[wideminded]

A former co-worker of mine who is a brilliant engineer described a similar idea to me a number of times. I guess he should have gone for a patent.

[js1138]

A former co-worker of mine who is a brilliant engineer described a similar idea to me a number of times. I guess he should have gone for a patent.

No problem with the physics. The details are where it works or fails. If someone described a gatlin gun as a new invention, I'd be skeptical.

[orionblamblam]

> described a similar idea to me a number of times

The concept is quite old. Many people thought back in the 1910-1930 time frame that space launch would be by means of giant spinning wheels hurling rocketships into the sky at escape velocity.

[theDentist]

"Snap your fingers, turn on a light. That was my idea..."

[Cboldt]

A former co-worker of mine who is a brilliant engineer described a similar idea to me a number of times. I guess he should have gone for a patent.

David, of David and Goliath fame, used a sling based on the same principle.

Wandering off to find the US Patent ....

[Cboldt]

A former co-worker of mine who is a brilliant engineer described a similar idea to me a number of times. I guess he should have gone for a patent.

David, of David and Goliath fame, used a sling based on the same principle.

Wandering off to find the US Patent ....

U.S. Patent 6,520,169 - Weapon for centrifugal propulsion of projectiles
U.S. Patent 6,520,169 <-- Click Here

Lots of cited prior art, including U.S. Patent No. 1049 to McCarty, which issued in December 1838.