Abstract: A traveling-field, magnetic propulsion system and operating method is provided for achieving economical space travel. The system is based upon designing the vehicle in the form of a single-stage streamlined circular toroidal airfoil containing a thin-walled superconducting solenoid. It is initially launched vertically off the earth's surface into a vacuum environment at 125 km using conventional rocket propulsion. It is then accelerated along a high-inclination trajectory by a traveling repulsive magnetic field generated by ejecting an easily ionizable low-density gas cloud in the vehicle's magnetic field and transmitting a high-power, plane-polarized, microwave beam at the cloud tuned to the electron cyclotron resonant frequency. The transmitter is constructed horizontally on the earth's surface as an electronically-steered, phased array several hundred meters in diameter energized by a large superconducting energy storage system.

Abstract: A sound emitting golf ball is provided for locating a golf ball after it is struct by a golf club. The system comprises a miniaturized electronic, battery powered piezoelectric sound generator surrounded by a shock absorber that is embedded inside a golf ball. The sound generating system is constructed with very small, inexpensive shock resistant components and embedded at the center of the golf ball inside the shock absorber. The system can be designed to operate in the audible or ultrasonic range.

Abstract: A high-speed automated method and operating system is disclosed for constructing continuous-walled tubular structures in space having unlimited dimensions. The system comprises a relatively short tubular conveyor with a flexible endless conveying surface sliding in a longitudinal direction around a smooth cylindrical inner guide tube, and a plurality of wrapping wheels containing wrapping material moving in transverse directions. By moving the conveyor and simultaneously moving the wrapping wheels around the conveyor, sheets of material are wrapped around the outer conveying surface made firm by the inner guide tube to continuously manufacture a rigid multi-layered laminated walled cylindrical structure with an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the tubular conveyor. By varying the conveyor speed-to-wrapping wheel speed ratio, any wall thickness is obtained.

Abstract: A battery-operated hand-held multiflash light generator is provided for temporarily blinding an assailant at a distance. The light generator comprises a plurality of high energy storage capacitors, charged by a battery-operated high voltage power supply, and a high intensity flashtube. A high current electronic switch discharges each capacitor through the flashtube thereby generating an intense flash of light. The flash is focused by a reflector to form a concentrated beamed light flash which is aimed at an assailant's head. The intensity of the light flash is sufficiently strong to cause temporary blindness, thereby rendering the assailant immobile. By using discharge capacitors with very high energy storage, and a high intensity flashtube, and a focusing reflector, it is possible to project a light flash several orders of magnitude brighter than the sun. A manual/automatic system is also provided for controlling the brightness.

Abstract: An aerial inflight reloading system and operating method is provided for military combat aircraft using cannon or machine gun ammunition. In this system, a large ammunition carrying aircraft is equipped with an enclosed conveyor fitted with aerodynamic lifting and control surfaces. A controller, positioned in a pod mounted under the rear portion of the aircraft's fuselage, maneuvers the conveyor via flight controls. The conveyor is guided by the controller to a combat receiver aircraft flying behind and somewhat below the supply aircraft, and is connected to a receptacle mounted on the receiver aircraft. After the connection is made, ammunition is transferred from the supply aircraft to the receiver aircraft via the conveyor. The system enables combat aircraft to be reloaded with ammunition while flying close to a combat zone instead of having to return to base to reload.

Abstract: A reusable and regenerative electromagnetic propulsion method and operating system is provided for propelling high mass payloads to orbital velocities which does not require a vacuum environment. The propulsion system comprises a self supporting superconducting dipole coil several kilometers in diamater that is accelerated by magnetic repulsive forces generated by a plurality of giant superconducting field coils mounted in the underground tunnels. The propulsion dipole is mounted inside a circular hypersonic wing-like structure equipped with movable aerodyanmic control surfaces for guidance. The propulsion system can accelerate a payload with any desired launch azimuth by accelerating along a line of magnetic induction generated by the field coils having the desired azimuth angle. The payload is attached to the propulsion system by a plurality of cables.

Abstract: A hand-held pulsed-light generator is presented for temporarily blinding and assailant at a distance. The light generator comprises a high energy storage capacitor, charged by high voltage power supply, and a high intensity flashtube. A high current electronic switch discharges the capacitor through the flashtube thereby generating an intense flash of light. The flash is focused by a reflector to form a concentrated beam pulse which is aimed at an assailant's head. The intensity of the pulsed-light beam striking the eyes is sufficiently strong to cause temporary blindness, thereby rendering the assailant immobile. By using a discharge capacitor with very high energy storage, and an ultra high intensity flashtube, and a focusing reflector for concentrating the light, it is possible to project a light flash that is several orders of magnitude brighter than the sun.

Abstract: An electromagnetic ramjet propulsion system is provided for accelerating high mass payloads through the upper atomsphere at orbital velocities. The propulsion system comprises a plurality of coplaner self-supporting superconducting dipole coils several hundred meters in diameter that is initially accelerated to high altitude and supersonic speed by magnetic repulsive forces generated by a plurality of superconducting field coils several kilometers in diameter embeded beneath the earth's surface. The ramjet is accelerated to orbital velocities by a multigigawatt microwave beam that is transmitted from the earth's surface. A reflecting grid of conducting wires is mounted inside the inner dipole which shock ionizes the low dentisy atmospheric gas passing through it.

Abstract: A cryogenic condensing system is provided wherein the working fluid is paramagnetic and entropy reduction is accomplished by means of a magnetic field. Condensation is obtained by isentropically expanding partially compressed vapor into a thermally insulated vacuum chamber with a sufficiently large expansion ratio to supersaturate the vapor, a portion of which condenses spontaneously. That portion of the vapor which does not condense is drawn out of the condensing chamber and into the bore of a superconducting solenoid by magnetic attractive forces thereby maintaining the vacuum environment inside the chamber. The noncondensed vapor is magnetized and magnetically compressed inside the solenoid thereby reducing its entropy. Heat of magnetization is extracted by a non-magnetic turbine which converts the kinetic energy of the gas stream pulled into the solenoid into mechanical work.

Abstract: A reusable and regenerative electromagnetic propulsion method and operating system is provided for propelling high mass payloads to orbital velocities which does not require a vacuum environment. The propulsion system comprises a self supporting superconducting dipole coil several kilometers in diameter that is accelerated by magnetic repulsive forces generated by a plurality of giant superconducting field coils mounted in underground tunnels. The propulsion dipole is mounted inside a circular hypersonic wing-like structure equipped with movable aerodynamic control surfaces for guidance. The propulsion system can accelerate a payload with any desired launch azimuth by accelerating along a line of magnetic induction generated by the field coils having the desired azimuth angle. The payload is attached to the propulsion system by a plurality of cables.

Abstract: An electromagnetically propelled space transportation system is provided for transporting passengers and/or freight between the Earth's surface and orbiting spaceports via reusable spaceplanes. Each spaceplane is equipped with a plurality of superconducting propulsion coils extending along its fuselage and is accelerated to orbital velocities inside a vacuum tube by a 1,530 km long electromagnetic linear accelerator. The vacuum tube is evacuated by utilizing the accelerator as a giant vacuum pump wherein a free-moving, magnetically propelled, air-tight piston is driven through the entire tube at low speed thereby forcing the air directly out the end. The spaceplanes are equipped with movable wings and other aerodynamic surfaces that are retracted during launching and extended during landing. The accelerator is capable of launching spaceplanes directly to geosynchronous orbits or onto interplanetary trajectories.

Abstract: An Earth-based, rapid-fire, electromagnetic accelerator system is provided for launching multiple hypervelocity nuclear or non-nuclear independently targetable warheads on ballistic trajectories to targets located anywhere on or above the Earth's surface. The warheads are mounted inside a reinforced launching sabot containing a plurality of coaxial superconducting dipole magnets. The sabot is magnetically accelerated to hypervelocities inside a large-bore vacuum tube by sequentially exciting a series of driving coils mounted coaxially along the tube. The sabots are injected into the tube from pre-evacuated storage canisters thereby eliminating the need for an air-lock. Terminal guidance systems allow the warheads to be fired over intercontinental distances to hit small, preselected targets with nearly perfect accuracy. The launch velocities are sufficiently high to enable warheads to also intercept and destroy orbiting satellites moving in space high above the Earth's surface.

Abstract: A propulsion system for reusable space-based vehicles is presented wherein the propulsive working fluid is atmospheric gas. Acceleration or deceleration propulsion is obtained by expelling or ingesting atmospheric gas respectively. Consequently, propulsive working fluid expelled during accelerating forward propulsive maneuvers is automatically replenished during decelerating retro propulsive maneuvers. The refueling retro thrust is generated by a large diameter hypervelocity has inlet diffuser mounted at the front of the vehicle which scoops up atmospheric gas while traversing through the tenuous upper regions of a planet's atmosphere. The vehicle thereby transfers a portion of its momentum to the collected gas which was initially at rest in the atmosphere. This transfer of momentum generates a decelerating retro thrust by a reverse application of the theory of classical rocket propulsion.

Abstract: An economical method for constructing large continuous-walled structures in orbit is presented. In this method a lightweight, non-elastic, topologically closed inflatable surface with thin flexible walls is transported to orbit where it is inflated to form a semi-rigid surface. This inflated surface is then used as a guide for constructing the hull of the structure by wrapping the surface with long sheets of high strength material until the desired wall thickness and rigidity is obtained. The wrapping process is accomplished automatically by a wrapping machine. Since the inflatable surface can be packaged into a small volume, and since the sheets of wrapping material can be rolled into spools with very high packing density, it is possible to construct large continuous-walled pressurized structures in orbit using robotics with relatively few Shuttle flights.

Abstract: A thermodynamic method and engine is provided for extracting natural thermal energy from ambient atmospheric air and converting it into mechanical work. The extraction process is accomplished by isentropically expanding ordinary air at atmospheric pressure into a thermally insulated vacuum chamber maintained at low pressure. By employing sufficiently high expansion ratios, a large portion of the air can be made to undergo a spontaneous phase transformation into the solid state at cryogenic temperature. This results in a substantial reduction of the specific volume of the condensed air which enables the vacuum environment of the chamber to be maintained by expending less mechanical work than that gained from the initial expansion. Thus, the net amount of mechanical work generated therefrom is positive. Substantial additional mechanical work is generated by harnessing the thermal potential difference between the low temperature condensed air and the ambient environment via additional cryogenic engine stages.

Abstract: An enclosed tubular continuous mechanical conveying system and method are provided for transporting bulk material or passengers at high speed along straight, curved or twisting paths with unlimited length in three-dimensional space. The conveying medium is a moving endless flexible toroidal surface that is elongated along the direction of motion. The inner surface of the toroid forms a moving enclosed duct that comprises the carrying portion of the surface while the outer portion forms another duct that moves in the opposite direction which encloses the inner duct and comprises the return run of the surface. A rigid, duct-like structure, is mounted inside the moving surface to maintain its shape. The surface is constructed with an elastic material to enable it to move around the rigid inner duct without tearing. The moving surface is mounted inside a rigid protective outer duct which completely encloses the conveyor.

Abstract: A high speed ground transportation system, is suspended in an underground vacuum tube by a frictionless magnetic suspension system and propelled by gravity. The tubes are suspended inside deep underground tunnels from anchor points near each adjacent station and follow smooth catenary curves similar to the main suspension cables of a suspension bridge. Gravity propulsion is accomplished by allowing the vehicle to coast down the descending arc of the tube, during which time it is accelerated by gravity, and decelerating by gravitational braking while coasting up the tube's ascending arc. Thus, the trip is accomplished by transforming the vehicle's gravitational potential energy at one station into kinetic energy and back into gravitational potential energy at the next station. Excess kinetic energy arising from coasting between stations having different elevations is supplied or absorbed by on-board linear motor/generators that provide supplementary propulsion or regenerative braking.

Abstract: The invention described herein is an orbiting solar powered, energy collecting, storage and transmitting station. Initially, a large array of solar cells collects and transforms radiant solar energy into moderate amounts of electrical current. This electrical current is fed into a large superconducting coil where it is gradually built up to very high values. The electrical energy is thereby converted and stored in the resulting magnetic field. This magnetic energy is extracted by drawing off the current at very high rates and used to energize a laser or microwave generator for wireless power transmission. Since the discharge of the superconducting coil can proceed at rates many times greater than the charging rate, the resulting beamed power can, over short time intervals, be many times greater than the rate of solar radiation falling on the solar array. Alternatively, the energy can be stored gradually in rotating flywheels for fast rate beaming.

Abstract: A rapid transit system in which a vehicle, typically consisting of a train of detachably coupled cars, is suspended in a vacuum tunnel with at least two sloping reaches from a ferromagnetic monorail of high resistivity by magnetic attraction and propelled by gravity. Servo-controlled electromagnets allow the vehicle to be suspended from the rail without actually being in contact with it or any other part of the tunnel. Propulsion by gravity from one station to the next is accomplished by allowing the vehicle to coast frictionlessly down one sloping reach of the tunnel during which time it is automatically accelerated, leveling off at the horizontal reach at some cruising depth where it coasts along at an essentially constant maximum speed, and then moving up the next sloping reach toward the second station during which time it is automatically decelerated, and finally stopping at the station where the original elevation is reached.

Abstract: A rapid transit system in which a vehicle, typically comprising a train of detachably coupled cars, is suspended in an underground vacuum tunnel by permanent magnetic rails of high coercivity and propelled by gravity. For closely spaced stations, such as in urban areas, the connecting tunnel paths are smooth continuous curves, lying essentially in the vertical planes connecting adjacent stations. For widely separated stations, such as in inter-city transit systems, the tunnel paths have horizontal reaches at their maximum depth, joined at the ends by smooth paths which arc up towards each station. The magnetic suspension and the vacuum environment enables the vehicle to move frictionlessly at high speeds without contacting the rails or any other part of the tunnel.