Aeronautics and astronautics – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-11-20
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Miscellaneous
C505S879000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318666
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The device of this invention resides in the field of aircrafts for transportation, and more particularly relates to a craft that is supported and propelled by using the earth's geomagnetic field.
2. History of the Prior Art
It is well known that superconductive materials can be supported by a magnetic field which phenomenon is referred to as the Meissner effect. It is also known that if current is passed through a conductor crossing magnetic field lines, a force is exerted on such conductor in a direction determined by the right-hand motor rule. It is also known that if a large current is passed through a superconducting material, it will cause that material to become non-superconducting and to return to being a normal conductor. This level of current is referred to as the critical current density.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to utilize the geomagnetic field of the earth to support and propel a superconducting lightweight craft. In a preferred embodiment such craft can be spherical in shape. Other shapes such as a cylindrical or planar shape, etc. can also be used. In its simplest form such craft can be a superconducting layer formed on a lightweight aerogel insulation hollow sphere. The Meissner effect is well known and is usually demonstrated by cooling a fixed superconductor and having a rare earth permanent magnet levitate above it. This configuration is utilized because if one levitates the superconductor, it is no longer in contact with the coolant and soon warms above the critical temperature and thus is no longer levitated. The superconducting sphere of this invention acts as a diamagnet which repels the geomagnetic force fields thereagainst and tends to position itself at right angles to such magnetic lines of force. The magnetic force field utilized in this invention is the earth's geomagnetic field.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a superconductor having its own cooling means and also to provide for a thermal barrier to prevent heat gain from the environment. Such craft can also have electrodes attached at various points on its surface, as described in further detail below. It is known that if a conductor carries a moving electric charge when placed in a magnetic field, a force is exerted on that conductor. The force is proportional to the current in the conductor and to the magnetic density of the field. The force on the conductor also depends upon the angular position of the conductor relative to the direction of the magnetic flux lines where:
B is the flux density in gauss
I is the current in amperes
L is the length of the field in centimeters
When the current direction is at right angles to the magnetic field, the relationship is:
B
×
I
×
L
9800
=
Force
(
F
)
in
grams
This resultant force is produced between the geomagnetic field and the lines of force surrounding the current-carrying superconducting sphere.
If a current is passed from a first electrode on one side of the sphere of this invention to a second electrode on the opposite side of the sphere at a current level below the critical current density level, the sphere will retain its superconducting properties; but due to the right-hand motor rule wherein a conductor, such as the sphere, when it is in a magnetic field such as the geomagnetic field of the earth, carries a moving electric current, a force is exerted on the conductor, i.e. sphere, in direct proportion to the current passing through the conductor and to the density of the flux in the magnetic field. The force exerted also depends upon the position of the conductor relative to the direction of the magnetic lines of force. In this fashion when multiple electrodes are attached at most points at 90 degrees to one another on the sphere and selectively activated, a force is created on the sphere in a desired direction to propel the sphere. Further, if a higher than critical current density level is directed to the area of attachment on the sphere which causes the surrounding area of the sphere to become non-superconducting, such area no longer repels the earth's geomagnetic field. The repulsion, though, on the remainder of the sphere causes the sphere to be propelled in the direction where there is no such repulsion. The areas of lack of repulsion can be changed on the sphere by directing a current higher than the critical current density level to different portions of the sphere, thereby propelling the sphere in different selected directions. The area of lack of repulsion can also be affected by heating such area, such as with a laser beam, above the temperature where the superconductor becomes non-superconducting, or one could cease cooling a desired area.
Because the earth's magnetic field is not strong, a large area has to be presented to the geomagnetic field in order to be effective. And, contrarily, if the size of the sphere is large, the weight of the sphere has to be small. Therefore, it is a still further object of this invention to provide a method of construction that provides extremely lightweight spheres. In one embodiment liquid nitrogen is aspirated into the interior of a single sphere having a superconductive material layered onto its inside surface. As the liquid nitrogen gasifies, it further cools due to evaporative cooling. A pressure can be maintained inside the sphere and a relief valve can be provided to the outside of the sphere to control any excess pressure.
In another embodiment of this invention a hollow, lightweight, thermally insulative material is provided as a support substrate for a layer of superconducting material. An inner, lightweight, thermally insulative dam is provided which allows for a gap between the inner material and the superconductive layer into which gap a cryogenic gas or liquid is entered. Spherical and cylindrical shapes are most accommodating for this purpose. The example illustrated in this application uses a hollow sphere for both a substrate for the superconductor to be layered onto its interior surface and as the floating positionable inner dam to provide a minimal volume in such gap for liquefied gas to be entered therein. Irrespective of the control and propulsion aspects described below, the craft of this invention can levitate in the geomagnetic field and has useful purposes, such as display effects and minimal payload bearing capabilities.
Various ways of manufacturing a hollow superconducting spheres are taught in the methods described in my following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,284,606; 5,693,269; 5,322,652; 5,073,317; and 5,507,982. The superconducting sphere could be made in orbit, shielded, and brought back to earth where panels of aerogel would be adhered to it.
With the increasing interest in organic superconductors and the search for ever higher critical temperatures, it is foreseen that a more conventional cooling system could be used in the not too distant future. The possibility of making a hollow sphere consisting of foamed or porous inorganic or polymeric superconducting material exists.
The sphere embodiment of this invention, not needing a second concentric sphere, can be composed of a porous or foamed organic superconductor, such as K-(d-ET)2Cu(NCS)2, which itself can be a moderately good thermal insulator. At the present time only liquid hydrogen can bring these types of superconductors to their critical temperature, being from 1.2 K. to 12 K. The superconducting material can also be brought to its critical temperature by means of thermoelectric cooling where heat is transported to radiation fins disposed outside the sphere or by magnetocaloric cooling or other cooling means.
Aerogels having densities as low as 0.003 gm/cu. cm can provide some of the properties needed to construct the craft of this invention. Low-density aerogels having R factors of 20/inch are now being produced.
In order to determine the voltage needed to produce movement in such a craft, one way of making such calculati
Jakel Kevin
Nitkin William
Poon Peter M.
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