Frictionless drive unit for space vehicles - has weights moving in hollow cylinder with contact prevented by magnetic repulsion

摘要

A new kind of drive unit for space vehicles employs pairs of weights (2) moving with two degrees of freedom inside hollow cylinders (1). The cylinders are eccentric w.r.t. rotors which carry guides to drive the weights. All contact and friction between moving parts is avoided by building them with magnet segments, separated by thin anti-magnetic plates. The magnets are arranged so that contact is prevented by repulsion between like poles. The drive unit is enclosed in an airtight shell and evacuated. The temperature of the universe provides additional cooling for the drive and its power source.