IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A PROPULSION DEVICE

Abstract: A thrust producing device comprises a support (10) to which torque can be applied. A cross member (13) fixed to the support carries rotors (17) on axels (16), the axles being pivoted to the cross member. When the torque is applied with the rotors spinning a thrust is developed.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A PROPULSION DEVICE DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a thrust producing device in which angular momentum is converted into a linear force for, inter alia , propulsion. The device of the invention does not require the presence of a fluid medium in which, to operate and the generation of the linear force is from a rotating mass. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a thrust-producing device comprising a mass arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation that is denied the point about which it demands to precess, and is thereby constrained to translate the said point to a position where the precession does occur about said point, the translation producing a linear force. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a thrust producing device comprising a support extending substantially orthogonally from and rotatable- about a first axis, a rotatable mass on an axle, a pivotal connection between the axle and a position on the support spaced from the first axis and means for imparting torque to the said support about the first axis, the arrangement being that when the support is mounted to allow the rotating mass to precess about the first axis and the torque aplied the axle carrying the rotating mass moves about the pivotal connection and a thrust in the direction of the movement to the device as a whole may be developed. Preferably there is a plurality of rotating masses and each mass may conveniently take the form of a wheel or disc essentially providing a rotor of high goodness factor, being defined as reactive momentum real momentum Generally the major portion of the mass will be in the periphery of the rotor. Each of said masses may be arranged in opposition with an identical mass and rotated in opposite directions of rotation at substantially the same angular velocity. Where a plurality of masses is deployed a dynamic balance is important to the success of the propulsion device. The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a rotatable disc mounted to allow precession; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a thrust-producing device in accordance with the invention ? Figure 3 is a schematic view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic view to show how dimensional differences in the device of Figure 2 influence the thrust . Referring initally to Figure 1 a rotor disc R has a centre mounted for spinning about axis X,X, on a shaft S,S 2 . Let us first consider the shaft S,S 2 as being capable of pivoting about vertical axis Q-. Q-, and horizontal axis P,P 2 . The disc R is spun and the shaft S.S,, carrying it rotates, i.e. precesses, in the .direction PR, about the axis Q-^Q-, , this precession being initiated- by a torque. When a torque T_ is ap¬ plied to the shaft in the rotational sense of preces¬ sion about axis Q,Q,, the shaft rotates about P-iP-*,. Precession is taking place about N, i.e. about the intersection of the axis of rotation of the shaft, the axis about which the torque is applied, and the axis about which the shaft can precess. If, therefore, the torque axis is transferred to the point N 2 on the intersection of Q 2 Q 2 and P3P - and -ιX 2 and the torque applied as before about Q 2 Q t - len -- " •- sha t will precess about N- pivoting about P--,P 4 . - This principle holds good even if torque is applied about points N 3 and N. spaced from the axle. From the above it can be perceived that an axle will precess about an axis orthogonal to both the axis of rotation and the axis about which the torque is applied at the point where these two axes intersect. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a propulsion device of the invention comprises an axle rod 10 with a longitudinal axis Y- | Y 2 and is arranged to be able to rotate in high quality low friction bearings 11, 12. These bearings permit longitudinal movement to allow thrust produced to develop a working stroke. The axle 10 carries at one extremity an orthogonally disposed cross member or support 13 rigidly fixed to axle 10 as by welding (not shown) . The cross member 13 has slots 14.14.- and pivots 15,15-, that are normal to the orthogona line Z-.Z- of the cross member 13. To these pivots 15,15 2 are attached axles 16,16.- respectively terminating in free running rotor discs 17,17 2 that spin in opposite directions as shown by arrows on the discs per se . If a torque T,T 2 is now applied to the axle 10 then, from the exposition given above in regard to Figure 1, since the axis Y,Y-, about which the torque is applied cuts the axes Z-,Z 2 of both rotors, 17-,17 2 in point N 5 , precession should take place about an axis through N.- in the plane N 4 P g P, - where P g . P, - is parallel to axis PQP- I Q through pin 15,. (It is the same mutatis mutandis for pin 15 2 ) ; but the construction is such that this is not possible without a movement of the whole device in the line Y,Y 2 such that the point N_ is made the apex of a frusto-conical volume shown by the dotted circles in Figure 2, the radius R, and the generator G ; the rotors 17,17 rising (or lowering) as the resultant forces dictate to the dotted positions shown at 17, 17 2 to bring said apex A coincident with N 5 . The identical integers of Figure 2 with identical references are shown in Figure 3 for greater clarity. The movement of the whole device is along Y-,Y 2 - n t-*--*-- 3 instance in the direction of arrow Y.,. If the motion along Y- j Y 2 is resisted by frictional forces or by gravity which generally is to be expected, the axle 10 will rotate under the applied torque, work will be done and an energy balance produced. It is to. be appreciated, however, that in the form of the device shown in Figures 2 and 3 when the rotors 17-,17 2 move to positions 17, and 17 2 the cross member 13 moves not as is to be expected, in opposition to arrow Y-,, but with it in the same direction and matter is moved without reaction and a propulsion device is established. To provide for continuous propulsion a multi-phase device is essential with a separation of the phases as in an analogous electrical machine. In Figure 4, it can readily be seen that if the distance 1, (see also Figure 3) be increased to 1« then the apical distance of the fulcrum is increased from a,to a_. Similarly if the torque T,T 2 is increased in amplitude then the angle °< will increase to o < 2 .

Claims: : LA IMS 1. A thrust producing device comprising a mass arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation that is denied the point about which it demands to precess, and is thereby constrained to translate the said point to a position where the precession does occur about said point, the translation producing a linear force. 2. A thrust producing device comprising a support extending substantially orthogonally from and rotatable about a first axis, a rotatable mass on an axle, a pivotal connection between the axle and a position on the support spaced from the first axis and means for imparting torque to the said support about the first axis, the arrangement being that when the support is mounted to allow the rotating mass to precess about the first axis and the torque applied the axle carrying the rotating mass moves about the pivotal connection and a thrust in the direction of the movement to the device as a whole may be developed. 3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the support extends on either side of said first axis with an axle pivotal connection and rotatable mass on each extension. --' 4. A device according to Claim 3 including a plurality of supports. 5. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein each rotatable mass is a disc with the major part of its weight in the periphery.

Inventors: LAITHWAITE ERIC ROBERTS, LAITHWAITE, ERIC, ROBERTS
Applicants: LAITHWAITE ERIC ROBERTS, LAITHWAITE, ERIC, ROBERTS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: F16H33
IPC codes: F03G3, F16H33