Roll on the 20th June

[neptune]

Balance you one ton weight on top of a pneumatic ram. Now inject one cup of helium[ measured at atmospheric pressure] in to the ram at a suitable high pressure and it will lift your one ton weight.

[The Eskimo Quinn]

true but not the reverse of the action of the wheel, also you are adding the cup under pressure i just mean remove the lid from the cup.

But also an aexcellent teaching point the not all mecahnical lifting components are solid (though not relevent to this project)

[oak]

Balance your 1-ton weight on a see-saw (fulcrum) opposite another 1-ton weight.

Place the helium in a balloon and tie it to the top of the 1-ton weight.  It will lift the weight because the total weight on this side of the fulcrum is now less than the total weight on the other side.

[helmut]

the first person to write how and why will get the first copy of the machine when complete.

First i do not expect to get the right answer.
But just for the Fun:
Somewhere in your discription was a reference about the spokes.
As i remember you stated ,that the Pipe is all ready filled with air.
So i think:
The Driveheads work as a valve.To get the Wheel moving fast,it does need a instand Air movement (Exchange) inside
the Spoke(pipe).The valve is open ,if the distance from Disc to Disk is like in the Photograph.
During the operation to propel the weight up,the disc are together without a gap and make shure that the Piston
will be driven fast.

Thats my guess

helmut

p.s.: The actuator might work via vacuum
and the Magnets are used to do the timing

[The Eskimo Quinn]

gotta go to work, but sorry oak, it has to be real, the amount would not be enough due doe the friction in the centre