I'm sure I've written on this subject previously but it bears repeating I think.
I have noticed that some people on the besslerwheel forum describe their ideas for reproducing the two-directional wheel; this seems to me to complicate finding the solution. Bessler's first wheel could only turn in one direction and he only introduced the ones which could be turned in either direction, to answer the accusations that his machine was driven by clockwork. He says that it was a very difficult task to accomplish.
In looking for the correct path it seems sensible to take a look at the simplest machine, which was the one direction wheel. This had to be locked to prevent it spinning, because it was in a permanent state of imbalance. I know there are some who have dismissed this claim by Bessler and have suggested that the wheel had to stopped at a certain point where the weights would tip over and begin the rotation s soon as the brake was released. I see no reason for adding speculation to the words written by the inventor himself; "these weights are themselves the PM device, the ‘essential constituent parts’
which must of necessity continue to exercise their motive force indefinitely – so long as they keep away from the centre of gravity. To this end they are enclosed in a structure or framework, and coordinated in such a way that not only are they prevented from attaining their desired equilibrium or ‘point of rest’, but they must for ever seek it,"
which must of necessity continue to exercise their motive force indefinitely – so long as they keep away from the centre of gravity. To this end they are enclosed in a structure or framework, and coordinated in such a way that not only are they prevented from attaining their desired equilibrium or ‘point of rest’, but they must for ever seek it,"
I have emboldened the critical words; the weights keep away from the centre of gravity, followed by this comment, they prevented from attaining their desired equilibrium or ‘point of rest’, but they must for ever seek it. What could be clearer? The machine is continually out of balance, hence the need for the brake.
I performed some experiments a few years ago, with a Savonius windmill and a large fan. I
first spun the windmill with the aid of the fan and noted its speed.
Then I mounted a second Savonius windmill onto the same vertical axle.
This second one was designed to turn the other way. I drove the two
windmills with the fan and noted that although they turned in opposite
directions their speeds were still similar to the first run with the
single windmill.
I
then linked the two windmills together. Whereas before, the two
windmills had begun to rotate spontaneously as soon the breeze from the
fan hit them, now they remained motionless. But when I gave the joint
assembly of both windmills a gentle nudge in one direction or another,
it began to turn slowly at first but reached full speed in about three
turns. The speed reached was half that of the single windmill - exactly
the same result as demonstrated by Bessler's two-directions wheels.
OK,
this is not an unexpected result but it shows that the two-direction
wheels were also performing as expected - and it also shows that the
one-direction wheel also performed a expected; starting spontaneously
So we should be studying the one-direction wheels and trying to find a way to make them always out of balance.
PS Forgive the unintentional links to the boy band One Direction!
JC
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