anyone know if the Grasshopper Escapement is perpetual motion?
youtube/google: Grasshopper Escapement
Quote from: FreeEnergy on February 20, 2010, 10:23:33 PM
anyone know if the Grasshopper Escapement is perpetual motion?
A/google: Grasshopper Escapement
that cog and or wheel would need help from a motor/engine to make the rest of the mechanism function.
it looks like its running backwards, even the grooves on the back side of the teeth on the gear look tapered to allow it to slide, otherwise why make them like that? unless its just irrelevant and more for aesthetics
essentially the moving mechanism is "balanced" on the lever and the movement of the counterweights change position
so theoretically it doesn't take any force (excluding friction) to make it oscillate up and down,
however i don't see how that type of push on the gear would make it torque...
very interesting, i kinda want to see it run in reverse
mr_bojangles
I have always understood it to be apart of a clock mechanism for timing a dropping weight, like in a grandfather clock. I will look to see if I have downloaded any videos of one or if I only have the animation as well.
Alan