Prior Art: Newton's third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal an opposite reaction. In prior art systems, the energy expended on the reaction is typically dissipated through the surroundings of the device and lost to the environment.

This energy is not used to perform the work of the device, and is thus wasted.

Accordingly, an invention meeting the following objectives is desired.

Objects of the Invention It is an object of the invention to retain a greater amount of the energy expended in operation of a mechanical device within the mechanical system.

It is another object of the invention to counteract torque in rotational mechanical devices created by acceleration and deceleration.

It is still another object of the invention to increase the efficiency of rotational mechanical devices.

Summary of the Invention As rotational mechanical devices accelerate or decelerate, they generate torque against their housing and/or their surroundings. This torque represents wasted energy that is lost to the system. Once a motor has reached a constant speed, this torque is no longer exerted on a motor's housing or it surroundings. The invention comprises the use of equal and opposite force from an energy source such as a spring or counterweight to counteract to the torque generating forces in the mechanical device.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1A illustrates a motor, generator or machine with a static counterweight on the light side of the housing.

Figure 1B illustrates a motor, generator or machine with spring tension applied to the light side of the housing or with spring tension applied in the opposite direction to the heavy side of the housing.

Figure 1 C illustrates a motor, generator or machine having a brace positioned to counteract torque exerted against the housing.

Figure 1D illustrates a motor, generator or machine having another embodiment of a brace positioned to counteract torque exerted against the housing.

Figure 1 E illustrates a motor, generator or machine having a counterweight with varying lever length.

Figure IF illustrates a motor, generator or machine employing dual counterweights and reciprocating inertial weights.

Detailed Description of the Invention In mechanical systems, a considerable amount of energy is used in overcoming the inertia of the system during acceleration and deceleration. One type of mechanical system that is of particular interest are rotational systems 1 such as electrical motors, electrical generators, or turbine engines. These systems will typically have rotational member 2 mounted in a housing 3. As rotational member 2 begins to turn, in accordance with Newton's third law of motion, torque will be exerted on housing 3 in the direction opposite the rotation of rotational member 2. Similarly, when rotational member 2 is accelerated, a similar torque will be exerted against housing 3. When rotational member 2 is decelerated, a torque will also be exerted against housing 3, but in the opposite direction. All of the torque exerted against housing 3 wastes energy and may damage housing 3 over time.

When torque is exerted against housing 3, housing 3 will rotate in the direction that the torque is applied. This will cause one side of housing 3 to rise, although such displacement may in many cases be slight or infinitesimal. This infinitesimal displacement, exaggerated by any strained or unsteady state, consumes energy as force is being applied across a great distance, such as the earth below to which housing 3 may be attached. The side of housing 3 which rises under these circumstances is referred to as the"light side"although it is realized that neither the weight nor mass actually change. Similarly, the opposite side of housing 3 is referred to as the"heavy side." Which side is the light side and which is the heavy side will vary depending on which way rotational member 2 is turning and whether rotational member 2 is accelerating or decelerating.

The effects of the torque on housing 3 may be addressed by applying weight or tension to the light side of housing 3. This may be accomplished by placing a static counterweight 4 to housing 3 on the light side of the housing. The size of counterweight 4 will depend on the circumference of housing 3 and the torque exerted by rotational member 2.

Similarly, a static brace 5 may be placed on the light side of housing 3. Brace 5 may connect housing 3 to surrounding structure or the earth, and counteract the torque exerted on housing 3.

Tension may also be exerted against housing 3. This might be accomplished by exerting downward tension directly against the light side of housing three with a spring 6 or other conventional means such as cables or by applying upward pressure to the heavy side of housing 3, again with a spring 6 or other conventional means such as cables or any reflexive member that can store kinetic energy. Such reflexive member may be employed because the tensile force exerted on such components is generally constant, and only slights variations typically need to be transmitted. It may be useful to provide a cantilever for the exertion of upward force against the heavy side of housing 3.

Another method of neutralizing the torque exerted by rotational member is by attaching a lever 6 to housing 3. Lever 6 should preferably be provided with a rotable weight 7 at the end of lever 6 opposite housing 3. Rotable weight 7 should preferably be positioned to rotate between a first position where rotable weight 7 is parallel to lever 6 and substantially vertically aligned with lever 7 and a second position where weight 7 is parallel to lever 6 but not substantially vertically aligned with lever 7.

When weight 7 is in second position, the effective length of lever 6 will be the length of lever 6 plus the length of weight 7. Of course the force exerted by lever 6 at the point where it attaches to housing 3 will vary depending upon how long lever 6 is, so the force can be varied by rotating weight 7 between its first position and second position.

Similarly, weight 7 might be placed on a track and moved linearly between first position and second position. By varying the length of lever 6 and thus the force exerted by lever 6, the appropriate force can be tailored to match the amount of torque being exerted against housing 3 at any given time. Where the torque being exerted against housing 3 is constantly changing, it may be useful to continuously rotate rotable weight 7 from first position, through second position, and back to first position at a rate of about 1 rotation per second, but can vary depending upon application. A small motor 8 may be provided to effect the rotation of weight 7.

As noted above, the heavy side and the light side of housing 3 may change depending upon whether rotational member 2 is accelerating or decelerating. They may also change if the direction of rotation of rotational member 2 should change. Thus, it would be useful to have a system for counteracting torque on either side of housing 3.

This may be accomplished by allowing lever 6 to pivot on its attachment point to housing 3, so that lever 3 may rotate from one side of housing 3 to the other, and thus exert counter-torque to either side of housing 3.

Another embodiment of the invention can be employed as illustrated in FIG. IF, whereby rotational member 2 and housing 3 are mounted on surface 1. Dual inertial weights 40 are mounted on surface 1, as are dual counterweights 41. Inertial weights 40 are connected to rotational member 2 such that they exert force upon rotational member 2 in an opposing fashion. Also connected to rotational member 2 is cam ring 43 which is loosely attached to rotational member 2. Cam ring 43 is attached to dual counterweights 41 in a manner can cause the slight shift of dual counterweights necessary to bring them out of balance. Supporting dual counterweights 41 is post 70, having a beveled cut 44 which provides facing parallel inclined planes. A sleeve may be employed around post 70 to keep the sections of post 70 sufficiently attached.

The embodiment in FIG. IF operates by dissipating the reverse torque using the various weights described above. When rotational member 2 turns, cam ring 43 moves slightly in the same rotational direction as rotational member 2. This places balanced dual counterweights 41 out of balance just enough to shift their weight such that one will move down on the balance, while the other rises. As this occurs, the parallel inclined planes at beveled cut 44 will convert the downward force applied by dual counterweights 41 on post 70 to horizontal force, thus permitting the inertial reaction in the desired direction to prevail, and effectively blocking motion in the undesired direction. Dual counterweights 41 must be properly"activated"prior to rotational member 2 being set in motion."Activation"is placing the weights in balance, or in opposition to the reaction such that dual counterweights 41 will utilize their weight against the impending motion of the rotational member 2, thus dissipating the reverse torque as mentioned above. Part of"activating"dual counterweights 41 is to access them from the opposite or adjacent side, then lifting and releasing them at the moment of the reaction, thus effectually blocking the reaction's energy that would otherwise be transferred from the housing and expended. At the end of each"activation"dual counterweights would have to be"reset,"that is to say that they would have to be placed in their starting positions again, readying them for the next reaction.

The principles of this invention may be applied to other devices that are not rotational in nature. For example, when a rocket is launched from a launch pad, the rocket will cause the pad to deflect downward. If the pad is reconfigured as a first class lever, with the rocket on one end and a fulcrum in the middle, the rocket will cause the end that it is on to deflect downward. This deflection may be counterbalanced on the opposite end by applying downward pressure there. Thus, by neutralizing the downward displacement caused by the rocket, the launch may be made more efficient.

In many of these applications, the system's own mass may be used via a variable fulcrum to provide enough pound-feet of force to counteract the torque produced by the motor, generator or machine. Likewise, a weight held via a cable, rope, or any reflexive member can be used to counteract the torque using the earth's mass. Other applications can also conceivably utilize this method to control directional and speed control by varying the counterweights'effect upon the system, much as gyroscopic systems can aid in the balance of various vehicles.

Other devices that may benefit from this type of device are motor vehicles which can benefit from increased performance and efficiency, resulting in lower emissions and increases in safety. This increase in efficiency is largely due to the loss of energy when applied to a traditional motor, usually around 50%, plus another 25% of energy is lost in the application to the load. Steering systems, propulsion systems and the like can also benefit from the added directional stability provided by the counteracting force provided by such a system. More generally, an increase in energy savings will yield a longer life for our energy reserves, resulting in a trickle-down effect on the economy and overall quality of life.

It will be apparent that while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.