Propulsion apparatus

Claim 2

A propulsion apparatus comprising a movable frame; rotatable means carried by said frame and including a plurality of masses rotatable relative to said frame and about a common axis, each said mass comprising a body of liquid of relatively high specific gravity; mass transfer means operative to vary the radius of gyration of said masses during rotation thereof by moving part of said masses radially inwardly and allowing a generally oppositely located part of said masses to move radially outwardly; and control means for cyclically operating said mass transfer means to increase said radius of gyration of each said mass during travel thereof through a predetermined sector on one side of said axis, and to decrease said radius of gyration during travel thereof through a predetermined sector on the opposite side of said axis whereby an unbalanced centrifugal force occurs to move said frame.

Claim 3

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mass transfer means includes a plurality of hollow members arranged in interconnected, diametrically oppositely located pairs to carry said liquid, and said mass transfer means further includes means operative to move some of said liquid radially inwardly between the members of each pair.

Claim 4

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rotatable means includes a plurality of rigid containers housing said hollow members, respectively; wherein each said hollow member is expansible and collapsible within its said container; and wherein said mass transfer means includes means for introducing a fluid under pressure into one said container to collapse the associated said member, while simultaneously venting the opposite said container of the pair to allow expansion of the associated said member whereby said liquid passes from the collapsed one to the opposite one of said members.

Claim 5

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable means includes a plurality of containers, each having a radially extending first portion and an axially directed second portion; wherein such said body of liquid is located in said containers; and wherein said mass transfer means is operative to move some of said liquid between said first and second portions.

Claim 6

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said mass transfer means includes a plurality of pairs of floating pistons in said first and second portions of said containers, respectively, with said liquid therebetween; and wherein said mass transfer means further includes a plurality of push rods operative against those of said pistons located in said second portions whereby said liquid is moved into said first portions; and wherein said mass transfer means further includes return means tending to move said pistons in said first portions radially inwardly in the absence of operation of said push rods.

Claim 7

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said return means includes means applying fluid under pressure to the radially outward faces of said pistons in said first portions.

Claim 8

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said control means includes a cam mounted to said frame and having a cam surface engaging said push rods and provided with a cam rise operative to sequentially operate said push rods upon rotation of said rotatable means relative to said frame.

Claim 9

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cam is adjustable on said frame to adjust the circumferential position of said cam rise to thereby determine the location of said predetermined sectors and thereby control the direction of movement of said frame under the influence of said unbalanced centrifugal force.

Claim 10

A propulsion apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable means includes a central reservoir, includes a manifold for distributing fluid under pressure, and further includes a plurality of radially oriented cylinders extending between said reservoir and said manifold; wherein said mass transfer means includes a plurality of pistons in said cylinders, respectively; wherein one said body of liquid is located in each said cylinder radially inwardly of the associated said piston, all of said bodies of liquid being an integral part of a large mass of said liquid filling said central reservoir; and wherein said control means includes valves operative for admitting said fluid from said manifold and into certain ones of said cylinders to move said pistons radially inwardly, and further operative for venting said fluid from the oppositely located said cylinders to allow the associated said pistons to move radially outwardly whereby said unbalanced centrifugal force occurs.