Category: reactionless propulsion

Page 10, Back to v2 Weights With Improved Stops & Longer Pivot Bolts

April 3, 2020

I went back to V2 weights, removed the magnet from both and welded a “bump” onto each of the pivoting bolts so that they contact the stops firmly when the weights are in their fully extended positions. After retiming the sun & planet gears to use this setup, I am reasonably pleased with the amount of thrust.

Page 9, Square Bar Weights Not Beneficial

April 2, 2020

I am not so sure that the new pendulum weights are going to work out. I have both weights installed & I have replaced their pivot bolts with somewhat longer ones so I can get a full nut on them. I also had to reinforce the stops because they were getting bent. Since I have them set 90 degrees out of phase there is no way for the weights to contact one another, so I am using both planet gears without the raised pivot.
Forward thrust (with V3 weights) is present but is not as good as I was hoping. I may go back to the V2 weights.

Page 8, Square Pendulum Weight & Planet Mounted “Stop”

March 30, 2020

The pendulum weight itself has changed several times & now I will try out another change. This latest incarnation (Version 3) replaces the threaded mounting pivoting on a steel bushing with a solid 1”x1” square steel rod weighing in at approximately 1 pound. The swing rate is actually slow enough that unit rpm will be limited and an outer trap may be of a simple momentary contact design.
 
 

Page 7, Limits of Magnetic Type Traps (Stops)

March 29, 2020

The outer stops/traps are the next (last?) item to get working properly. Roy (Thornson) stated that the planet traps (stops) could be either mechanical or electromagnetic and that they should act as a braking system that would momentarily restrain the pendulum weights and release them at the correct moment in the planet’s orbit & rotation. When the weight is released it snaps outward in the direction of desired movement pulling the unit forward.
Now having tried several variations of stops/planet traps, I can see that this is a very important part of the unit that enhances its functionality as much if not more than any other single component does. It seems to be all about “steering” the weight into a position where it can “whip” outward at the correct time.
At this time, several methods have been attempted to steer (or trap) the weight(s) with some limited success. So far, the most effective method uses permanent magnets mounted on an adjustable steel bar and on the weight. When running at low speeds (30 rpm or less) magnets placed in attraction steer the weights into position and whip outward as soon as the weight is pulled away slightly. When the rpm is increased to the 40-60 rpm range, more magnets must be added in repulsion and placed slightly outboard from the attraction magnets. When rpm is in the 60-100 rpm range the weight will not always be properly directed demonstrating the need for a much more robust method for the unit to be used effectively through multiple rpm ranges allowing for a more adjustable thrust output by simple rpm adjustment.
I Think the pendulum weights and their stops/traps/brakes need to be an integrated design where each is separate, yet they need to function as a single, independent unit when functioning.

Page 6, Minor Distraction & Understanding Leads to Improvement

March 26, 2020

A minor distraction has shown that the statement “It’s about the impact” is partially correct. Impact is very important to creating an inertial thrust device with enough efficiency to be worthwhile, however,impact alone does not make a viable working unit!
It is very apparent that if the centripetal push is in opposition to impact push the two will attempt to cancel each other out.
A POP device was created with a 2-speed motor which freewheeled at either 60 or 80 rpms. A loose bracket with a sliding bar was fastened across the axle. Each end of the bar had a bearing on it and the whole assembly inserted in a plastic housing.
Operation: The bar would impact the housing and be pushed away from the impact and the reaction pushed the unit in the direction of the impact… However, by pushing the bar into an opposing position it instilled the centripetal force in the opposite direction. By indexing the position of the housing into a more “sideways” push, the impact was able to push forward with slightly more force creating a very weak forward motion.
Only if the impact and inertial (centripetal) force are within the same 180-degree arc is there enough usable linear push.
 Using this knowledge in the Thornson style drive system:
The inner stop/planet trap is reasonably simple (at this point in the development) and serves for impact and keeps the weight from crossing the center of the sun gear.
The outer planet trap is much more complex, in function as well as in form. Stopping movement of the weight is not a viable option but a brake creates impact and directs the movement into a position for the desired “whip-like motion” which is effectively another impact (on the pivot pin of the weight). It is this “virtual impact sequence” that makes up most of the linear force used in this drive, the Thornson, and all Thornson-like drives.
The diversion was informative and now can be seen as a useful tool in the overall understanding of this technology. Understanding leads to improvement!

Page 5, Trying out Magnetic Outer Stops

March 19, 2020

I have been experimenting with the pendulum weight & stops (“planet traps”).
I have increased the weight of the pendulum weights from 8 oz to 1.25 lbs. and made them a bit different shaped (Version 2).
I found that the inner stop/trap is easily accomplished by letting the weight contact the sun gear’s axle and the addition of a movement limiter welded to the planet gear, which keeps the pendulum from swinging too far.
I tried several ways to make an effective outer stop/planet trap, from allowing the weight to hit a fixed stop to using a curved “guard” which limits movement & guides the weight into the correct position for full release. None of the physical contact types had the desired effect as of yet & I do not believe that having the pendulum weight “slip” through a friction brake (as suggested by Roy Thornson) will be much better.
Using a magnetic brake seems to be effective. Using rectangular ceramic magnets from Harbor Freight, 1 magnet is glued to the top of each pendulum (increasing the weight slightly) and 1 or 2 magnets glued or strapped to a 2” wide flat piece of steel which is fastened to the sun gear axle & adjusted approximately 180 degrees from where the weight contacts the inner stop/trap.
Using the solid inner trap & the magnetic outer trap a single rotating assembly actually has enough power to move the unit as well as it did with 2 rotating assemblies.
The next phase will be to “smooth” the movement:
The 2nd rotating assembly ring gear was re-timed to 90 degrees (1/4 turn) out of phase with the 1st assembly. Now the motion is not perfectly smooth but is much less jerky. Perhaps using 4 rotating units each progressing another 90 degrees will smooth it further and allow for forward motion with negligible “fall back” between pulses of power which would allow it to travel up an incline because of decreased “fall back”.

 

Page 4, POP, Information & Glossary

Feb 18, 2020

Now that I have the POP (Proof Of Principal) demo able to propel itself on wheels without any reverse action. It is strong enough to push small objects along with it, things like wrenches, spray cans, etc. It is time to find someone willing to duplicate it.
I am also switching back to just 2 flexplates turning as it is much easier to experiment with.

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It should be made perfectly clear that I want this technology perfected but I also want it freely disseminated! In this blog there are no secrets regarding the workings of the reactionless drive. Most patents leave out critical details, or the details are skewed just enough to make an actual working model impossible. Such is the case with the patent filed by Brandson “Roy” Thornson. He spoke of stopping and/or steering the movement of the pendulum weights attached to the planet gears and he called them “planet traps”. I suppose he did this to increase the mystique of this critical component.
Much of this project is based upon Roy’s work from the 1970’s & I want to make sure that he gets credited for all his hard work and personal investment. Thank you Roy!
As this blog progresses there will be components talked about which should be defined now to aid in understanding and reduce confusion. So, here is a Glossary of common components.
Flexplate = The large round rotating plates the other gears are mounted to.
Sun Gear = The center gear, mounted to the flexplate’s axle, it does not turn.
Planet Gear = The outer gear, mounted to the flexplate. It rotates & orbits the sun gear.
Pendulum Weight = The weight attached to the planet gear(s) via a pivot.
Inner Stop = The place on the flexplate’s axle where the pend. weight makes contact.
Outer Stop = Mechanical device stopping or redirecting the movement of the pend. weight.
Brake = Stop 

Page 3, My First Functional Demo:

February 2020
As of February 7th, 2020, I have a functional demonstration unit. It will pull itself along on wheels.
I need participants to replicate this, as is the purpose of the Grassroots Mechanic’s Movement.
I am now starting to document the components used (lest I forget) and basic construction of the unit. It isn’t perfect & is not ready for real world testing in a street vehicle as there is still a very long pause between linear propulsion pulses. I believe that perhaps another complete unit matching the build of the current assembly but running exactly 180 degrees out of phase (or timing), would work to help compensate for the pause in linear propulsion.
The demonstration unit produces a pulsed linear motion which is produced by moving weights which are connected via pivoting mechanisms to planetary gears rotating around a sun gear of the same specs as the planet. Restraining the movement of the pivoting weight is critical to the operation of the unit and changing the timing of restraints is effective for increasing or decreasing the propulsive force.

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In the videos below, the unit is running on a 2 speed, Honda Accord windshield wiper motor.

If you notice in the videos that at times the unit seems to not surge forward, it is because the workbench is not perfect, so the little bearings used as wheels are getting stuck and it pulls itself over the imperfections of the bench top surface.

Note: Input power load does not change regardless of the work load.

2 speed motor on low
2 speed motor on high


2 speed motor on high

Page 2, Roy Thornson’s System:

January 2020
As of January 10th, 2020, I have determined that the Thornson reactionless propulsion drive system known as the EZKL does indeed work & I now move forward with this base design & attempt to develop it in useful ways and perhaps ways that Mr. Thornson never did.
This all being said, I have researched the possibility of contacting Brandson Roy Thornson directly to get his approval for me to utilize portions of his research & offer to give him all due credit for his hard work. I found, however, his obituary. I may attempt to contact some of his surviving family at some point, but due to his passing & the expiration of the US patent I will simply & quietly continue forward with my endeavors to develop this reactionless propulsion into a usable transportation power transmission source. Specifically, I would like to see this developed as a type of “Plug-In Hybrid” powertrain module for automobiles.
Due to the high efficiency of this design, it’s reactionless propulsion stigma, and the potentially perceived threat to certain companies and/or entities involved in propulsion systems, great caution needs to be exercised during the development of this technology prior to and during any widespread public disclosure.
At this point, I believe that developing this as an “open-source” tech through the  formation a type of Grassroots Mechanic Movement may be the best route for spreading the development of this.
Note added 3/19/2020: Because of published obituaries and public newspaper articles, I believe most of Roy’s immediate family has passed. I found a son still living (Andrew Thornson) who has an active Facebook page, but I have not attempted contact.

Page 1, Reactionless Propulsion:

Dec 2019
After designing, building & testing a reasonably successful POC (proof of concept) reactionless propulsion device of my owndesign, I have temporarily shelved the original POC device in order to devote my time and energy to a very promising unit with a much more simplistic mechanical design.
The origin of this design was from a Canadian inventor named Roy Thornson. This reactionless propulsion unit was known as the EZKL by the inventor who attempted to present his device to the Canadian government with little success as the Canadian government seemed to have no interest in such a propulsion device. He gave numerous public & private demonstrations of the prototype EZKL, as well as lectures & presentations relating the working principals of his invention. It was reported that there were private demonstrations made to engineers & scientists from large companies worldwide. I found his information on the internet & found that he also had a long-expired US patent for the EZKL. After reviewing as much information as I could find published on the internet, I obtained a copy of the DVD which had video recordings of some of Mr. Thornson’s lectures, presentations & of him personally outlining his thought process regarding the EZKL. He also demonstrated the EZKL POC prototype on the video with explanations in vivid detail.
After reviewing his information, using his own words, videos, drawings & presentations as a guide, I proceeded to build a prototype of the EZKL. I have been able to observe the relationship(s) between it and my own design and have observed some basic design issues that my own research was able to help overcome.
At this time, I have had no one helping me or guiding me save for the late Mr. Thornson himself via the videos and written materials I purchased from some of the remaining repositories of nearly lost technical information.