US4579011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Propulsion apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-06-11
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2004-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A platform supports a shaft assembly that extends upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the platform and through a disk mounted for rotation on the shaft assembly above the platform. The disk is rotated at a preselected speed and carries on the circumferential edge portion thereof a plurality of liquid filled reservoirs spaced from one another completely around the circumference of the disk. Buoyantly positioned in each reservoir is a hollow piston having a piston rod extending outwardly from the reservoir. Mounted on the shaft assembly is an adjustably movable cam having a cam track eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the shaft assembly. The piston rod end portions are positioned oppositely of the cam track for movement into and out of contact with the cam track upon rotation of the disk which carries the reservoirs. A load head applies a force downwardly upon a bent flexible shaft which engages a shoulder on the maximum radial sector of the cam to move the cam to a preselected position for displacement of the pistons in the reservoirs as the disk rotates about the cam. The relative displacement of the liquid in the reservoirs by the movement of the pistons in response to the contact of the piston rods with the cam track creates an unbalanced centrifugal force for movement of the platform in a preselected linear direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Elmer M. Dobos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:48
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/10; F03G7/125; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18344; Y10T74/18528; Y10T74/18544; Y10T74/18552
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
Apparatus for converting rotary motion to unidirectional motion comprising, a platform, a shaft having an axis extending perpendicular to the plane of said platform, a rotatably driven disk mounted on said shaft below said platform, said disk having a circumferential edge portion, a plurality of reservoirs containing liquid, said reservoirs being secured to said disk circumferential edge portion and being equally spaced from one another around said disk circumferential edge portion, a piston buoyantly supported in each reservoir and including a piston rod, said piston rod including an end portion extending from said reservoir in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a cam surrounding said shaft above said platform, said cam having a cam track eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of said shaft, said piston rod end portions being positioned oppositely of said cam track for movement into and out of contact with said cam track upon rotation of said disk about said shaft, means for supporting said cam track on said platform for slidable movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a load head positioned above said cam concentric with the axis of said shaft supported by said platform, load transmitting means extending from said load head in contact with said cam for exerting a constant force upon said cam in a preselected direction to selectively position said cam on said platform, and said piston rods being contacted by said cam track upon rotation of said disk to move said piston rods inwardly and outwardly of said reservoir to move said pistons and to displace the liquid in said reservoirs and generate an unbalanced centrifugal force upon said platform in said preselected direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
Apparatus for converting rotary motion to unidirectional motion comprising, a platform, a shaft having an axis extending perpendicular to the plane of said platform, a rotatably driven disk mounted on said shaft below said platform, said disk having a circumferential edge portion, a plurality of reservoirs containing liquid, said reservoirs being secured to said disk circumferential edge portion and being equally spaced from one another around said disk circumferential edge portion, a piston buoyantly supported in each reservoir and including a piston rod, said piston rod including an end portion extending from said reservoir in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a cam surrounding said shaft above said platform, said cam having a cam track eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of said shaft, said piston rod end portions being positioned oppositely of said cam track for movement into and out of contact with said cam track upon rotation of said disk about said shaft, means for supporting said cam track on said platform for slidable movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, a load head positioned above said cam concentric with the axis of said shaft supported by said platform, load transmitting means extending from said load head in contact with said cam for exerting a constant force upon said cam in a preselected direction to selectively position said cam on said platform, and said piston rods being contacted by said cam track upon rotation of said disk to move said piston rods inwardly and outwardly of said reservoir to move said pistons and to displace the liquid in said reservoirs and generate an unbalanced centrifugal force upon said platform in said preselected direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes, guide means for maintaining said cam in a preselected position with respect to said platform for receiving said piston rod end portions on said cam track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes, said pistons and said piston rods being positioned for reciprocal movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis if said shaft upon rotation of said disk about said cam, and means for maintaining said pistons and said piston rods movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis if said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said cam track includes a maximum radial sector and a minimum radial sector, a shoulder secured to said cam adjacent said cam track, said shoulder extending upwardly from said maximum radial sector, and said load transmitting means including an abutment portion in contact with said shoulder for applying a force upon said cam to advance said cam maximum radial sector to a preselected position for engagement with said piston rod end portions upon rotation of said disk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said load transmitting means includes a flexible shaft having an upper end and a lower end portion, said shaft upper end portion being in contact with said load head so as to receive the force applied by said load head, and said shaft lower end portion being positioned in abutting relation with said cam adjacent said cam track for transmitting the force of said load head from said shaft lower end portion to said cam to move said cam to a preselected position for contact of said piston rod end portions with said cam track upon rotation of said disk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which, said shaft upper end portion is concentrically positioned with respect to said shaft being positioned perpendicular to the plane of said platform, and said shaft lower end portion being angularly disposed with respect to said shaft upper end portion to transmit the force of said load head to said cam in a plane parallel to the surface of said cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said load head includes a tubular member having an upper end portion positioned concentric with the axis of said shaft supported by said platform, a load positioned above said platform for application of a force to said cam, said tubular member upper end portion having means for receiving and supporting said load above said platform, said tubular member having a lower end portion extending through a slotted portion in said cam and secured to said platform, said load transmitting means being positioned in said tubular member upper end portion in bearing relation with said load, and said load transmitting means extending laterally from said tubular member between said upper and lower end portions into contact with said cam for transmitting the force of said load to said cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said load head includes a compression spring exerting a force upon said load transmitting means for transfer to said cam, a receiver for said compression spring mounted above said load transmitting means for housing said compression spring in bearing relation with said load transmitting means, and adjustment means connected to said receiver for controlling the compression of said spring for exerting a preselected spring force upon said load transmitting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said load head includes a plurality of weighted members, positioned in stacked relation above load transmitting means, and means for supporting said weighted members for movement of each weighted member into load bearing relation with said load transmitting means so as to adjust the total force applied by said weighted members to said load transmitting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes, roller means for movably supporting said cam on said platform to permit lateral movement of said cam relative to the axis of said shaft supported by said platform for selective positioning of said cam track to contact said piston rod end portions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |