Posted by Davis Landstrom (62.171.198.5) on March 05, 2002 at 06:32:45:
In Reply to: SMOT - closing the loop? posted by Scott Ellis on March 04, 2002 at 20:41:15:
Answers to Lars M's questions:
In answer to your questions, yes closed loop SMOT ramps have been built. On a free energy posting list called Vortex lab the inventor of the SMOT (Greg Watson) claims to have constructed two versions, (You can find the plans for these on the JLN labs mailing list) although Naduin has achieved no longer than a couple of minuits of sustained motion with these desighns. Watson does say that it took him years of 'fine tuning' to achieve sustained motion with his set ups. Interestingly enough Watson doesn't realy value his SMOTs calling them impractical and 'nothing but toys'. He values his rotary permanent magnet and electro magnet devices more.
I know that Watson at some point sold SMOT kits, there was talk on Vortex labs of him selling closed loop SMOTs but I suspect that their delicate fine tuned nature prevented them from being shipped whole or as kits. However, the full plans for all the SMOT versions are available free from JLN labs, but long periods of 'tuning' might be required should you wish to undertake a closed loop version.
The reason why the SMOT is not easy to link let alone loop is because the ball is required to drop from the top of the ramp under gravity onto a track that is HIGHER than the entrance of the ramp. Naduin has achieved this with one ramp, it is called an 'above leval roll-away' and you can find full details including photos and footage on his web page, he will inform you that it is extreamly diffuicult to achieve, because of the magnetic force of the over hanging arrays 'trapping' the ball and preventing it from rolling away. It is even effected by temperature! the possitioning has to be that perfect!
In answer to your next question, a SMOT 'drags' (impells) the ball into and up the ramp with no energy input (except from the magnets!) and gets it to a possition where gravity is stronger than the magnetic attraction of the arrays, this is where the ball bearing falls away from the ramp under gravity to the floor in a process called reguaging.
I can verify the above as I have built working SMOT ramps.
: I have picked this message out of the list and reposted it at the top because I hope someone out there can answer these questions.
: It was orignally posted in another thread by Lars M. (thanks Lars!) on 3/4/02.
: I wonder these things, too: Why hasn't anyone been able to bring the ball back around to the SMOT entrance, or alternatively, arrange 3 or more SMOTs together in a closed circuit?
: Thanks, Scott
: : I don't get it.
: : The SMOT idea looks really good, and some people obviously put lot of work into the ramp etc. So why has noone been able to close the loop? Or have they?
: : If the SMOT can really achieve several millimeters of lift for 12 mm steel ball, it should be a simple matter to bring the ball back to the front of the ramp. It is, after all, a steel ball. It will roll great distances on a slanted pane of glass, so I don't see how bringing the ball back to the start of the track should be a problem.
: : Is the ball "dragged" onto the track by the magnets? Or must force be applied to the ball to make it enter the track? Does anyone know?
: : LPM