Water Setup Gravity Wheel?

[Scorpile]

Ok... i see... by some reason i had the wrong idea that the air filled weight, could be heavier than the liquid but still float because of density.

How about having the floaters to weight a lot less than water but making them lift the real weight?

[Scorpile]

Or having the water outside the system?

[SeanTheLight]

That first design looks very promising to me. There is a problem where the relative density of weight vs air, and relative density of container+air vs water, must be calculated as a simple force as long as the outer weight is held rigidly along the direction of the force. I believe this design could work, if the outer weight is attached via some sort of lever, instead of a slot/pushrod as it is drawn here.

The second one would have to be done with 4 arms, to overcome the gate between 5 and 6 o'clock, and I am having trouble visualizing it that way. Reminds me very much of the same design that used ramps instead of water. The problem with those designs, is the force used to lift the weight, comes directly out of the force that is being used to rotate the wheel. If you did not ramp it up until precisely 6:01, and were finished ramping it by 6:00, the wheel should remain imbalanced, since imbalance between 3 and 9 overcomes imbalance (and friction) of 6 and 12. Unfortunatley friction increases dramatically with accelerated ramp rates, so the advantage gained by the sudden movement (much less leverage to work against, closer perpendicular to the force) is offset by increased friction in the ramp effect. Liquid does not suit this design since it will increase friction, and oppose gravity on the down side of the wheel, before the weight reaches 6:00.

[AB Hammer]

Just one thing to say for you to consider.

Speed  and Mass Displacement.