New power assisted invention no batteries

[mikeconnect]

Cycling Weekly: Spring-powered wheel claims to be ‘E-bike alternative at lower cost’.

Spring-powered wheel claims to be ‘E-bike alternative at lower cost’

Ireland-based entrepreneur says the SuperWheel will revolutionise cycling

www.cyclingweekly.com

 

[sjpt]

Cycling Weekly: Spring-powered wheel claims to be ‘E-bike alternative at lower cost’.

Spring-powered wheel claims to be ‘E-bike alternative at lower cost’

Ireland-based entrepreneur says the SuperWheel will revolutionise cycling

www.cyclingweekly.com

I remember but can't find a video (1930's?) of a related invention to capture 'suspension' energy as motive energy, capturing suspended movement of the saddle. It shows them going down a bumpy hill and generating a lot of excess motive energy at a time it most certainly was not wanted.

 

[Woosh]

Cycling Weekly: Spring-powered wheel claims to be ‘E-bike alternative at lower cost’.

it's a silly idea. The springs need energy to compress before giving it back when decompressing. Where does that energy to compress the springs come from?

It's the same as wishing the two bricks you carry on the luggage rack are going to help you going downhill faster while forgetting that you have to take them uphill first.

 

[Andy-Mat]

it's a silly idea. The springs need energy to compress before giving it back when decompressing. Where does that energy to compress the springs come from?

It's the same as wishing the two bricks you carry on the luggage rack are going to help you going downhill faster while forgetting that you have to take them uphill first.

Maybe he uses an electric motor to "wind up" his clockwork toy?

Just a thought!
Maybe he never heard of conservation of energy either....
Regards
Andy

 

[Gubbins]

Its interesting not the less. Has anyone seen those scooters where weight shifting creates forward motion with seemingly less effort than actual scooting?

 

[k2397]

Woosh is right. I share his view that this is indeed a silly idea.

A good bicycle is already an efficient device for converting energy into forward motion. The main issue is drag - which is why it is possible to cycle at over 150mph if air resistance is eliminated. There are also various areas of friction, and of course one has to overcome inertia to get going.

The "Superwheel" does nothing to reduce drag or friction, and as it is very heavy it will increase inertia. So how can it offer a "more than 30% energy efficiency improvement"? If this thing was for real, it would be fitted to all wheeled vehicles, not just bikes.

In physics, though, you don't get something for nothing. There has been a long history of people trying to harness the force of gravity/weight to produce a perpetual motion machine.

Has anyone tested this scientifically? Say you had two otherwise identical crank-drive e-bikes, one with a "Superwheel" and one with a normal wheel. You could ride them side by side an see which consumed more electricity over a given journey. If the "Superwheel" offered the claimed 30%+ advantage it would be a clear winner.

I would put money on the normal wheel winning.

 

[vfr400]

Its interesting not the less. Has anyone seen those scooters where weight shifting creates forward motion with seemingly less effort than actual scooting?

Yes, but they can't be mechanically more efficient.