Flywheel Machine Element
- Title:
- Flywheel Machine Element
- Title (German):
- Hilfsapparate: Säule mit Schwungrad und Pleuelstange zu No. 22-28
- Collection:
- Reuleaux Kinematic Mechanisms Collection
- Set:
- N. Ratchet Mechanisms
- Designer:
- Reuleaux, F. (Franz), 1829-1905
- Manufacturer:
- Gustav Voigt Werkstatt
- Date:
- 1882
- Country:
- Germany
- Voigt Catalog Model:
- N27
- File Name:
- N27.jpg
- Work Type:
- Mechanical model
- Materials/Techniques:
- cast iron and brass on wood pedestal
- Subject:
- Kinematics of Machinery
- Measurement:
- 291 x 90 (millimeters, width x depth)
366 x 97 x 468 (millimeters, width x depth x height) - Description:
- Flywheels are used in machines is for the storage of kinetic energy. Two applications were in steam or gas engines and as a balance wheel in clocks. In both steam and gas engines the power is generated cyclically in the linear motion of the pistons. This oscillating energy is transferred to the flywheel, which rotates in one direction and serves to smooth out the motion. Balance wheels in clocks on the other hand take steady energy of a falling weight or a wound spring and help turn it into oscillating motion that is used to count or mark the passage of time. [See e.g. Model X-2.] Reuleaux designed a number of Voigt models that were supposed to represent regulators in machines. Several were to use a flywheel shown in this model. However flywheels were not pure mechanisms in Reuleaux's theory of machines. The motion of pure mechanisms depends only on the geometric constraints between the parts. However, motion in machines with flywheels, such as in clocks and steam engines, are governed by Newton's laws of motion in addition to the geometric constraints. In spite of this inconsistency, Reuleaux constructed four clock escapements with balance wheels which are not pure mechanisms. In his more practical machine design book, The Constructor (1893), Reuleaux acknowledged that flywheels constitute a special class of machine elements. [Francis Moon 2002-00-00]
The 220 models in Cornell University’s Reuleaux Collection were built in the late 19th century to demonstrate the elements of machine motion, as theorized by the German engineer Franz Reuleaux. The University acquired the models in 1882 for use in teaching and research. The Reuleaux models are classified according to the alphanumeric schema employed in the catalog of the manufacturer, Gustav Voigt. The letter in a model's ID (e.g., B14 or S35) refers to a class of mechanism; the number is a specific instance of the class. This classification scheme is a simplified version of the taxonomy of machine elements elaborated in Reuleaux's work. - Repository:
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- Photography credit: Jon Reis (www.jonreis.com). Jon Reis Photography grants Cornell University Libraries and the Cornell College of Engineering the rights to display copyrighted images of the Reuleux collection of kinetic machines on the Cornell University and National Science Digital Library web sites and for unlimited use in Cornell University Library publications for education purposes only. Rights for all other uses, including but not limited to, editorial, commercial, advertising, web use and display by third parties not affiliated with Cornell University are reserved by the photographer. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. For questions about this item or other items please contact the Physical Sciences Librarians at pslref@cornell.edu.