Rotation generating apparatus

A rotational movement generating apparatus having a platform supported by a support assembly. The support assembly connects to a central point of the platform in a manner that allows the platform to rotate at the central point. A central axis is defined with the circular rotation of the platform. The platform defines a first radius line extending from the central point to an outer edge of the platform. An arm connects to the platform at a connection point that is spaced apart from the first radius line of the platform. A first portion of the arm ends at an elbow where it connects to a second portion of the arm. The second portion of the arm is positioned to extend in an upward direction over the first radius line at a predetermined angle towards the central axis. A thrust bearing is positioned above the platform in alignment with the central point. The thrust bearing has an outer disk rotatably encircling a thrust cylinder. The second portion of the arm connects to the outer disk. The thrust bearing is positioned so that when the thrust cylinder is pulled with a predetermined force away from the platform along the central axis, the platform rotates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a rotating apparatus for use with other rotation devices. More particularly the apparatus of the present invention relates to an apparatus which generates a rotational movement that can be used to provide rotational movement to other rotating devices including windmills, wheels, propellers, axle of wheels, and gears.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are many different types of rotating devices. Examples of rotating devices include windmills, wheels, propellers, axle for wheels, motor gears, and so on. For windmills, the power to turn the blades of the windmill comes from wind hitting the blades at the proper angle. The wind must continually blow onto the blades to continue the rotation of the blades. For wheels, examples include from bicycle wheels, motorcycle wheels, to ferris wheels. For bicycles, power for rotation of the wheels derives from manual leg power pushing the pedals, and for motorcycles and ferris wheels, power for rotation comes from battery, combustion, or electric powered motors.

For generating rotational force for rotating devices, power must come from sources such as manual, leg powered, battery, electric, wind, solar, combustible material, and so on. It is desirable that the least amount of power from the power source be used for generation of the rotation of the rotating device. There are known ways to lower the amount of power utilized from the power source, which can include modification of the design of the rotating device, varying the weight of the rotating devices, and varying the structure of the rotating device. In a U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,814 issued to Rizzo, a bicycle is taught having a wheel specially weighted with weights which are slidably attached to the spokes of the wheel and are spring biased to move between an extended and a retracted position depending on the rate of rotation of the wheel. These weights are placed on the wheel to afford enhanced momentum, stability, and reduce human pedal power for continual rotation at high rates of speed.

None of the prior art teaches an apparatus as taught by the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention generates rotational force utilizing a constant eccentric force pulling an upwardly inclined arm. The arm is positioned so that the application of an upward pull thereon creates an eccentric force pulling the arm. The apparatus of the present invention can be used to generate a constant rotating motion using the eccentric pulling force on the arm. The apparatus can be coupled with rotating devices to reduce the power necessary to rotate the rotating portions of these rotating devices.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which generates a constant rotational force with the application of a constant pulling force. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which provides rotational force to the rotating portions of other rotating devices. It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the usage of power necessary to rotate devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus for generating a rotational movement using the application of an eccentric force. This apparatus can be used with other devices to provide rotational force to the rotating component of the other devices. The present invention has a platform supported by a support structure. A rod extends from a central point of the platform and through an aperture of the support structure. The platform is formed to rotate at the central point in a circular motion. A layer of bearing can be placed between the rod and the support structure so that the platform can rotate relative to the support structure. A central axis is defined with the circular rotation of the platform at the central point; the central axis extends through the central point and is the axis about which the platform rotates. The platform defines a first radius line extending from the central point to an outer edge of the platform.

A rotational assembly connects to the platform to generate a rotation of the platform. The rotational assembly includes an arm and a thrust bearing. The arm has a first portion attached to the platform at a predetermined attachment point which is spaced apart from the first radius line of the platform. The first portion of the arm ends at an elbow where it connects to a second portion of the arm. The second portion of the arm is positioned to extend in an upward direction over the first radius line at a predetermined angle pointing towards the central axis. The thrust bearing has a center and is positioned above the platform in a manner so that the center of the thrust bearing is in alignment with the central point of the platform. The thrust bearing has an outer disk encircling a thrust cylinder in a manner which allows the outer disk to rotate. A layer of bearing can be placed between the thrust cylinder and the outer disk to allow for a smooth rotation of the outer disk relative to the thrust cylinder. The second portion of the arm connects to the outer disk. The thrust bearing is positioned so that when the thrust cylinder is pulled with a predetermined force away from the platform in the upward direction along the central axis, the platform rotates together with the outer disk of the thrust bearing. For optimal continuous rotation of the platform, when the thrust cylinder is being pulled continuously, the predetermined angle of the second portion of the arm should be in the range of forty to fifty degrees. The second portion of the arm connects to the elbow of the first portion in a manner that allows the second portion to pivot within a predetermined range. Also, the second portion of the arm connects to the outer disk of the thrust bearing in a manner that allows the second portion to pivot within a predetermined range at the connection with the outer disk.

In use, the constant application of a predetermined force pulling the thrust bearing away from the platform will cause the platform to continuously rotate. The present invention can be coupled with most devices, which have a rotational movement for providing rotational force to the rotating component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The present invention illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4is an apparatus7which utilizes the application of a continuous eccentric force to generate a continuous rotating motion. Such rotating motion can be coupled with other devices to provide continuous rotational force to the rotating component of other devices. The apparatus comprises a platform10having a central point12at which the platform is formed to rotate in a circular motion. A support assembly9connects to the platform in a manner that allows the platform10to rotate. In the embodiment shown, the support assembly is a support structure14having a connection to the platform in the form of a rod16. The support structure14is positioned below the platform10and has an aperture15extending therethrough. The rod16is attached so that it extends downward from the central point12of the platform10and through the aperture15of the support structure14. A layer of bearing17can be placed between the rod16and the support structure14so that the platform10can rotate smoothly relative to the support structure14. In the embodiment shown, the layer of bearing17is shown in the aperture15of the support structure14. With the circular rotation of the platform10at the central point12, a central axis18is defined extending through the central point12and about which the platform10rotates. The platform defines a first radius line20extending from the central point12to an outer edge22of the platform.

A rotational assembly connects to the platform10to generate a rotation of the platform. The rotational assembly includes an arm23and a thrust bearing25. The arm23has a first portion27attached to the platform10at a predetermined connection point29, which is spaced apart from the first radius line20of the platform10. The first portion27of the arm23ends at an elbow31where it connects to a second portion30of the arm23. As shown in the illustrations, the second portion30of the arm23is positioned to overlap the first radius line20and extend upwards at a predetermined angle pointing towards the central axis18. The second portion30of the arm23overlaps the first radius line20in a manner so that in a top plan view as shown inFIG. 2, the second portion30of the arm23aligns over and essentially covers the first radius line20. The thrust bearing25has a center33and is positioned above the platform10in a manner so that the center33of the thrust bearing25is in direct alignment with the central point12of the platform10. The thrust bearing25as shown in the illustrations has an outer disk40encircling a thrust cylinder42in a manner which allows the outer disk40to rotate around the thrust cylinder42. A layer of bearing45can be placed between the thrust cylinder42and the outer disk40to allow for a smooth rotation of the outer disk40relative to the thrust cylinder42. The second portion30of the arm23connects to the outer disk40. The thrust bearing25is positioned so that when the thrust cylinder42is pulled continuously with a predetermined force away from the platform in the upward direction along the central axis18, the platform10rotates continuously together with the outer disk40of the thrust bearing25. For optimal rotation of the platform10, when the thrust cylinder42is pulled, the predetermined angle of the second portion30of the arm23should be maintained at an angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees. In the preferred embodiment, the predetermined angle is maintained at an angle of forty five degrees as the thrust cylinder42is being pulled continuously. The second portion30of the arm23is connected to the elbow29of the first portion27in a manner that allows the second portion30to pivot within a predetermined range. Also, the second portion30of the arm23is connected to the outer disk40of the thrust bearing25in a manner that allow the second portion30to pivot within a predetermined range at the connection with the outer disk40.

The illustrations show an embodiment of the platform10in a rectangular shape; however, the shape of the platform10is not a limiting feature and can be in other shapes. Due to the formation and position of the arm, the predetermined force pulling the thrust bearing25pulls the arm23with an eccentric force between the arm23and the central point12thereby causing the platform to rotate in a circular motion at the central point12.

In use, the constant application of a predetermined force pulling the thrust bearing25away from the platform10will cause the platform10to continuously rotate. The source of the predetermined force pulling the thrust bearing25is not a limiting factor. There are many sources of such a pulling force known in the art, including but not limited to elastic bands, springs, manual force, and tension bars.

The present invention can be coupled with most devices, which have a rotational movement for providing rotational force to the rotating component of the devices. Although only one simple illustration is shown herein, the apparatus can be coupled to the rotating blade of a windmill and countless number of other rotating devices in order to provide rotational force for the rotating movement. For instance, other rotating devices can include, wheels, mills, propellers, mills, gears, and others. It is well-known in the art numerous ways to operatively couple the rotational force of the present invention when the platform10rotates with the application of the pulling force on the thrust bearing25to the rotating component of the other devices to provide rotational force thereto. For instance, the rod16can be directly or indirectly connected to the wheel or gear of another device. The support assembly9shown in the illustrations serves as a support for the platform10. The support assembly9can be part of a housing (not shown) or structural component (not shown) for the present invention. When the present invention is coupled with another device, the housing or structural component of the other device can be made to serve as a support structure14as shown inFIG. 4. Although the embodiment shown in the illustrations show one arm23attached to the thrust bearing, multiple arms (not shown) can be attached in a substantially identical manner to the thrust bearing and platform to further enhance the rotation of the platform with the application of pulling force on the thrust bearing25. When two arms23are used, they should not be placed on opposed sides of the platform10. When three or more arms23are used, they should not be placed equidistant relative to each other on the platform10.

Although an embodiment of the support assembly9is shown in the illustrations having a support structure14and rod16, there can be numerous variations of the support assembly9. The essential scope of the support assembly9is to provide a structural support to the platform and permit the platform10to rotate at the central point12with the application of the pulling force on the thrust bearing25. As such, in another embodiment (not shown), the support assembly can consist of a support structure having a connecting member extending therefrom and connecting to the central point of the platform in a manner that permits the rotation of the platform at the connection between the connecting member and the platform.

FIG. 4shows the present invention coupled with a rotating component50of a device60. The present invention improves a device having a rotating component by adding a novel method of providing rotational force to the rotating component. The method involves providing an apparatus7of the present invention as described herein and operatively connecting the rod16to the rotating component of the device. Applying a predetermined amount of continuous pulling force on the thrust bearing away from the platform along the central axis will cause a continuous rotation of the platform and rod, thereby providing rotational force to the rotating component. The pulling force on the thrust bearing25must be provided to the apparatus7to generate the rotation of the platform10, and the pulling force must be continually provided to cause a continuous rotation of the platform10. As discussed earlier, the pulling force can be provided through numerous existing sources ranging from manpower to springs to machines and others. For purposes of illustration, a simple device60and configuration is shown inFIG. 4. The device60is a basic illustration and has a housing62, and part of the housing is shown cut in a cross-sectional view to show the interior of the housing. The rod16of the apparatus7is operatively connected to the rotating component50, which in the illustration is a propeller. The support structure for the apparatus7is provided by part of the housing62of the device60. Rotational force to the propeller is provided by the rotation of the platform10as a pulling force from a source of power70pulls the thrust bearing25away from the platform10along the central axis18. The apparatus7alone can provide rotational force to the propeller or act in conjunction with an existing rotation generating source75that is already known in the art.

Although an embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, it should be understood that many changes, substitutions and modifications to the described embodiment will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention which is defined by the claims which follow.