The Inertial Drive System Components and Method of Propulsion

 

by

 

Robert Dudley Berne

 

CopyrightÓ2002, All Rights Reserved. Absolutely No copies of any form without the express written consent of Robert Dudley Berne.

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The Inertial drive system described herein proposes an improved method of applying a net force to a payload, a method of generating the force, and two methodologies for controlling the generating force.

 

            Currently payloads are propelled in one of two methods, Traction and Thrust.

Traction can be either tactile or non tactile, examples of these are a simple wheel with pavement contact, and magnetic forces. A Thrust example is pushing an amount of matter in the opposite direction of a desired payload direction.

 

            In both cases the process runs out of a requirement of applying a force to a payload. In the case of traction the object being pushed against simply becomes to far away to push against enough to overcome resistive forces. In the case of thrust propulsion the propellant is exhausted.

 

            The concept described herein deals with the propellant exhaustion problem with thrust propulsion. The next document in this series will deal with the traction problem. While the method is relayed in this document with mechanical visual and textual analogies and models, this method can exist at the very small quantum level or the very large macro level.

 

            The Inertial Drive System (IDS) method described herein solves the propulsion exhaustion problem. This method allows for the application of a net force against a payload without the loss of the propellant. This method can be thought of as a way of converting power into motion directly, with the only loss being power. Ironically this brings us back to the original problem. However generating power is not a technologically difficult problem to solve.

 

            This methodical description will show that as a result of this design configuration and chronological ordering that the forces generated against the payload when all accounted for will show a net positive force in the direction of the payload.

 

The Inertial Drive System Components and Method

 

Figure 1.

 

            Figure 1 illustrates a pair of torque motors “A” and “B” mounted on the torque lever assembly supported solely by a pivot assembly, which attaches to a mount to the payload.

 

The torque lever is a lever with a bearing at its center for attachment to the pivot bearing and two pair of bearing sets for the torque sources. These bearings for the torque sources allow for free spinning in one direction and clutching in the other, all at the proper time.

 

The torque sources apply a torque against the lever arm at the pivot at the proper time. The direction of travel will be determined by the timing and control of this method. In addition there is a pivot mounted inertial dampener. Its contribution is to stop the motion of the torque lever and position it, where the control system determines the optimum place for power to force conversion.

 

The torque sources apply a torque against the torque lever at the pivot at the proper time.

 

Motion Segments and the Inertial Drive Cycle

 

            The Inertial Drive System works in a four segment timing cycle. There are two power segments of the cycle, each fully separated by two rest cycles. The end of the last segment of the cycle creates the initial conditions for the first segment of the cycle. This allows the cycle to be repeatable. During the cycle a determinable amount of force will be generated. 

 

 

Figure 1a Torque Source “A” starting position

 

Figure 1a illustrates the torque lever in the position for the first segment. The first segment of the cycle is the power stroke from torque source “A”. The torque source is engaged and torque is applied. The source will move the torque lever from position ‘Start’ To ‘Finish’ as shown in the Figure 1b.  Note the rotating assembly comprised of the torque lever and the torque sources never rotate, simply move +/- 45 degrees.

 

 

 

Figure 1b Torque Source “A” finished position

 

Figure 1b illustrates the result of the applied force. Torque source has a mass and it will move the lever around the pivot in an angular fashion at the expense of a force being exerted in the direction of the payload at the pivot. This force will contribute to the net force equation as Fa. This is the Power segment.

 

 

 

Figure 1c Torque Source “B” starting position

 

 

Figure 1c illustrates the result of the pivot inertial dampener stopping the torque levers motion, or the Rest segment. The effect on the payload will be a torque with a vector: Wa.

 

The inertia, of the torque lever and sources, is dampened with a net braking torque along the pivoting axial supports. This is to avoid any complex forces, but this is not the only method. It is simply logical to do so.

 

The inertial dampener can be of a type that allows for storing the energy for the torque source supply. A magnetic coupling to a capacitor storage circuit is one such method.

 

Figure 1d Torque Source “B” finish position

 

 

Figure 1d Illustrates the result of the applied force. Torque source “B” will move the lever around the pivot in an angular fashion at the expense of a force being exerted in the direction of the payload at the pivot. This force will contribute to the net force equation as Fb, which is equivalent to Fa

 

Figure 1d also illustrates the result of the pivot inertial dampener stops the torque levers motion. The effect on the payload will be a torque with a vector Wb. It is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to Wa.

 

 

At the end of the repeatable Inertial Drive Cycle the net forces and torques exerted at the pivot are in the direction of payload can be thought of as:

 

            Fnet=Fa  +Fb

           

Wnet= Wa +Wb

 

Since Fa = Fb, and Wa and Wb are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction they cancel out, leaving:

 

            Fnet= 2Fa

 

Wnet= Wa +(-Wa)=0

 

The motion relative to an observer is expressed as the motion of the torque source and the payload, resulting from the force against the pivot. The translation of the payload relative to an observer at rest is proportional to the ratios of the masses of the torque source to payload times the distance the torque source moved along the direction of travel relative to an observer. A single Unit as shown does not contribute much to greatly massive payload. It is by creating arrays of cell pairs that makes this method a feasible method of applying a force to a payload.

 

           


           Arranging IDS units as a pair, balances out each other’s Wa and Wb forces as they are created. This greatly simplifies the net force analysis. As these values are equal in value and opposite in direction at the same time thus avoiding the very complex time based analysis.

 

There are inertial dampening segments that do not apply a linear force to the payload; another IDS unit pair can be added that has a segment timing offset to apply force during those dampening segments.

 

 

The simple rule to expanding units into cells follows symmetry and phasing.

The simplest cell is shown in Figure 2, consisting of two unit pairs. The pairs balance out each other’s Wa and Wb pivot torque as well as Fa and Fb.

 

Having the two pairs simplifies the impulse harmonics. Further timing arrangements can be made to improve harmonic dampening like the 3 phase timing for the 3 pair cell as shown in figure 2a. Configurations can be 1, 2 or 3 dimensional.

 

Figure 2                                             Figure 2a

 

 

Torque Source: A Better Method of Generating and Applying a Torque.

 

            Most sources of torque require a physical attachment to a stationary point in order to apply a net torque to an on a continuous basis to an object.  The method described here only requires a mass and a physical connection to the object to apply a torque in a periodic fashion to that object. This is a reaction less torque.

 

The IDS method requires only torque in one direction for a given direction of net force. This is accomplished with a directional coupling that allows the torque to be transferred to the torque lever in the desired direction. The torque source can spin freely in the other direction.

 

This method will work at atomic-quantum sized levels and dimensions as well as real world macro levels of the kiloton and above and sizes in between.

 

A simple way to generate a reaction less torque is as follows

 

            Two rotating masses with axial rotation parallel to the Y-axis and are separated by some distance x large enough to keep them from touching. These axis lies in the x-y plane. They are supported in a gymbal that allows the axis to be rotated in the x-y plane. The gymbal has a secondary outer supporting axis parallel to the Z-axis. Refer to Figure 3.

 

 

            The holding assembly is balanced along the x-axis and the force moving the rotating mass’s’ gymbal axis in the x-y plane are also fastened and balanced to the holding assembly.

 

 

 

Figure 3.

 

 

 

            The two rotating masses are spinning in opposite directions. When their axes of rotation are made to intersect along the y-axis in either direction in the x-y plane there is a resulting torque in the y-z plane, and torque along the x-axis. This is due to a property called precession.  The force relayed by rotating the gymbals in opposite directions is relayed by precession to the x-axis. Because the torque applied to the gymbals’ z-axis are opposite in direction they have a net zero effect on the holding assembly. The result of this is a lone simple torque along the x-axis.

 

 

 

Figure 3b

 

 

 

 

The torque source is held along the X-axis by a special directional clutch. This clutch allows for the communication of torque during the respective power segments and the free spinning during the rest segments when the pivot inertia dampener is operating. During this time there can be any change in the motion of the torque source with no effect on the torque lever. Unless the clutch is engaged the torque source is simply no more than a mass. Refer to Figure 3c

 

 

 

Figure 3c
Two Methods to Generate a Reaction Less Torque

 

Constantly spinning the gymbals along their Z-axis the same rate but in opposite directions will generate an oscillating reaction less torque, due to precession and gyration. The clutching of the torque would depend on when the torque would be in the right direction. This is the Asynchronous Method.

 

The other method is the Synchronous Method as shown in Figure 4. By rotating the spinning masses gymbals +/- 45 degrees, but opposite each other, when the segment timer dictates, will generate a reaction less torque. This is due to precession only. During the rest cycle the gymbals would be rotated back in preparation for the next power segment.

 

Figure 4 and 4a show the spinning masses axis in the starting and ending positions for the Synchronous Method.

 

 

Figure 4

Figure 4a

 

Example of Expected Translation Displacement

 

            A 20 kg motor mass, 100 000 Kg Payload, with an array of 20 by 20 motor cells,

 

400 cells  * 20 Kg results in 8000 kg in motion mass per segment.

 

So if the mass of 8000Kg moves .4 meters relative to the payload then the resulting payload motion relative to a stationary observer is approximately .4 * 8000/100,000 or 0.032 meters

 

 This is .064 meters per cycle. The acceleration would depend on the number of IDS cycles per second that can be generated. 

 

          Obvious Conclusions & Not so Obvious Conclusions

 

Obvious Conclusions:

           

            The Starting and Finish positions are reversible to make the force point in the ‘opposite’ direction.

 

            Another obvious conclusion is that reaction less drives are possible. An interplanetary transport vehicle can be propelled with a constant acceleration given a constant supply of power. Ironically this returns us the running out of ‘something’ problem. Generating power is technologically simple.

 

A heavily loaded transport could make a trip to Mars in about the same time a tractor-trailer can go from New York to La, given traffic and about the same amount of horsepower (Give or take a factor of 4 or so).  Currently the acceleration rates are expected to be on the order of .1 meter/sec or less. Given the infancy of the concept and its power levels as conceived to date it will take some time before the acceleration rate greater than 9.8 meters/sec2 will be achieved.

 

            For a certain mass to move a certain distance, the smaller mass has to move a considerable amount.  There are repair issues associated with a 100 times the distance to Mars, but not a many as one would think. Clearly an electric motor can run continuously for months and years. MTBF for industrial bearings are standing at the billion of revolutions point. 

 

            Consider that accelerating constantly at .1 meter/sec2  for 7 years would put something no more sophisticated than a washing machine in contact with the Ort cloud.

A vessel accelerating for 7 years might actually achieve 8 percent of the speed of light.

It would seem the next orders of business would be to make a durable and long lasting power system and a payload hull that has a high collision resistance. An extensive video collection might be in order as well.

 

            The planet Mars is now within easy reach. The idea of having a sterile planet, that can be come an agricultural planet with the same land area as our Earth is simply breath taking. This will be mankind’s first real challenge. If this IDS gets to the point of increasing meters per second*2 then the capability of Lunar, Martian and finally Terrestrial departures will be possible.

 

The spinning masses could be replaced with a Bose-Einstien condensate (alkaloid fluid) and these methods could be modeled electro-magnetically at an atomic or quantum sized level, making a dynamic material, called Gyronium.

 

Not so Obvious Conclusions:

 

                        The torque sources require a mass and a method of creating the torque.

I stated that these generate a torque without contact with a platform. While mechanically correct this statement is a little inaccurate. The torque source is connected to space-time by virtue of its mass. When a torque is applied in this fashion the fabric of space-time is under going a torsional sheer stress and this point of the stresses center is moving in a circular motion.

 

In other words space-time is being twisted and pushed at the same time. The stress/shear gradient on the front of this undulation is slightly more pronounced than at the sides and even more so then on the trailing side. This is due to the combination of torsional stress and ‘circular’ motion as dictated by the ‘torque lever’. The behavior of this distortion shear is probably similar to fluidic cavitation, where the stress on a fluidic medium causes the fluid to become a gas for a short instance in time.

 

Generally under similar macro level conditions cavitation will result in a limit of the ability to propel and object. However there is an advantage to cavitation. It produces a situation which has a lower resistance and a theoretically a potential higher translational velocities. There are also circumstances where a wake is generated. On the other hand it might make little bubbles of space-time foam. This brings us to the Traction Problem, to be addressed in my next methodical description.