Thrust generating method

Abstract

To provide a thrust generating method which can be realized.SOLUTION: A rotating body 11 having a weight 15 is rotated and periodic (pulsating, continuous) speed change is generated in rotation speed with respect to the rotation of the weight 15, and thus, thrust to a direction where speed is faster is generated. Magnitude of the thrust is adjustable by adjusting a variation in the rotation speed of the rotation of the weight 15, a distance from a rotation axis 11a of the rotating body 11 to the weight 15, or the weight of the weight 15. A power source is provided for generating periodic speed change in the rotation speed with respect to the rotation of the weight 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a thrust generating method, and more particularly to a thrust generating method for generating thrust by changing the rotational speed of a rotor equipped with a weight. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Numerous techniques have been proposed for thrust generating devices that utilize rotational motion. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for a self-propelled engine that utilizes inertial kinetic energy due to rotation, in which a moving element is fixed to a rotating ring, the fixed state is released at a specific position, the moving element is received by the main body itself, the moving element is collected in the ring, and the moving element rotates again. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a device for converting rotational motion into forward linear motion, which generates a desired thrust by rotating a mass body and changing the radius of rotation of the mass body at the impact peak. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-324894 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2017-536522 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As such, various thrust generating devices have been proposed, but most of them are theoretically flawed and do not generate thrust. For example, in the engine described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to realize a method for fixing the moving element to the ring, a method for releasing the fixed state, and a method for recovering the moving element to the ring. In addition, in the device described in Patent Document 2, the maximum force is generated in the impact driving plate by converting the impact from the impact peak to the impact body, and a thrust acts in the direction of the motion vector induced through the impact body bushing (Fig. 10 attached to Patent Document 2). However, since a thrust due to centrifugal force also acts in the opposite direction of the motion vector, the device vibrates violently, and effective thrust cannot be obtained.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a feasible thrust generation method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The thrust generating method of the present invention is characterized by rotating a rotating body equipped with a weight and generating a periodic (pulsating, continuous) speed change in the rotation speed of the weight, thereby generating a thrust in a direction of increasing speed.

[0007] The magnitude of the thrust may be adjustable by adjusting the amount of change in the rotational speed of the weight, or by adjusting the distance from the rotation axis of the rotating body to the weight, or by adjusting the weight of the weight.

[0008] A power source may be provided for generating periodic (pulsating, continuous) speed changes in the rotation speed of the weight.

[0009] The rotating body may have a rotation axis at a position that is not a constant distance from the edge of the rotating body, and when the rotating body receives a driving force and rotates around the rotation axis, the peripheral speed of rotation of a weight attached to the rotating body changes, thereby generating the thrust.

[0010] The rotor may have another rotor that meshes with the rotor and has a rotation axis at a position that is not a constant distance from the edge, and the rotor receives power from the other rotor and rotates around the rotation axis, changing the peripheral speed of rotation of a weight attached to the rotor, thereby generating the thrust.

[0011] The rotating body and another rotating body may be wrapped around each other by a tensioning member, and the thrust may be generated by changing the peripheral speed of the other rotating body to cause a change in rotational speed of the rotating body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, a rotating body equipped with a weight is rotated, and a periodic (pulsating, continuous) speed change is continuously applied to the rotation speed of the weight, thereby making it possible to continuously obtain a stable thrust with little fluctuation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 100 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 100 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thrust generating device 100. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thrust generating device 100. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram of the rotation of a gear 10 and a gear 11 equipped with a weight 15. FIG. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 300 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6B] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 300 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotation of a gear 31. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 400 according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a gear 40 and a gear 41. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a thrust generating device 500 according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely illustrative and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly described below. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications (e.g., by combining the various embodiments) as long as the effects thereof are achieved. Furthermore, in the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. Parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships or ratios. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and redundant descriptions of substantially identical configurations may be omitted.

[0015] First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic explanatory diagrams showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 100 that realizes the thrust generating method of the present invention according to the first embodiment, and Figures 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views of the thrust generating device 100. Figures 1 and 2 show an outline of the mechanism when the thrust generating device 100 is observed from above.

[0016] The thrust generating device 100 is essentially configured to rotate a gear 11 as a rotating body equipped with a weight 15, and generate a thrust in a direction of increasing speed by generating a periodic (pulsating, continuous) change in the rotational speed of the weight 15.

[0017] Gear 10 is an example of another rotating body in the present invention, and is driven to rotate by receiving a driving force via shaft 2a from motor 2, which is a driving source provided inside housing 1. In this embodiment, gear 10 is an eccentric gear, and has rotation axis 10a, which rotates by receiving a driving force from shaft 2a, at a position offset from the center of gear 10. In other words, rotation axis 10a is provided at a position whose distance from the edge of gear 10 is not constant.

[0018] Gear 11 is an example of a rotating body in the present invention, and chain 20 is an example of a tension member in the present invention. Gear 11 is wound with chain 20, and when gear 10 is driven to rotate, a driving force is transmitted via chain 20, causing gear 11 to rotate around rotation axis 11a. Gear 11 is fixedly connected to shaft 4a at rotation axis 11a, which is its rotation center, and shaft 4a is rotatably supported by support part 4 inside housing 1.

[0019] Additionally, gear 11 is provided with weight 15. Weight 15 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of gear 11. In the example shown in the figure, weight 15 is attached to shaft 4a, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of gear 11, but weight 15 may be attached to another location as long as it is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of gear 11. The adjustment gear 13 is elastically supported by a support part 3 with a rotation spring inside the housing 1 and a shaft 3a.

[0020] In FIGS. 1 and 3, when the gear 10 receives a driving force from the motor 2 and rotates counterclockwise, the gear 11 and the weight 15 also rotate counterclockwise via the chain 20. 2 and 4 show the state where the gear 10 in FIGS. 1 and 3 is rotated 180 degrees. When the rotational speed of gear 10 is constant, by making gear 10 an eccentric gear, the peripheral speed v of the point of contact of gear 10 with chain 20, i.e., the tangential speed of the circumference of rotating gear 10, can be changed.

[0021] In Figure 1, the peripheral speed v1 of point L1 of gear 10 where it comes into contact with chain 20 can be expressed as v1 = r1ω, where r1 is the distance from rotation axis 10a, which is the center of rotation of gear 10, to point L1, and ω is the angular velocity of rotation. In Figure 2, the peripheral speed v2 of point L2 of gear 10 where it comes into contact with chain 20 can be expressed as v2 = r2ω, where r2 is the distance from rotation axis 10a, which is the center of rotation of gear 10, to point L2, and ω is the angular velocity of rotation.

[0022] Since the rotational speed of the gear 10 is constant, the angular velocity ω is also constant. Therefore, the peripheral velocity v changes in proportion to the distance r from the rotating shaft 10a to the point L1 or L2 where the chain 20 makes contact. In the examples of Figures 1 and 2, the distance r2 is greater than the distance r1, and the peripheral velocity v2 is greater than the peripheral velocity v1. Therefore, the power transmitted from the gear 10 to the chain 20 is greater in the state of Figure 2 than in the state of Figure 1.

[0023] 1 to the state in Figure 2, the driving force from gear 10 is appropriately transmitted to gear 11 via chain 20, through adjustment gear 13, which is elastically supported via shaft 3a on support part 3 with a rotating spring inside housing 1, and adjustment gear 12, which is connected to adjustment gear 13 at connecting part 14. The power transmitted from chain 20 to gear 11 is also greater in the state up to Figure 2 than in the state in Figure 1, and the rotational speed of gear 11 is also greater in the state up to Figure 2 than in the state in Figure 1.

[0024] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotation of the gear 10 and the gear 11 equipped with the weight 15. Other members such as the chain 20 are not shown. The diagram shows the state of gear 10 and gear 11 equipped with weight 15 when the rotation angle of gear 10 is 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees. The state of rotation of gear 10 and gear 11 equipped with weight 15 when the rotation angle is 0 degrees is the same as in Figure 1, and the state of rotation of gear 10 and gear 11 equipped with weight 15 when the rotation angle is 180 degrees is the same as in Figure 2. The thickness and length of the arrows show the magnitude of the rotation speed of the gear 11 equipped with the weight 15 at each rotation angle of the gear 10. As shown in the figure, the rotation speed changes continuously.

[0025] In this way, by changing the peripheral speed of the gear 10, specifically the peripheral speed of the point of contact of the gear 10 with the chain 20, it is possible to continuously change the rotational speed of the gear 11, to which power is transmitted via the chain 20. The rotational speed of the weight 15 attached to the gear 11 also changes in the same way as the gear 11. As the weight 15 rotates, centrifugal force from the weight 15 acts outward from the center of rotation (rotation axis 11a) of the gear 11, generating a thrust in the outward direction of the gear 11. While the gear 11 is rotating, the centrifugal force from the weight 15 is constantly generated in all 360-degree directions of the gear 11. However, as the rotational speed of the gear 11 periodically changes, the centrifugal force from the weight 15 also periodically changes. The largest centrifugal force is generated when the rotational speed of the gear 11 is fastest. By configuring the rotational speed to always be fastest at the same point, a large centrifugal force is always generated in only one direction, and a thrust in that one direction can be obtained. That is, in the examples of FIGS. 1 to 4, a thrust force is generated in the right direction in the drawings.

[0026] The peripheral speed of gear 11 changes once every time gear 10 rotates. Every time gears 10 and 11 rotate, the rotational speeds of gear 11 and weight 15 change periodically (pulsatingly, continuously). This allows a stable thrust with little fluctuation to be continuously generated toward the outside of gear 11 (in the direction of faster speed).

[0027] When the rotational speed of the gear 11 equipped with the weight 15 is sufficiently fast and exceeds a predetermined speed, a thrust in the direction of the increased speed can be generated more stably. In the configuration illustrated in the first embodiment, i.e., when the gear 10 is at its slowest rotational speed (when r1 is smallest) and the weight 15 of the gear 11 is located at the lower left of the gear 11, a thrust in the right direction of the thrust generator 100 (rightward in the figure) is generated when the rotational speed of the gear 11 equipped with the weight 15 exceeds a predetermined speed. In FIG. 5, the centrifugal force of the weight 15 is greatest when the rotation angle of the gear 10 is from 0 degrees to 270 degrees, generating a thrust in the right direction of the thrust generator 100. The direction of thrust generation can be adjusted by shifting the period of the speed change of the weight 15. For example, shifting the period by 180 degrees generates a thrust in the opposite direction.

[0028] The thrust generating device 100 can generate an effective thrust by rotating the gear 11 equipped with the weight 15 and continuously applying periodic speed changes to the rotation of the weight 15. Furthermore, by repeatedly varying the rotation speed of the gear 11 equipped with the weight 15, a stable thrust with little fluctuation can be continuously obtained.

[0029] Furthermore, the magnitude of the thrust can be adjusted by adjusting the peripheral speed of the gear 10, specifically, the amount of change in the peripheral speed at the point of contact of the gear 10 with the chain 20, that is, the difference between peripheral speeds v1 and v2 in the examples of Figures 1 and 2. For example, if the amount of change in peripheral speed is small, the amount of change in power transmitted from the gear 10 to the chain 20 also becomes small, and the fluctuation in the rotational speed of the gear 11 also becomes small. As a result, the magnitude of the thrust also becomes small.

[0030] In this embodiment, the gear 10 is an eccentric gear with the rotating shaft 10a positioned off-center of the gear 10, thereby changing the peripheral speed v of the contact point of the gear 10 with the chain 20. However, other configurations may be used as long as the peripheral speed v of the weight 15 can be changed. For example, the gear 10 or the gear 11 may be formed in a non-circular shape. With a non-circular shape, the distance r from the rotating shaft to the contact point with the chain 20 can be changed, thereby changing the peripheral speed v.

[0031] In addition, in this embodiment, gear 10 and gear 11 are configured to have the same size, and gear 11 also rotates once when gear 10 rotates once, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Gears 10 and gear 11 may be configured to have different sizes, and the rotation speeds of both gears may be different.

[0032] Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7. FIG. 6A and 6B are schematic explanatory diagrams showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 300 that realizes the thrust generating method of the present invention according to the second embodiment. The thrust generating device 300 is essentially configured to rotate a gear 31 as a rotating body equipped with a weight 35, and generate a thrust in a direction of increasing speed by generating a periodic (pulsating, continuous) change in the rotational speed of the weight 35.

[0033] The gear 30 is configured by, for example, a cylindrical gear, and receives a driving force from a motor 32, which is a driving source, via a shaft 32a, to be driven and rotated. Gear 31 is formed, for example, by a bevel gear. Specifically, gears are formed radially around the circumference of the left-hand face of gear 31 in the drawing, and this gear portion is configured to mesh with gear 30. Gear 31 receives a driving force from gear 30 and rotates. Gear 31 has a rotation axis 31a at a position where the distance from the edge of gear 31 is not constant. Gear 31 in this embodiment is an eccentric gear, and an example is shown in which the rotation axis 31a is positioned at a position offset from the center of gear 31.

[0034] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotation of gear 31. This figure shows gears 30 and 31 as viewed from the right side of FIGS. 6A and 6B, and components other than gears 30 and 31 are not shown. In the example shown in this figure, gear 31 rotates around rotation axis 31a while meshing with gear 30 at the point indicated by S in the figure (FIG. 7(A) → FIG. 7(B) → FIG. 7(C)). FIG. 6B (FIG. 7(C)) shows the state in which gear 31 has rotated 180 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 6A (FIG. 7(A)). After further rotation and 360 degrees rotation of gear 31, it returns to the state shown in FIG. 6A (FIG. 7(A)).

[0035] Gear 31 is provided with a weight 35. Specifically, weight 35 is provided on a shaft 34 fixed to gear 31, and weight 35 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of gear 31. Shaft 34 is rotatably supported by a support portion 33 of housing 301.

[0036] As the weight 35 rotates, centrifugal force from the weight 35 acts outward from the center of rotation (rotation axis 31a) of the gear 31, generating a thrust in the outward direction of the gear 31. While the gear 31 is rotating, centrifugal force from the weight 35 is constantly generated in a 360-degree direction around the gear 31. However, because the gear 31 is an eccentric gear, the centrifugal force from the weight 35 also changes periodically. In other words, the peripheral speed of the rotation of the weight 35 changes. When the meshing point S between the gears 31 and 30 is closest to the rotation axis 31a of the gear 31, the rotation speed of the weight 35 is the fastest, and the largest centrifugal force is generated. By configuring the rotation speed to always be the fastest at the same point, a large centrifugal force is always generated in only one direction, and a thrust in that one direction can be obtained. That is, in the example shown in the figure, thrust is generated downward in the figure.

[0037] Every time the gear 31 rotates, the rotational speed of the gear 31 and weight 35 changes periodically (pulsatingly and continuously). This allows a stable thrust with little fluctuation to be continuously generated toward the outside of the gear 31 (in the direction of faster speed). When the rotational speed of the gear 31 is sufficiently fast and exceeds a predetermined speed, a thrust in the direction of faster speed can be generated more stably.

[0038] The thrust generating device 300 can generate an effective thrust by rotating the gear 31 equipped with the weight 35 and continuously applying periodic speed changes to the rotation of the weight 35. Furthermore, by repeatedly varying the rotation speed of the gear 31 equipped with the weight 35, a stable thrust with little fluctuation can be continuously obtained.

[0039] In this embodiment, the gear 31 is an eccentric gear with the rotation axis 31a positioned off-center of the gear 31, thereby periodically changing the centrifugal force of the weight 35. However, other configurations are possible as long as the centrifugal force of the weight 35 can be periodically changed. For example, the gear 31 may be provided with the rotation axis 31a at a position that is not a constant distance from the edge of the gear 31. Alternatively, the gear 31 may be formed in a non-circular shape with the rotation axis at its center. The non-circular shape allows the distance r from the rotation axis 31a to the point of contact between the gear 31 and the gear 30 to be changed, thereby changing the peripheral speed v.

[0040] Furthermore, because gear 31 receives a driving force from motor 32 via gear 30, the rotational speed of gear 31 can be controlled by motor 32. Therefore, for example, motor 32 may be configured as a stepping motor or the like, and a periodic (pulsating, continuous) driving force may be applied to gear 30, thereby causing a periodic (pulsating, continuous) change in the rotational speed of gear 31, thereby periodically changing the centrifugal force of weight 35 and obtaining thrust. In this case, the rotational axis of gear 31 may be configured at the center of gear 31.

[0041] Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the mechanism of a thrust generating device 400 that realizes a thrust generating method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a thrust generating device 400 using non-circular gears as the rotating bodies of the present invention will be described. The thrust generating device 400 is essentially configured to rotate a gear 41 as a rotating body equipped with a weight 45, and generate a thrust in a direction of increasing speed by generating a periodic (pulsating, continuous) change in the rotational speed of the weight 45.

[0042] Gear 40 is an example of another rotating body of the present invention, has a rotation axis at a position that is not a constant distance from the edge, and receives a driving force via shaft 42a from motor 42, which is a drive source provided inside housing 401, to rotate. In this embodiment, gear 40 is a non-circular gear formed in a non-circular shape, receives a driving force from motor 42 via shaft 42a, and rotates around rotation axis 40a.

[0043] Gear 41 is an example of a rotating body according to the present invention. Gear 41 is a non-circular gear formed in a non-circular shape, and when gear 41 is driven to rotate in mesh with gear 40, a driving force is transmitted to gear 41, causing gear 41 to rotate around rotation axis 41a. Gear 41 is fixedly connected to shaft 44a at rotation axis 41a, which is the center of rotation of gear 41, and shaft 44a is rotatably supported by support portion 44 inside housing 401.

[0044] Additionally, gear 41 is provided with a weight 45. Weight 45 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of gear 41. In the example shown in the figure, weight 45 is attached to shaft 44a, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of gear 41, but weight 45 may be attached to another location as long as it is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of gear 41.

[0045] 9 is an explanatory diagram of gears 40 and 41 of thrust generating device 400. This is a diagram of gears 40 and 41 observed from above in FIG. 8, and other members are omitted from the illustration to make it easier to see the meshing structure of gears 40 and 41, which are formed in non-circular gear shapes. When gear 40 receives driving force from motor 42 and rotates clockwise around rotation axis 40a, gear 41, which meshes with gear 40, receives power from gear 40 and rotates counterclockwise around rotation axis 41a. Weight 45 also rotates in conjunction with the rotation of gear 41.

[0046] Each time gear 40 rotates once, the peripheral speed of gear 41 and weight 45 changes once. The rotational speeds of gear 41 and weight 45 change periodically (pulsatingly, continuously). This allows a stable thrust with little fluctuation to be continuously generated toward the outside of gear 41 (in the direction of faster speed).

[0047] The thrust generating device 400 can generate an effective thrust by rotating the gear 41 equipped with the weight 45 and continuously applying periodic speed changes to the rotation of the weight 45. Furthermore, by repeatedly varying the rotation speed of the gear 41 equipped with the weight 45, a stable thrust with little fluctuation can be continuously obtained. By adjusting the number of teeth of the gears 40 and 41, it is possible to control the rotation speed and the amount of change in the rotation speed.

[0048] <Fourth embodiment> The thrust generator 500 according to the fourth embodiment can be configured by combining the thrust generators of any of the above-described embodiments. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which two thrust generators 300 according to the second embodiment are combined. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the thrust generator 500 according to the fourth embodiment. The motor (not shown) provided inside the housing of the thrust generator 300 on the left in Fig. 10 and the motor (not shown) provided inside the housing of the thrust generator 300 on the right in Fig. 10 rotate their weights in opposite directions when viewed from the weight side. The thrust generated by the thrust generators 500 is generated in the same direction by the left and right thrust generators 300, canceling out the rotation of the housing. In other words, a resultant force of the thrusts generated by the two thrust generators 300 can be obtained.

[0049] The rotating body (including other rotating bodies) in the present invention is not limited to gears and may be, for example, a pulley. Furthermore, the tension member is not limited to chains and may be, for example, a chain, a wire rope, a belt, or a combination thereof.

[0050] In the above-described embodiments, a configuration has been described in which a change in rotational speed is applied to the rotation of the weight 15 (35, 45) via the gear 10 (30, 40), but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. As long as a change in rotational speed is periodically applied to the rotation of the weight 15 (35, 45) to generate a thrust in one direction, any method may be used to rotate the gear 11 (31, 41), and any method may be used to periodically change the rotational speed of the weight 15 (35, 45).

[0051] A power source may be directly attached to the gear 11 (31, 41). For example, a power source such as a stepping motor may be directly attached to the gear 11 (31, 41), and the power source may generate a periodic speed change in the rotation of the weight 15 (35, 45), thereby adjusting the centrifugal force of the weight 15 (35, 45) to be maximum in one desired direction, thereby generating thrust. In the thrust generating device 300 of the second embodiment, when a power source such as a stepping motor is directly installed on the gear 31, the rotation axis 31a of the gear 31 may be configured at the center of the gear 31.

[0052] The power source, and the motor 2 (32, 42) in each of the above-described embodiments, may be, for example, a gear motor and external power, or a removable dry battery or rechargeable battery. Anything that can transmit rotational power may be used, such as a drive device that uses an internal combustion engine, an external combustion engine, or the like.

[0053] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the weight 15 (35, 45) is installed on the shaft 4a (34, 44a) which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the gear 11 (31, 41), but the weight 15 (35, 45) may be installed in another location as long as it is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the gear 11 (31, 41).

[0054] Furthermore, the magnitude of the thrust can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of change in the rotational speed (circumferential velocity) of the weight 15 (35, 45), or by adjusting the distance from the rotation axis 11a (31a, 41a) of the gear 11 (31, 41) to the weight 15 (35, 45), or by adjusting the weight of the weight 15 (35, 45). For example, the greater the amount of change in the rotational speed (circumferential velocity) of the weight 15 (35, 45), the greater the thrust generated. Also, the greater the distance from the rotation axis 11a (31a, 41a) of the gear 11 (31, 41) to the weight 15 (35, 45), the greater the thrust generated. Also, the heavier the weight 15 (35, 45), the greater the thrust generated.

[0055] The configurations of the thrust generating devices 100 to 500 according to each embodiment that realize the thrust generating method of the present invention have been described above. Each embodiment may be implemented independently, or any combination of embodiments may be implemented. Note that the configurations of the thrust generating devices 100 to 500 described above merely illustrate the basic essentials of the thrust generating method of the present invention. In other words, the technical scope of the thrust generating method according to the present invention is not limited to the scope described in each of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements can be made within the scope of the claims. The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and the present invention can be widely applied to thrust generation methods that can generate thrust using a rotating body equipped with a weight. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 100, 300, 400, 500 thrust generator 1, 301, 401 enclosure 2, 32, 42 Motor (power source) 2a, 32a, 42a shaft 3 Rotating spring-loaded support, 3a shaft 4a, 34, 44a shaft 10, 30, 40 Gears (other rotating bodies), 10a Rotating shaft 11, 31, 41 Gears (rotating bodies) 11a, 31a, 41a Rotating shaft 12, 13 Adjustment gear 14 Connecting part 15, 35, 45 weights 20 Chain (tensioning member)

Claims

1. A thrust generation method characterized by rotating a rotating body equipped with a weight and generating a thrust in a direction of increasing speed by generating a periodic speed change in the rotation speed of the weight.

2. 2. The thrust generating method according to claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the thrust can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of change in the rotational speed of the weight, or the distance of the weight from the rotation axis of the rotating body, or the weight of the weight.

3. 3. The thrust generating method according to claim 1, further comprising a power source for generating a periodic change in rotation speed of the weight.

4. the rotating body has a rotation axis at a position that is not a constant distance from the edge of the rotating body, 3. The thrust generating method according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body rotates around a rotation axis upon receiving a driving force, thereby changing the peripheral speed of rotation of a weight attached to the rotating body and generating the thrust.

5. 3. A thrust generating method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that another rotating body is provided which engages with the rotating body and has a rotation axis at a position that is not a constant distance from the edge, and the rotating body receives power from the other rotating body and rotates around the rotation axis, thereby changing the peripheral speed of rotation of a weight attached to the rotating body and generating the thrust.

6. 3. The thrust generating method according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body and another rotating body are wound with a tension member, and the thrust is generated by changing the rotational speed of the rotating body by changing the peripheral speed of the other rotating body.

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