Abstract:
A propulsion system that uses an alternating series of magnetic forces, inertia, and gravitational drops to propel a magnetic object along a pathway. The pathway can be an undulating track that can retain an object thereon. A plurality of magnet pairs are placed along the track, one of each pair on either side of the track, the pairs in spaced relation from each other along the track. The magnet pairs are positioned and aligned so as to propel the object up each up-slope to a crest, at which point the object falls through gravity down the down-slope and gains inertia. The track can be configured linearly or in a circle, for example, depending upon the desired orientation. In an alternate embodiment, a magnet can be positioned atop the track to attract the object up the slope.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/734,638, filed Nov. 7, 2005, entitled “Magnetic and Inertial Propulsion System.” 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to propulsion system, and, more particularly, to propulsion systems driven by a combination of magnetism and inertia. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Propulsion systems are known in the art that use arrangements of permanent magnets aligned in staggered relation along a pair of tracks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a propulsion system that uses an alternating series of magnetic forces, inertia, and gravitational drops to propel a magnetic object along a pathway. The pathway comprises an undulating track having means for retaining an object thereon. In one embodiment, a plurality of magnet pairs are placed along the track, one of each pair on either side of the track, the pairs in spaced relation from each other along the track. 
   The magnet pairs are positioned and aligned so as to propel the object up each up-slope to a crest, at which point the object falls through gravity down the down-slope and gains inertia. 
   The track can be configured linearly or in a circle, depending upon the desired orientation. 
   In other embodiments the propelling magnets can be placed above the track, and additional magnets can be provided to repel the object from re-ascending a down-slope. Further magnets can also be provided in some embodiments beneath the track for assisting in “lifting” the object along its pathway. 
   The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the device of  FIG. 1 , with an alternate form of track. 
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the device. 
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the device. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the third embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device. 
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the device. 
       FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
   The present invention is directed to a propulsion system for moving an object along an undulating track. In a first embodiment of the system  10  for moving an object along a track  11  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The object in an exemplary embodiment comprises a wheeled axle  12  that includes four magnets  13  positioned so as to form a cylinder and two steel washers  14  in coaxial and surrounding relation thereto, the washers  14  having a diameter greater than that of the magnets  13 . 
   The axis  15  of the magnet stack  13  and washers  14  is orientable approximately perpendicular to a long axis  16  of the track  11 , so that a south pole S is facing in one direction and a north pole N in the opposite direction. One of skill in the art will recognize that this construction is not intended to be limiting, and that the invention is intended to contemplate any device comprising a magnet in a configuration wherein the poles are oriented substantially perpendicular to the track  11 . 
   The track  11  in a preferred embodiment comprises a series of up- 17  and down- 18  slopes. The track  11  may have any top plan configuration, such as, but not intended to be limited to, straight or circular. The up- 17  and down- 18  slopes may comprise smooth undulations or may comprise a sawtooth-type configuration. 
   Preferably the track  11  further has means for retaining the axle  12  thereon. For example, the track  11  may comprise a railroad-type track with rails  19  and cross-beams  20 , wherein the axle&#39;s outer elements, here, the washers  14 , can ride outside respective rails  19  and thereby be retained on the track  11 . This configuration may also be constructed without cross-beams. Alternatively, the track  11 ′ can comprise an element having grooves  21  dimensioned for permitting the washers  14  to ride therein. Again, these track  11 , 11 ′ configurations are not intended to be limiting. 
   A plurality of magnet pairs  22 , 23  are placed along the track  11 , positioned so that their respective magnetic fields can interact with those of the axle&#39;s magnet  13 . In a particular embodiment, the magnet pairs  22 , 23  can comprise a substantially cylindrical stack of magnets, although this is not intended as a limitation. The pairs  22 , 23  are oriented so that, along each side, a common polarity is oriented upward and toward the track  11 , with the opposite polarity on the opposite side of the track  11 . The pairs  22 , 23  are positioned in spaced relation from each other along the track  11 , and are generally opposite each other across the track  11 . 
   The axle  12  is positioned on the track  11  so that its magnet stack  13  is oriented opposite to that of the magnet pairs  22 , 23 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , for example, the magnet stack  22  on the top of the figure has a north pole N pointing toward the track, and the magnet stack  23 , the south pole S. The axle  12  has its magnet stack  13  oriented with the south pole S upward on the figure. 
   It will be understood by one of skill in the art that different pole orientations may be used to achieve substantially the same effect, and that those described above are not intended to be limiting. Further, the axle&#39;s magnets  13  can even be configured to have like poles pointing outward by forcibly retaining them together, in which case the magnet pairs  22 , 23  can have like orientations opposite to that at the ends of the axle magnets  13 . 
   The magnet stack pairs  22 , 23  are positioned and aligned so as to propel the axle  12  up each up-slope  17  to a peak  24 , at which point the axle  12  falls through gravity down the down-slope  18  and gains inertia. So long as the elements of the device  10  are carefully positioned, an axle  12  can be positioned to begin at the valley  25  of an undulation, and move along the track  11  under alternating influence of magnetic fields and gravity. 
   In a particular embodiment that has been tested by the inventor, the magnets  13 , 22 , 23  comprise rare earth magnets of 0.2 in. height and ⅜ in. diameter. The entire axle  12  weighs approximately 2 oz, and comprises four magnets  13  and two washers  14 . 
   The magnet stacks  22 , 23  are approximately 3.6 in. long, with a longitudinal separation  26  of approximately 3 in., and form an angle  27  of approximately 45° with the horizontal. The bottoms  28  of the stacks  22 , 23  are approximately 6 in. apart  29  across the track; the tips  30 , 4 in. apart  31 ; so they lean inward toward the track at the top. The polarities shown can be reversed without affecting the invention. 
   The period  32  of the track  11  is approximately 8.5 in., with an amplitude  33  of 1.5 in. The axle  12  has been shown to achieve a speed of 1 ft/sec. 
   In a second embodiment ( FIG. 3 ), the system  40  comprises rare earth magnets  41  that are 0.25 in. in diameter. The magnet stacks  42  in this embodiment are approximately 7 in. long. In addition to these primary magnet stacks  42  are included secondary magnet stacks  43  that are approximately 4 in. long, and are set at an angle to the primary magnet stacks  42  so as to point to a medial “dead zone” of magnetic field. The secondary stacks  43  serve to assist in lifting the axle  44  fully up the ascent of the undulating track  45 . 
   The second system  40  additionally comprises a “field modifier”  46  positioned adjacent the tops  47  of the primary magnet stacks  42 . The field modifiers  46  can be made of ferrite or mu metal, and have an arcuate shape, with the inward portion of the arch facing the primary magnet stack top  47 . The field modifiers  46  are believed to redirect post-peak fields after the track hump  48  away from the track  45 , permitting an improved roll-away of the axle  44  down the track  45 . In a particular embodiment, the field modifiers  46  are provided in duplicate, with the arches nested. The field modifiers  46  can be supported above the track  45 , for example, with the use of a column  49  of clay, although this is not intended as a limitation. 
   A third embodiment of the system  60  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) is similar to the second embodiment  40 . This system  60  further comprises a set of tertiary magnet stacks  61 , which are positioned nearly parallel to the primary stacks  62 , and augment the fields provided thereby. Further, in this embodiment  60  the two field modifiers  63  are stacked and positioned along the track  64 , with the arches pointing toward the track  64 . Also provided herein are transverse magnets  65 , which are embedded in clay supports  66  positioned beneath the track  64 . 
   Particular measurements (all in in.) are provided for this system  60 , which are intended as exemplary only and not to be limiting: 
                                           primary stack length   5.25   secondary stack length   2.75       tertiary stack length   3.0   tip-to-tip distance between   5.0               primary stacks       tip-to-tip distance   6.0   tip-to-tip distance between   6.0       between secondary stacks       tertiary stacks       base-to-base distance   7.5   base-to-base distance   4.5       between primary stacks       between secondary stacks       base-to-base distance   8.5   height of tip of primary   2.75       between tertiary stacks       stacks       height of tip of secondary   1.38   height of tip of tertiary   1.12       stacks       stacks       track height at peak   1.75   track height at well   1.0       track period   8.19   track peak-to-peak distance   8.5               (linear travel along track)                    
The bases of the primary, secondary, and tertiary stacks are at 0 in. from the surface.
 
   A fourth embodiment  80  ( FIG. 6 ) includes a track that comprises a pair of wooden sheets  81  supported on end to form retaining walls inside which the axle  82  can travel. Here a net height increase can be achieved, in an exemplary embodiment, of 5 in., using the magnet stacks  83  illustrated. 
   A fifth embodiment  90  ( FIG. 7 ) includes an axle  91  in which the magnetic component has a first polarity adjacent a first  92  and a second  93  side of the track  94 . In this case the track  94  comprises a circular foam material, although this is not intended as a limitation. The axle  91  has wheels  95 , 96  that have different diameters dimensioned so that the axle  91  will turn naturally into the curve of the track  94 . Preferably the axle  91  also has a length sufficient to permit the use of an overhead magnet set  97 , which has a polarity adapted for attracting the center of the axle  91 , that is, the second polarity opposite the first polarity. Here the magnet set  97  a plurality, here seven, stacks  98  of magnets that are positioned vertically on a support comprising two opposed surfaces  99 . They are positioned in spaced-apart relation along the long axis of the track  94 , with the spacing decreasing from an upstream end to a downstream end of the set  97 . 
   This embodiment  90  further comprises a secondary magnet  100  affixed to the support  99  above the track&#39;s crest  101 . The secondary magnet  100  has an end  102  facing the track crest  101  of the second polarity for repelling the axle  91  down the down-slope of the track  94  and thereby preventing the axle  91  from returning toward the secondary magnet  100 . 
   In yet another embodiment  110  ( FIG. 8 ) an axle  111  such as used in the preceding embodiment  90  is employed on an undulating track  112 . Here side-pushing magnet stacks  113  are added to the configuration of  FIG. 7 , with the tips  114  positioned just past the crest  115  of each undulation on each side, substantially parallel with the axis of the axle  111 . 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.