatus.