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This site is intended to
present and promote a new method of propulsion, the Elliott Oscillating
Reactionless Drive (EORD) to persons that believe very strongly that
reactionless propulsion is impossible (or bullsh…)
For that reason I will try to
present my ideas in a FUN way, remember this site is still under construction.
The
The Elliott Air Driven Space
Propulsion System is patent pending in USPTO.
William J. Elliott S.
What is inertial propulsion and why are we interested?
Exploring the solar system with propellers
The Elliott Oscillating Reactionless Drive (EORD)
(Or how to make a Dean Drive work)
Characteristics of Counter Rotating Mechanisms
The Elliott Oscillating Reactionless Drive (EORD)
Creating a Non Symmetrical Oscillation
Testing
the working model
What is inertial propulsion and why are we interested?
Inertial or reactionless
propulsion, also referred to as reactionless thruster, reactionless engine, or
inertia drive is any form of propulsion that has no need of interaction with
its surrounding environment and without expulsion of fuel or reaction mass.
Humanity sends a lot of effort
moving things all over the planet and beyond, many types of motors are used such as; gasoline, electric,
steam ext.
If the motor (of any type) is
to move a cargo or vehicle, it MUST PUSH AGAINST SOMETHING in order to move,
Fig1 a illustrates the most common method, a wheel powered by a motor pushes
against a surface in order to move.
If we wish to move in air or
water, we need a propeller (or jet engine) in order to push against the
molecules of air (Fig 1 b), but beyond a certain altitude the air is too thin
for the propeller or jet engine to function, we have nothing to push against.
Fig1 a
Fig 1 b
Fig 1 c
Therefore to function in the
vacuum of space it is necessary to bring our own mass to push against, this is
generally done by expelling gases at as high a velocity as possible (Fig 1 c).
Fig 2
Fig 2 illustrates (images
lifted from Winchell D. Chung Jr.'s page, I don’t know where he
got it from) how any vehicle trying to accelerate in “outer space” soon losses
all available mass, specially as the available mass is its fuel, (imagine how
many MPG you would archive is instead of using your gasoline in the motor you
tried to push the car by expelling the fuel with a rocket engine, it might be
fun but it will not be cheap or efficient)
A reactionless or inertial
engine is capable of producing thrust without
expelling mass therefore it can accelerate continually as long as the
energy source (batteries, solar power, stirring engine, AIP…) continues to
function, accelerating to velocities never archived by a vehicle before (Fig 3)
Fig 3
Because it overcomes the mass
expelling limitations of rockets, Inventors and research laboratories have tried
for decades to make a working model. (Even Nicolas Tessa gave it a try).
The most notorious of the
reactionless propulsion inventions is without doubt the well known
It soon became obvious the
damm thing did not work, for had it produced even a small amount of thrust humanity’s
history of space travel would be very different.
Why have they failed?
Examining a large number of previous patents I conclude concept errors
(thinking in terms of centrifugal force for example) and design errors are at
fault in many, I also believe some may have worked if the inventor had been
able to put more time and think “outside the box” of his (or her) conclusions.
And the fact all university
physics courses state very strongly that reactionless propulsion is physical
impossible has not been very helpful ether.
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Exploring the solar
system with propellers.
As we have seen, once we have a spacecraft in “space”, we still have
very large distances to travel in order to get anywhere, and because we have
nothing to “push against”, we have no choice but to expel mass, generally our
fuel.
Even spacecraft using a ion
drive or thruster such as SERT, Deep
Space 1, Artemio, Hayabusa, Smart 1, or Dawn must expel mass, they
just do it very efficiently
I shall explain a very simple method that converts mechanical energy
into thrust without expelling mass using
a propeller.
Fig 4
Fig 4 illustrates a pressurized structure in micro gravity, either in
orbit or in transit between planets.
Inside the pressurized structures we place a fan with its power source
included, (more on that later, for now we will just have batteries included in
the fan).
The fan is composed of the electric motor (a), connecter to a pair of
counter rotating propellers (b), fig 5.
Fig 5
We have the fan “floating” in our pressurized spacecraft, as shown in
fig 4, distance D2 must be as long as practical so any effect on the spacecraft
structure when the fan is turned on is as negligible as possible.
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Cycle for generating trust |
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Cycle 0 When the spacecraft is in orbit we detach the fan assembly from its
docking mounts (not shown), floating freely inside the spacecrafts
pressurized structure. |
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Cycle 1 When we turn on the fan, its counter rotating propellers will blow air
in the –X direction and will begin to move (slowly at first) in the +X
direction. (effect on the spacecraft assembly negligible) |
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Cycle 2 The fan assembly will gain velocity as it travels in the +X direction. |
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Cycle 3 BUMP. The fan assembly will move in the +X direction until it bumps into the
spacecraft’s structure giving it a small push (fan assembly’s mass x velocity) in the +X direction. As the spacecraft is in space, it will keep the small increase in
velocity |
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Cycle 4 The instant of the “bump”, the propellers pitch is reversed, thrusting
the fan assembly in the –X direction. The air blown against the spacecraft’s structure is negligible, does
not increase spacecrafts velocity |
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Cycle 1 (again) At a pre-programmed distance (length of D1 Fig 4), the propellers
pitch is returned to its original position, generating wind in the –X direction,
slowing the fan assembly until it stops (relative to the velocity of the
pressurizes spacecraft structure) and begins acceleration in the +X direction
until it catches up with the spacecraft structure giving it another bump,
another increase in velocity the spacecraft will not lose. |
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Each cycle the spacecraft will increase velocity without expelling mass,
therefore if it is powered by a solar or atomic power plant it will continue
accelerating the spacecraft indefinitely.
Indefinitely, (ad
infinitum?) That’s interesting.
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Beyond the Propeller
It may be possible that for
some combinations of available power and spacecraft mass a propeller driven
spacecraft may be desirable, but for most applications it may be better to
replace the fan assembly (fig x) with a ram mass structure assembly
(RMSA), described in fig 6.
Fig 6
Principal parts of the ram mass structure assembly RMSA.
Fig 7 Radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). Image The Internet ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE
In this example (Fig 6), we have 4 RTG power sources (5) included in the
ram mass structure assembly (RMSA), more than adequate to power the electric
motor (6), that will power the compressor fan (7), that will blow air thrue the
air ducts (8), reaching the Air valves (9) that open and close expelling air thrue the
forward or rear Air jet nozzles (10) that propel the RMSA in the “forward” (+X) or
“rear” (-X) direction.
Putting It All Together
Fig 8
In Fig 8 we have a spacecraft (1) that is propelled in space by a
Elliott Air Driven Space Propulsion System (2), inside the pressurize structure
(2) we can see the ram mass structure assembly RMSA (3) traveling in the +X
direction propelled by air jets, soon to bump into the forward contact area
(15) giving the spacecraft a small increment in velocity.
Note that the pressurized structure (2) has a forward (15) and rear (14)
contact area, therefore the mechanism can create forward and backwards impulse.
If instead of using just one Elliott Air Driven Space Propulsion System,
we use three or more (Fig 9), we may also maneuver the spacecraft by
synchronizing the movements of the various RMSAs
Fig 9
Continuously accelerating spacecraft to never before velocities? Am I
serious?
Yes.
Does it work?
Yup.
Is it practical?
Probably not.
Is there a better way?
Yes definitely, pleases read on.
With a Elliott Air Driven Space Propulsion System we generate a “bump”
every 10 seconds (aprox), now we will consider a mechanism that generates 2000
or more “bumps” per second, and each “bump” generating a large amount of KILOS
(not just newtons), I present to you The Elliott Oscillating Reactionless
Drive.
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The Elliott Oscillating Reactionless Drive (EORD)
(Or
how to make a
The
We shall see just how the EORD
works shortly, but first we will examine 3 points:
1- Characteristics of
counter rotating mechanisms.
2- Why the
3- And finally, how
the EORD works.
Characteristics of Counter Rotating Mechanisms
Fig 10
When 2 equal counter rotating masses
(5a and 5b) revolve (as seen in Fig 4), the forces on the Y axis cancel each
other out, but the forces on the X axis combine, therefore the mechanism
oscillates (moves) first in +X direction then the –X direction, but remains stable on the Y axis.
Fig 11
Fig 11 illustrates the cycle
in 2 parts, the first 180º rotation trust is generates on the +X direction, the
second 180º rotation thrust is generated in the –X direction.
Fig 12
Fig 12 illustrates the sum of
the vectors on the Y axis cancel out while the sum of the vectors on the X axis
reinforce each other.
But we have to agree that
every cycle (360º) the masses generate equal amount of thrust in the –X and +X,
the masses will generate a strong oscillation but no displacement.
It just sits there and goes
nowhere.
How does the
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The
As presented to the world in
Popular Science, the
Fig 13
It is very obvious from the
illustration (Fig 13) that the mechanism oscillates equally in either
direction, what Dean stated was that his mechanism oscillated a little more in
one of the direction (in other words the oscillation was not symmetrical), and that
small difference was enough to explore the solar system.
Fig 14
Dean’s idea was; while the
rotating masses traveled in the –X direction a electromagnet (f) was turned on
creating a “drag” so that the platform (containing the rotating masses) were
not able to travel as far on the –X axis as before, as the rotating masses were
a little closer to the “cargo” (d) and the +X cycle was uninhibited, the
platform (b) would give the “cargo” (d) a bump every cycle.
What many failed to take in
consideration is that while the electromagnet is holding back the platform
(with masses), the platform is pulling the “cargo” in the –X direction and that
compensates the bump generated in the +X direction.
So it doesn’t go anywhere.
Enough about what does not
work, how does the EORD drive work?
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The Elliott Oscillating Reactionless Drive (EORD)
All that is needed to make a
working oscillating drive is to make it oscillate a little more in one
direction than the other, creating a non symmetrical oscillation WITHOUT
INTERACTING WITH THE FRAMEWORK OR CARGO, and that is simple.
Let us examine the forces of 2
counter rotating masses.
Fig 15
We shall examine the forces
generated during a 360º rotation of the masses, for simplicity’s sake we will
divide the circumference in 4 sectors for the bottom mass.
Sector A = 0º to 90º
Sector B= 90º to 180º
Sector C = 180º to 270º
Sector D =270º to 360
Supposing the mechanism has
been rotating at a constant speed for some time, and we examine what is
happening as the mass travels in sector A (bottom mass) Fig 15, we see that the
platform containing the masses is pushed
in the +X direction, movement represented by the solid red line in Fig 15.
Fig 16
The moment the bottom mass
passes 180º (top mass passes 0º) the masses stop generating thrust in the +X
axis and begin to push the platform with the masses in the –X direction,
slowing the platform to 0 velocity and then increasing velocity in the –X
direction. This change is represented by the continues red arrow in fig 16.
Fig 17
As the bottom masses pass
through sector D, the combined forces of the masses continue pushing the
platform in the –X direction (Fig 17)
Fig 18
As the bottom mass pass
through sector A (Fig 12), the masses
combined forces pushes the platform in the +X direction, slowing it till it
stops (relative to the X axis) and then increases velocity in the +X direction
reaching exactly the same position it had when we started (Fig 9) as
represented by continues red arrow A.
Therefore the apparatus
oscillates symmetrically and doesn’t go anywhere
Fig 19
The full cycle is illustrated
in fig 19, as the forces A, B, C and D are equal, A+B = C +D and we don’t go
anywhere. (For simplicity sake Fig 19 only shows the bottom rotating mass)
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Creating a Non
Symmetrical Oscillation
In order to create a non
symmetrical oscillation system, all that is needed is to disconnect the masses
form the motor that is powering their rotation during the C and D sectors, this
can be done either with a electric clutch or simply cutting the power to the
motors (if they are electric)
Really? Let’s take a closer
look.
Fig 20
The continues red lines in Fig
14 represent the movement of the masses on their platform while the masses
receive power constantly, the mass is at B sector position and the platform
with the masses is moving merrily in the +X direction.
Fig 21
As represented in fig 15, as
the masses rotate on sector C, power is cut and they cease to be pushed,
rotating only because of the inertia, therefore the force generated in sector C
is not as strong as the force in sector B (or A), hence the platform with the
masses manages to advance a little more on the +X direction before it is pushed
in the –X direction.
This displacement is displayed
as the gray doted arrow in fig 15.
Fig 22
The masses continue their
rotation without power (Fig 16), only inertia in the D sector, as the masses
have slowed the force generated in sector D is less than the force generated in
sector C, therefore the platform (and masses) does not travel as far in the –X
direction as when sectors C and D received power.
The displacement during C and
D sectors are represented by the gray arrows.
As force D is less than force
C and both are less than forces A or B. We may state:
A = B and B > C and C >
D then:
(A + B) > (C +D) therefore:
Each cycle the platform will
move slightly in the +X direction (Figs 17 and 18) delivering a continues
series of “bumps” against the cargo.
Fig 23
Fig 24
And
that folks is how it works.
Naturally I do not expect that
you accept my pretty diagrams without a fight, a lot can be argued concerning
the forces and velocities, I will not publish a detailed vector analysis in
this post because I promised a FUN demonstration (nobody would read it anyway).
Therefore I will give you
detailed instructions on how to construct and test a working oscillating
reactionless drive (of the Elliott type).
All you will need is to be
found in a Lego set, 2 Lego motors are required, if you do not have a Lego set
(shame on you), it may be possible to borrow from some kid.
If you are impatient, I am
sure you can build a better model by yourself. I will gladly give advice.
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Coming soon.
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