UNIDIRECTIONAL FORCE GENERATOR

Abstract: A device (8) for producing a unidirectional force may be used to propel a vehicle (10) or other body in one direction or to serve in other applications requiring such a force. The device uses at least one centrifugal force generator (20, 22, 24, 26) which repetitively provides alternately occurring prolonged centrifugal forces of opposite direction along a line fixed relative to the generator. As these forces are produced the generator is turned relative to a supporting carriage (12) so that each time such a force occurs it has a generally forward direction relative to the carriage. Two or more centrifugal force generators may be mounted on a single carriage and operated in synchronism and in proper phase relationship to one another to produce a forwardly directed force of relatively steady magnitude and/or to cancel force components directed perpendicular to the forward direction.

Description: UNIDIRECTIONAL FORCE GENERATOR TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a mechanical device for producing a unidirectional force. BACKGROUND ART This invention relates to force generators, and deals more particularly with a device for mechanically pro¬ ducing a unidirectional force such as may be used to propel, brake or change the direction of a vehicle or other body. A general object of this invention is to provide a device for producing a unidirectional force by purely mecha¬ nical means, more specifically a device wherein centrifugal force is generated and controlled to produce a highly useful force having one general direction. Another object of the invention is to provide a device for a vehicle or body which, similar to a rocket engine, produces a unidirectional propulsion, braking or direction changing force acting directly on the associated vehicle or body with no reaction forces required between the vehicle and the earth, water or air through which it may be moving. That is, for example, when the device is mounted and operated on a wheeled land vehicle, the vehicle may be propelled forwardly or braked or changed in direction with¬ out any driving force being applied to any of the wheels. A further object of this invention is to provide a unidirectional force generator which may be manufactured in many different sizes and shapes to suit any one of a wide range of applications to which it may be applied. A still further object of the invention is to pro¬ vide a unidirectional force generator of the foregoing char acter which is capable of providing a forwardly directed force of relatively steady magnitude and including no side- wise components. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION This invention resides in a mechanical device for producing a unidirectional force which may be used to pro¬ pel, brake or change the direction of a vehicle or other body or to serve other applications requiring such a force. More particularly, the invention resides in a centrifugal force generator, which produces alternating prolonged cen¬ trifugal forces of opposite direction along a given line, combined with a means supporting the generator on a carriag and moving it in phase with the alternately created centri- fugal forces so that as each of the centrifugal forces occurs it is headed in a generally forward direction and urges the carriage in the same sense. The prolonged centri fugal forces are produced by a generator comprising a frame, a weight means, and a means restraining the weight means to move along a path fixed to the frame and consisting of two substantially parallel segments joined by two substantially semicircular end segments, the weight means being distribut ed substantially uniformly along a continuous portion of the length of the path so that during each traverse of the path by the weight means a first centrifugal force is pro¬ duced as the weight means passes over one of the two semi¬ circular segments of the path and a second centrifugal forc having a direction generally opposite to that of the first force is produced as the weight means moves over the other of the two semicircular path segments. The generator is O mounted on the carriage for rotation about an axis fixed to the carriage and in a plane perpendicular to the parallel path segments, and a means is provided for simultaneously driving the frame about its axis relative to the carriage and the weight means along its path relative to the frame, the drive means being such that as the frame makes one com¬ plete revolution about its axis the weight means makes one complete traverse along its path. Therefore, each time the weight ' means moves over either one of its two semicircular path segments the centrifugal force produced has a component directed generally in the forward direction. The invention also resides in providing the car¬ riage with two or more centrifugal force generators which are so arranged and phased as to provide a more steady for- wardly directed force than provided by a single generator and/or to cancel and eliminate side-wise directed components of the centrifugal forces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wheeled land vehicle having a force generating propulsion device embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing in more detail the force generating device of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a set of views showing one of the centri¬ fugal force generators of Fig; 1 as such generator undergoes one cycle of its operation. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Turning to the drawings and first considering Figs. 1 and 2, these figures show a unidirectional force generat¬ ing device 8 embodying this invention applied to the propul¬ sion of a wheeled vehicle 10 consisting of a carriage or body 12 supported by a set of wheels 14, 14 for movement in a forward direction indicated by the arrow 16. In its simplest form, a unidirectional force gen¬ erating device embodying the invention utilizes a single basic centrifugal force generator, but preferably the device OMPI includes a number of such basic generators operated in syn¬ chronism and in such phase relationship to one another as t provide a relatively steady forwardly directed force and to cancel side-wise directed forces and perpendicular forces 5 which occur as each set of weights enters and leaves each semicircular segment of its path. In keeping with this, the force generating device 8 of Figs. 1 and 2 consists of four basic centrifugal force generators indicated respective ly at 20, 22, 24 and 26. Each of the basic units or gen- 10 erators 20, 22, 24 and 26 has a frame 28, 30, 32 and 34, re¬ spectively, which is supported for rotation relative to the carriage 12. The two frames 28 and 30 are fixed to one another and are part of a common frame 36 and likewise the two frames 32 and 34 are fixed to one another and form part 15 of another common frame 38. Each generator 20, 22, 24 and 26 has an associated weight means and a means for restraining such weight means to movement along a path fixed to the associated frame 36 and 38 and consisting of two parallel segments joined by two 20. semicircular end segments. The path restraining means may take various different forms, but in the illustrated case each such means comprises- two parallel shafts 40 and 42 each carrying two spaced wheels or sprockets 44, 44 to movably support two endless flexible members 46, 46 such as chains 25 or belts. The weight means of each generator extends along a portion of the length of its path of movement and consists of a plurality of contiguous elongated weights 48, 48 such as metallic bars, extending between and attached to the two flexible members 46 f 46. The flexible members 46, 46 when 30 - driven therefore serve to drive and restrain the weights 48, 48 to movement along the desired endless path consisting of two straight parallel segments, def ned by the distance be-- tween the two shafts 40 and 42 and the two semicircular end segments defined by the curvature of the circular members 35 44, 44. The weights 48, 48 of each generator 20, 22, 24 or 26, occupy a substantial portion of the length of the asso¬ ciated endless path along which they move. This path is preferably less than one-half of the total length of the path and greater than the length of each semicircular path end segment, as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, as will be evi¬ dent from the figures, especially Fig. 3, when the weights 48, 48 of each generator are driven along their endless path, they first pass over one semicircular path end portion, without other weights at the same time moving over the other semicircular path end portion, and therefore creating a first centrifugal force, such as indicated at 50 in Fig. 3, directed generally along the line AB joining the two centers of the semicircular end segments. Thereafter, the weights pass over the other semicircular path end portion and pro¬ duce a second centrifugal force, indicated at 52 in Fig. 3 directed in the opposite direction along the line AB. Since the weights 48, 48 of each generator are dis- tributed over a substantial length of their path of movement it requires a substantial time for these weights to pass over each of its semicircular path end segments and,, there¬ fore, the centrifugal force 50 or 52 which is generated by such movement persists for a substantial duration of time. The two frames 36 and 38 are supported for rotation relative to the carriage 12 about axes 54 and 56, respec¬ tively, fixed relative to the carriage. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 2, the frame 36 is fixed to two aligned shafts 58 and 60 rotatably supported by the carriage for ro- tation about the axis- 54. Likewise, the frame 38 is fixed to two aligned shafts 62 and 64 rotatably supported by the carriage for movement about the axis 56. The two axes 54 and 56 are both vertical and located in a plane perpendicu¬ lar to the forward direction 16 of the carriage, and the centrifugal force generators 20, 22, 24 and 26 are so locat¬ ed on their frames 36 and 38 that the parallel segments of the endless paths traversed by the weight means are horizon¬ tal, thereby causing the axes 54 and 56 to be located in planes perpendicular to the parallel segments of the asso- ciated weight paths. In accordance with the invention a means is provid¬ ed for rotating the two shafts 58 and 62 to simultaneously rotate the frames 36.and 38 in opposite directions about the axes 54 and 56 and for at the same time driving the weights 48, 48 of the four centrifugal force generators 20, 22, 24 and 26. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this drive means com¬ prises a power source 66, such as a gasoline engine, an electric motor, etc., mounted on the carriage 12 and drivin a shaft 68. The shaft 68 in turn has fixed thereto two bevel gears 70 and 72 which mesh with corresponding bevel gears 74 and 76 fixed respectively to the shafts 58 and 62, thereby 'causing the shafts 58 and 62 to be rotated at the same speed but in opposite directions. The two generators 20 and 24 are mounted on the two frames 36 and 38 in such phase relationship to one another that when one of these generators has the parallel segments of its endless path, that is the straight segments of its flexible members 46, 46, parallel to the forward direction 16 the parallel seg¬ ments of the endless path, of the other generator are also parallel to the forward direction, as is the case for the instant shown in Figs, 1 and 2, Also, the other two gen¬ erators 22 and 26 are so arranged on the frames 36 and 38 that th.e straight segments of their endless paths will also be jointly parallel to the forward direction 16 at the same moment of time. However, the generators 22 and 26 have the straight segments of their paths arranged at an angle about the axes 54 and 56 relative to the straight path segments o the generators 20 and 24„ In the illustrated case, this angle is 9.0 degrees so that after the two frames 36 and 38 rotate 9-0. degrees from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the two generators 22 and 26 will have their straight path segments aligned with the forward direction 16. For driving the weights 48, 48 of its two genera¬ tors 20 and 22 the frame 36, as shown in Fig. 2, carries a shaft 80- having a gear 82 which Tneshes with a gear 84 fixed to the carriage 12 so that as the frame 36 rotates about its axis 54 the shaft 80 is rotated relative to the frame. The shaft 80 drives two other shafts 86 and 88. The shaft 88 is drivingly connected to the shaft 42 of the generator 22 and the shaft 88 is similarly drivingly connected to the shaft 42 of the generator 2Q, the rotation of the two 42 of the two generators 20 and 22 accordingly causing move¬ ment of the associated weights 48, 48. The various gear ratios involved in the drive for the weights 48, 48 of the two generators 20 and 22 is such that for each complete revolution of the frame 36 about its axis 54 each weight 48 makes one complete traverse about its endless path. This is shown in more detail in Fig. 3 which by way of example shows the generator 20 at 90 degree increments of its movement a- bout the axis 54. Furthermore, the weights 48, 48 of each generator are so arranged that they pass over the forwardly facing one of its semicircular path end segments when the parallel or straight segments of its path are parallel to the forward direction 16. Therefore, as will be evident from Fig. 3, during a portion of the rotation of the generator 20 about its axis 54 the weights 48, 48 pass over the shaft 42 and pro¬ duce the centrifugal force 50. This force persists for a substantial duration of time and, therefore, it is not at all times aligned with "" the forward direction 16, but while it exists it does at all times have a substantial component in such forward direction. Likewise, after the generator rotates 180 degrees from the top position of Fig. 3 the weights 48, 48 move over the shaft 40 and produce the cen¬ trifugal force 52 which also persists for a substantial amount of time. Due to the rotation of the generator the force 52 while it exists is not at all times aligned with the forward direction 16 but does have a substantial com¬ ponent in that direction. The operation of the weights 48, 48 for the generator 22, 24 and 26 are similar to that shown for the generator 20 in Fig. 3. The generators 24 and 26 have a drive means for their weights 48, 48 similar to that for the generators 20 and 22 and the parts of this drive means have been given the same reference numbers as that for the generators 22 and 24 and need not be further described. From the foregoing description of the unidirection¬ al force generator of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be understood that as the frames 36 and 38 rotate about their axes 54 and 56 the two centrifugal force generators.20 and 24 each repeti¬ tively produce alternately appearing centrifugal forces of prolonged duration which are of opposite direction relative to the carriages 36 and 38. However, due to the rotation o the frames 36 and 38 each time one of these centrifugal forces appears it is directed generally in the forward di¬ rection 16. When the two generators 20 and 24 are instan¬ taneously aligned with the forward direction 16 the centri¬ fugal 'forces generated by these two generators will be directly in line with the forward direction 16 but at other times each such force will have both a forwardly directed component and a side-wise or laterally directed component. Because of the opposite directions of rotation of the two frames 36 and 38 these side-wise components of the two cen- trifugal forces produced by the two generators 20 and 24 will cancel one another so that the resultant of the two centrifugal forces is a purely forwardly directed force. Likewise,, the two generators 22 and 26 operate in a similar manner to produce two centrifugal forces having forwardly directed components which add to one another and side-wise directed components which cancel one another. Also, the directions in which the respective weights of the generator 20 and 24 are moved are opposite to one another, as indicat ed by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, so that as the two sets of weights enter and leave each semicircular segment of their paths the vertical components of their associated cen trifugal forces are equal and opposite and, therefore, canc one another. The same is also true for the generators 22 an .26. Also, it will be understood that the forwardly directed resultant of the two centrifugal forces produced b the two generators 20 and 24 is of a varying magnitude whic is a maximum when the two generators are facing forwardly and which is of a lesser value at other times. In the same manner the forwardly directed resultant of the two centri¬ fugal forces produced by the two generators 24 and 26 is of a varying magnitude. But, the forwardly directed resultant produced by the two generators 24 and 26 is out of phase with the forwardly directed resultant produced by the two generators 20 and 24 and, therefore, the total forwardly directed force (that is, the sum of the two resultants) applied to the carriage is made more steady. In the illus- 5 trated device the forwardly directed resultant force pro¬ duced by the two generators 20 and 24 is 90 degrees out of phase with the resultant forwardly directed resultant force produced by the two generators 22 and 26. Further improve¬ ments 'in the steadiness of the total forwardly directed 10 force applied to the carriage 12 may be achieved by adding additional pairs of centrifugal force generators to the de¬ vice to produce three or more forwardly directed resultant forces separated from one another by phase angles less than 90 degrees. 15 In the drawings and description the unidirectional force generating device 8 has been shown and described for the purpose of producing a force used to propel the illus¬ trated carriage 12 forwardly. However, it should be under¬ stood that it may also be used to brake the motion of a 20 vehicle or bod or to urge it in some other direction. In the illustrated case, for example, a reverse or braking force may be obtained by providing a change mechanism allow¬ ing the frames 36 and 38 to be turned 180 degrees without meshing of the gears 82 and 84 associated with each frame. 25 Also, the entire device 8 may also be mounted on a ' table carried by the carriage 12 and rotatable relative to the carriage about a vertical axis, thereby allowing the genera¬ ted unidirectional force to be directed in any direction relative to the carriage. For other types of vehicles or 30. bodies, s ch as space craft, the device 8 could also be mounted on a table for universal movement relative to the vehicle or body to allow the generated force to be directed in any- desired direction whatsoever. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The foregoing invention relates to "manufacture and use" ' of a mechanical device for producing a unidirectional force applied to the propulsion of a vehicle or other body or to other applications requiring such a force.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS (received by the International Bureau on 17 October 1980 (17.10.80)) 1. A device which converts centrifugal force into a unidirectional force applied to a carriage, characterized by, a frame; means supporting said frame on said carriage for rotation relative to said carriage about an axis fixed rela¬ tive to said carriage; a weight means; means restraining said weight means to movement along a noncircular endless path fixed relative to said frame; said weight means being, located along one portion of the length of said endless path and being absent from another substantial portion of said length of said endless path; first means for driving said frame about said axis relative to said carriage; and second means operable in synchronism with said first means for driv¬ ing said weight means along said endless path relative to said frame. 2. A device as defined in claim 1 f rther charac¬ terized by said means restraining said weight means to move¬ ment along an endless noncircular path relative to said frame being at least two wheels supported by said frame for rota¬ tion relative to said frame about parallel axes fixed rela¬ tive to said frame, and an endless flexible member trained over said at least two wheels and defining said endless path; and said weight means being at least one weight attached to said endless flexible member for movement therewith, said at least one weight of said weight means being located along one portion of the length of said endless flexible member and said endless flexible member being free from such weight means along another substantial portion of its length. - B UREAU OMPI , Aλ,,m WIPO 3. A device as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 further characterized by, a second frame; means supporting said second frame on said carriage for rotation " relative to said carriage about a second axis fixed relative to said carriage and parallel to said first mentioned axis; a second weight means; means restraining said second weight means to move¬ ment along a noncircular endless path fixed relative to said second frame; said second weight means being located along one portion of its said endless path and being absent from another substantial portion of said length, of its endless path; third means for driving said second frame about said second axis relative to said carriage in unison with but in the opposite direction to the movement of said first mention ed frame about said first mentioned axis; and fourth means operable in synchronism with said first and third means for driving said second weight means along its said endless path relative to said second frame. 4. A device as defined in claim 1 further character¬ ized by said endless path being an elongated path having two end ' segments at opposite ends thereof, said weight means being distributed substantially uniformly along a continuous fractional portion of the length of said path so that during each traverse of said path by said weight means a first cen¬ trifugal force is produced as said weight means passes over the first of said two end segments and a second centrifugal force having a direction generally opposite to that of said first centrifugal force is produced as said weight means moves over the other of said end segments; said axis being located in a plane generally perpendicular to said direction of said centrifugal forces; and said first and second drivin means being so related such that each time said weight means moves over one or the other of said two end segments said frame is so positioned that the centrifugal force produced has a component urging said carriage in a forward direction. 5. A device as defined in claim 4 further character¬ ized by said weight means and said means restraining said weight means to movement along an endless elongated path fixed relative to said frame comprising first and second rotatable members rotatable about spaced parallel axes -. - p _O relative to said frame, a flexible endless member trained over said two rotatable members, and a plurality of weights located contiguous to one another along a portion of said endless flexible member and attached to said member for move¬ ment therewith. 6. A device as defined in claim 4 further character¬ ized by said weight means and said means restraining said weight means to movement along an endless elongated path fixed realtive to said frame comprising a first pair of cir¬ cular members rotatable about a first axis relative to said frame and spaced from one another along said first axis, a second pair of circular members rotatable about and spaced from one another along a second axis fixed relative to said frame parallel to and spaced from said first axis, two flex¬ ible endless members each trainedover,a respectiveoneO said first pair of circular members and a corresponding one of said second pair of circular members, a plurality of weights arranged contiguous to one another along a given portion of the length of said two flexible members, each of said weights extending transversely from one of said flexible members to the other, and means attaching each of said weights to both of said flexible members for movement therewith. 7. A device as defined in any one of claims 4, 5 and 6 further characterized by said portion of the length of said path along which said weight means is distributed being greater than the length of each of said end segments of said path and less than one-half of the total length of said path. 8. A device as defined in claim 1 or claims 4 further characterized by said carriage being part of a vehicle adapt¬ ed for movement in said forward direction, and a power source carried by said carriage and drivingly connected with said first and second driving means for powering said first and second driving means. 9.. A device as defined in any of claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 further characterized by said first and second drive means for driving said frame and said weight means simulta¬ neously and so that as said frame makes one complete revolu- tion about said axis relative to said carriage said weight means makes one complete traverse along said endless path. 10. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said frame, said weight means and said means restraining said weight means are parts of a first centrifugal force generat or, and further characterized by a second centrifugal force generator similar to said first centrifugal force generator means supporting the frames of the two centrifugal force ge erators on said carriage for rotation relative to said car¬ riage about two respective parallel axes fixed relative to said carriage and each of which axes is located in a plane generally perpendicular to the directions of the centrifuga forces produced by said generators; first means for driving said frames of said two centrifugal force generators in op¬ posite directions about their respective axes relative to said carriage; and second means for driving said weight mea of said two generators along their paths relative to their associated frames, said first and second driving means bein so related that each time the weight means of each of said two centrifugal force generators passes over each of the en segments of its path such- end segment is generally facing said forward direction. 11. A device as defined in claim 10 further charac¬ terized by said two axes being located in a plane perpendi¬ cular to said forward direction. 12. A device as defined in either claim 10 or claim 11 further characterized by said first driving means being such as to drive said two frames in synchronism at the same speed. 13. A device as defined in claim 12 further charac¬ terized by said first and second driving means being such that each time each frame makes onecomplete revolution abou its axis relative to said carriage its associated weight means makes one complete traverse along its endless path. 14. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said frame, said weight means, and said means restraining said weight means are parts of a first centrifugal force generat or, and further characterized by three centrifugal force generators in addition to and similar to said first generat or, said four centrifugal force generators including two frames each common to two of said generators; means support "BVJ - ° < ing each of said two frames on said carriage for rotation relative to said carriage about an axis fixed relative to said carriage and located in a plane generally perpendicular to the directions of the centrifugal forces produced by said generators, the two paths of the two weight means associated with each frame having their longitudinal axes arranged at an angle to one another about the axis of the frame, and such angle being the same for both of said frames; first means for driving both of said frames about their axes in opposite directions; and second means driving all four of the weight means of said four generators along their endless paths rela¬ tive to their respective frames, said first and second driv¬ ing means being so related that as each weight means passes over each of the end segments of its associated path such end segment is generally facing said forward direction. 15. A device as defined in claim 14 further charac¬ terized by said two axes being located in a plane perpendicu¬ lar to said forward direction. 16. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said frame, said weight means, and said means restraining said weight means are parts of a first centrifugal force generat¬ or, and further characterized by three centrifugal force gen¬ erators in addition to and similar to said first generator; means supporting ' the frames of a first two of said centrifu¬ gal force generators on said carriage for rotation relative to said carriage about two respective parallel axes located in a plane perpendicular to the forward direction of said carriage and each of which axes is also located in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the path of its associated weight means; means supporting the frames of a second two of said centrifugal force generators on said carriage for rotation relative to said carriage about two respective parallel axes located in a plane generally perpen¬ dicular to said forward direction and each of which axes is also located in a plane generally perpendicular to the longi¬ tudinal axis of the path of tis associated weight means; first means for driving said frames of said first two centri¬ fugal force generators in opposite directions about their respective axes relative to said carriage and for drivin said frames of said second two centrifugal force generators in opposite directions about their respective axes relative to said carriage; and second means for driving said weight means of all four of said generators along their paths rela tive to their associated frames, said first and second driv ing means being so related that said two frames of said first two centrifugal force generators are so phased that when said longitudinal axis of one generator is parallel wi said forward direction the longitudinal axis of the other generator is also parallel to .said forward direction, that said two frames of said second two centrifugal force genera tors are so phased that when said longitudinal axis of one generator is parallel with said forward direction the longi tudinal axis of the other generator is also parallel to sai forward direction, said two frames of said first two genera tors and said two frames of said second two generators bein so phased that when said longitudinal axes of said first tw generators are parallel with said forward direction the longitudinal axes of said second two generators are out of parallel with said forward direction, and that as said weig means of each generator passes over each end segment of its associated endless path such end segment is generally facin said forward direction. 17. A device as defined in claim 16 further charac¬ terized by one of the frames of said first two generators a one of the frames of said second two generators being fixed to one another for rotation about a common axis relative to said carriage and the frames of the remaining two of said four generators being fixed to one another for rotation abo another common axis relative to said carriage. 18. A device as defined in claim 16 further charac¬ terized by said carriage being part of a vehicle adapted fo mov eent in said forward direction, and a power source car¬ ried by said carriage and drivingly connected with said fir and second driving means for powering said first and second driving means. /"SUR EDITORIAL NOTE The applicant failed to renumber the amended claims in accordance with Section 205 of the Administrative Instructions. In the absence of any specific indication from the applicant as to the correspon¬ dence between original and amended claims, the letters are published as received by the International Bureau.

Inventors: MELNICK H
Applicants: MELNICK H
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F16H27
IPC codes: F03G3, F03G7