Inventors:
David S. Smith - Ann Arbor MI, US
International Classification:
F16H 21/18
Abstract:
A mechanism for converting rotary motion into a linear force employs a motor acting through a drive mechanism to rotate a pair of radial arms in counter-rotating directions, synchronously, about a central axis. A gear is rotatably supported about an axis normal to the plane of rotation of the arms, at the outer end of each arm. These two gears are weighted at points on their peripheries and the two gears are in mesh with identical, nonweighted fixed gears supported about the central axis, so that the weighted gears undergo one full rotation for each rotation of the arms. During each rotation of the arms, they experience two alignments, at two radially opposed positions. In one of the positions, the weighted segments are aligned so as to be positioned away from the central axis. At the other alignment position of the arms, the weighted segments are positioned close to the central axis. The unbalanced rotation of the arms and their weighted gears causes a centrifugal pulse in the direction of the most outward position of the rotating gears, moving the entire mechanism along a slide into abutment with a stop at one end of the mechanism to produce a net propulsive force. Rotation of the fixed gears 180 degrees reverses the thrust.