In this buoyancy system any kind of balls have been replaced with a special wheel. Wheel is made with a smooth pipe with several compartments inside. Instead of these compartments one can use just ping-pong balls and put them inside of the wheel. Compartments prevent an air inside of wheel from free movement... In container with water there is a gasket made with soft rubber. The pressure of water helps to seal the area where rubber contacts the wheel.
This idea of smooth 'air wheel' and 'pressure gasket' helps to seal buoyancy system better...
Probably it would be better to use a belt drive system instead of gearing.
Greattings
Raphael,
A few years ago i thought of a similar design. Instead of a pipe, it used floats.
One of the tricks was that the floats had a gasket around them that did leak water.
This would have been to allow for easier movement of the floats. And as they move upwards, they could push water back into the reservoir.
The water would also help to "lubricate" where the gasket/seal meets the sides of it's channel into the reservoir.
It's possible that a water tight seal would be to restrictive / have to much friction.
Jim
Hi Jim
This is a good idea with "water lubrication" as the pressure on gasket may be to high.
I've posted this picture to another forum and one of my colleagues noticed that for buoyancy force to have an effect the water must have access to underneath of the float (the wheel in here is a conjunction of several floats). This requirement is not fully complied in my design... so I've changed some things. Now every second compartment has a couple of holes which allow water to pour into that compartment. In that way water has an access to underneath of each "float" and we are clear with physics :) ... Also this system may help to "lubricate" the gasket by reducing pressure on it.
Quote from: Rafael Ti on March 16, 2012, 03:26:59 PM
Hi Jim
This is a good idea with "water lubrication" as the pressure on gasket may be to high.
I've posted this picture to another forum and one of my colleagues noticed that for buoyancy force to have an effect the water must have access to underneath of the float (the wheel in here is a conjunction of several floats). This requirement is not fully complied in my design... so I've changed some things. Now every second compartment has a couple of holes which allow water to pour into that compartment. In that way water has an access to underneath of each "float" and we are clear with physics :) ... Also this system may help to "lubricate" the gasket by reducing pressure on it.
I laud your efforts but I have looked at water based stuff for a while. Do not fuss with lubrication. Even with zero friction, this will not work. I wish we could fool water pressure, but we cannot.
I agree. There is a good reason why these wheels cannot work. The bottom pressure is too great compared to the outside pressure for the float to enter the bottom.
Vidar
Quote from: Rafael Ti on March 16, 2012, 03:26:59 PM
Hi Jim
This is a good idea with "water lubrication" as the pressure on gasket may be to high.
I've posted this picture to another forum and one of my colleagues noticed that for buoyancy force to have an effect the water must have access to underneath of the float (the wheel in here is a conjunction of several floats). This requirement is not fully complied in my design... so I've changed some things. Now every second compartment has a couple of holes which allow water to pour into that compartment. In that way water has an access to underneath of each "float" and we are clear with physics :) ... Also this system may help to "lubricate" the gasket by reducing pressure on it.
Raphael,
Another thought is similar to a Ferris Wheel. If the floats are spaced properly, the supporting "frame work / wheel" could provide the necessary water barrier.
The attached diagram is simple but shows the basic ideas. Something like denim (blue jeans) would make a good seal.
The material could stay wet to help seal while allowing enough leakage to stay lubricated.
It is something possible because of the difference in density of the floats and water. This would determine the lift in net force which could be considered against energy loss due to design requirements.
Jim
p.s. I got the seal idea from labrynth packing on steam turbines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxnHJoyrQpM