SMOT with return ramp - no need to "close the loop"

[vikingdread]

Sorry, somehow the link to the animated GIF got mixed up, the correct URL is:



P.S. As this is a side projection it is not possible to show the curve of the return-ramp in the horizontal plane.

[robbie47]

Has this ever been considered?

What about a single SMOT ramp that has a return ramp. In other words a simple ramp that returns tha ball to it's starting position.

It should catch the ball at the drop off point, run around the ramp at a downward angle and return the ball to starting position.

I've created a simple drawing of what I have in mind:

What often is forgotten is that during demo's people start rolling magnets beyond the first resistance point, so the demo's start with a positive offset of energy.
Simply closing the loop will not work because when entering the start position again the moving magnet has to bridge the remaining force that has been skipped earlier

[wattsup]

What often is forgotten is that during demo's people start rolling magnets beyond the first resistance point, so the demo's start with a positive offset of energy.
Simply closing the loop will not work because when entering the start position again the moving magnet has to bridge the remaining force that has been skipped earlier

Very true and often overlooked. You still need energy to get the ball starting in the smot and your ball rolling back down will not have enough energy to re-enter.

[vikingdread]

Very true and often overlooked. You still need energy to get the ball starting in the smot and your ball rolling back down will not have enough energy to re-enter.

Just wondering:

Would the energy needed for re-entry be enough if you had 20, 30 or even a hundred linked SMOTs?

Is it theoretically possible to link SMOTs infinitely?

[robbie47]

Just wondering:

Would the energy needed for re-entry be enough if you had 20, 30 or even a hundred linked SMOTs?

Is it theoretically possible to link SMOTs infinitely?

My personal feeling is a 'no'. There are always friction losses.

There is a guy on the internet called 'soukop' that claims to have solved the 'point of return' issue.
His you-tube channel can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/my_subscriptions?pi=0&ps=20&sf=added&sa=0&sq=&dm=2&s=QcqAIEx3zjA&as=1
He has mentioned he solved the issue with applying materials that cause eddy currents at certain area's of his motor concept. If this is true (he is a strange guy with some high-delusion behaviour) I assume he is mounting some metal parts in the area of the 'point of return'.
If you want to research this problem I would advise you to look into this first, it is an interesting point of view so solve this issue with the help of local eddy current effects.

He also mentioned that he has patented his motor and that it would be public quite soon.