Frictionless self-powered moving display

Abstract

An intriguing and educational display structure ( 1 ) appears to be spinning upon itself without any apparent drive mechanism, power supply or bearing. The structure comprises two concentric hollow spheres ( 3, 5 ) spaced apart by a transparent fluid ( 6 ). The outer sphere is totally transparent, immobile, and may rest on a tripod ( 2 ) or other type of support. The inner sphere may be partially transparent or translucent and carries over its surface, a design such as a map of the world ( 7 ). The inner sphere rotates within, and independently from, the first outer one. The internal, that is self-contained, drive mechanism uses either a conventional electrical motor ( 8 ) with its own field winding and commutator, or one made of a rotor comprising a cross-array of electromagnets (AC, BD) that interact with an ambient magnetic field such as the earth magnetic field. The power supply comes preferably from a photovoltaic collector ( 13 ) mounted within the inner sphere or from a receiver ( 27 ) of RF waves or other EM radiation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self powered, animated structure which comprises:
 a container which comprises at least one transparent, arcuate wall portion having an outer surface area;   a body, within said container, having a first visible feature refractively and kinetically displayed on said outer surface area;   a drive mechanism for moving said body with respect to said container; and,   a battery powering said drive mechanism;   whereby, to a casual observer, said outer surface area appears to move with said body.   
     
     
       2. The structure of  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 a thin layer of fluid between said body and said wall portion, said fluid having an index of refraction larger that of air An animated structure which comprises: 
 a rotating body; 
 a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area; 
 a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body; 
 said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism; 
 said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism; 
 a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; 
 said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism; 
 said fluid having an index of refraction larger than that of air; and 
 said drive mechanism moving said body with respect to said container; 
 whereby, to a casual observer, said outer surface area appears to move with said body. 
 
     
     
       3. The structure of  claim 2 , An animated structure which comprises:
 a rotating body; 
 a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area; 
 a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body; 
 said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism; 
 said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism; 
 a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; and 
 said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism; 
 wherein a volume of said fluid is held within said container; and wherein said body is immersed in said fluid. 
 
     
     
       4. The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said container and said body have substantially similar shapes, said body being nested within said container. 
     
     
       5. The structure of  claim 2 , which further comprises an object in contact with said outer surface; whereby said outer surface appears to be moving with respect to said object. 
     
     
       6. The structure of  claim 2 , An animated structure which comprises:
 a rotating body; 
 a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area; 
 a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body; 
 said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism; 
 said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism; 
 a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; and 
 said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism; 
 wherein said drive mechanism is biased by the direction of an ambient field of energy. 
 
     
     
       7. The structure of  claim 6 , wherein said body further comprises:
 an enclosure enclosure is substantially buoyantly supported by a volume of said fluid; 
 a directional bearing locator associated with said enclosure and responsive to said ambient field of energy; and 
 wherein said drive mechanism comprises means for moving said enclosure in reference to said locator and in response to energy from said battery a counter-torque-producing element anchored by said locator. 
 
     
     
       8. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises an electromechanical device for rotating said enclosure about a first axis. 
     
     
       9. The structure of  claim 8 , wherein said ambient field of energy comprises the earth's gravity; and said locator comprises a gravity force sensor. 
     
     
       10. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein said gravity force sensor comprises a weight mounted on an axle substantially aligned with said axis; said weight having a center of gravity held distally from said axis. 
     
     
       11. The structure of  claim 8 , wherein said ambient field of energy comprises the earth magnetic field; and said locator comprises means for detecting said earth magnetic field. 
     
     
       12. The structure of  claim 8 , wherein said enclosure is held within said container and spaced apart thereof by said fluid first axis is substantially vertical. 
     
     
       13. The structure of  claim 12 , wherein said enclosure and said container are closed and said fluid substantially surrounds said enclosure wherein said enclosure and said container have similar shapes. 
     
     
       14. The structure of  claim 13 , wherein said enclosure and said container consist of hollow spheres. 
     
     
       15. The structure of  claim 8 , wherein said electromechanical device comprises:
 a motor having a rotor and a stator, one of said rotor and stator being fixedly attached to said enclosure, and the other fixedly attached to said locator. 
 
     
     
       16. The structure of  claim 8 , wherein said ambient field of energy comprises a magnetic field; and said electromechanical device comprises: at least one magnetic field sensor responsive to said magnetic field; and means for repeatedly enabling said sensor. 
     
     
       17. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said locator comprises a magnetic field sensor. 
     
     
       18. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein:
 each of said sensors comprises an electromagnet which when enabled rotatably aligns itself with said magnetic field; and 
 said means for enabling comprise means for selectively applying a feeding current to said electromagnet. 
 
     
     
       19. The structure of  claim 18 , wherein said means for selectively applying comprise a commutating mechanism connectively biased by said locator to enable said electromagnet when said electromagnet is not aligned with said magnetic field. 
     
     
       20. The structure of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic field comprises the earth's magnetic field. 
     
     
       21. The structure of  claim 19 , which further comprises at least one means positioned outside said enclosure to generate said magnetic field. 
     
     
       22. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein said gravity force sensor comprises a weight rotatably connected to said enclosure, said weight having a center of gravity held distally from said axis. 
     
     
       23. The structure of  claim 18 , wherein said means for selectively applying comprise a mechanism responsive to the relative orientation of said magnetic field and the direction of said ambient field of energy. 
     
     
       24. The structure of  claim 23 , wherein;
 said ambient field of energy comprises light waves impinging upon said enclosure; and 
 said mechanism comprises:
 at least two photosensors for producing control currents for said electromagnet; 
 each of said sensors having a photosensitive surface, wherein the photo-sensitive surface of each of said sensors lies within a different plane than the plane of the photosensitive surface of any other sensor. 
 
 
     
     
       25. The structure of  claim 24 , which further comprises at least one photovoltaic collector having a photo-sensitive surface, and producing said feeding current. 
     
     
       26. The structure of  claim 11 , wherein said electromechanical device comprises
 at least one electromagnet generating a polarizing magnetic field; and 
 which further comprises at least one coil proximate to said means for detecting, and to energize said coil and create a corrective magnetic field opposite to said polarizing magnetic field. 
 
     
     
       27. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said means for repeatedly enabling said sensor comprise means mounted on said magnetic field sensor, for generating a voltage having a polarity responsive to the orientation of said sensor. 
     
     
       28. The structure of  claim 1 , An animated structure which comprises:
 a rotating body; 
 a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area; 
 a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body; 
 said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism; 
 said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism; 
 a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; 
 said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism; and 
 including a first and second visual feature, wherein said first and second visual features cooperatively move relative to each other. 
 
     
     
       29. The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said container and said body have substantially toroidal shapes. 
     
     
       30. The structure of  claim 1 , An animated structure which comprises:
 a rotating body; 
 a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area; 
 a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body; 
 said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism; 
 said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism; 
 a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; and 
 said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism; 
 wherein said container is substantially bowl shaped comprising:
 an external wall; 
 an internal wall spaced apart from said external wall; 
 a base integral with a lower section of said external wall; 
 a bottom spaced apart from said base and being integral with a lower section of said wall; and, 
 a top edge joining upper sections of said walls. 
 
 
     
     
       31. The structure of  claim 29 , wherein at least one section of said container is made with materials and dimensions predetermined for not displaying said first visible feature graphic portion on said outer surface area of said container. 
     
     
       32. The structure of  claim 4 , wherein said container is substantially bowl shaped comprising:
 an external wall; 
 an internal wall spaced apart from said external wall; 
 a base integral with a lower section of said external wall; 
 a bottom spaced apart from said base and being integral with a lower section of said internal wall; and, 
 a top edge joining upper sections of said walls wherein said body is substantially bowl shaped and nested within said bowl shaped container. 
 
     
     
       33. The structure of claim 6, wherein said field is substantially stationary. 
     
     
       34. An animated structure which comprises:
 a rotating body;   a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area;   a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body;   said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism;   said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism;   a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; and   said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism;   wherein said drive mechanism is an electric motor; and said motor is powered by a device selected from the group consisting of:
 a battery; 
 a photovoltaic cell; and, 
 an antenna. 
   
     
     
       35. The structure of claim 34, wherein said cell is contained within said body. 
     
     
       36. An animated structure which comprises:
 a rotating body;   a container holding said body, said container comprising at least one light permeable wall portion having an outer surface area and an inner surface area;   a light energized drive mechanism for rotating said body;   said body comprising an enclosure housing said drive mechanism;   said enclosure including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves energizing said drive mechanism and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism;   a volume of fluid between said enclosure and said inner surface area; and   said graphic portion moving between a source of said light waves and said drive mechanism;   wherein said body is supported exclusively by said volume of fluid.   
     
     
       37. The structure of claim 7, wherein said directional bearing locator comprises a first permanent magnet. 
     
     
       38. A display device which comprises:
 a container comprising light permeable walls;   a volume of light permeable liquid held by said container;   wherein said volume comprises two immiscible fluids of different densities;   an object held in and surrounded by said volume; and   a drive mechanism carried by said object causing movement of said object with respect to said container.   
     
     
       39. The device of claim 38, wherein said movement is rotational. 
     
     
       40. The device of claim 38, wherein said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor, and a photovoltaic collector powered by light passing through said container and said liquid. 
     
     
       41. The device of claim 38, which further comprises:
 said light permeable walls comprising a portion having an outer surface area;   said object including a wall having a graphic portion translucently permeable to light waves and sufficiently diffused to conceal said drive mechanism;   said graphic portion being refractively and kinetically displayed on said outer surface area, whereby, to a casual observer, said outer surface area appears to move with said object.   
     
     
       42. A display device which comprises:
 a sealed container;   a light permeable liquid contained within said container;   a moveable first object surrounded by said liquid;   wherein said liquid includes:
 a first fluid having a first density and a first index of refraction; and, 
 a second fluid immiscible with said first fluid; 
 said second fluid having a second density different from said first density and a second index of refraction different from said first index, wherein an optical distortion between said first and second fluids is not noticeable to an observer; and 
   wherein the respective volumes of said first fluid and said second fluid are adjusted to buoy said first object in absence of a mechanical link between said first object and the container.   
     
     
       43. The device of claim 42, which further comprises
 a drive mechanism carried by said object causing movement of said object with respect to said container, and wherein said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor, and a photovoltaic collector powered by light passing through said container and said liquid.