Originally posted by Peter Lindemann
View Post
A cam doesn't really bear any weight, it merely redirects it. A certain amount of energy has to be expended in order to move a weight out of it's circular orbit. I'm using ramps to do this. If the arm of the wheel wasn't holding the weight, the weight would accelerate down the ramp past the arm. The wheel is what is absorbing the kinetic energy of the weight as it tries to accelerate down the ramp.
The ramp also has another function. It allows the weight to accelerate while the wheel stays at a relatively constant speed. It does this by virtue of the increased distance the weight has to travel to cover the same arc that a weight in the circular orbit travels per unit of time.
Friction is really the only loss here. Nevertheless, I do think the angle and distance of the ramp are fairly critical. This is where my headache begins.
I got my 40" wheel assembled today. I still have to finish the frame and cams, which I hope to get done tomorrow. Here's a shot of the wheel.
This is how I configured the weight on the slider. Pretty basic, it has the bearing on top which will run along the cam. The weight is 1 lb, with the whole movable assembly weighing close to a pound and a half.
Cheers,
Ted
Comment