Posted by Jonathan (68.14.212.239) on October 09, 2003 at 02:32:43:
In Reply to: Jonathan posted by Michael on October 08, 2003 at 14:33:22:
You have misunderstood again. (I don't mean to be offensive here, it is hard to denote tone of voice over the internet, but there is no convincing me other than what I have said because I have made a small hand-driven model and the geometry does work, the center of the ball's mass follows a perect circle.) Here's how: As the track widens, the cones (or balls, etc.) 'sit lower' in the track, and to make up for this the track's distance from the center is lessened to the same degree, and vice versa for when the cone/ball 'sits high'. The fact that the rpm changes as a function of position in the track does exist, and you are correct in this, and this is an important part of the driving principle. By slowing its rpm, it has a greater torque on the central wheel than the weight on the opposing side, which has higher rpm but lower torque. Assuming that the device will work, the most ironic part of it is that its movement is entirly described by and consistent with Newton's laws of cirular motion. For now I would not like to argue over the basic workings of the device, only its construction, because without pictures (soon though), I can't do it justice. I have all the math describing its instantaneous motion, (but only up to that point, I can only model it dynamically in my head, I don't have the math skills to do it on paper), and will post it with the pictures when I can. I do however have a strong intuitive grasp of dynamics and my reasoning on its dynamic motion is based on what the math tells me, so I quite sure there is no problems with the concept so far. Please post info on your device soon, as I work on mine every day and every bit of time you may save me by proving me wrong is priceless.
: > No, the change in distance between the tracks and the change in radial distance from the orbit center is necessary for the track to engage the balls at a different distance from their center as they move and allow them to follow a perfectly circular path (respectively), and from this the torque differential arises.
: I understand that but the fact is 1. ANY change in the track causes not only the balls not to travel in a perfect circular orbit, (so there's energy used up there) but also an increase in friction as the tracks open up, and a further slowing of the balls. It won't work. The only way it could work-and it never will like this, is if the balls kept their same rotational speed (rpm) as the tracks opened up.
: Rergards,
: Mike