GB2593129A

GB2593129A - Method to spin gyroscopes, spinning tops and other such devices and toys to high rotational speed

Info

Publication number: GB2593129A
Application number: GB1915381.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Fowler David
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-10-23
Filing date: 2019-10-23
Publication date: 2021-09-22
Also published as: GB201915381D0

Abstract

A gyroscope and method of increasing the speed of said gyroscope, comprising a gyroscope or spinning top which comprises a rotor 1 supported in bearing 5 fixed to shaft 4, and a bearing holding part 3 separate to the rotor and an appendage 2 which is curved to enhance the revolutions of the rotor as it increases in distance travels across a supportive surface 6. The angle (7, Figure 2) between the axis of rotation (8, Figure 2) and a plane perpendicular to the supportive surface can be reduced to increase the rotor speed. The rotor may be one-piece or fixed permanently by welding, or temporarily by screwing together separate parts.

Description

Method to Spin Gyroscopes, Spinning Tops and Other Such Devices and Toys to High Rotational Speed

Introduction

Gyroscopes are often accelerated to high speed with the use of a string. Where this not used motors are usually used for this purpose. In the case of spinning tops and other similar devices the operator's fingers can also provide the initial impulse to spin the device. The use of these methods in all cases adds complexity to the interaction with these devices and in some cases can reduce maximum speed that these devices can be rotated at. The present invention proposes an alternate method to accelerate these devices using a curved contact surface on the rotary part that is designed to make contact with a supportive surface including but not limited to a desk. The curved surface shares an axis of symmetry about the rotors axis of rotation and being positively and continuously curved towards the contact tip an effective ratio between linear motion of the device and the rotational speed of the rotor can be generated.

Summary

The rotor feature has attached an appendage at the centre of the component aligned to the axis of rotation. The appendage contacts the supporting surface including but not limited to a desk or worktop, with a curved surface of its body that that is shaped in such a way that when the device is positioned at an angle away from perpendicular to the surface, movement across the surface will provide a torque moment to spin the rotor via friction with the appendage, the supporting surface and a radius from the rotors axis of rotation.

As the rotor spins, its rotational speed can be increased by moving the rotor more quickly with respect to the supporting surface, or by brining the rotors axis of rotation closer to perpendicular with the supporting surface. Due to the curvature of the appendage this will increase the ratio of revolutions the rotor makes Vs the distance the appendage is drawn across the supportive surface.

To facilitate the rotation of the rotor it is mounted on a shaft that is supported by a bearing. In turn the bearing is held in a housing that allows the operator to manoeuvre the device including but not limited to hand by holding the housing part and so not touching or slowing down the rotor.

List of Figures In figure 1 the device is shown in Section in section. The rotor 1 is supported in bearings being fixed at shaft feature 4. The rotor and shaft may be one part, or fixed together either permanently as by welding, or temporarily as in a screwed connection. Contact is made between the curved rotor tip appendage 2, and the supportive surface 6. As the device is moved relative to the surface the rotor is accelerated in a rotational motion about its axis. The user holds or otherwise manipulates the bearing holding part 3 so as not to touch or retard the rotor. The rotor contact surface does not have a raised tip feature as in many spinning top style devices, in this case the broad continuously curved surface permits a nearly infinite ratio between the linear movement of the device and the rotational speed of the rotor.

In figure 2 the device is shown in operation. As the device is moved upon the surface the rotor accelerates. To further accelerate the angle 7 between the axis of rotation of the device and a plane perpendicular to the supportive surface can be reduced, in so doing the ratio between linear movement of the device relative to the supportive surface and the rotation of the rotor can be increased to an extremely high value. This permits extremely high rotational velocities to be obtained.

Claims

Claims 1. A means of rotating a gyroscope, spinning top, or other such device by means of a curved contact surface that is attached to the rotor so that the surface profile has symmetry about the rotor's axis of rotation. The surface does not have a raised contact nib or point such as in other spinning top type devices, instead uses a larger contact surface with a continuous curvature.
2. Movement of device across a supporting surface with the contact surface meeting the supportive surface where there is an angle between a perpendicular plane to the contact surface and the rotors axis of rotation will provide a turning moment to the rotor by forces applied to the contact surface by friction.
3. As the axis of rotation of the device if brought closer to being perpendicular to the supporting surface extremely high ratios between linear movement of the device and the rotational speed of the rotor can be achieved.
4. Supporting the rotor arrangement by means of a bearing to a housing feature that can be utilised to hold and manoeuvre the device allow extremely high rotational speeds to be obtained without excessive drag losses being applied to the rotor by holding or unintentional contact.