Posted by Vector Viper (205.162.15.2) on May 15, 2003 at 23:38:17:
I have read many posts here; it is said that Besslers wheel
rotated unevenly-supposedly needing this to work properly.
I have thought about this; many early ideas I had (not built)
I could see that the wheel accelerating/decellerating could
help or hinder operation, depending on the design. If a weight
falls on a arm in a wheel, the wheel gets unloaded by the weight
untill the arm hits something, or hangs straight down.
During the unload, if the wheel stops turning or even reverses
direction, of course it stops...
Having a wheel turn, then stop every 90 degrees though, may give
time for levers/weights/mech to move into position...it also
kills off centrifical force too-but the wheel's energy
needs to be stored somewhere during the stop...
A few of my later ideas (which I am building now) seem to want
a very heavy, ponderous wheel, one that does NOT respond
quicky to weights moving in it. I envision using a very light
wheel with a geared-up flywheel on it to do just that...
Since my test wheels are very small (about 1 foot around),
and very light, it is needed...
I think the pendulum in besslers wheel is
an energy sink, absorbing what would be jerky motion.
it also acts as a speed regulator at resonance!
A tip-for any wheel you make, make sure you give it enough
energy to at least go around BY ITSELF at least 2-4 times,
this makes sure it does not work, if it just turns 90 degrees
then just rocks, you don't know, do you! :*)
Vector Viper