Propulsion system
OwnerVirgil R. Laulinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A propulsion system which is designed to be used on a payload platform such as a spacecraft, satellite, aircraft or ocean vessel. To operate the system, electrical power is required. However, during operation the system does not require fuel or mass to be expelled into the environment in order to move in space. The system is designed to operate in two operational modes: in mode 1 the system incrementally moves the payload platform forward with each operational cycle. In the first mode, the system starts out with zero momentum and after moving a small distance is again left with zero momentum. In the mode 2 operation the payload platform accelerates forward a discrete increment of velocity during each operational cycle. In this second mode of operation these increments of velocity are additive.
Claims14
A propulsion system comprising:
- A. A propulsion unit comprising:
- a) a base having an upper surface and a lower surface,
- b) a carriage constraining assembly having an upper movable section and a lower stationary section, wherein the stationary section is rigidly attached to the upper surface of said base,
- c) a carriage having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower surface is rigidly attached to the upper movable section of said carriage constraining assembly,
- d) at least two counterbalanced weights attached to the upper or lower surface of said carriage by an attachment means, wherein said weights are rotated in synchrony and in opposite directions by at least one weight driving means which is attached to said base or said carriage and is coupled to a power source by a coupling means,
- e) a carriage to base locking means is activated by a sensor,
- f) when said weights rotate from 130 degrees to 50 degrees said base moves in the opposite direction which is the desired direction of travel, the said locking means is activated during this time,
- g) said weights travel a path that enables them to return to their initial position in relation to said base,
- f) a forward stop and a rearward stop attached to said base positioned in relation to the ends of said carriage,
- B. a payload platform rigidly attached to said base, wherein said propulsion system is operated in a mode 1 operating cycle as follows:
- a) initially said propulsion system is stopped with no forward momentum, and said weights rotate from 130 degrees to 50 degrees,
- b) the mode 1 operating cycle commences when said power source is energized said propulsion system causing said weights to rotate in a non circular path in relation to said base which causes said base and payload platform to move forward as a ratio of said base and payload platform weight to the weight of the said weights, wherein the forward motion of said payload platform and base continues until said weights attain their maximum rearward travel which occurs at 180 degrees, at which time the forward motion of said payload platform stops, and
- c) said weights continue to rotate in a non-proportional weight to carriage travel distance from 180 degrees past 360 degrees to 130 to 50 degrees, at which time said weights have attained their initial position, and at 180 degrees in the mode 1 operating cycle, said carriage is decoupled from said base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.