Friday, November 25, 2016
Wheels
A
wheel is a piece of solid material
having a circular shape on its outer edge. It is like the middle section of a
sphere or simply like a round coin. When it is moved along it is inclined to
roll along this circular perimeter due to the least resistance it encounters
ahead of it. The wheel is one of the greatest inventions made by man, by the use
of which man is able to move loads with lesser efforts and perform extraordinary activities.
A
wheel on its own is simply a rollable object; to be useful it needs to be
harnessed, by fixing an axle in its center, making it upright and rollable,
rotating on this axle. When the axle is rested on bearings this structure
becomes a very efficient simple machine. Wheels may be fitted as a single wheel
machine as in a potter's wheel. two wheels in bicycles, three
wheels in tricycles, four wheels in cars and multiple wheels in heavy vehicles,
or trains and pulleys. More wheels allow for stability and steadier operation
under greater loads. Another unique use of wheels is in a three wheel
arrangement in a triangular plane for climbing stairs.
The
simple wheel is immensely ubiquitous and enormously
useful in many applications. There are all sorts of wheels, and its
incorporation is in almost every aspect of activity, in transportation,
in production and in warfare. Its design is contantly being researched
to
improve its efficiency, durability and reliability; and in its load
bearing
capability under the most extreme environment, and in precision
machines. The
original design of the wheel is untraceable beyond the potter's wheel,
and neither will its final design
be predictable.
There are wheels in wagons, carriages,
chariots, riverboats, propellers, windmills, flywheels,
dynamos, turbines and generators. There are cutting
wheels, sanding wheels, grinding wheels, flying wheels and whatever wheels man is capable of
making, Ferris wheel, roulette wheel and wheel of fortune. Wheels have been made with all
sorts on material – of wood, plastic, metal and alloys; solid wheels, wire
wheels and spoked wheels; with cogs, with metal rims and pneumatic tyres, and for seed distribution in farming. Wheels are made for countless
specific purposes, for functionality and comfort, under demanding operating conditions.
Wheels for cars for example need to have good traction, provide comfortable
ride, endure prolong usage, wear and damage, enhance safety, efficient and economical.
The
design of the perfect wheel remains the ultimate challenge to the best of man;
and that is a wheel capable of perpetual motion. Truly, near to that is achievably perfection
!
# posted by chunmu @ 2:41 AM 
