Patent Application
20110079684
The subject of this invention is a centrifugal engine (CE) and vehicles that use this CE to move in any fluid or space.
In present aviation or space industries combustion engines have been used as a source of thrust for example by airplanes, jets and rockets. In these vehicles long distance travel is dependent on huge amounts of fuel that need to be stored and attached to the vehicle drastically increasing the vehicle's total load. This method of take off is inefficient; by requiring more fuel at launch the vehicle has to accommodate a larger weight, (the massive weight of the fuel) and therefore must provide a larger thrust. Such an engine makes very long distance travel almost impossible. More fuel equals more load, and this is a vicious cycle.
Accordingly, there is a desire to develop new devices for producing thrust and new vehicles employing these devices.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a centrifugal engine comprising:
a round enclosure centered on an axis and defining a sealed interior space within the enclosure, the enclosure comprising an outer wall that closes the interior space around the axis between a base and a cover, an inner surface of the outer wall facing inward toward the axis being nonparallel therewith and sloping outwardly away from the axis where the outer wall extends away from the base toward the cover;
a liquid contained within the sealed interior space; and
a drive system carried with the enclosure and operable to effect rotation of the enclosure about the axis at sufficient speed to force the liquid outwardly away from the axis against the sloping inner surface of the outer wall and exert pressure against the cover under tendency of the liquid to move theretoward along the sloping inner surface of the outer wall to displace the enclosure and the drive system carried therewith in a direction along the axis corresponding to the pressure against the cover.
Preferably the enclosure is of a ring structure closing around the axis to enclose an endless channel around the axis between the cover and the base and between the outer wall and an opposing inner wall.
Preferably the endless channel enclosed by the enclosure and containing the liquid has a rhombus-shaped cross-section.
Preferably the inner surface of the outer wall slopes between the base and the cover at forty-five degrees relative to the axis in a cross-sectional plane radial thereto.
Preferably there is provided an outer housing in which the ring structure is disposed for rotation about the axis, wherein the drive system comprises electrically conductive coils disposed within the housing with the ring structure passing through the coils and the coils overlapping one another around the axis.
Preferably the ring structure comprises magnetically attractable sections alternating around the axis with less magnetically attractable sections, the overlapping coils being equal in number to a total number of the magnetically attractable and less magnetically attractable sections and being arranged to energize a first set of alternating coils around the axis to magnetically draw the magnetically attractable sections toward positions centered along paths through the first set of alternating coils, de-energize the first set of alternating coils before the magnetically attractable sections pass said positions and then energize a second set of alternating coils to drive rotation of the ring structure about the axis in a predetermined direction.
Preferably the endless channel of the ring structure is divided into independent segments positioned end-to-end around the axis and each filled with the liquid, each independent segment of the endless channel corresponding to a respective one of the magnetically attractable and less magnetically attractable segments and the liquid comprising a non compressible heavy liquid, preferably mercury. In this case, the endless channel is assembled from alternating segments with magnetic and non-magnetic properties and each of them has the same liquid inside.
Alternatively, alternating sections around the axis may contain opposite ones of a magnetically attractable liquid and a less magnetically attractable liquid, the overlapping coils being equal in number to a total number of the sections and being arranged to energize a first set of coils alternating around the axis to magnetically draw the sections containing the magnetically attractable liquid toward positions centered along paths through the first set of coils and de-energize before the same sections pass said positions to drive rotation of the ring structure about the axis in a predetermined direction.
Preferably the ring structure rotates within the housing along interfaces between outer surfaces of the ring structure and inner surfaces of the outer housing, the coil closing about the ring outward from the sliding interfaces.
Preferably the interfaces comprise sliding interfaces where the outer surfaces of the ring structure slide over the inner surfaces of the outer housing.
Preferably there is provided friction reducing material at the sliding interfaces.
Preferably the friction reducing material comprises Teflon.
Preferably the liquid comprises non-compressible heavy liquid.
Preferably the liquid is mercury.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a centrifugal engine set comprising at least one centrifugal engine unit carried on the frame, each centrifugal engine unit comprising at least one centrifugal engine and each centrifugal engine comprising:
Preferably each centrifugal engine unit comprises a pair of engines, each pair of engines comprising two engines lying on a common axis, facing a common direction therealong to exert the pressure of the fluids in the common direction and rotating the fluids in the two engines in opposite directions about the common axis to counteract tendencies of one another to spin the frame about the common axis.
Preferably the centrifugal engine unit set comprises two centrifugal engine units having the common axes thereof oriented perpendicular to one another to effect displacement in perpendicular directions along a plane in which the axes lie.
Preferably the centrifugal engine unit set comprises three centrifugal engine units having their axes oriented perpendicular to one another to facilitate motion of the vehicle in three dimensions.
Preferably the centrifugal engine unit set comprises at least one opposing pair of centrifugal engine units, each opposing pair of centrifugal engine units comprising two centrifugal engine units lying on coincident axes and facing opposite directions therealong each to effect displacement of the vehicle in the opposite directions along the coincident axes under separate operation of the two centrifugal engines.
The enclosure of each engine may be a ring structure and the axes of the three centrifugal engine units intersect at a common central point of the vehicle, the ring structure of an outer engine unit of the three centrifugal engine units closing around the ring structures of two center engine units of the three centrifugal engine units and the ring structure of one of the two center engine units closing about the other. In this case, the outer engine unit may close around additional centrifugal engine units spaced apart about the axis of the outer engine unit in orientations parallel thereto for use as stabilizers, for example use in turbulent atmosphere.
Alternatively, the centrifugal engine unit set may comprise a plurality of centrifugal engine units disposed at spaced apart positions along one of the axes thereof, the one of the axes also defining an axis of an elongated structure of the frame on which the plurality of centrifugal engine units are carried. In this case, preferably the plurality of centrifugal engines comprises, at each end of the elongated structure, three CEU pairs perpendicular to one another, one pair for each axis (x, y, z) to provide movement in +−X, +−Y and +−Z directions. Between these six outermost CEU pairs are numerous CEUs oriented along the main + or −Z direction. The plurality of centrifugal engine units are preferably disposed in a cigar shaped enclosure having a cigar axis.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
Known engines for aviation are combustion engines such as the piston engine, the turbo-jet engine, the aero-pulse engine and the rocket engine. All of them depend on combustion.
The present invention relates to a centrifugal engine (CE) that uses centrifugal forces to overcome gravity and lift the engine, and ultimately the vehicle on which it is used, or alternatively effect horizontal displacement when oriented differently. The engine of the illustrated embodiment uses a ring-shaped sealed enclosure R enclosing a channel that extends around a central axis A of the engine and has a rhombus cross-section in radial planes through the axis to rotate a non compressible heavy liquid (NCHL) 12 contained therein. The endless channel inside this ring is preferably divided into independent segments, which would act to minimize the “waterhammer” phenomenon that would appear when liquid changes its speed. Independent segments also provide improved speed control as the response of the confined or coffined-in segments of liquid would be faster—not depending entirely on friction between liquid and the endless channel walls. The preferred liquid is mercury; because of its density, mercury would create the largest centrifugal force from any other known liquid forms. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid completely fills the segments of the channel to maximize the weight of the liquid, and thus the resulting centrifugal force, and to further minimize any “waterhammer” phenomenon. As the heavy liquid rotates it creates a centrifugal force that then creates pressure on the walls of this ring channel. Due to the channel's rhombus section—specifically the inclination of its outer wall 11 into an orientation obliquely sloping the outer wall's inner surface outwardly away from the axis moving from a bottom base wall of the ring to an opposing top cover wall 10—this centrifugal force creates an unbalanced pressure on the channel's top wall.
The principals of this phenomenon are illustrated in
In the centrifugal engine, the driving force or “lift” is generated by one of the centrifugal force components created by rotating a 45 degree rhombus shaped ring channel containing a NCHL. The rotation of the ring channel and NCHL contained therein can be controlled by using electricity. In one embodiment the ring channel is divided into segments that alternate between magnetic and non-magnetic properties. This can be achieved by taking an endless ring structure made of non-magnetically attractable material and then fixing pieces of magnetically attractable material to its exterior at spaced positions around the ring. Electromagnetic coils that create electromagnetic fields would interact with the magnetic segments to produce rotation. Supplying electricity is more feasible than supplying combustible fuel, for example by using photocells, batteries or by using radioisotope power source similar or better than was use on the board of spacecrafts PIONIER 10 and 11. With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
This energizing and de-energizing sequence of all six coils forcing the movement of the mercury filled ring is then repeated as the next magnetic section approaches or enters the first coil under the rotation of the ring in the predetermined direction. The winding of each of the six coils of the illustrated embodiment spans about ninety degrees about the central axis, and the centers of these angular spans of the coils are equally spaced about the axis, so that the adjacent coils overlap one another around the axis to smooth the motion of the inner ring. In such a configuration, with inner coils 1, 2, 3 alternating with and extending partially into outer coils 4, 5, 6 around the axis, the inner coils 1, 2, 3 and energize simultaneously and de-energize simultaneously, and the outer coils 4, 5, 6 energized simultaneously and de-energize simultaneously. During continued driving of the engine, each “on” or activated period of one of these alternating coil sets occurs between two “on” or activated periods of the other coil set. Control over timing of the coil activation, deactivation and energized period therebetween can be effected using mechanical, electrical or computerized systems or combinations thereof to control conductive connection between each coil and the engine's DC power source.
The “working” engine has three distinct stages:
In the CE, acceleration and movement is controlled by regulating the rotation speed of the inner ring which in turn regulates the rotation speed of the liquid. By increasing or decreasing the NCHL's rotation speed the lifting or driving force's magnitude is respectively changed. As previously mentioned, a CE could operate on electricity. As discussed the inner rhombus ring channel could be divided into segments that alternate between two types of construction. Though each segment contains the NCHL, every second segment has a ferromagnetic iron shell used because of its electromagnetic properties, while the in-between segments are made only from a non-magnetic material. Electromagnetic coils that wind around the inner ring channel only interact with the “iron segments” and are used to regulate the inner ring channel's and the NCHL's rotation speed. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic and non-magnetic segments of the inner ring channel are each three in number, for a total of six equally sized segments containing the same amount of liquid, and the ring's circular path is divided by six overlapping coils winding around the ring, each coil covering 90 degrees of the inner ring about the axis. Accordingly, in a starting position magnetic segments will be at least partially within the coils then by activation of the coils the coils will pull toward the center of the coils. Before the magnetic segments pass the center of the coils, the coils will be deactivated and the next coils will be energized, forcing the continued movement. This energizing and de-energizing sequence is then repeated as the magnetic segments enter the coils under the rotation of the ring in the predetermined direction. In case when the magnetic segments are resting in the middle of three coils, energizing those three coils would fail to drive any initial movement of inner ring, so the other three coils next to them have to be energized and the movement is forced. Computerized control can be used to monitor for motion of the inner ring after an initial activation of one coil set, and if no such motion is detected, effect activation of the other coil set.
Referring to
Should the magnetic sections 7 of the inner ring end up stopped at the central positions within the inner coils 1, 2, 3 after use of the engine, as shown in
Should the magnetic sections 7 of the inner ring instead end up stopped at the central positions within the outer coils 4, 5, 6 after use, initial separate energization and de-engergization of the inner and outer coil sets will again fail to rotate the inner ring and move the magnetic and non-magnetic sections about the axis. To start the engine, the starting coil 16b wrapped around the outer coil 4 to the side of the center of the outer coil corresponding to the desired direction of rotation (clockwise in
It will be appreciated that for an engine having a predetermined direction of rotation, the starter coils need not be provided in pairs inside the two coils from the opposite overlapping coil sets. That is, for clockwise rotation in
Again, computerized control can be used to control the sequence of coil activations in the engine starting process. By using a sensor arrangement to monitor for movement of the inner ring, the process would be as follows: (i) energize then de-energize either the inner coil set or the outer coil set and monitor for movement of the inner ring; (ii) if no movement was detected, energize and then de-energize the other of the inner and outer coil sets and monitor for movement of the inner ring; (iii) if no movement was detected, energize and then de-energize the starter coil of either the inner or the outer coil set and monitor for movement of the inner ring; (iv) if no movement was detected, energize and then de-energize the starter coil of the other of the inner and outer coil sets; and (v) start the normal coil alternating energization/de-energization sequence of the inner and outer coil sets starting with the coil set opposite that which last had its overlapping coil or starting coil energized and de-energized. If movement is detected in any of steps (i) to (iii), then the process can skip directly to step (v).
The
Using
While it may be possible that the endless coil terminals may be mechanically switched on and off to establish and break electrical connection between the coil sections and the power source, electrical controls operable to alter the terminal connections between conductive and non-conductive states may simplify the overall structure of the engine and control system. It will be appreciated that the numbers of coils, magnetic ring segments, terminals and angular sizing of coils, terminals, magnetic ring segments and coil or coil portion overlap may of course be varied while still operating under the same principles and therefore falling under the scope of the present invention.
In another embodiment not shown, the use of magnetic sections of the inner ring may be replaced or augmented by use of a magnetically attractable fluid. That is, the inner ring channel may have its interior space divided into an even number of separate sections about the axis by divider walls disposed in radial planes spaced thereabout. The separate enclosed chambers in the ring would alternate around the axis in containing a ferrofluid attractable to a magnetic source and a non-magnetically-attractable fluid. The rotational drive of such an arrangement would operate the same way as the inner ring of the
Other alternative embodiments could use other electrically operated drive systems, for example employing an electric motor to rotate the ring or a pump or propeller that would provide the motion of the liquid inside a stationary ring, as other options for how to put the NCHL in motion. For example, a rotational motor could drive rotation of the ring through a drive train ending with a gear defined on the mercury-containing ring to present gear teeth about the axis thereof, or alternatively could have its output shaft lying on the ring axis and coupled to the ring to drive rotation thereof. In the latter case, the lift or driving force can be taken a ring-covering element like the housing of the illustrated embodiment, or using a thrust bearing in the connection between the motor and the ring to accommodate the lift or driving force produced in operation of the engine. It is also possible that such motor driven embodiments may employ more of a covered bowl-type structure for the inner enclosure containing the liquid, thus not have a central hole or opening at the axis, but still presenting a sloped outer wall causing the liquid to climb up the outer wall away from the base or bottom of the bowl toward a an outer perimeter of a planar cover fixed over the bowl-like structure in a plane normal to the rotational axis. However, the preferred embodiment using electromagnetically inductive coils inside a ring shaped engine housing is preferred over external-motor embodiments, as it has the advantages of being a directed-drive system acting to minimizing energy losses that would be significantly greater in external motor embodiments requiring transfer of power from an external motor to the engine ring, and providing a hollow or open center of the engine that allows different diameter engines to be nested one within the other or other equipment to be mounted within the open center of the engine to make efficient use of space. Pumps in line or propellers could alternatively move the liquid around the axis inside a stationary ring but, but this may present problems when using the preferred liquid (mercury), such as issues with corrosion, sealing, and toxicity. Using other liquids of lower specific gravity would demand higher rotational speed in an engine of the same size to achieve the same lift or drive force, as the total mass of liquid would accordingly be lower.
Since the centrifugal force's magnitude is a function of rotation so is the resulting drive force's magnitude, which is perpendicular to the plane of rotation—the higher the rotation speed the larger the “lift”. Two identical CE ring enclosure place placed coaxially one over or adjacent the other and facing the same direction are controlled to rotate at the same rpm but in opposite directions about their common axis to eliminate unwanted vehicle spin thereabout, as a pair provides one-way motion perpendicular to their parallel planes of rotation. This combination of two counter-rotating mercury enclosure rings and their drive sources collectively form a centrifugal engine unit, or CEU. Although the engine of
Using a combination of multiple CEUs, each of which generates its own drive force using a rotating NCHL, enables a vehicle to move freely in any direction of any unobstructed fluid or space. Such vehicles are illustrated in
Ultimately the Centrifugal Engine Unit in combination with its electrical power source, such as batteries, photocells, a radioisotope fueled power source or combinations thereof, form an independent and self-contained means of movement and acceleration. When multiple CEUs are strategically combined (see
The vehicle shown in
In further detail, four identical CEs of a first inner diameter 21, 22, 23, 24 lie concentric with one another in horizontal planes above and below a center horizontal plane containing the intersection point of the X, Y and Z axes. Two of these four first-diameter CEs 23, 24 are disposed one over the other above the center horizontal plane and have their covers facing downward so as to provide a vertically downward driving force when driven in opposite directions at operating speeds, thereby defining a CEU operable to exert driving force in the negative Y direction. The other two of the four first-diameter CEs 21, 22 are disposed one over the other below the center horizontal plane and have their covers facing upward so as to provide a vertically upward driving force, or lifting force, when driven in opposite directions at operating speeds, thereby defining a CEU operable to exert driving force in the positive Y direction.
Four CEs 25, 26, 27, 28 of inner and outer diameters smaller than the four horizontally oriented CE's 21, 22, 23, 2424 lie concentric with one another in vertical planes on both sides of a first center vertical plane containing the horizontal X axis. Two of these four second-diameter CEs 25,26 are disposed one beside the other on one side of the first center vertical plane and have their covers facing toward this plane so as to provide a horizontal driving force in a negative direction along the Z axis when driven in opposite directions at operating speeds. The other two of the four second-diameter CEs 27, 28 are disposed one beside the other on the opposite side of the first center vertical plane and have their covers facing toward this plane so as to provide a horizontal driving force in a positive direction along the Z axis when driven in opposite directions at operating speeds. The four second diameter CEs 25, 26, 27, 28 thus define a pair of opposing CEUs that provide driving force in opposite directions along the horizontal Z axis when operated.
Four CEs 29, 30, 31, 32 of inner and outer diameters smaller than the second inner diameter lie concentric with one another in vertical planes on both sides of a second center vertical plane containing the horizontal Z axis. Two of these four third-diameter CEs 29, 30 are disposed one beside the other on one side of the second center vertical plane and have their covers facing toward this plane so as to provide a horizontal driving force in a positive direction along the X axis when driven in opposite directions at operating speeds. The other two of the four third-diameter CEs 31, 32 are disposed one beside the other on the opposite side of the second center vertical plane and have their covers facing toward this plane so as to provide a horizontal driving force in a negative direction along the X axis when driven in opposite directions at operating speeds. The four third diameter CEs 29, 30, 31, 32 thus define an opposing pair of CEUs that provide driving force in opposite directions along the horizontal X axis when operated.
The horizontally oriented CEs 21, 22, 23, 24 thus define outer engine units closing around all the other engine units. The second diameter CEs 25, 26, 27, 28 disposed within the open center of the outer engine units likewise close around the third diameter CEs 29, 30, 31, 32, and thus define middle engine units closing around inner engine units. Each pair of engine units (the outer pair of CEUs, the middle pair of CEUs and the inner pair of CEUs) is centered around the intersection point of the X, Y and Z axes. The vehicle's center of mass is located at this central point so that the force exerted by each CEU acts to linearly displace, and not spin, the vehicle. The housings of the CEs are carried on or with a frame of the vehicle, which in turn may defined least in part by the engine housings themselves and interconnections therebetween. A hollow shell 33 of the vehicle encloses the outer CEUs of the vehicle of
To rotate or pivot the vehicle around one of the axes, the rotation speeds of the two counter-rotating CEs in a CEU operable to drive the vehicle along that axis are differentiated. That is by driving rotation of the CE in one direction about the axis at a speed faster than the oppositely rotating CE in the same CEU, the tendency for the faster CE's rotation to spin the vehicle about the axis is not fully counteracted, thus pivoting the vehicle about this axis. Such differential driven rotation of the counter-rotating inner rings of the two CE's a CEU can be used on the CEUs on all axes, so that an operator can pivot the vehicle about any selected one of the X, Y or Z axis. This way the vehicle has the freedom to adjust not only its direction but to also angle or pivot its own plane of reference P (i.e. the horizontal plane containing the X and Z axis in the embodiment of
A “Lighter” vehicle that is a simplified but equally sized version of the vehicle describe above and requires less than half the NCHL to provide the same speed and acceleration capabilities can also be built, and is shown in
A further embodiment, not shown in the drawings, could still allow movement in three dimensions while featuring only two CEUs, one horizontally oriented and the other vertically oriented. The horizontally oriented CEU would be operable to control vertical displacement by varying the amount of vertical lift produced, and also operable to control rotation or spin of the vehicle about the vertical axis of this CEU through the above-described use of differential rotational speed between its two individual CEs. Such rotation of the vehicle gives the operator control over which horizontal direction to face the vertically oriented CEU in to drive movement of the vehicle in that direction. After having rotated the vehicle sufficiently toward the desired orientation about its vertical axis, the differential operation of the counter-rotating CEs in the horizontally oriented CEU is stopped. The vertically oriented CEU can be operated alone to horizontally displace the vehicle, or operated together with the horizontally oriented CE to combine the horizontal and vertical drive forces produced by the two CEUs to move in a desirable direction. However, having only two CEUS would make total control over the vehicle more difficult as any instability would change the path of the vehicle, and so the arrangement would not likely allow quick and appropriate response in turbulent conditions unless it is provided with stabilizers 51.
With reference to
Position outward from the vehicle's center of mass at a central point along its cigar-axis defining the length dimension of the vehicle, the X-direction CEU pairs 61, 62 can be operated together in a common direction to laterally displace the vehicle or operated at different rotational directions or speeds to control yaw of the vehicle about a vertical axis through its center of mass, the Y-direction CEU pairs 63, 63 can be operated together in a common direction to vertically displace the vehicle or operated at different rotational directions or speeds to control pitch of the vehicle about a horizontal axis through its center of mass parallel to the X axis. The Z-direction CEU pairs 65, 66 and operable to longitudinally displace the vehicle in either direction, and when operated to displace the vehicle in the positive Z-direction, can be augmented by operation of the positive Z-direction CEUs 67, 68 to achieve greater acceleration and velocity of the vehicle.
Each of the vehicles illustrated herein includes space for pilots and vehicle controls, cargo, passengers, batteries or other energy supply units, and other equipment. For example, the vehicles of
It will be appreciated that the number of CE's used in a vehicle may be varied from those illustrated herein. For example, a track guided vehicle may be produced that only requires a single CEU to provide a single-direction drive force to displace the vehicle along a predetermined laid-out track or rail system, with a CEU pair being employable to add the ability to reverse direction along the track. Although a two-engine CEU structure with counter-rotating rings is preferred, other ways of counteracting a vehicle-spin tendency produced by rotation of one ring may be employed, for example to produce a thrust force at a distance from the ring-axis to cause a moment in a direction about the axis counteracting this spin tendency.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
