An Indication of a Four Weight Configuration

[Unbalanced]

It has been stated by an eyewitness(S) that there could be heard eight weights dropping per revolution on Bessler's Wheel(s). This likely was observed within the first revolution of the wheel turning as thereafter it would be near impossible to count i.e. 8-drops x 26 rpm = 208 counts per minute.

In the below illustration of Bessler's he shows a four-part power transmission system or rather a rope or belt that carries over four "Y" shaped posts connected to a four sided square receiver on the Archimedes screw. Round drive wheels and gears were obviously well known in the 1700s.

It occurs to me that four drive "spokes" or posts and a square receiver was used so that only one falling weight's KE would be delivered per quarter revolution of the wheel to the screw and in this case the stamp mill. In other words this configuration would feedback the least negative torque to the wheel during moments when a weight was not falling through its greatest advantage of arc.

I would appreciate other people's opinion on this as I may be deluded or missing something important.

Again I don't believe that this configuration was used because more efficient methods of energy transfer were not available.

I have searched these forums to determine if this has been discussed in the past and came up empty handed but if it has been I apologize.

Eight weights could have fallen in pairs and in this case this arrangement would have taken the best advantage of two weights falling simultaneously. As it is illustrated it lends credence to my belief that power was meant to be transferred in a manner such that it took best advantage of an uneven power source supply. In other words the mechanical advantage varied in relation to the variable quantity of energy produced.

[Unbalanced]

Question II:

If the Kassel Wheel was bi-directional why would Bessler cross the rope in this power transfer arrangement. Why not just start the wheel in the opposite direction or build the screw to lift in the other rotational direction?

[path_finder]

IMHO the reason is coming from a not linear rotation speed of the wheel.
This speed being a succession of accelerations and brakes, the only way to recover a linear torque is to use a pulley with a squared shape.

Regarding the number of recorded shocks, look at my avatar on the left: there are SIX shocks by turn although only three weights. We cannot make any valid deduction so long we don't know the used design.

[daanopperman]

Hi Unbalanced,
if you look at the right side view notice at the top where the rope enters the "pulley" it is not running over the square but riding inside between two guide's, and the only reason for twisting the drive belt is to give greater area of friction for better grip or torque for the drive belt, to give even better grip one could turn the rope once around the drum like they do on winches where the rope is hand fed.

[Unbalanced]

The left or right views seem to both indicate it was indeed a square drive. I can see your point that a greater grip might be effected by crossing this rope in this case as the angle of attachment might be better. There is no indication of whether the rope took multiple turns around this square receiver but that would have been advantageous.

Taking advantage of the "power stroke" or as path_finder mentioned a "succession of accelerations" (I don't know about brakes) would make good sense.

It seems relevant in determining his design to get a better understanding of how much the power output varied during a single revolution.

What I am not certain of is whether the set up (as illustrated) would deliver a different outcome or interaction were it say a chain and sprocket
which is one of the most efficient means of transferring power.

[Unbalanced]

If this four-part power transfer configuration was used because there were variable acceleration points within a single revolution, this would seem unnecessary if an external power source were incorporated as many have suggested, unless this external power source was in itself cyclical. I can't think of any power sources such as heat, springs etc that deliver constantly variable outputs. So just maybe this really was a gravity only wheel.

[Irish Oracle]

Hi gents,

Good points here, its realy a matter of besslers mech competance. My own attempts at working on builds run into snags all the time,a little bit to much play here and there and bad design seem to frustrate me. Bessler must have had a limited budget same as any single person, so just made sure he had a well working example.

I think JOHN you are right, he had the timeing just at the best thrust point of the weights. But I dont like the idea its 8 weights I think its only 4.

[path_finder]

The internal geneva stop, named also 'gear of Cardano', but invention of Philippe de la Hire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_de_La_Hire)
see here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... el_ani.gif
One of the mechanisms giving a not linear rotational speed, but almost 'step by step'.

[Unbalanced]

Great feedback PF. Interesting that Phillipe de La Hire published all his findings during the period that Bessler was experimenting on and ultimately building, working wheels.

[Ealadha]

It was always two weights acting together , one came in and another out .

[path_finder]

one of the Philippe La Hire's engines (from his book 'treatise of the gravity and mechanics'): a seesaw.

[james kelly]

I have returned from a 7 month convalescence, and I find that almost everyone is still beating a dead horse.

[Unbalanced]

Great to have you back James!!

Just haven't found that live horse among all the dead ones though a lot of dead ones have been reexamined for life lately.

Trust mobility will improve for you and a wheel shortly.

Curtis

[AB Hammer]

Welcome back James Kelly :-)

You have been missed.

Alan

[bluesgtr44]

I have returned from a 7 month convalescence, and I find that almost everyone is still beating a dead horse.

And a happy birthday to you also, Jim. In our defense here.....the horse deserved it. ;-)


Steve