The Bessler-Collins Solution to the Gravity Wheel

 The Bessler-Collins Solution to the Gravity-Wheel

A gravitywheel is a theoretical device which is enabled by gravity, to rotate continuously.  No  additional sources of energy are needed.  The drive for the rotation is supplied by the fall of a number of weight.  This device has been thoroughly examined and ruled impossible for at least three hundred years, because it appears to conflict with the conservation of energy 

So gravity is a force, not an energy source, but it is a means to that end.  From the ancient Egyptian water wheels to today’s hydroelectric generators we have used the flow of water to drive machinery, all thanks to the presence of gravity.  If Bessler was genuine then he must have found a way of using gravity, using a number of weights, as an intermediary.  But unlike the continuous flow of water acting as a go-between to connect the continuous force of gravity and the waterwheel,  a weight falls and then it has to be lifted again for the next fall.

Despite the scientific evidence accumulated over more than 300 years, plus failed experiments beyond count by amateur investigators, and almost no evidence that such device has ever been invented ….. for several good reason, we know beyond reasonable doubt that Bessler succeeded ….. so we know a configuration exists which, when enabled by the force of gravity, will provide continuous rotation in a device with correctly arranged weights and levers.  This unique mechanical arrangement is needed to maintain a state of enduring imbalance causing it to constantly hunt for a position of balance, thus rotating continuously.

NB. In what follows I will attribute certain pieces of information to Bessler, but lack of space means I won’t be filling the page with explanations of where I found them or how I know what he meant.  I have spent a lifetime studying Bessler’s clues and it will take a large book to reveal each and every clue and how I deciphered each.  I’ve published some of the clues and their meaning, but they were easier ones to find and explain. But as well, there are still many clues identified but still not all solved.

As far as we know; this particular configuration has never been found before, or demonstrated  - until Bessler  found it.

There are a few facts about Bessler’s wheel which I have been able establish with absolute certainty. I will explain more later, but for now;

1.  There are at least 5 mechanisms required.  

2.  An odd number of mechanisms are required, 5, 7 or 9.

3.  5 mechanisms produce the fastest RPM, more mechanisms produce slower RPM. This is because more mechanisms take up more room, leaving less space for their actions.

4. It is necessary for the starting point of the weight’s fall to be higher than its landing point.  This may seem obvious but it cannot be achieved with some current designs being suggested, for instance 4 mechanisms cannot accomplish it.

Some images follow.

In the image above, shown in green, the size and path of just one of the five weighted levers, relative to the size of the wheel, without the necessary scissor mechanisms

In the image below, I have marked out the pentagon and the five radii.  On each radius you can see the mark for the pivot on the inner circle where it crosses the radius.

In the image below, I have marked out the pentagon and the five radii.  On each radius you can see the black mark for the pivot on the inner circle where it crosses the radius.

The red lines with blue weights on the end show the starting point and landing point of the 90 degree fall.

The image below shows in purple the presence of five scissor mechanisms and their weights.  The reason for using a scissor mechanism in each weighted lever is to make it follow a long shallow arc through which the weighted end of the lever moves, from its high point near to the centre of the wheel, to the wheel’s rim close the pivot point on the following pivot. This is shown by the purple line which represents the path of the weight as it fall to the right, ending by the following mechanisms.

The difference between the positions of the red and purple levers on either side of the six o’clock line is clearly some distance from each other.   This shows the effect igpf using the scissor mechanisms.

The two red lines are joined at the pivot point and form a right angle.The two arms each with a red weight on the end, denote the starting and finishing points of the weighted lever.  The image omits the presence of five scissor mechanisms.  The reason for using a scissor mechanism in each weighted lever is to create a long shallow arc through which the weighted end of the lever moves, from its high point in the above image to end on the wheel’s rim close the pivot point on the following pivot.This is shown by the blue line which represents the path of the weight as it fall to the right, ending by the the following mechanisms.

Solving the Problem

After more than ten years research, Bessler finally found a potential solution which could be stated quite simply.  It was this concept which I dreamed of a couple of years ago.  Some of the potential energy gained during the fall of a weight, (before the weight lands) needs to be used to reduce the amount of lift required to return the weight to its pre-fall position. Bessler studied all possibilities and he found the answer - the special configuration of weights needed.

He divided the action of the falling weight into two parts.  The first part involved choosing where the falling weight landed, i.e., which part of the edge or rim of the wheel was best. The second part of the action used some of the potential energy accumulating during the weight’s fall, to move the falling weight sideways to land it at his chosen landing spot.

He used a unique scissor mechanism to guide the falling weight into a gentle arc towards the outer end of the following radius and its pivot.  If the weight had fallen through a standard right angle arc of 90 degrees, without the extending action of the scissor mechanism, it would give little torque and none available once the wheel was rotating.

Bessler’s wheel needed five mechanisms each consisting of  a lever plus one weight.  All the five weights were of equal size and mass. Having five mechanisms meant each one was 72 degrees from the next one.

So, depending on where the scissor mechanism landed its weight, could, for instance, make the wheel rotate more than 30 degrees forward. This is because when the weight lands about 70 degrees further back from the pivot point at the end of the six o’clock radius, it causes the wheel to rotate forwards about half that distance, or around 30 degrees. 

At the same time the previously fallen weighted lever mechanism begins to move backwards relative to the forward rotation of the wheel.  It moves backward about 30 degrees, which is more than it would have done if the weight had moved through its normal 90 degree fall, without the extension.  This reduces the amount of lift in the fallen (wl) needed to maintain rotation.

Because gravity is only responsible for the vertical distance the scissor mechanisms which forced the weight to move sideways as it fell, did not use more energy than if it had fallen straight downwards, but it borrowed a little from the potential energy being generated by the falling weight. That potential energy produced during the fall, is largely wasted in making noise when it lands, but moving the weight sideways caused it to land much further back along the wheel’s rim, thus providing a larger mechanical advantage (MA), or torque, More than if it had fallen through the normal unextended 90 degree arc.

When the extended scissor mechanism lands on the edge of the wheel, it lands gently because it has been diverted from its vertical path by the potential energy accumulating in the vertical fall.  NB, Fischer von Erlach commented on this by saying that the weight could be heard landing gently on the side towards which the wheel turned.

Bessler showed us that although the weight fell through 90 degrees, a certain previously fallen weight only needed to be lifted 30 degrees to reduce any braking effect it would have suffered without the lift.  This also provided an additional increase in torque leading to the rapid acceleration of the wheel, as noted by many reliable witnesses. These two actions happened simultaneously.

The five mechanisms worked in pairs and were arranged quite close to each other so the witnesses were able to remark positively on the extremely smooth rotation of the wheel. 

The fact that every time a single weight fell, a previously fallen weight was launched upwards,  in effect nudged the centre of gravity backwards continuously.  The wheel itself was recorded as needing its brake set to stop it rotating, and it would immediately beginning rotating as soon as the brake was released.  This tells us that the wheel was permanently out-of-balance.

Using a metronome set to the Merseburg wheel spin speed of 50 rpm, with five weights falling at every turn of the wheel, means the sound of weights landing 250 times per minute, or about four times every second! 

The Kassel wheel had nine mechanism so each one was separated from its neighbour by just 40 degrees.  Its spin speed unloaded was 26 RPM. Each weight landed 234 times per minute. Just under 4 times per second!  No wonder Fischer Von Erlach could only describe the “sound of about 8 weights landing gently on the side of the wheel”. 

The Solution

Using the scissor mechanisms to push the falling weighted levers sideways comes naturally to this device, it’s the way it moves most easily. Bessler commented in his Apologia Poetica,

 “A crab crawls from side to side. It is sound, for it is designed thus.” 

Not only does it move easily opin one direction but is easily reversed when the wheel is reversed.

My own model has not been finished yet.  I had hoped to finish it in time for my birthday but other calls on my time prevented this happening.

The information box is smaller than I planned so here a bigger version.

The first red line shows the weighted levers.

The pink lines show the scissor mechanisms.

The green lines show the scissor guide arms.

The blue lines show the short extension to the green scissor guide arms. Each has a cord attached which provides a link to the weighted levers.  When a weighted lever falls, the end of the arm follows edge of the wheel, pulling the cord, thus lifting a previous fallen weighted lever.

The grey and black lines show the aluminium retaining bars, controlling the lateral sway I see when the scissor mechanisms fall.

JC