Posted by David (199.60.107.1) on March 04, 2003 at 16:12:00:
John,
Looking at Bessler's Bi-Directional Wheel a few years ago and recently, I couldn't help but think the item in the center of the axel looked like a crank shaft. Regarding Bessler's statement that the center and main principle piece of the wheel resembles a grindstone. I thought at first this may have just meant a flywheel but I just rented the movie The Duellists, by Ridley Scott, and there's a scene about halfway through that shows someone sharpening a sword on a grindstone. The grindstone turns via a foot peddle attatched to a crankshaft. Seeing this, and remembering a few things in his clues I began to put some things together. He mentions, A Runner Runs. When one moves their leg to run the calf is lifted up by means of the thigh of course, but is attatched by a swivel joint-the knee. He also mentions a flail, and something else that uses a ball joint. ALL-the same as a crank shaft. I wonder if he designed a unique type of crank shaft-perhaps even a double jointed one which really could be the principle piece of the machine? What do you think?
David