Patent Abstract:
A device that produces linear motion by sequentially and in a continuous sequence accelerating inertial thrust masses at well-defined times towards the axis of counter-rotating disks. The inertial thrust masses are contained in cavities placed equidistantly about the periphery of counter rotating capture disks mounted on a common axle. They are radially accelerated by a bi-directional impulse ramps that can be moved to any position around the periphery of the counter rotating capture plates and into and out of the paths of the gyrating thrust masses to any desired depth within the mechanical range of the impulse ramps which simultaneously engage and radially accelerate the inertial thrust masses of each counter-rotating capture plate. The counter-rotating capture plates are each separately driven by a gear assembly powered by an external engine or motor that powers the rotation of the disks. Each radial acceleration of the inertial thrust masses produces an impulse of force that pushes against the mass accelerator with a force equal to the force used to radially accelerate each thrust mass. Each impulse is a vector force and imparts motion along the chosen vector to any object to which the device is attached.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/498,654, filed on Sep. 26, 2014, and entitled “Propulsion System,” which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/514,405 filed on Aug. 30, 2006, and entitled “Stardrive Propulsion System,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,863,597, issued Oct. 21, 2014, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an impulse device and more particularly pertains to mounting freely movable masses about the periphery of counter rotating circular capture plates which are in turn mounted onto a main rotational axis drive shaft, whereby energy is provided to cause the circular capture plates to counter rotate, while having the ability to move the freely movable masses radially toward and away from the axis of rotation. The invention further relates to a new method of converting rotational energy, as generated by an engine or motor, into linear motion. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Current terrestrial transportation technologies use a variety of mechanisms to convert the rotational energy generated by the engine or motor contained within the vehicle into the linear motion of the vehicle. In the automotive world there are three basic forms of the mechanical device generally known as a transmission that is connected to the motor/engine and in turn itself is connected to a drive shaft and gear assembly that ultimately attaches to the drive wheel(s) (the drive train) to produce the motion of the vehicle. The three basic varieties of an automotive transmission are manual, automatic and continuously variable, with the manual transmission generally being the most efficient form for transmitting the motor/engine power to the drive wheel(s). 
     In aircraft the choices for converting engine power output into vehicle motion are propellers and jet engine thrust from jet engines such as turbofan engines or turbojet engines. Aircraft propeller efficiency varies according to the shape of the propeller and the angle of incidence of the propeller. In every case the amount of energy used to spin the propeller is significantly greater than the amount of thrust produced. Jet engine efficiency similarly suffers losses between the input of the fuel&#39;s energy and the output of the thrust energy. Moreover, propeller aircraft suffer significant efficiency losses as altitude increases. 
     Marine propellers have thrust to input power ratios similar to aircraft propellers with the additional problem of corrosion and encrustation thrust losses not suffered by aircraft propellers. 
     Accordingly, there existed a need for a highly efficient device that would solve the problems of fuel inefficiency, excess energy consumption and reduce friction wear of operable parts. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     Prior patented devices have exploited the relationship between the radius of the gyration of movable weights, the centripetal force required to maintain a constant radius of the gyration of movable weights and the effect that varying the radius has on the overall energy balance of the system. By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,700. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,700 the inventor in his abstract stated that his device “ . . . relates to new and useful improvements in devices that convert the centrifugal forces produced by rotating masses into a propulsive force acting in one direction and which is comprised of a movable supporting structure in which identical sets of masses rotate in opposite directions about an axis which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel and a mechanism for continuously varying the radius of gyration of each mass during its cycle of revolution.” The method employed in the device of the &#39;700 patent to create and exploit differential centripetal accelerations and convert that difference into a linear force was to have two circular aspects of that device which had their respective centers offset slightly, one circular aspect being comprised of a bearing race and the other circular aspect consisting of an assembly having an axis that has radial arms extending from it and onto which radial arms are mounted masses that can move radially toward and away from the axis along the radial arms. Since in that device the bearing race center is offset from the radial arm center of rotation, when the movable masses gyrated about the offset circular bearing race, the angular velocity, and hence the centripetal acceleration, varied with the difference in those two values, resulting in a produced linear thrust vector. Further, the device in U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,515 similarly exploited the forces generated by varying the radius of a circle around which rotating masses were constrained to take. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,107 the same concept of varying the radius of the circle about which masses are rotated to produce a difference from one point to another of the amount of centripetal force generated is also exploited. In the device of the &#39;107 patent, the entire inner housing which contained the movable thrust masses, the cylinders in which the movable masses were contained and the associated connecting rods were caused to rotate about a stationary, crank like shaft that itself could be moved to vary the direction of the resulting centripetal acceleration difference that was induced by varying the radius of gyration. It could not change the magnitude of the resulting thrust vector other than by changing the velocity of gyration. In these cases the direction of the desired thrust vector is fixed by the particular design of the device, or the thrust vector magnitude is limited, or both. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,244 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,009,780 are other examples of such devices. In the patents discussed above the direction of the desired thrust vector is fixed by the particular design of the device, or the thrust vector magnitude is limited, or both. 
     Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved device which can be used to exploit the relationship between the radius of the gyration of movable weights, the centripetal force required to maintain a constant radius of the gyration of movable weights and the effect that varying the radius has on the overall energy balance of the system, without limiting or fixing the directional movement of the thrust vector to the design of the device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     After extensive study of various inertial systems, the present inventor discovered that conventional means of converting the input energy of an engine or motor into thrust that propelled a vehicle could be eliminated. Specifically, it is the object of the present invention to provide a more useful alternative to automotive transmissions and drive trains, aeronautical and marine propellers and for on orbit uses, a more useful alternative to reaction wheels, ion and chemical thrusters. 
     Accordingly, a primary purpose of the propulsion drive is to use a movable ramp to sequentially and in a continuous sequence accelerate the gyrating inertial thrust masses towards the axis of the counter-rotating disks and thereby translate kinetic energy to the device. Basically, the device exploits the inertial mass and rotational energy of the radially freely movable masses and generates linear motion of the entire device and any object to which the device is affixed. As such, the general purpose of the present invention is to make things move in any desired direction via the reaction force applied to the acceleration ramps and translated to the impulse drive plate, which is attached to a vehicle, with the direction of movement determined by the direction of the impulse body control arm which is under the control of the vehicle&#39;s operator. 
     To attain the linear motion of the device, the present invention essentially comprises an arrangement of freely movable inertial thrust masses that are constrained to move in a circle at high speeds but which also have the ability to freely move radially toward and away from the axis of rotation. The movement of these masses toward the rotational axis is induced mechanically through ramps that increase the inertial thrust mass&#39;s centripetal acceleration at sites about the circumference of the circle about which the movable inertial thrust masses are spun. This induced asymmetrical additional centripetal acceleration, by the operation of Newton&#39;s Third Law of motion, produces an oppositely directed reaction force in the device, which is the source of the desired thrust. The counter-rotating capture plates and inertia thrust masses negate imparting any angular momentum to the device. The number of the movable masses, elsewhere referred to herein as inertial thrust masses, and the number of impulse ramps or other similarly functioning devices, as well as the size of the circle about which the inertial thrust masses move and the speed of rotation, can be varied to fit the specific application under contemplation. As the invention is mechanical in nature, a conventional oiling system is required, as well as an enclosing shell that protects the moving parts from contamination and collects and reuses the oil. 
     Energy to rotate the movable inertial thrust masses and actuate the impulse ramps is externally supplied, thus complying with the conservation of energy laws. The bi-directional impulse ramps are powered externally or internally by motors or engines. In the version described herein it is contemplated that a single, external source us used to provide all needed power to the invention&#39;s counter rotating drive discs. The mass impulse ramps can be controlled to fit the performance needs of the operator. Since the inertial thrust mass impulse ramps may be positioned anywhere to intercept the motion of the thrust masses about the periphery of their circular motion, the thrust vector produced can be varied at the direction of the operator. Since there are few moving parts that move against other component parts, friction is minimized. As the thrust that is produced by the invention can cause any device to which the invention is attached to move, and the inherent inefficiencies of automotive drive trains and propellers are avoided. Since the inertial thrust masses are continuously reused, the device does not run out of propellant as is the case with ion or chemical thrusters. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the Figures. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce power loss and increase energy efficiency when converting the energy generated by the engine/motor into linear motion. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an impulse drive that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     A further object of the present invention to provide environmental benefits resulting from increased energy efficiency in the transportation industry. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide economic benefits resulting from the reduced cost of production of the invention as compared to the cost of the production of automotive drive trains. 
     A further object of the invention is operator control of the device for control of the direction and magnitude of the induced linear thrust vector. 
     Still another object of the invention is to use movable bi-directional acceleration ramps to change the length of the radius of the circle followed by the inertial thrust masses at one or more locations around the circumference of the circular path followed by the inertial thrust masses, such that when the acceleration ramps are moved into the paths of the gyrating inertial thrust masses, the length of the radius of the circle being followed by the inertial thrust masses is shortened. 
     A further object of the invention is to increase the centripetal force generated in the device as the speed of gyration of the thrust masses is decreased in proportion to the amount of radial acceleration and the change in the length of the radius of the circle being followed by the inertial thrust masses when the movable bi-directional acceleration ramps are moved into the path of the gyrating inertial thrust masses. 
     Another application of the device is in space. Current space craft, including commercial satellites, use chemical rockets for propulsion or ion propulsion (one U.S.A. ion propulsion craft has been successful as of the date hereof, the Deep Space One). Since the fuel of the rocket is also the reaction mass which is consumed by the process of generating thrust, once the fuel is exhausted the useful life of the satellite or space craft is ended. The present invention has no such limitation as the reaction mass of the invention consists of the freely movable thrust masses which are retained and reused. So long as a power supply such as solar panels or radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) can provide electrical energy to a motor to power the invention, thrust is available to stabilize satellites in orbit or to propel space craft as needed or desired. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying Figure and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated one of the embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective illustration of the preferred embodiment of the stardrive propulsion system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a lower perspective illustration of the preferred embodiment of the stardrive propulsion system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3 . is a plan view of the lower side of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a secondary right side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5A  to show the area below upper capture plate  5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 5A  to show the area below the upper clockwise capture plate  10 . 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view of the present invention showing the lower side. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustration the vectors of motion of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a detailed view of the alternative thrust mass of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a view of the thrust mass taken along line A-A of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed view of an alternative spring arrangement. 
         FIG. 16  is a view of the device mounted upon a buoyant vehicle. 
         FIG. 17  is a view of the device mounted upon a wheeled vehicle. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters refer to similar parts through the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2  thereof, a stardrive propulsion system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  65  will be described. 
     The present invention, stardrive propulsion system, is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include an impulse body, acceleration ramps, a ramp position motor, an upper and lower counter-clockwise capture discs, an upper and lower clockwise capture discs, inertial thrust masses and a motor. The use of effective mass multiplication apparatuses is also disclosed. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     More specifically, the present invention includes a propulsion device for creating linear motion by applying a fixed mechanical interference, the impulse ramps, to absorb a portion of the kinetic energy as the momentum of rotating inertial thrust masses is diverted by the fixed mechanical interference, within the system. The device includes a plurality of capture plates  9 ,  10 ,  14  and  15 . The capture plates have a plurality of capture slots  19  that are equidistantly spaced about the periphery of each of respective the capture plates. The plurality of capture plates includes a pair of counter-clockwise rotating capture plates and a pair of clockwise rotating capture plates. The pair of counter-clockwise capture plates are made by a lower counter-clockwise capture plate  4  and an upper counter-clockwise capture plate  5 . The pair of clockwise capture plates are made by a lower clockwise capture plate  10  and an upper clockwise capture plate  9 . 
     Also, a plurality of capture plate gears is included. The plurality of capture plate gears includes a motor drive gear  20 , a tandem intermediate drive gear  11 , a tandem reversing gear  24 , a clockwise capture plate gear  16 , and counter-clockwise capture plate gear  15 . The tandem intermediate drive gear has an upper gear part  11   a  and a lower gear part  11   b . The upper gear part meshes with the tandem reversing gear which meshes with the counter-clockwise capture plate gear which is connected to one of the pair of capture plate shafts for rotation of the lower counter-clockwise capture plate and the upper counter-clockwise capture plate. The lower gear part meshes with clockwise capture plate gear which is connected to another of the pair of capture plate shafts for rotation of the lower clockwise capture plate and the upper clockwise capture plate. 
     The plurality of capture plates and the plurality of capture plate gears are mounted to an impulse drive plate  1 . The impulse drive plate has a first side  1   a  and a second side  1   b , with the plurality of capture plates being mounted on the first side of the impulse drive plate and the plurality of capture plate gears being mounted to the second side of the impulse drive plate. The plurality of capture plates are in rotational communication with the plurality of capture plate gears by way of a pair of co-axial capture plate shafts. The pair of capture plate shafts includes a counter-clockwise capture plate shaft  14  and a clockwise capture plate shaft  13 . 
     Further, a plurality of inertial thrust masses are positioned within corresponding capture slots of the plurality of capture plates. In this embodiment of the device the upper and lower counter-clockwise capture plates have at least three inertial thrust masses  2  positioned with capture slots. The upper and lower clockwise capture have at least three inertial thrust masses  3  positioned with capture slots. The inertial thrust masses move freely within the capture slots. 
     An impulse body  7  is mounted to the first side of the impulse drive plate and is spaced from the plurality of capture plates. The impulse body has a plurality of acceleration ramps  17  and  30 . The acceleration ramps are sized to be placed between the plurality of capture plates for engagement of the plurality of inertia thrust masses positioned within the capture slots of the capture plates. Additionally, the impulse body includes two pulleys  43 . One of the pulleys is connected to a ramp position motor drive shaft  45   a  and the other pulley is connected to a ramp position screw shaft  46 . A drive belt  44  is used to transfer rotational motion from the one pulley connected to the ramp position motor drive shaft to the other pulley connected to the ramp position screw shaft. A ramp position motor  45  is connected to the ramp position motor drive shaft and mounted on the impulse body. The rotational motion generated by the ramp position motor will cause the ramp position screw  50  to be driven fore and aft for movement of the impulse body and thereby changing the position of the impulse ramps between the plurality of capture plates. 
     In this embodiment of the device a motor  22  is mounted to the impulse drive plate. The motor receives its power from the vehicle in which the impulse drive plate is mounted thereon. Once the motor is activated, the plurality of capture plate gears is rotated and will in turn rotate the plurality of capture plate shafts. The rotation of the two capture plate shafts causes rotation of the capture plates for clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the plurality of inertial thrust masses within the capture slots with the rotating plurality of inertial thrust masses making contact with the impulse ramps. The force that is transmitted to the impulse drive plate is caused by the radial acceleration of the inertial thrust masses by the impulse ramps and causes movement in the direction determined by the movement of an impulse body control arm which is under the control of the vehicle&#39;s operator. Simply stated, energy is transferred to the impulse body  7  from the acceleration of the inertial thrust masses  2  and  3  when they pass over and are radially accelerated by their respective acceleration ramp, and is transferred to impulse drive plate  1 . 
     For the purposes of this application vehicle is defined as any man made means of transportation that is mechanized. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , impulse drive plate  1  is the mechanism mounting substrate. Motor  22  is connected to impulse drive plate  1  and provides rotation power (referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) through motor drive shaft  21 , resulting in the clockwise rotation of motor drive gear  20 . Motor drive gear  20  meshes with tandem intermediate drive gear  11 . The tandem intermediate drive gear  11  is a single part that has a upper gear part  11   a  and a lower gear part  11   b . The upper gear part  11   a  of tandem intermediate drive gear  11  meshes with tandem reversing gear  24 . The lower gear part  11   b  of tandem intermediate drive gear  11  meshes with clockwise capture plate gear  16 . Tandem reversing gear  24  meshes with counter-clockwise capture plate gear  15 . Counter-clockwise capture plate gear  15  is an all in one piece gear and hub that is either built as a one piece or pressed together by glue or other means to be one piece. The rotation of lower counter-clockwise capture plate  4  and upper counter-clockwise capture plate  5  is driven by means of counter-clockwise capture plate shaft  14  connected to counter-clockwise capture plate gear  15 . The rotation of lower clockwise capture plate  9  and upper clockwise capture plate  10  is driven by means of clockwise capture plate shaft  13 , connected to clockwise capture plate gear  16 . Clockwise capture plate shaft  13  is coaxial to counter-clockwise capture plate shaft  14 . As motor  22  applies rotational power to the system, inertia thrust masses  3  move in opposite centrifugal orbits relative to inertia thrust masses  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a plurality of inertia thrust masses  3  is captured in capture slot  19  formed by lower counter-clockwise capture plate  4  and upper counter-clockwise capture plate  5  as shown on  FIG. 6 . This plurality of inertia thrust masses  3  are equally spaced along centrifugal path  41  as shown on  FIG. 10 , at a velocity and counter-clockwise rotation that causes these masses to be thrown to the outside limits of capture slot  19  by centrifugal force. Inertia thrust mass  3  centrifugal diversion is limited by mass retainer surface  6 , located on the distal end of capture slot  19 . A portion of inertia thrust mass  3  is allowed by mass retainer surface  6  to extend into upper impulse ramp slot  8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a plurality of inertia thrust masses  2  is captured in capture slot  19  formed by lower clockwise capture plate  9  and upper clockwise capture plate  10 , as shown on  FIG. 6 . This plurality of inertia thrust masses  2  are equally spaced along centrifugal path  41  as shown on  FIG. 10 , at a velocity and clockwise rotation that causes these masses to be thrown to the outside limits of capture slot  29  by centrifugal force. In one embodiment, the masses are maintained at the outer limits via mass multiplication apparatuses. Inertia thrust mass  2  centrifugal diversion is limited by mass retainer surface  28 , located on the distal end of capture slot  29 . A portion of inertia thrust mass  2  is allowed by mass retainer surface  28  to extend into lower impulse ramp slot  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , as inertia thrust mass  2  and inertia thrust mass  3  contacts the acceleration ramps attached to impulse body  7 , the direction of the masses is diverted by acceleration ramps  17  and  30 , inducing forces by causing resultant vector  32  and resultant vector  33  in vector convergence zone  31  to converge. The impulse vector is collinear as inertia thrust mass  2  and inertia thrust mass  3  reach impulse apex  18 . This creates the maximum force to impulse drive plate  1 , by means of impulse translation from impulse apex  18  into the impulse body  7  as shown in  FIG. 4 , and through impulse body bushing  25 , through impulse drive plate  1 , causing an induced motion vector  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , as inertia thrust mass  2  and inertial thrust mass  3  pass impulse apex  18 , the force of the masses continues as two opposing and divergent vectors  34  and  35  in vector divergent zone  36  on an Inertial thrust mass path  39  and  40 , as defined by the angle of inertial thrust mass  2  and inertial thrust mass  3 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , inertial thrust mass  2  and inertial thrust mass  3  is recaptured by capture slot  29  and capture slot  19 . The recapture vector  37  and  38  forces cancel, and do not cause any reactive force to be applied to induced motion vector  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the force can be regulated by the contact of inertial thrust mass  2  and inertial thrust mass  3  relative to the position of acceleration ramps  17  and  30 , by increasing or decreasing the diverted path of these inertial thrust masses. The acceleration ramps  17  and  30  act as fixed mechanical interferences that translate energy to impulse drive plate  1  by absorbing a portion of the kinetic energy as the momentum of the inertial thrust masses  2  and  3  is diverted by the impulse ramps. This is done by moving the position of Impulse body  7 , thereby positioning the impulse ramp  17  and  30  in lower impulse ramp slot  23  and upper impulse ramp slot  8 , relative to the center or rotation of the inertial thrust masses. Ramp position motor  45  drives and power transmission assembly composed of two pulleys  43  and drive belt  44  to transfer rotational motion to ramp position screw shaft  46 . The ramp position motor is connected to a control system within the vehicle that can be manually or remotely operated. Specifically, one of the pulleys is connected to a ramp position motor drive shaft  45   a  and the other pulley is connected to ramp position screw shaft  46 . The drive belt  44  is used to transfer rotational motion from the one pulley connected to the ramp position motor drive shaft to the other pulley connected to the ramp position screw shaft  46 . This motion allows ramp position screw  50  to be driven fore and aft, relative to the center or rotation of the inertial thrust masses, by means of impulse body bushing  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , ramp position screw shaft  46  is retained in impulse body  7  by ramp shaft retainer  47 , captured in ramp shaft retainer slot  48 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , impulse body  7  is held in place and slides fore and aft relative to the center or rotation of the inertial thrust masses, by means of impulse body forks  49  captured by impulse body retaining slot  51 , located in impulse body bushing  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , impulse body control arm  12  is keyed to impulse body  7  and pivots in the impulse driven plate aperture  26  as shown on  FIG. 6 . Impulse body control arm is connected to the steering mechanism of the vehicle. Movement of the impulse body control arm  12  changes the impulse vector angle  52  of the impulse body  7  relative to impulse drive plate  1 . This angular movement changes the induced motion vector  42  relative to impulse drive plate  1 , allowing directional control of forces. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in  FIGS. 11-15 . This embodiment is the same in most respects to the primary embodiment discussed above. However, as noted below, the thrust masses are not spherical. Rather, the masses are formed from weighted plates that travel on opposing rollers. Additionally, springs are included to urge each of the thrust masses into an extended orientation relative to the capture discs. This ensures that the thrust masses are exposed and contact the impulse ramp upon rotation. This has the effect of increasing the linear thrust generated by the device. This embodiment is more fully described hereinafter. 
     As with the primary embodiment, device  110  includes a drive plate  112  upon which a number of the device components are mounted. Drive plate  112  includes both forward and rearward ends. Drive plate  112  supports both an electric motor  114  and an impulse ramp  116 . Impulse ramp  116  is preferably formed adjacent the forward end of drive plate  112 . Additionally, acceleration ramp  116  preferably has an upper extent adjacent the upper capture plates and a lower extent adjacent the lower capture plates. As more fully explained above, ramp  116  may be adjustable to selectively alter both the magnitude and orientation of the forces generated by device  110 . 
     With specific reference to  FIG. 11 , device  110  includes a pair of upper capture plates  118 . Each plate of the pair is identical so only one is shown for clarity. As noted in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 4 , upper plates  118  are placed in facing relation with one another, with a series of equally spaced radial slots  122  formed there between. Each slot  122  houses an associated thrust mass  124 . Any of a variety of configurations can be used for thrust masses  124 . In the preferred embodiment, however, each thrust mass  124  takes the form of a plate or body that is supported at either end by a roller  126 . Rollers  126  allow the associated thrust mass  124  to travel within a slot  122 . More specifically, thrusts masses  124  travel between a retracted position at the innermost extent of slot  122  and an extended position. In the extended position, the distal end of thrust mass  124  extends to the end of slot  122 . 
     The respective thrust masses  124  are urged, or biased, into the extended orientation by way of a series of springs  128 , which extend into the capture disc slots. The springs extend into the slots further than the maximum radial travel of the thrust masses so that each thrust mass is continuously constrained by the spring throughout its radial motion. Any of a variety of spring types can be used.  FIG. 13  illustrates the use of a lever arm  128  and an associated coil spring.  FIG. 15  illustrates the use of a leaf spring  132  with a first end that is mounted into the wall of the slot  122 . Still yet other spring arrangements can be used. Regardless of the spring type, a spring is positioned within each of the radial slots  122 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , spring  128  biases the corresponding thrust mass  124  into the second extended position. In use, a motor  114 , functions to rotate the upper capture plates  118  and the associated thrust masses  124  in a first sense “a.” 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a pair of lower capture plates  142 . A series of equally spaced radial slots  144  is likewise formed between lower capture plates  142 . Each of the radial slots  144  houses a thrust mass  146 , with each thrust mass  146  including opposing rollers  148  to allow the thrust mass  146  to move between the retracted and extended positions. A spring  152  (which is the same construction as spring  128 ) is positioned within each of the radial slots  144 . Spring  152  biases the corresponding thrust mass  146  into the second extended position. Again, motor  114  functions to rotate the lower capture plates  142  and the associated thrust masses  146  in a second sense “b” that is counter to first sense “a.” In the preferred embodiment, three slots and three thrust masses are included in both the upper and lower sets of plates. 
     The counter rotation (“a” vs. “b”) of the upper and lower capture plates ( 118  and  142 ) causes the thrust masses ( 124  and  146 ) to sequentially encounter impulse ramp  116 . In this regard, the upper masses  124  contact the upper extent of ramp  116 , while the lower masses  146  contact the lower extent of ramp  116 . Each of these encounters forces the corresponding thrust mass ( 124  and  146 ) into the retracted position. Notably, the encounter with ramp  116  forces the thrust masses ( 124  and  146 ) into the retracted position over the bias of the corresponding springs ( 128  and  152 ). As a result, an impulsive force is transferred to ramp  116  and plate  112  and a corresponding forward motion is generated. Finally,  FIG. 16  shows the device of the present invention installed upon an inflatable or buoyant device  162 .  FIG. 17  shows the device mounted to a wheel based vehicle  164 . 
     The particular embodiment of the invention herein described, which is but one of several ways that the counter rotating circular capture plates in which the inertial thrust masses are contained and are radially accelerated by a ramp to produce the desired thrust can be configured.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5