Charlie,

Some times and quite frequently I might add; we overlook the obvious. I decided to take a coffee break from my own project and let my mind regroup.  I took a second look (as the first look was a quick glance)  at your work in progress and then at your drawing.  I am puzzled by what I now see that I missed first time around. Solid lines depict start of cycle while dash lines represent end of cycle. Rotor arm has not moved as indicated by arrow. 

You depict the actuator arm lifting a roller at 6:00 o'clock up to the ramp, roller has already been picked up 2.5" by cam. This roller I presume is on the end of your weighted lever. Won't the roller be in motion as it is picked up and be well past the ramp entrance when it gets there? What am I missing here?

Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Good catch. Its hard to depict properly in a static drawing. Once the geometry and timing of the arms are set properly the weighted actuator arm will be lowered just ahead of the rotating assembly. As you point out, 6:00 may be too late so I have moved the collision point back to around 5:00. Again, I'm hoping that I can raise the weights with this actuator arm to meet the ramp entrance by the 6:00 point. If this can be accomplished, it should run.

I've been working on trying to figure out how much force should be presented to the short arm to know how much counter-resistance will be required to lift the weight assembly. I'm assuming this is basically a Class I lever scenario but I'm unsure how to factor in the gravitational acceleration. In other words, its a lever, but the force being applied to the long arm is accelerating not static. Do I substitute (m*a) for F2? Any help here would be appreciated.

Regards,
Charlie

Hi Ralph,
Thanks for the reference! Great site.

A while back you asked:

"Sometimes (actually a lot of time)  I feel like the legendary Irish Banshee of Death,  It seems that I am always knocking on someones door explaining to them why I feel their idea will not work.  With your latest drawings I am having a problem figuring out how you get the tension spring loaded lever back under the rotating weight at six o'clock without deploying the same amount of force you expect in return?" 

The short answer is that I expect to have much more force available generated by the falling weight/lever combination than is required to load the arm and lift the weights. I have worked through what I believe is the correct math but need someone to validate my assumptions. I was hoping that was you based on the barrage of questions you gave me at the top of the page... .

Phobias aside, I assume you are familiar with a common lever? If the falling side of my 'lever' has a 10 pound weight which is located 4 times the distance from the fulcrum as the short end, theoretically, I could balance a 40 pound weight at the opposite end. Alternately, I could apply a 40 pound lifting force. So lets say I transfer 25 of those 40 pounds to some form of separate energy storage device (spring, weighted lever). If the total weight of my weight carriage is 20 pounds, I should be able to lift this weight with the stored 25 pounds of force (assuming some internal friction, etc.). And none of this includes the additional force from the acceleration.

There is obviously something I'm missing in either my math or my assumptions because this is all too simple.

Regards,
Charlie

Hi Ralph,

Sorry, I missed your question regarding the plywood. I wouldn't say architectural, more like construction grade A-C. Only 5 ply.
I bought a couple of half sheets a few years ago for some project that I don't even remember now and had one full half sheet and another remnant left over which I've been using for this project. To date, my total outlay for this build is $1.38 reflecting my yankee frugality.

The neat thing though is the 3/4" thickness fits perfectly between the raised edges of my rollers and keeps it self-aligning.

By the way, I've made another design change eliminating to friction points so that should help.

Regards,
Charlie

Below is Bob's invitation for investors to come in. Another typical and cyclical inventor that may follow the same inconclusive path to nothing.

http://newsourceofenergy.com/investors.html

______________________________________

NEW SOURCE OF ENERGY
THE FIRST REAL GREEN SOURCE OF ENERGY

This has been a long journey that started with “What if”. What if it were possible to make a strictly mechanical motor that would continue turning once put into motion due to shifting weights closer and then further away from an axle.

The show I saw on the television said it was impossible, but there had to be a way. Long hours, sleepless nights, perseverance and a very patient wife.  I worked out on paper a plan and presented it to my good friend a pilot and engineer. He told me that the laws of conservation of momentum and the first and second laws of thermodynamics said it could not be done, but the plan I had should work. After building and rebuilding, nearly exhausting all my savings, to the point of having to go back to work. I finally saw the motion I was looking for. It was very weak but it would turn continuously by itself. This machine only uses gravity to continue turning.I was sure there was a way to make it stronger and then I had my biggest breakthrough. Much like a truck is turbo charged I applied the same principal to my wheel and saw the increase in power that I was hoping for. I have built eight wheels and each build was based on making engineering changes necessary for longevity, speed, and torque. I had Many sleepless nights  pondering what this could mean for our world.

I finally have a pat pending status on my ninth wheel which is the largest of them all. Based on previous builds I am expecting torque ratings of 500 foot pounds and adjustable to 3000 foot pounds. The machine itself will weigh close to four thousand pounds.

In order to maintain one hundred percent control of my machine, I have recently made the decision that with the help of a friend I will move the wheel upon its completion, to a secret location. I will invite a team of engineers from a well known University to examine and document their findings on my machine. I will then Invite investors to view the papers from the University and the machine. The money from the investors will be used to bring the machine into production.

You may respond by e-mail if you interested in attending our private display. Because of the nature of this machine and its potential, only serious investors will be considered.

In your e-mail please include, your name, Contact information,  Name of the company and your position. We will be contacting you personally with more details.

Bob

Another typical and cyclical inventor that may follow the same inconclusive path to nothing.

And you have reason to believe this because........?

Bob has not, as of yet set a reveal  date.  Unlike the cyclical that make claims and do not earn the right to be called inventors. Bob states that invited investors will be welcome, only after the machine is verified at a leading University. A college campus which I am proud to say that I may have had some influence in choosing for its historic reputation and notoriety

Therefore I am led to believe that if it does not meet the qualifications claimed and  attested by the learned then the investor invitations will not be mailed. 

The last I heard, show time is estimated to be by the middle of December. If not and no reasonable excuse is given, then I am considering to start a build. Out of respect and my own integrity I will give the man a chance to put his machine up against his statements. Please do not confuse this thread with others that have consumed so many pages ending in meaningless hype! 

@Charlie,

I owe you a lengthy private e-mail. Please be patient with me,  I am under doctors orders for a minimum of one weeks complete bed rest.  Also at present my LED digital monitor is flashing like a florescent light bulb that is burning out. I can only stand to work with it for a short period. Any input or suggestions as to the cause of this would be appreciated. It is effected by any open application, but acts normal when only desktop is displayed.

Ralph     

@ralph

No problem. I knew you were under the weather so take your time to recoup!

Regarding your LED (LCD?) monitor, I would try checking the refresh rate under display properties. Maybe a different frequency might help. Or try updating your video card driver. But don't do anything until you are better!

Regards,
Charlie

@ Ralph:

I agree with noonespecial about the refresh rate, of course it could be the backlight as well.  The refresh rate is easy to check/reset so I would check that first.  For some reason, when I downloaded service pack 3 for xp I had to reset my refresh rate back to 85 hz.  It came from the factory at 60hz and I could not use it for more than 10 minutes without getting a very bad headache.  Then, after my xp download, I started getting headaches again and what do you know?  I set it back now and all is well.
Bill

I was thinking about this machine of Bob and I think he's using a pump with gravity valves in the middle of the rotor to push the weight up while springs pull back the weight back.
What do you think guys about this idea?
Thanks