Abstract: This invention relates to a new and useful improvement of an earlier scheme patented by this inventor (Canadian Patent No. 1,245,992, issued Dec. 6, 1988) for generating electricity using gravitational energy. The improved scheme uses a set of massive underground spinning wheels, wherein each wheel is geared to a large driving wheel requiring a lower input torque, which wheel is then fitted with a mechanism to receive and transmit gravitational torque pulses from a passing vehicle to keep the wheels in motion. The above transmission mechanism consists of a stepping board, a cylindrical rod and a movable striking head with a toothed jaw attached to the lower end of the cylindrical rod by a hinge fitted with a torsional spring. The upper end of the cylindrical rod which protrudes above the ground surface is rigidly connected to the moving end of the stepping board and both are kept in their initial upward position by means of a “recocking” compression spring.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scheme for generating electricity using gravitational energy. The scheme uses a set of massive underground spinning wheels, each wheel being fitted with a mechanism to receive and transmit gravitational torque pulses from a passing vehicle to keep the wheels in motion. The mechanism used to apply the torque pulses to the spinning wheels consists of a stepping board, a hollow cylindrical rod disposed vertically and a shoe attached to the lower end of the vertical rod by a hinge with the upper end of the rod protruding above the ground surface. A steel linkage connecting the stepping board and the lower part of the shoe is used for initial positioning of the shoe. Both the stepping board and the protruding end of the vertical rod are kept in their initial upward positions by means of two springs. The electricity is generated by using each spinning wheel in combination with an appropriate gear system to act as the prime mover of an alternator.

Abstract: This invention relates to an attitude stabilizing system for a rod-shaped satellite in which stabilization is achieved by use of a spinning energy dissipator. The system can operate by being mounted on the rotor of a dual spin satellite or by being connected to the main body of the satellite through a motor and bearing assembly. In the latter situation, the stabilizer acts both as a nutation damper and a momentum source and thereby eliminates the need for an additional rotor element to provide the spacecraft momentum. The spinning energy dissipator may be designed to use four identical wheels mounted coaxially with and at the ends of the arms of a cruciform structure. The structure may then be spun about the axis perpendicular to the arms, to provide angular momentum along the spacecraft spin axis. In the event of any spacecraft nutation, the wheels experience the torques produced by inertial forces.