Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02389720 2002-04-30
WO 01/33107 PCT/US99/25892
Rotational Inertial Motor
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to inertial motors for providing locomotion to a
vehicle by the
organized motion of structures internal to the vehicle. In particular it
relates to motors that
convert the kinetic energy of circular motion into the kinetic energy of
linear motion.
Background of the Invention
Conventional motors for propelling a vehicle typically employ a drive shaft
that,
through a transmission, engages wheels having frictional contact with a road
surface. The
energy source that powers the vehicle thus provides a force that bears upon
the road surface
and causes the road surface to react with a frictional force that accelerates
the vehicle.
Alternatively, a jet or rocket motor utilizes an energy source to expel a
fluid at high
momentum in one direction. The jet or rocket powered vehicle reacts to the
loss of
momentum by gaining momentum in the opposite direction or using the momentum
transfer
to overcome frictional forces. Propeller driven vehicles combine both
techniques by using a
drive shaft to rotate a propeller that imparts momentum to an external fluid.
In reaction, the
vehicle moves in the direction opposite to the direction of motion of the
fluid.
Inertial motors derive an instantaneous motion by the internal transfer of
momentum
among the components of the vehicle. As momentum is imparted to an internal
component
the remainder of the vehicle reacts by gaining momentum in the opposite
direction. U.S.
patent 5,685,196 has provided for a linear system in which a mass is
accelerated opposite to
the direction of motion of the vehicle, imparting momentum to move the vehicle
forward.
The vehicle is then temporarily anchored to the ground while the mass is
returned to its
initial position. The anchoring to the ground prevents the vehicle from simply
oscillating
and returning to its initial position. The result is a jerky motion of the
vehicle forward. In
Fig. 1 C of the ' 196 patent an electromagnetic version is proposed.
Figures SA and SB of the ' 196 patent show a rotary adaptation. Here, weights
50 are
advanced by actuators and springs or by grooved cylinders 90 mounted on a
disk_91. In both
these examples it appears that the weights 50 are centrally pivoted, by which
it is understood
that the center of gravity of the weight is moved tangentially but not
radially.
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Brief Description of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the limitations of prior inertial motors by
utilizing
a more smoothly coordinated circular motion and converting the motion of
circulating
weights into a unidirectional series of impulses that drive the vehicle
forward. In order to
prevent oscillation of the vehicle there is a rachet mechanism to prevent the
regression of the
vehicle. Because of the generally circular motion of the driving weights it is
possible to
average out the impulses and move the vehicle forward.
The inertial motor comprises a power source to maintain an armature in a state
of
rotation at an approximately uniform angular velocity. Weights are located on
the armature
and are guided on tracks that limit their motion to radial paths from center
of the armature.
The position of the weights along their respective radial tracks is controlled
electromagnetically by solenoids powered from generator coils, which are
energized by a
stationary field similar to a present day self exciting generator. In a
preferred embodiment
the solenoids are energized and de-energized at stations along their circular
route. This is
coordinated in such a manner as to transfer the maximum linear momentum to the
axis of
the armature. An arbitrarily large number of weights may be organized in this
manner. In
one embodiment used for illustrative purposes four weights are implemented.
To restrain the vehicle from any merely oscillatory motion a ratchet is
connected to
the wheels of the vehicle that allows it to move in only one linear direction.
(Similarly, if
the invention were not implemented in a land vehicle, the "ratchet" could be
provided by a
subsidiary jet or prop engine for a plane or a rocket for a space vehicle. In
either event, the
subsidiary motion restraining component will be referred to as a ratchet.) The
inventor
believes that this ratchet is not an essential component of the invention and
that an
embodiment lacking the ratchet would be preferred, but, as he has not yet
constructed such
an embodiment he takes the conservative position that the absence of the
ratchet is not an
essential feature for the practice of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawi
Figure 1 depicts the coordinates used to describe a moving mass in a system of
polar
coordinates.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the rotor and stator components of the present
invention.
Figure 3 depicts the location of the solenoid plungers with respect to the
rotor and
stator.
Figure 4 is a partial view of a solenoid with its plunger in an extended
position.
Figure 5 is a partial view of a solenoid with its plunger in an retracted
position.
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Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the rotor with the positions of one
plunger
depicted.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
The invention is best described in connection with the figures.
The Inertial Drive Unit of the present invention utilizes the reaction of an
apparatus
to a longitudinal component of a radial acceleration of rotating masses
internal to the
apparatus. In particular the invention directs along a linear path the
reaction to internal radial
accelerations of masses driven in a circular motion and thereby creates a
reaction force that
moves the apparatus in a direction perpendicular and away from the axis of
rotation of the
internal constituents of the apparatus.
The theoretical basis for the reaction force is shown in Figure l, where the
acceleration of a point particle 1 having a mass m at a distance r from the
center O of an
inertial coordinate system x-y is depicted. The vector from O to the mass m
may be
expressed in polar coordinates as
r=rp,
where bold characters represent vectors and bold Latin characters represent
unit vectors.
These polar coordinates are stationary, i.e. those of an inertial frame, and
are not to be
confused with a system of coordinates in inform rotation. r is the magnitude
of the vector r.
Differentiation with respect to time gives
v=vp+rw B
where v is the vector velocity of the mass, w is the scalar angular velocity
of the mass about
0, and 6 is a unit vector orthogonal to r (or p) in the direction rotation of
the mass about 0.
This follows from the fact that
dp/dt = B d6 /dt,
where 0 is the magnitude of the angle between r and a longitudinal direction,
which may be
thought of as the x axis.
Differentiating again with respect to time gives the following expression for
the
vector acceleration of the mass:
a=(a-rw'-)p+(2vw+ra) B
where a is the scalar radial acceleration dZr/dt'-, and a is the scalar
angular acceleration
d'-8/dt'-.
These four accelerations are usually referred to respectively as the radial
acceleration, the centripetal acceleration, the Coriolis acceleration, and the
angular
acceleration. Each of these accelerations causes an apparent reaction force F
= - m a, where
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the minus sign express the fact that the accelerations are sensed in a
rotating system as a
reaction. Thus there are present inertial forces termed, respectively, the
radial acceleration
force, the centrifugal force, the Coriolis force, and the angular acceleration
force. The prior
art utilized an embodiment in which both a and v were zero and relied upon co
and a for its
S effects. The present invention relies primarily upon the radial acceleration
force a and the
Coriolis force 2vto (i.e. the forces due to the radial motion of masses) for
its effect.
The Inertial Drive Unit 1 in a preferred embodiment has several components. As
shown in Figure 2, a stator 3 is fixed to an axle 5 about which a rotor 7 is
capable of
rotation. Four solenoids which are labeled C,, Cz, C3 and C4 are attached to
the rotor. The
stator and rotor are circular in shape, are concentric about the axle, and lie
in a plane
perpendicular to the centerline of the axle. The four solenoids are arranged
at 90 ° angles
from one another as seen from the axle. Different numbers of solenoids are
also possible,
with, in general, the solenoids being symmetrical distributed about the axis
forming the
corners of a regular polygon. For example, five solenoids may be arranged in a
pentagon, six
in a hexagon, etc. The solenoids each comprise plungers 9 which are moved
along the axis
of the solenoids in response to electrical currents through solenoid
electromagnet coils 11 of
the solenoid. A stationary field coil assembly 13 is located on the stator 3
consisting
preferably of 18 individual stator coils of the coil stationary field assembly
that power the
solenoid electromagnets by electromagnetic induction. A computer control unit
15 is
connected to each of the coils of the coil stationary field assembly 13.
The inertial drive unit 1 in one embodiment is connected to a vehicle 8,
having
wheels 10 which ride on a surface 14. The wheels are constrained to trun in
only one
direction by a ratchet 12.
In operation, the Inertial Drive Unit (IDU) sets the computer control system
15 so
that all of the field coils 11 of the coil stationary field assembly are all
energized and the
rotor 7 is made to spin about its axis 5 by the motor 17. The motor is
preferably located at
the center line of the axle of the stator 3, but for clarity of the figures it
is shown as driving
the rotor through operation of a drive belt 19 in an alternative embodiment.
Once the rotor _7
is brought up to operating speed of a specific angular velocity w, the field
coils 11 are
energized, the generator coils 13 are producing voltage and the plungers of
the solenoids
(C,, C,, C3 and C4) will be held in the closest possible position to the axis
of the rotor 5,
which is drawn in as shown in Figure 2. The solenoids are the only load on the
generator
coils.
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The magnetic force of the electromagnets which hold the solenoid plungers in
position is now the source of the centrifugal and Coriolis forces as the
masses accelerate
inwardly and achieve their inward position. In figure 4 the solenoid plunger
(C,) has two
lines crossing through it indicating Pz, the location of the center of mass of
the solenoid
plunger before it is drawn inwardly to the position at P,. The center of
gravity of the IDU
before any of the plungers are drawn inwardly is located at the center line of
the axle, as is
the center of gravity of the IDU when all of the weights are drawn inwardly.
When desired, any one of the field coils about the axle of the stator 3 can be
de-
energized. The de-energization of the field coils determines the direction to
which the center
of gravity of a vehicle using the inertial motor will be displaced. This will
cause the
generator coils to quit producing voltage at that field coil point, cutting
off the current flow
to the coils of the solenoid (C,) allowing the solenoid plunger to accelerate,
obtaining linear
speed which is expressed as v = c~ r; where v = linear speed; r = the
instantaneous radius of
the solenoid plunger from the axis of the rotor; and c,~ = the angular
velocity of the rotor.
The distance by which the solenoid plunger (C,) moves as it is guided by the
cylinder,
radially outward from the axis of the rotor is measured to any point along the
center line of
travel of the solenoid cylinder or until the solenoid plunger reaches the
furthest point
possible from the axis of the rotation which is P2, as shown in Figure 4.
Immediately after the generator coils pass a field coil which is associated
with a
solenoid (C,) and enter the magnetic field of the next field coil, the
generator coils induce
voltage flow/current flow into the solenoid's coils, which being the only load
are re-
energized causing the solenoid plunger (C,) to draw back to the point P, in
opposing the
centrifugal and Coriolis force as shown in Figure 5. As a result the moment of
inertia about
the center of the axis, (m r'-) of the solenoid plunger (C, ) decreases and
remains constant
within the plane of the rotor as the center of gravity of the IDU is displaced
towards the
center of mass of the solenoid plunger. This causes a change in the angular
momentum of
the mass, m r'- co, resulting in reactive torques upon the mass of the
plunger, that provide the
Coriolis forces, and centrifugal forces that oppose the decrease in
centripetal acceleration.
We now have to consider the coordination of the motion of the plungers with
respect
to one another. As the rotor continues to rotate, the solenoid (CZ), which is
in the desired
inward position, rotates into the proximity of the de-energized field coil
causing the plunger
of solenoid (CZ) to move in the same manner as the previous plunger of
solenoid (C, ). This
sequence of events will occur as each solenoid moves into the same position as
the last until
the operator chooses to change the sequence of activation. Any number and
combination of
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solenoids/pistons can be activated in any sequence desired and at any degree
of rotation of
the rotor.
As an example, a preferred embodiment of the invention has the following
dimensions and parameter values: The stator 3, which includes the axle and
other necessary
static components can be characterized as being approximately 80 mm in
diameter, a mass
of the plunger (m) equal to approximately O.Skg; and an angular velocity c.~
equal to 2000
rpm, i.e. 33.33 rps. The rotor 7, which includes the four solenoids and other
necessary
components mentioned above can be approximately 160 mm in radius. The mass (m)
may
equal to 4.55 kg.
As stated above the operation of the Inertial Drive Unit (IDU) begins when the
computer control system is set so that all of the field coils are energized
and the rotor 7
starts spinning about its axis, which is located at the center line of the
axle of the stator 5, by
use of a conventional motor. The rotor 7 is brought up to operating speed of a
specific
angular velocity which for this scenario is 33.33 rps. The plungers of the
solenoids (C,, C_,,
C3, and C4) are held in the nearest possible position P, to the axis of the
rotor against the
centrifugal force (as observed outside the inertial frame), when the
electromagnets are
energized.
When desired any one of the field coils about the axis of the stator _3 can be
de-
energized, causing the generator coils to cease producing voltage at that
field coil point,
cutting off the current flow to the solenoid (C,) allowing the plunger of that
solenoid to
accelerate. The magnitude of the of the centrifugal force is 7017.0 N outward
from the axis
of the rotor. Immediately after the generator coils pass that field coil which
is associated
with the solenoid (C,) and enter the magnetic field of the next field coil,
the generator coils
induce voltage flow/current flow into the solenoid, which being the only load
are re-
energized causing the plunger of the solenoid (C,) to accelerate, drawing back
to the point
P, against the centripetal force (as observed outside the inertial frame). As
the plunger of the
solenoid is drawn back to P, against the 7017.078 N of force, the center of
gravity (CG) and
therefore the mass of the IDU (minus the mass of the plunger) will move toward
the center
of mass of the plunger of the solenoid. The timing of the energization of the
field coil
depends on the angular velocity of the rotor and the linear speed of the
plunger, which is
dependent on the centripetal force. For example, if the solenoid plunger
travels 10 mm in
one second and that distance is chosen to be the most effective to achieve a
desired resultant
force overall, then the voltage to that solenoid would be cut off one second
before the time
when it is necessary to re-engage the solenoid, in order to move the center of
gravity with
respect to the solenoid plunger.
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Figure 6 may be used to understand the motion of the center of gravity of the
device.
Once the solenoid plunger (shown at A) is displaced to the predetermined
distance L from
the center of the rotor, there results a certain magnitude of centripetal
force. This force
causes a reaction force on the axis of the rotor at 0. The axis, which governs
the motion of
the vehicle moves in response to the reaction, causing a shifting of the
center of gravity of
the device as a whole. As the solenoid is de-energized and the plunger moves
the distance 1
to the point B, the center of gravity also moves in the same direction as the
solenoid piston.
Whether the vehicle moves in response to the shifting of the plunger is
determined by other
forces on the axis. The ratchet mechanism 12 shown schematically in Figure 2,
is depicted
in more detail in Figure 7. It may be used to control the vehicle so that it
moves in only one
direction. As stated previously it is the belief of the inventor that the
ratchet is not essential
because the motion of the vehicle may also be controlled by the balance
between the
centripetal and Coriolis forces and the inertial force acting upon the whole
unit. Where the
inertial force predominates the center of gravity of the unit is believed to
remain stationary.
Otherwise, if the centripetal/Coriolis force exceeds the inertial force
affecting the vehicle,
then the center of gravity will be displaced (as the result of the
electromagnetic force
produced by the solenoid coils) in a direction opposite to the
centrifugal/Coriolis force.
Figure 7 shows a simple ratchet mechanism that may be used to restrain the
direction
of motion of the vehicle chassis 21, which is attached by a bracket 23 to the
ratchet. The
details of the attachment of the ratchet to the wheel of the mechanism is
known to persons
of ordinary skill. In particular, a latch or dog 25 engages a gear 27 locked
to the vehicle
wheel axle 29 to restrain the direction of rotation of the vehicle wheel.
Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it
is
intended that the invention not be limited to those embodiments, but encompass
the entire
scope according to the following claims.
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